Choose The Idle
Choose The Idle if it matches what drew you to this matchup. The Idle launched in 2024.
The Idle vs Idle Colors
The Idle and Idle Colors both land in Indie, Simulation on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Indie, Simulation on Steam. The Idle (2024) is 1 year older than Idle Colors (2025). Idle Colors is currently ~10% cheaper on Steam than The Idle (8.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Idle Colors
Choose Idle Colors if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Idle Colors launched in 2025.
Both The Idle and Idle Colors sit in Indie and Simulation on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Idle |  Idle Colors | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 8.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 30% positive (10 reviews) | 9 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | iclick games | Like Idle Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- The Idle (2024) is 1 year older than Idle Colors (2025).
- Idle Colors is currently ~10% cheaper on Steam than The Idle (8.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- The Idle is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Idle Colors has no Deck rating yet.
The Idle vs Idle Colors — FAQ
- Should I play The Idle or Idle Colors first?
- If you want chronology, The Idle (2024) came out before Idle Colors (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The Idle and Idle Colors similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Simulation on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does The Idle run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Idle is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Idle Colors doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.