13 Games Like Candy Box
This assortment of games like Candy Box features other incremental games that use ASCII art are playable in your browser or have RPG elements to their gameplay.
While a simple game Candy Box gained a large internet following with its unique approach to the incremental genre which it combines with ASCII art. The game was made available for players to experience within their browser in early 2013 with a sequel (Candy Box 2) later in the year which featured a similar style and approach. Unlike other games in the genre that rarely introduce new mechanics during progression Candy Box takes players on an adventure of unlocking new secrets and has a more defined “end” than similar titles.
At the centre of this incremental title are candies which players generate initially at a rate of one each second. While this is the only mechanic that players start with and gives the impression of a sparse experience players will slowly start to unlock other features such as the ability to perform quests, buy items and other RPG elements.
The games like Candy Box that have been collected below fall into the incremental and idle genre and are primarily browser or mobile based. These selections have been chosen based on their depth of mechanics and in particular the mixture of RPG like features. Games that use ASCII art have also been included for those that want more games with this unique visual style.
Clicker Heroes
Clicker Heroes lets you click or idle your way to victory in what started as a simple browser based adventure (since retired) that is packed full of the usual genre features. If you’ve recently found yourself addicted to the sudden popularity of this genre and need an idle game that offers that endless gameplay loop that you crave with accessibility across platforms Clicker Heroes may just meet your requirements. Starting out with just the ability to tap monsters to death you’ll slowly generate ...[Read Review]
Dwarf Fortress
Dwarf Fortress is a unique city building experience that has players control their own group of dwarves in a challenge of survival and strategy that incorporates rogue-like elements. Utilising a unique ASCII art style you’ll be tasked with guiding your dwarven settlement throughout a randomly generated world where the unknown awaits you. Available for free across Windows, Mac and Linux Dwarf Fortress combines simulation, strategy, management and adventure into a single title that has grown...[Read Review]
Kitty Cat Clicker
If you love endless clicker games and are a cat addict then Kitty Cat Clicker is the mobile game you’ve been waiting for with a perfect blend between the two. In Kitty Cat Clicker you’ll get to hire all sorts of cats in order to help feed the Queen Cat and gain access to the royal treasury which offers all sorts of awesome prizes for your hard working cats. Starting out with no help players will have to tap, tap and tap on their Android or iOS device in order to feed the Queen Cat with food that...[Read Review]
Space Lich Omega
Space Lich Omega takes inspiration from similar ASCII art based RPG titles like Candy Box and A Dark Room but puts a demon spin on the equation with players venturing deep into the church labyrinth to battle demons and exploring the various paths through the mountain at the same time. Available for free to play within your browser Space Lich Omega is an accessible title that utilises mouse based mechanics as you click to visit locations or the simple buttons on screen that activate certain inter...[Read Review]
The Ensign
The Ensign serves as the prequel to the classic text based adventure known as A Dark Room from the same developer (Amirali Rajan). Using a similar text approach, ASCII characters for map exploration and mystery the game is an iOS title that is a fitting prequel although doesn’t quite reach the same level of depth as A Dark Room. Set within an unnamed planet players step into the role of an alien who belongs the species known only as the Wanderers who have long been travelling the stars. A ...[Read Review]
A Dark Room
A Dark Room is a incremental game based on simplistic design that throws continued upgrades at players through expanding mechanics. Originally a browser based title (available for free) the game was later packaged into a paid product for iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch which provides a full ad free experience that is event playable offline. With only text and some ASCII art to guide your adventure you’ll need to build up a thriving settlement, trade and go adventuring to discover the orig...[Read Review]
Platypus Evolution
Platypus Evolution challenges you to breed platypus together while clicking madly to generate coins at a fast speed in order to purchase more platypus. The game is the next evolution in the clicker genre combining tap filled gameplay with platypus breeding as well. This unique gameplay makes Platypus Evolution much more interesting than other games in the genre as you breed your platypus empire to see what the next evolution of platypus will lead to. You’ll also get to experience a great art sty...[Read Review]
Crank
Crank is a simple active based game of progression which revolves around holding down a crank to generate power and slowly upgrade your own power systems and computer software for new mechanics and additional progress. In classic incremental style Crank starts of slowly and builds up over time allowing players to reach new levels of upgrades and unlock additional game features within their browser. Similar to games like A Dark Room Crank is all about discovery of mechanics after starting with a ...[Read Review]
Crusaders of the Lost Idols
Crusaders of the Lost Idols aims to be more than just your average clicker game with a nice amount of depth and strategy that will constantly keep bringing you back to farm gold and defeat bosses. Crusaders of the Lost Idols is easily one of the most deep idol games around with plenty of RPG like features built into the core gameplay. In this idle game players will recruit heroes and tap the screen to deal damage to enemies that will appear from the right hand side of the screen. These enemies w...[Read Review]
CivCrafter
CivCrafter combines idle clicking with an entire civilization. Will you be able to guide your civilization through battle and economic struggles with the touch of your finger? Gameplay in CivCrafter centres around three core resources, food, wood and stone which players can choose to collect by tapping the appropriate icon. Each of these have their own uses but are best balances early on until you have decided on your strategy. In order to passively generate these resources players will want to ...[Read Review]
AdVenture Capitalist!
AdVenture Capitalist! belongs to the incremental video game genre with players playing the role of a capitalist as you invest funds, unlock new opportunities and much more. Available on a wide range of platforms AdVenture Capitalist! has captured a wide audience for its simple but addicting gameplay. In the game players start by manning their own humble lemonade stall which will earn a profit for players every few seconds provided they activate the process. From here you’ll earn a couple o...[Read Review]
Cow Evolution
Have you ever considered what would happen if you combined two cows together? This is what Cow Evolution explores as you mutate cows and tap your way through your cow encyclopaedia. Created by Tapps Games the game is a blend of clicker game and simple management where you’ll take your regular supply of cows and transform them into all sorts of exotic mutations. With four stages that will take you from your farm to the continent, the entire world and beyond the scale of these cows quickly overtak...[Read Review]
The Gold Factory
The Gold Factory is an incremental game that pays homage to the games that inspired it right on its credits page and features the same ASCII art game world as those inspirations. Borrowing ideas from the likes of the exceedingly popular Candy Box and A Dark Room this title takes the genre in some interesting and fun directions that make it well worth a playthrough for fans of this niche genre. Players start within the ASCII art world with only a factory and the cloudy skies above them. In time p...[Read Review]