What are incremental idle games?

Incremental games, also called idle or clicker games, are a genre focused on growing numbers through accumulation and upgrades. Gameplay typically starts with manual clicking to generate a resource (cookies, coins, gems). You spend that resource on upgrades that increase production per click. Eventually you can buy automated production that generates resources without clicking. The core loop is: generate resources → buy upgrades → generate faster → buy more expensive upgrades. Most include prestige systems where you reset progress for permanent multipliers. The appeal comes from satisfying exponential growth - numbers that start at 1 can reach billions or more. They're designed for frequent short sessions, perfect background play while doing other activities, and strategic decision-making about optimal upgrade paths.