Some video games let you grow.
You can click a button to win. You can also let the game play itself. This helps you get more stuff. It is a fun way to play. Do you like to play games?
Some video games help you grow.
You can click a button to earn coins. You can also buy things like farms. These farms make coins for you.
This means the game plays itself. You can even earn things while you sleep. Some games let you start over to get stronger. This is a fun way to play. Do you like to watch things grow?
Incremental games are a special kind of video game.
In these games, you watch things grow. You often start by clicking a button. This earns you money or items. You can spend that money on upgrades. Some upgrades are like buildings. You might buy a farm or a factory. These items make money for you automatically. This means you do not have to click as much.
These games are often called idle games or clicker games. Many of them let you earn rewards while you are away. Some games even let you earn things while you sleep.
As you play, the costs for new items go up fast. The rewards also get much bigger. You might see very large numbers. Some games use shorthand like "1T" for a trillion. You might even see very strange names for huge numbers. Some players use special software called an auto clicker. This tool clicks the mouse for them.
There is also a way to reset your game. This is called prestige. You start over from the beginning. But you get special bonuses for doing this. These bonuses help you grow much faster next time. Some games never end. Others have a final goal you can reach.
An incremental game is a special kind of video game.
These games focus on gathering resources bit by bit. You might hear them called idle games or clicker games. In a clicker game, you click a button to earn things. In an idle game, the game makes progress even with very little help from you. Many games use a mix of both styles. Players love them because they offer a low-pressure way to play. You can enjoy them while doing other things or just relaxing.
Most games start with very simple tasks. You might click an object to earn a small amount of currency. Soon, you can spend that currency on upgrades or new items. These upgrades might be buildings like farms or factories. These assets help you earn money much faster. Eventually, the game can even run itself through automation. As you progress, the costs for new items grow very quickly. The rewards grow just as fast. You might see huge numbers written in shorthand, like "1T" for a trillion. Some games even use special names for massive numbers like "duoquadragintillion."
This genre has a very interesting history. It began in the early 2000s with games like Progress Quest. That game was actually a parody of other role-playing games. Later, a game called Cow Clicker became very famous on Facebook. It was a satire of social games from that time. In 2013, the game Cookie Clicker helped make the genre very popular. Other famous titles include AdVenture Capitalist and Candy Box!. Some games, like Candy Box!, have an ending you can reach. Others, like Cookie Clicker, let you play forever.
A key part of many games is the prestige system. This is when you choose to reset your progress. It is a bit like a "New Game Plus" mode. When you reset, you start over from the very beginning. However, you earn permanent bonuses for your hard work. These bonuses make your next playthrough much faster. Deciding when to reset is a big part of the strategy. Some games even have many layers of prestige. For example, Realm Grinder uses terms like "abdicating" and "ascending" for these resets.
Incremental games have changed how other games work. Many modern games now include "auto-play" modes or ways to earn rewards while you are away. This is often called offline progression. Some players even use auto clicker software to help them. This software automates mouse clicks to make the game more efficient. Critics sometimes call these games "glorified spreadsheets." This is because they focus so much on numbers and growth. Even so, they remain a very successful way to play and relax.
An incremental game is a specific subgenre of video games defined by the steady accumulation of in-game resources. Players experience gradual, often exponential progression through repetitive actions or automated systems. These games are frequently referred to as idle games or clicker games. Clicker games emphasize active player input, such as repeatedly clicking a button to generate currency. In contrast, idle games focus on automation, allowing progress to continue with minimal player interaction. Many modern titles combine elements of both styles to create a balanced experience.
The core mechanism of these games involves a continuous loop of earning and spending. Players typically begin by performing simple tasks, like clicking an object, to earn a basic currency. This currency is then spent on upgrades, items, or new abilities that increase income generation. Many games use income-generating entities, such as factories or farms, to automate this process. As players move into higher tiers, the costs for new assets increase exponentially. This means that progressing between tiers often requires a similar or increasing amount of time. This structure provides a low-pressure environment with steady feedback and no failure states.
Because growth is so rapid, the numbers in these games can become incredibly large. Developers often use scientific notation, such as 1×10^34, to display these massive values. They also use shorthand suffixes, where "1M" represents a million and "1T" represents a trillion. Some games even employ specialized naming schemes for extreme numbers, such as "duoquadragintillion." This rapid escalation of both costs and rewards is designed to sustain player engagement. Players often return to the game periodically to allocate their accumulated wealth toward new milestones. This creates a gameplay loop that feels organic rather than forced.
A defining feature of many incremental games is the prestige system. This mechanic allows players to voluntarily reset their current progress in exchange for permanent bonuses. This concept is similar to a "New Game Plus" mode found in other genres. However, in incremental games, the prestige reset grants advantages that persist across all future playthroughs. This creates a strategic layer where players must decide the optimal time to reset. When progression slows down, a prestige reset can accelerate future advancement. Some games, such as Realm Grinder, even feature multiple layers of prestige, using terms like "abdicating," "reincarnating," or "ascending."
The history of the genre traces back to the early 2000s. One of the earliest recognized titles was Progress Quest (2002), which parodied character progression in MMORPGs. The gaming website Kongregate served as an early hub for the genre. One of its first idle games was Kongregate Chat, which ran by itself while players used the site's chat window. Later, Cow Clicker gained mainstream media attention as a satire of social games on Facebook. The genre saw a massive surge in popularity in 2013 following the success of Cookie Clicker.
Developers have also introduced various monetization strategies to support these games. Some titles, like AdVenture Capitalist, pioneered the use of microtransactions. These might include "time-warps," which grant a player a set number of hours of future income instantly. Other options include instant currency boosts or permanent multipliers that persist after a prestige reset. Some games offer "gacha" systems, which involve random draws for characters or bonuses. Alternatively, developers may use advertisements to provide minor rewards, such as doubling offline earnings or providing a short burst of cash.
Incremental games have had a significant influence on the broader gaming industry. Many mainstream genres now incorporate idle elements, such as auto-play modes or progression loops. Real-time strategy and social games, like Hay Day, allow players to progress even when they are away from the screen. Some massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) even include "AFK modes" to let players skip early-game stages. Because of the emphasis on efficiency, some players use auto clicker software to automate manual tasks. While critics sometimes describe these games as "glorified spreadsheets," their ability to provide low-effort, distraction-friendly experiences remains a major part of their success.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (3)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.