Is it Worth Playing Idle Skilling?
Idle Skilling is a surprisingly deep idle game created by indie developer LavaFlame2, hitting Steam on September 15, 2022. What starts as a simple clicking game quickly grows into a massive web of connected systems, including combat, crafting, mining, fishing, and farming—all working together in a fun way. The game’s colorful pixel art style hides just how much content there is, with tons of character classes, hundreds of upgrades, and an endgame that can take months to reach.
The game received updates up until v5 Afterlife, though it’s been a while since the last major patch. According to Steam’s update history, the game hasn’t seen significant updates recently. Still, there’s a mountain of content to keep new players busy for months, and the existing systems are well-polished from earlier development cycles.
In today’s idle game world full of lookalike games and aggressive in-app purchases, Idle Skilling stands out for its fair free-to-play approach and real depth. While games like AdVenture Capitalist keep things simple and Melvor Idle focuses heavily on grinding like RuneScape, Idle Skilling finds a middle ground between easy-to-play and depth. If you’ve liked other LavaFlame2 games like Legends of IdleOn or just want an idle game with more substance than just watching numbers go up, Idle Skilling is definitely worth checking out.
So, what does Fayie think Idle Skilling is worth playing in 2025?
Is Legends of Idleon Still Good?
Publisher
Lavaflame2, the sole developer behind Idle Skilling, is a one-man powerhouse who has built the game from the ground up. Unlike big studios with massive teams, Idle Skillinghas been developed and updated entirely by a single person. This game has long been abandoned since 2023 as Lavaflame has switched it’s focus towards Idleon instead as that has since seen continuous updates, expansions, and quality-of-life improvements regularly, all driven by player feedback and the developer’s vision.
Beyond Idleon & Idle Skilling, Lavaflame2 also has an upcoming projects called Idlemancer. In Idlemancer, players grow a slime army to legendary ranks using upgrades from idle gains. The game features roguelike progression, PvP battles against other idlemancers, and the opportunity to perfect your build by selecting unique traits for each run. With idle mechanics at its core, Idlemancer will allow players to continue earning bonuses even when the game is closed. To top it off, Idlemancer will be created by other devs so Lavaflame can still focus on Idleon instead.
Combat
Clicking, Battling, and Everything in Between
The combat system in Idle Skilling follows an idle auto-battler format where your character continuously fights enemies in a side-scrolling arena. Attacks are automatic, but progression depends on how players allocate resources. Leveling up combat stats, equipping stronger weapons, and unlocking powerful abilities all contribute to increasing damage output and survival. Enemies become progressively tougher, requiring strategic investment in upgrades to keep up. While combat runs passively, optimizing damage and efficiency is key to progressing through increasingly difficult enemy waves.
One of the defining features of Idle Skilling is its interconnected gameplay loop. Defeating enemies grants experience and loot, which are essential for strengthening your character. However, combat alone isn’t enough to succeed. Mining and fishing provide materials to craft better gear, while farming and alchemy produce potions that enhance combat effectiveness. These mechanics work together, requiring players to manage multiple resource systems in order to advance efficiently. Since upgrades from other areas directly improve combat performance, progression is a constant balancing act between fighting enemies and investing in auxiliary skills.
Rebirth mechanics play a crucial role in this loop, ensuring long-term progression. As players advance, they eventually reach a point where enemies become too tough to defeat efficiently. Instead of grinding endlessly, rebirth allows players to reset their progress in exchange for permanent bonuses, making each subsequent run more powerful. Upon rebirthing, players lose temporary upgrades but gain powerful multipliers to experience, resource generation, and damage output. This mechanic encourages players to push as far as possible before resetting, maximizing long-term growth.
The combination of combat, resource management, and rebirth creates a satisfying progression cycle. Since combat fuels other aspects of the game, each rebirth makes the overall gameplay loop more efficient. Players must decide the best timing for resets, ensuring they gain the most benefits before starting over. This balance between active planning and passive progression is what makes Idle Skilling’s core mechanics engaging for players who enjoy optimization and long-term strategy.
Mini-Games Systems Within
Idle Skilling has a bunch of minigame systems that keep things interesting and help you progress faster. Each one ties into the main gameplay loop, giving you extra ways to get stronger, earn resources, and optimize your grind. Here are some few systems within you can expect to get involved in right away.
Mining
Mining is all about smashing rocks to collect ores, which are used for crafting and upgrading gear. As you progress, you unlock better ores that lead to stronger weapons and armor, making it a crucial system for keeping up with tougher enemies. The more you mine, the faster you can forge upgrades that boost your combat efficiency. It’s a slow grind at first, but once you start refining ores and unlocking better pickaxes, it becomes a solid way to power up.
The few customization options available tend to be limited in scope and only occasionally released through updates or events. These include occasional cosmetic items like hats, skins, and cosmetic gear pieces, but they don’t dramatically alter the character’s look. This approach keeps the focus more on gameplay and progression rather than on outward appearance. The lack of in-depth customization means that many players don’t spend a lot of time adjusting their characters’ looks, as the game’s main appeal lies in its idle mechanics and strategic setup.
Fishing
Fishing might seem like a relaxing side activity, but it plays a big role in progression. Different fish provide unique resources, some of which are essential for alchemy and crafting. As you unlock better fishing spots, you gain access to stronger fish that offer better effects, making this system a steady source of passive boosts. The best part? It keeps running in the background, so you’re always reeling in useful materials.
Farming
Farming is another passive system that lets you grow crops over time, and these crops serve multiple purposes. Some boost alchemy, while others provide materials for crafting and upgrades. The longer you let your farm run, the better the harvest, so it’s all about setting it up and checking back later. Farming also unlocks some key permanent bonuses, making it a system you’ll want to invest in for long-term progression.
