Underplayed Gems

Idle Expanse (2020)

Idle Expanse cover
Developer
Lyrical Games LLC
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Casual, Free To Play, Indie, RPG, Strategy
Rating
2.8 of 5, 152 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 4.8 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 lighthearted, hands-off resource-collection loop where you equip mercenaries and watch them bring back wealth with a comedic sci-fi flair.

incrementalidlecasualcartoonyfunnyrelaxingmanagementsci-fi

What players say

Players are split: some enjoy the idle loop and pixel art, while many warn the anti-cheat is overly invasive and the game feels abandoned. Reviews note the rebirth system quickly grows repetitive with recycled planet content and heavy micromanagement.

Screenshots

Idle Expanse screenshot 1Idle Expanse screenshot 2Idle Expanse screenshot 3Idle Expanse screenshot 4Idle Expanse screenshot 5Idle Expanse screenshot 6

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.