Games like Melvor Idle, ranked for 2026.
Melvor Idle 2 is announced but not out yet. While you wait, here are 12 idle RPGs and incrementals that scratch the same itch, ranked by how close they get to Melvor and compared head to head on platform, price, and offline play. Honest picks, with a disclosure on #1.
The closest games to Melvor Idle in 2026 are Idle Clans and Milky Way Idle, which use the same RuneScape-style train-a-skill loop, with Idlescape and IdleMMO for the multiplayer economy. On Apple devices, Tideward (ours) is built in that lineage and free in alpha. All 12 are compared and ranked below.
How the 12 compare at a glance
Filter by what matters to you. Every game here has real idle progression and RPG-shaped depth; they differ most on platform, price, and whether they keep running offline.
| # | Game | Platforms | Price | Offline play | Closest to Melvor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tidewardours | iPhone, iPad, Mac, TV, Vision, Watch | Free alpha, $9.99 at launch | 24h, on-device | High |
| 2 | Idle Clans | iOS, Android, Steam, Web | Free + shop | Server-synced | Very high |
| 3 | Milky Way Idle | Web, Steam (Early Access) | Free + IAP | 10h+ simulated | Very high |
| 4 | Idlescape | Web, Steam | Free + perks | Tab-close sim | Very high |
| 5 | Legends of IdleOn | iOS, Android, Steam, Web | Free + IAP | Yes | High |
| 6 | IdleMMO | iOS, Android, Web | Free + shop | Server-synced | High |
| 7 | Magic Research 2 | iOS, Android, Steam | Premium ~$8 | Yes, on-device | Medium |
| 8 | Realm Grinder | iOS, Android, Steam, Web | Free, fair IAP | Yes | Medium |
| 9 | NGU Idle | Steam (PC), Web | Free | Limited | Medium |
| 10 | Idle Slayer | iOS, Android, Steam | Free + ads, $5 ad-free | Yes, cross-save | Adjacent |
| 11 | Antimatter Dimensions | Android, Steam, Web (no iOS) | Free | Minimal | Adjacent |
| 12 | Kittens Game | iOS, Android, Web | Free web, $2.99 app | Catch-up | Adjacent |
Tip: tap Apple-native to see what plays on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Reviewed and updated June 2026.
Is Melvor Idle 2 out yet?
No. As of June 2026, Melvor Idle 2 is in Patreon-gated alpha, with an Early Access target of "sometime in 2026" and no firm date. It ships on Steam first, then mobile and web. Until it arrives, the 12 games below are the best way to fill the gap, and the original Melvor Idle (Very Positive, about 92% on Steam) is still one of the finest idle RPGs you can buy. Our full Melvor Idle 2 release date and everything we know tracker has the new Skills, the alpha access path, and the mobile timeline.
How this list was ranked
Three filters decide who makes it: it must have real idle progression, not just a clicker; it must have RPG-shaped depth (skills, gear, or strategy beyond raw numbers); and it must be playable now. From there we rank by closeness to Melvor's RuneScape-idle feel, then by quality. Tideward sits at #1 on one narrow axis only: the closest Melvor-style RPG built native for Apple devices. We make Tideward, so we say so plainly, and we point out exactly where Melvor and the others still win (more content, multiplayer, play-anywhere).
- #1
Tideward
The Apple-native pickA patient idle RPG built in the RuneScape-idle lineage Melvor pioneered: 23 trades, deep skill progression, and a full 24-hour offline window at full rate, computed on-device with no server and no account (the same best-in-class offline model Melvor uses). The wedge is platform. One purchase runs native on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch, with CloudKit syncing your character across all of them. No ads, no tracking, no third-party SDKs.
Tideward on Mac. The same build runs native on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch. Pros- Native on six Apple platforms from one purchase
- Full 24-hour offline, on-device, no connection needed
- Zero ads, zero tracking, no account
- Built in pure SwiftUI (truly native everywhere)
Cons- Apple ecosystem only: no Android, Windows, or web
- Still in alpha; smaller library than Melvor before 1.0
Where to play: TestFlight (alpha) → US App Store, Feb 11, 2027Disclosure: we publish Tideward, and this comparison. It is #1 on the narrow axis of "closest Melvor-style RPG built native for Apple devices," and we tell you exactly where Melvor and the others still beat us. The other 11 are honest picks we do not make.
- #2
Idle Clans
Multiplayer MelvorThe single most-cited modern peer, and mechanically one of the closest. RuneScape-style skilling with clans, a shared marketplace, and group progression. It trades Melvor's solo-meditative calm for a living, always-online world.
