# Ethos Idle — user reviews > 64 indexed App Store user reviews of Ethos Idle by Graham Goldstein, rated 4.80/5 from 237 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ethos-idle/id6737059942/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ethos-idle/id6737059942.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 205 · 4★ 17 · 3★ 9 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 4 ## What do users think of Ethos Idle? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Fast progression - 👍 Minimal ad interruption - 👍 Simple and enjoyable design - 👍 Great for relaxing and watching numbers go up - 👍 Excellent incremental game design **Cons** - 🐢 Slower progression speed desired - 🛒 IAP for 2x production doesn't eliminate video ads **Commonly reported bugs** - RNG for challenges is unfair and unfun - Unlocking buffs for inaccessible technologies **Most requested features** - Option to remove ads entirely - Clarification on prestige warp gain multipliers ## Newest reviews (15 of 64) ### 4/5 — GOATED🙏 *2026-04-26, version 1.9.6* Both this and Grimoire idle are so fun dude. Doesn’t force ads on you either, love it ### 4/5 — Game is good *2026-01-05, version 1.9.2* Good mix of active/idle gameplay, I haven’t run into any automation yet but it would be great to have some simple automations like auto conquer/integrate and claims. ### 4/5 — good but it takes SOOOOO long *2025-09-15* this game will grow with you, that’s for sure! I do really like the progression, as long as you come back to do a few things, like, once an hour at most, you can make steady progress ### 5/5 — The best Idle game *2025-09-13, version 1.6.4* Simple and satisfying, numbers go up! ### 5/5 — Wonderful *2025-09-09, version 1.6.4* This is one of the best idle games I’ve ever played; it’s very different even though it “looks the same”. The mechanics feel more like a fancy board game and it has some features that I’ve wanted in games like this for a long time (such as being able to gain the ability to research multiple things at once). I also love that ads are COMPLETELY optional, and if you do choose to watch ads for a time bonus, they are not very long for what you get. Please keep up the great work on this wonderful game. ### 5/5 — Fun *2025-08-24, version 1.6.4* Love the game, but man I’m so stuck. The late game is so tough. Is there a reward in the end or am I just grinding for the sake of grinding? ### 5/5 — Love this game!! *2025-08-19, version 1.6.4* I’m very new to this genre and after trying a few similar games this one is the best for me! So simple yet intricate too, I like how you can potentially run “builds” or idea style gameplay such as invading explorers or peaceful visitors etc I do wish there was a nice melodic soundtrack to go with the gameplay though, add one please? 🤩😃 ### 5/5 — Great game *2025-07-25, version 1.6.4* No ad push. Ad bonus is infinitely stackable. Nice basic emergent narrative. Slows down a little after a month of play and a lot after 2. ### 5/5 — Simply calming *2025-07-23, version 1.6.3* This game helps with my anxiety ### 5/5 — The best incremental game *2025-07-17, version 1.6.3* that everyone should take a try. ### 5/5 — Relaxing *2025-07-17, version 1.6.3* Not one for leaving reviews but saw it didn’t have many and had to chime in, it’s silly but this game just calms me down seeing number go up.. 5/5 ### 5/5 — A masterpiece *2025-07-10* One of the best incremental games I’ve ever played with new features constantly being added but as with most good games not fast enough. Developer is very responsive on discord. ### 4/5 — Great game, suffers from RNG *2025-06-25* Super fun and unique game. My only caveat is that the randomness of runs can make the game feel unfair at times. My suggestion would be to make it so that the player can choose amongst a couple options what they want to explore, instead of being forced into a selection. ### 4/5 — なかなか面白いよ *2025-06-20, version 1.5.6* 日本語が無いけどまあわかります。 amnesiacs usurpers rebellions の3つ絡めながら進めるといいよ ### 5/5 — YOU CAME OUT WITH A NEW GAME!!! *2025-06-08, version 1.5.4* I played Grimoire Idle all the way through, so it’s a delight to see you have a new game out. Thank you! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Pause Button *2025-06-05, version 1.5.4* Why add a pause button when the point of the game is to let it run? Additionally, why is it so easy to inadvertently cause it? It’s an idle game. Needs to be changed. ### 1/5 — All progress lost *2025-02-21, version 1.1.5* Over 2 weeks of progress was wiped with no way to recover👎 ### 2/5 — Incredibly boring *2025-10-26, version 1.8.4* Very slow game and no graphics or visuals to compensate for the dull game play. Very standard idle game, so there are a million other similar options with more stimulating elements. ### 2/5 — Way, way, WAY too slow! *2025-05-27* At level 24 and a best speed of only x4, this isn’t an idle game. It’s a fossilization game. One to forget about out of pure boredom. This takes Idle games to a painful. And you have to keep watching ads, ads that now are doubled up, to keep the snail pace of x4 speed. And if you do follow an ad to the Ap Store, when you come back, as a reward you either have to watch the whole ad again or a whole new ad! Idle nothing. At this rate I won’t live long enough to get to the higher levels. Where’s the fun in that? The first 15 levels, or so, where fun. Now, I might as well watch the grass grow. It’s as much fun. I’ll hang around for another update or two but if the x4 speed is best speed then it’s time to move on and let someone else watch all the ads. 5 stars down to 2 stars. A good idea lost in execution. ### 3/5 — Really bare bones *2025-12-16* The only thing that makes this game any sort of decent is that it isn’t littered with pay2win garbage, gem systems, etc. It’s the skeleton of an actual incremental game though. Seriously, there were flash games in the 200’s made by random kids after school that had more depth than this, and were somehow also more free to play. Considering the depth of the developers other, older game (I’d only give that slightly more credit but it is credit), Ethos is a disappointment in all but the greed of its developer. Still