Idle by name, idle by nature. Before I kick off this game review, I need to make it clear that, as a general rule, I do not enjoy idle games nearly as much as an actively played game. That said, a few idle games have grabbed my attention and been a joyous experience. I.D.L.E. didn’t give me that experience at all, and I grew increasingly more frustrated the longer the game persisted.
I.D.L.E. is an arcade shooter, but instead of players controlling a ship, players build up a selection of weapons and artillery at the bottom of the screen. Very early in the game, players have the option to control the aim of the first weapon you get access to, but quite quickly, you’ll realise that everything else you unlock will overwhelm whatever input you bring to the party.
There is no fail state in I.D.L.E. Aliens float across the screen from right to left, and you watch them get shot down. The money you earn is spent on upgrades that add more artillery, bigger explosions, more damage, and a faster fire rate. Everything is tied to the clock, which counts down to zero regardless of what you do. The game will play itself, and all you can do is mindlessly check off upgrades as you watch the game unfold. The skill tree is basic, although it blooms out into a substantial web of upgrades. As you reach certain kill limits, a new stage unlocks, but the same gameplay returns. The only difference is that a few different alien shapes float across the screen, doing nothing to you, and you do not engage with them. It is utterly soulless automation of what could have been a great active game.
This leads me to a generalised complaint about idle and incremental games. All too often, games are becoming passive, disengaged experiences in the quest for offering complete frictionless journeys. I.D.L.E. is one of the most extreme versions of this. Everything is window dressing. The player only selects an upgrade, and that’s it. I played this title whilst watching the British Grand Prix, and I did not lose a beat. I lament this push for turning gaming into a second-screen hobby, and I won’t be supporting these types of products in the future. Give me something to wrestle with, something to earn that feels earned. Give me something that has agency! Don’t give me this…
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