Pros- Mechanically very close to Melvor
- Native iOS and Android, plus Steam and web
- Free with a cosmetic shop
Cons- Always-online: account required, needs a connection
- Less calm than Melvor's solo vibe
Where to play: iOS, Android, Steam, browserVisit idleclans.com - #3
Milky Way Idle
Sci-fi Melvor reskinMechanically the truest reskin of Melvor's exact loop: the same train-a-skill, gather, craft, fight rhythm, moved to a sci-fi setting with a live player-driven market. If you want Melvor's systems with fresh paint, start here.
Pros- Tightest mechanical match to Melvor on this list
- Active player economy and trading
- Free with optional purchases
Cons- No native Apple app (browser or Steam only)
- Early Access: recent reviews have cooled on balance
Where to play: Browser (milkywayidle.com), SteamVisit milkywayidle.com - #4
Idlescape
Deep browser RPGOne of the longest-running RuneScape-flavored idle MMORPGs, with the deepest in-game economy and combat of the browser cluster. The systems run deep; the interface shows its age next to newer entries.
Pros- Deepest economy and market of the browser games
- In active development since 2018
- Free with optional supporter perks
Cons- Browser-first, so a weaker mobile experience
- UI feels dated
- Account required
Where to play: Browser (idlescape.com), SteamVisit idlescape.com - #5
Legends of IdleOn
Idle MMO, many charactersA free idle MMO where you run a whole roster of characters at once across skills, classes, and worlds. The largest actively-growing idle-RPG community outside Melvor itself, with constant content.
Pros- Huge content library, frequent updates
- Native iOS, Android, and Steam
- Genuinely multiplayer and social
Cons- Monetization is forward and live-service
- Can feel grindy and sprawling
Where to play: iOS, Android, Steam, browserVisit legendsofidleon.com - #6
IdleMMO
Browser MMO with idle hooksA browser-based MMO built around idle and AFK skill loops. More social than Melvor and lighter than Idle Clans, with a steady, friendly community.
Pros- Free to play
- Now has native iOS and Android apps
- Active, welcoming player base
Cons- Always-online: account required
- Less mechanical depth than Idlescape
Where to play: iOS, Android, browserVisit idle-mmo.com - #7
Magic Research 2
Premium and polishedA one-time-purchase idle game about magic research and crafting, with deliberate pacing and a real "I just unlocked something" rhythm. Smaller in scope than Melvor, but more polished, and it never asks for another cent.
Pros- One-time purchase, no ads, no IAP
- Designed progression with satisfying unlocks
- Native, well-built iOS app
Cons- No RuneScape-style combat
- Less total content than Melvor
- Save is per-device, not cross-synced
Where to play: iOS, Android, SteamVisit mcolotto.itch.io - #8
Realm Grinder
Faction kingdom idlerA deep idle RPG about building a kingdom through factions (Fairy, Elf, Goblin and more), with alignment choices, spellcasting, and enormous strategic depth. Players praise it specifically for not forcing ads on you.
Pros- Real strategic depth and replayability
- Native iOS, Android, Steam
- Fair, non-intrusive monetization
Cons- Faction systems have a learning curve
- Less skill-grid, more strategy than Melvor
Where to play: iOS, Android, Steam, browserVisit Steam page - #9
NGU Idle
The deep-end legacy pickA sprawling, intentionally goofy numbers game beloved by the r/incremental_games hardcore. Less an RPG than a giant optimization sandbox, but it scratches the same long-haul-progression itch as deeply as anything here.
Pros- Enormous depth for optimizers
- Free on Steam
- Cult-favorite community
Cons- Steam and browser only, no native mobile
- Visually punishing, steep learning curve
- More active management than lean-back idle
Where to play: Steam (free). Note: leaving Kongregate June 19, 2026Visit Steam page - #10
Idle Slayer
Side-scroll idle hybridA pixel-art auto-runner with idle progression and prestige loops. A different shape from a skill-grid RPG, but a big audience overlap and a long content tail. Honest caveat: it nudges you to play more than it lets you idle.
Pros- Strong, satisfying active loop
- Native iOS, Android, Steam, cross-save
- A one-time purchase removes ads
Cons- More active than truly idle
- Endgame progress slows to a crawl
- Not a skill-tree RPG
Where to play: iOS, Android, SteamVisit idleslayer.com - #11
Antimatter Dimensions
The pure-numbers iconThe definitive modern incremental and the game most players cite as their gateway to the genre. Far from Melvor's RPG framing (it is pure prestige-ladder math), but a masterpiece of the form and free everywhere it exists.
Pros- Top-tier progression design
- Completely free
- A genre touchstone
Cons- No iOS app, and none planned (Android, Steam, web only)
- Zero RPG framing: no character or gear
- More real-time than offline-idle
Where to play: Browser, Android, SteamVisit ivark.github.io - #12
Kittens Game
The hardcore text cousinA text-based village-to-civilization sim of brutal depth, sometimes called the Dark Souls of incremental games. No art, no ads, no microtransactions, just systems on systems. The connoisseur's pick, and a values match for anyone who left mobile idlers over ads.