Alchemy
Alchemy is one of the most powerful minigames in Idle Skilling because it lets you brew potions that boost almost every part of the game. Some potions give temporary buffs, like increased combat damage or faster resource generation, while others provide permanent stat boosts. The more you experiment with different ingredients, the better your potions get. Since potion effects can stack, mastering alchemy can significantly speed up your progress.
Forging
Gear upgrades happen through forging, which allows you to enhance weapons and armor for stronger attacks and better defense. You’ll need materials from mining and other sources to craft new equipment, and each upgrade makes combat a bit easier. As enemies scale in difficulty, keeping up with your gear is essential, so forging is something you’ll be checking in on regularly. If you love seeing your damage numbers go up, this system is for you.
Pets
Collecting and training pets adds another layer of depth to the game, as each pet provides different passive benefits. Some pets improve combat stats, while others boost resource generation, making them useful for both fighting and grinding. Over time, you can level up and evolve your pets to make them even stronger. Picking the right pets for your playstyle can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to automation and efficiency.
Raids
Raids are challenging boss battles that reward players with raid currency, which can be spent on permanent buffs to boost overall performance. While the focus is on defeating tough bosses for valuable rewards, the real value of Raids lies in the permanent upgrades they offer. These buffs significantly enhance combat efficiency and progression, making Raids a vital system for players aiming for long-term success. Some upgrades include unlocking and hastening auto-skill along with higher level start after rebirth.
Crusades
Crusades are an entirely separate minigame where you build a team of fighters to battle against waves of enemies. Unlike the main game, Crusades focus on managing multiple units and strategizing which characters to send into battle. The further you get, the better the rewards, making it a great side activity for earning extra resources. Since it runs separately from the core combat system, it’s a fun way to mix things up.
Limbo
Limbo is another idle system inside Idle Skilling, but this time it provides a range of benefits like increased stats, extra gold, and other passive boosts. It runs in the background, adding another layer of progression alongside the main game. Limbo also includes a built-in achievement system and a shop where you can unlock useful upgrades, making it a valuable long-term mechanic for boosting overall efficiency.
State of Game
Updates
While Idle Skilling offers a lot of depth and progression, it’s worth noting that the game hasn’t seen any updates since late 2022. As of now, there has been no new content or major changes, which could be a downside for players who are looking for fresh updates or improvements. That being said, the existing content is still engaging, and there’s plenty to do if you’re just diving in. However, the lack of updates could be a concern for those hoping for a more active development cycle.
Population
As for the player base, the population on Steam is currently in the low hundreds, which is relatively small. Most of the players are likely participating in the Idle Skilling crossover event with Legends of IdleOn, which has brought some attention back to the game. The event rewards are a nice incentive, offering 1,550 Paid Gems in Idleon, 6% Skill Efficiency hat, along with a 15% Skill Efficiency Trophy and other goodies.
Cash Shop
The cash shop in Idle Skilling is definitely geared towards pay-to-progress players, offering a variety of boosts and items that can speed up your journey. You can purchase things like stat boosts, extra resources, and even certain permanent upgrades that can make your grind a lot faster. However, the game is still entirely beatable without spending money, which is a solid benefit for those who prefer to play without making purchases. While it may take a bit longer to progress compared to paying players, it’s definitely possible to reach your goals through patience and persistence.
That said, paying players do have a massive advantage in the form of exclusive perks like the infinite forge, which non-paying players don’t have access to. This gives a huge edge to those who spend money, allowing them to progress faster and with more convenience. Unlike Legends of IdleOn, there’s no “have” package like auto-loot, but the perks in Idle Skilling are still game-changing for those who choose to pay. The grind can be long for free players, so while the game is still beatable without purchases, paid players will definitely have an easier and quicker time reaching their goals.
Artwork
Idle Skilling doesn’t go for highly detailed or ultra-realistic artwork, but it keeps things simple and functional with a distinctive cartoonish style. The characters and environments are visually clean and easy to understand, which is great for an idle game where you’re often focusing on numbers and progress rather than detailed visuals. The artwork is charming in its own way, with clear animations that don’t distract from the gameplay. For players of Legends of IdleOn, you’ll recognize the same characters, enemies, and mobs, giving the game a familiar feel. That being said, it’s not a standout feature—don’t expect cutting-edge design or high-level artistry here. For what it is, the art fits the game’s casual, grind-heavy vibe and doesn’t take away from the overall experience.
Fun
Idle Skilling can be surprisingly addictive, offering plenty of satisfaction as you progress through its mechanics. The core gameplay loop, with its blend of idle mechanics and progression, keeps players engaged as they work toward unlocking new abilities, buffs, and systems. The grind is real, but for many, the sense of achievement and constant rewards make it worthwhile. It’s a game you can easily get hooked on, even if the updates has ceased. Despite the lack of new content, there’s still a lot to explore, and the various mini-games and features help keep things interesting.
That said, while the game can be fun and provide a solid experience, I honestly believe, most people would only come across it when they are specifically interested in the crossover event with Legends of IdleOn like I am right now. For those not participating in the event, the lack of updates and a smaller player base can make it harder to stay invested in the long run. It’s still fun in short bursts, but without fresh content, it may not hold your attention for too long, especially if you’re looking for things to shake up at any moment in time. However, even though I said that, the game is surprising deep, lots of content, every time you hit a new mileage, the whole game feels like it changes. It will keep you interested for hundreds of hours at the very least. For a free & idle game, that’s impressive. If you are on the fence, give it a go.