fun if you like basic incremental, but it’s realllllly basic. ### 3/5 — Best idle game, ads can be bugged *2025-10-27* Absolutely incredible game, been playing for months, everyone who’s a fan of the genre should play this However since the last content update sometimes watching ads for double time is bugged and you don’t receive the bonus after watching. Otherwise amazing game, will change rating if this gets fixed ### 3/5 — Good idea, bad implementation *2025-10-17* The game, as other reviewers have said, is wonderful up to level 15. There is no scaling for prestiging. There is no way to make that take less than 5 hrs. I go back three levels and am still met with 45 min wait times. Good game, not an idle game like previous titles graham has made. It’s like clash of clans waiting for a town hall to complete, except for afterwards you don’t get any new items, just more wait times ### 3/5 — Progress is draining *2025-04-18, version 1.4.3* Eh ### 3/5 — Nice *2025-03-26, version 1.3.4* I’ve been playing this for a couple weeks now and I like it. I am not sure how balanced it is – some of the tasks seem harder than they should be for early in the game, but it may be me. What I don’t like is that to play the best (fastest) version of the game I’m required to watch 6 ads a day, despite paying for the ad-free version. ### 3/5 — Fun but too dependent on RNG. *2025-02-17* Game is pretty enjoyable to watch the numbers grow, and also fun to see the next tier of unlock. However the RNG for challenges is unfair and unfun. For the challenges, youll often unlock buffs for technologies you have no access to. For the stacked ones, you’ll be lucky to get one decent upgrade. Running the stacked challenges without the required buffs are basically impossible. Sure once you get the golden run it feels great, but its still banking on luck. Im not sure if there is a way to blacklist some of the nonapplicable upgrades later, but for now it really hinders the experience. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — The 2x stacks *2026-05-07* Guys, watch the ads. I thought the 2x only went to 4 hours so I never really used it but it stacks. I just watched a couple ads and I now have 2x for 24 hours. ### 5/5 — Simple and fun *2026-03-07, version 1.9.6* Simple and fun, I loved Grimoire and while this is very different, you can see the same level of craftsmanship and thought put into the mechanics, ### 5/5 — A truly well made movie idle game *2026-03-04* I have spent years trying to find a game, with proper balancing as you get into the higher numbers, and still have smooth progression. After trying about 200 idle games this one has stopped my search for a properly balanced fun idle. I never write reviews. As you can probably see by my grammar. But I actually took the time to since I’ve played this game for over a year now ### 5/5 — Amazing Incremental Game *2026-02-14* When I saw the creator of Grimoire Incremental had released a new game, I was sold. There's so much more depth and choices to make in this one. I've since unlocked everything there is in-game, and I'm so excited for more ### 5/5 — Great Idle Game! *2026-02-14* I’ve been playing this game for the last few months and have enjoyed it! The game is well paced and every few weeks there are new things to try. Runs can be long when you want to take a break for a while but also you have great active play with shorter runs. The “ethos challenge guide” is basically a must for progressing at a good rate. Also the discord for this game is amazing! ### 5/5 — great (very slow) game *2026-02-10, version 1.9.5* maybe too slow but it’s interesting ### 5/5 — Number go up *2026-02-02, version 1.9.3* This is somehow the most simple and expansive idle game I’ve played. It’s literally just numbers. No audio, no images, nope just numbers going up. But there’s so many numbers. ### 5/5 — Great Idle Game *2025-11-09, version 1.8.4* Good game. Long term play. Not something you beat in a day or even a week. Take your time. ### 5/5 — great idle game *2025-10-21* now, I will warn you: the game IS slow, and I recommend you ask questions in the discord server if you’re stuck, but this game has sooo much to it if you bother to look around. it’s great! 2 months in and I’m at Challenges III, the game hasn’t ever gotten old for me this game has a blend of idle and active play, and you’ll see that pop up at Challenges III the people who say it’s way too slow probably screwed up somewhere, but if you set your mind to it you’ll see all the cool stuff this game has to offer ### 5/5 — Awesome Idle Game *2025-09-17* Love this little gem and have been playing for about two or three months now. Hard to find decent idle games that aren’t littered with forced adds or just straight cookie cutter clones of other stuff out there. It feels fresh and original with clean and simple interface that doesn’t overwhelm you at any point, especially at the start. I find it offers a good mix of active and idle play. It rewards players for planning ahead and strategizing once the game mechanics become clear to you and new features unlock, however, it’s not necessary for you to play and enjoy the game. Aside from a few tricky challenge runs, everything moves at a decent pace, especially if you play in spurts throughout the day, and I haven’t hit any crazy bottlenecks yet. A single ad bonus button is tucked away nicely in the corner and doesn’t flash or pester you. An ad gives you a respectable 4 hours of 2x speed per view, which I personally keep refreshed. I’m not sure if there’s a cap, but I’ve had it over 24 hours. The store, also tucked away nicely in a menu, sells an additional permanent 2x speed boost for a reasonable price that helps support the developer and stacks with the ad, giving a potential total of 4x speed. None of these are necessary or pushed on you, but I made the purchase because I enjoy the game that much. I’ve already seen several updates adding new features and improvements. Hope more people and give it a try so that the developer continues to invest in the game. If you enjoy idle games, I highly recommend you give this a go; it definitely did not disappoint me. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*