In 2013, the game Cookie Clicker was released and nearly 8 years later, it celebrated its launch on Steam. On September 4th, nearly 50,000 people played the game simultaneously. But what is behind it and why is it so hyped?
What is Cookie Clicker? Cookie Clicker is an 8-year-old browser game. According to legend, it was put together in just one evening by its developer Julien “Orteil” Thiennot and posted online. After that, it captivated hundreds of thousands of players.
The game was originally intended as a kind of joke, but it made such waves that an entire genre was formed from it: the Idle Games.
In the game, you simply click on a cookie to collect it. Once you have collected enough cookies, you can unlock upgrades to collect more cookies, including:
- Additional cursors that click on the cookie with you
- A grandma who bakes more cookies
- A factory run by cyborgs that further increases cookie production
- Cookies that travel through time and space
The basic principle remains the same: you click on cookies, as you can see in this trailer:
What is happening on Steam? On September 1st, Cookie Clicker was released on Steam. The game costs 3.99 euros and is receiving great reviews.
So, on September 4th at 10:00 PM our time, around 47,600 people were playing Cookie Clicker simultaneously (via Steamcharts). At that time, the game was ahead of the shooter Rainbow Six: Siege and Civilization 6.
Additionally, Cookie Clicker is receiving excellent ratings. Of the 4,140 reviews, a remarkable 98% are positive.
In the case of Cookie Clicker, this means that you only have to click on cookies, but the numbers shoot up rapidly depending on upgrades, which feels rewarding. Idle Games are also said to have a high potential for addiction.
People pay for Cookie Clicker on Steam because they love the developer and the nostalgia
What is so fascinating about the game? The gameplay of Cookie Clicker is simple and promises little variety. But when you play it, you get pulled into a kind of trance and want to push the cookies per second as high as possible.
This is also described by some of the positive reviews:
- Baron Calamity explains his fascination as follows: “It’s addictive. It’s fun to see the numbers go up. This applies to any Idle game. Cookie Clicker, however, does it with a sense of style and humor that other Idle games have completely lost.”
- IIVMCMXC writes: “I’m an IDLE Game addict and anyone who has played Cookie Clicker in its browser version will love it.”
- Tyler is excited about the new achievements: “Finally, I can go back to the time when I was 16 and clicked on cookies… Just this time with Steam achievements!”
The crazy thing is that Cookie Clicker has been playable for free in the browser for 8 years (via orteil.dashnet). Nevertheless, people enthusiastically buy the version for 3.99 euros because they say they want to support the developer.
However, the Steam version is also said to offer new features. These include more than 500 Steam achievements and new upgrades and mini-games where you can pet a dragon.
Who is Cookie Clicker worth it for? Fans of Idle games should definitely try the pioneer of the genre. Additionally, the game is ideal for passing time, such as when you are waiting for a partner in a meeting or just generally want to waste some time.
If you prefer to play actively, you should check our list of the best MMOs and MMORPGs. They all require a lot of your attention:
