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Games like NGU Idle
Short answer: Trimps for the same depth with automation, Idle Slayer for adventure and bosses, and (the) Gnorp Apologue for the same odd personality. Below: 6 games, what each shares with NGU Idle and what changes.
Updated October 18, 2026 · Steam ratings checked the same day · By the Garbage Growth team
Quick answer
| If you want | Play | On Steam |
|---|---|---|
| Same depth | Trimps | Very Positive · 1,506 Steam reviews |
| Adventure and bosses | Idle Slayer | Very Positive · 10,978 Steam reviews |
| Same odd personality | (the) Gnorp Apologue | Very Positive · 10,011 Steam reviews |
| Pure number go up | Antimatter Dimensions | Very Positive · 4,643 Steam reviews |
| Weird humor, with trash | Garbage GrowthOur game | Very Positive · 389 Steam reviews |
What makes NGU Idle special
NGU Idle, in its own words: a free to play idle game full of weird humor, tons of upgrades and hundreds of hours of content, built on the joy of Numbers Going Up. It stacks adventure zones, bosses, gear and system after system. A game like it needs depth for the long run, and ideally a sense of humor.
The closest games to NGU Idle
#1 Trimps
A text-based incremental with a ridiculous amount of content.
Like NGU Idle: Hours and hours of systems, and automation that keeps it fresh. Free on Steam.
What changes: Less humor, more text and numbers.
See it on Steam ↗#2 Idle Slayer
Grow from nothing into a legendary Slayer.
Like NGU Idle: Adventure, bosses, gear and offline progress. Free on Steam.
What changes: A runner you can also play actively.
See it on Steam ↗#3 (the) Gnorp Apologue
Guide the gnorps toward delightfully excessive wealth accumulation.
Like NGU Idle: A strong, odd personality and upgrades that pile up.
What changes: Machines you watch at work, and a distinctive look.
See it on Steam ↗#4 Antimatter Dimensions
Earn antimatter through dimensions, then collapse the universe.
Like NGU Idle: Numbers going up, very far. Free on Steam.
What changes: Almost no art and no jokes: pure layers.
See it on Steam ↗#5 Realm Grinder
Grow your realm, ally with factions and reincarnate.
Like NGU Idle: Hundreds of hours of long-term progress. Free on Steam.
What changes: More strategy, factions instead of adventure zones.
See it on Steam ↗How we picked
This guide is written by the team behind Garbage Growth, an idle / incremental game on Steam. We kept games that:
- Steam players rate well (official Steam review summary, checked on October 18, 2026);
- you can still get today, on Steam or in the browser;
- each bring something different, so the list is not ten copies of the same game.
Garbage Growth is our game. When it appears in a list it is marked Our game, and you can check its Steam reviews yourself. No studio paid to be on this page.
Questions
What games are like NGU Idle?
Trimps, Idle Slayer (Very Positive on Steam, 10,978 reviews), (the) Gnorp Apologue and Antimatter Dimensions share its depth, adventure or personality.
Is NGU Idle free?
Yes, it is free to play on Steam (Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam, 13,023 reviews).
What does NGU mean?
Numbers Going Up, as the game says on its Steam page.
Looking for a new idle game?
Garbage Growth: pick up people’s trash, hire rats, pollute everything and become a quintillionaire.
- No slow start, no grind. It is fun from the very first minute.
- Every upgrade makes it worse. In the best possible way.
- Play active or let it idle. Your rats keep working.
- Updates keep coming. Two areas today, the Moon is next.