Pros- Astonishing depth for a free game
- No ads, no microtransactions
- Native iOS and Android (one-time $2.99)
Cons- Spartan, text-only presentation
- Cramped on a small phone screen
- Steep, unforgiving learning curve
Where to play: Browser (free), iOS, AndroidVisit kittensgame.com
On an iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Tideward is the Apple-native pick on this list, free in TestFlight alpha right now.
Get the free alpha No account · no ads · no tracking · one invite covers all six Apple devicesWhich one should you play?
- You are on Apple devices and want it native everywhere: Tideward (free alpha), with Melvor Idle itself on iPad as the deeper option.
- You want the closest Melvor-style skilling right now: Idle Clans or Milky Way Idle.
- You want multiplayer, clans, and a live market: Idle Clans or IdleMMO.
- You want maximum depth on Windows or in a browser: Idlescape or NGU Idle.
- You want premium, polished, no ads, no IAP: Magic Research 2 or Kittens Game.
- You want pure number-go-up with no RPG framing: Antimatter Dimensions.
Still deciding? Take the 30-second quiz and we'll point you to your best fit.
If you have played Melvor, here is the closest fit on Apple
Tideward's 23 trades map cleanly onto Melvor's structure across four clusters: combat (Attack, Strength, Ranged, Magic), gathering (Mining, Woodcutting, Fishing, Farming), artisan (Forging, Cooking, Apothecary, Inscription), and wayfaring (Wayfaring, Stargazing, Binding). Melvor's Smithing maps to Forging, Thieving to Pilfering, Firemaking to Kindling, and Prayer to Vigil. See all 23 trades →
Related comparisons
- Melvor Idle 2: release date and everything we know, the public-source tracker on the sequel, what is new, and when you can play it.
- Melvor Idle 2 vs Melvor Idle, every confirmed difference, and whether to wait or start the first game now.
- 7 idle games like RuneScape, ranked by lineage proximity, including Old School RuneScape itself and the idle-MMO cluster.
- 7 best idle RPGs for iPhone, focused on iPhone players specifically, ranked by overall recommendation rather than closeness to Melvor.
- How 24-hour offline progression works, the full-rate offline model Melvor uses too, explained with the actual simulation math.
Frequently asked questions
Is Melvor Idle 2 out yet?
No. As of June 2026, Melvor Idle 2 is in Patreon-gated alpha with an Early Access target of "sometime in 2026" and no firm date. It launches on Steam first, then mobile and web. Until it lands, the 12 games here are your best options, and the original Melvor Idle is still one of the best idle RPGs you can buy.
Which game is closest to Melvor Idle in feel?
Idle Clans and Milky Way Idle are the closest mechanically: both use the same RuneScape-style train-a-skill-then-switch loop. Idle Clans adds multiplayer and clans; Milky Way Idle reskins it as sci-fi. Idlescape is the deepest browser option. On Apple devices specifically, Tideward (ours) is built in that same lineage.
Are any of these fully offline, with no connection needed?
Yes. Tideward, Magic Research 2, and Kittens Game run fully on-device with no server. Melvor itself also banks a full 24 hours offline at full rate. The MMOs (Idle Clans, IdleMMO, Idlescape, Milky Way Idle) are server-based and need a connection to play.
Which has the deepest skill system?
Melvor Idle still wins on raw content: 29 skills with all expansions (Throne of the Herald, Atlas of Discovery, Into the Abyss). Among the alternatives, Idlescape and Realm Grinder go deepest. Tideward launches with 23 trades and adds more in alpha. NGU Idle is deepest by sheer optimization, but it is spreadsheet-shaped, not skill-grid.
Are any free with no ads?
Several. Antimatter Dimensions is free everywhere. Kittens Game and Magic Research 2 are one-time purchases with no ads. The idle MMOs (Idle Clans, IdleMMO, Idlescape, Milky Way Idle, IdleOn) are free with cosmetic shops. Idle Slayer is free with optional, removable ads. Tideward's alpha is free, with a one-time $9.99 unlock at launch and no ads ever.
How accurate are Melvor Idle's Steam reviews?
The base game is "Very Positive" at about 92% across roughly 15,800 reviews. The "59% Mixed" figure that circulates online is the Atlas of Discovery DLC only, not the base game. Do not let one DLC's reception put you off the core game, which is excellent.
Played every game on this list? Become a Founding Tester.
Tideward is the closest you will get to Melvor Idle built native for Apple, and the alpha is open now. One email locks in free access on all six Apple devices, a permanent founder badge, first crack at every build, a vote on the roadmap, and your name in the credits at launch.
Free in TestFlight · Discord-first · no account, no ads, no tracking