Melvor Idle (2021)

Developer: Games by Malcs
Publisher: Jagex Ltd
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Adventure, Casual, Indie, RPG
Rating: 4.5 of 5, 15,974 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 94 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A calm, zen-like idle game that feels satisfying to watch progress unfold with minimal effort, fitting easily into a busy schedule.

idlerelaxingminimalistaddictivezenaccessibleincremental

What players say

Players describe Melvor Idle as RuneScape stripped down to just the skill grinding, with a depth that sets it apart from other idle games. Some find it impenetrable at first, bouncing off before the systems click. The UI gets called cluttered, especially with expansions added, but the core gameplay of watching numbers go up and planning boss fights keeps people coming back for thousands of hours.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.