# Idle Area 51 — Alien Idle Game!

> Idle simulation game managing a secret alien technology research facility. (iPhone/iPad app by PlaySide.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-area-51/id1537717101 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [PlaySide](https://appshunter.io/developer/551505830)
- Category: Games, Simulation, Strategy
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 10,168 App Store ratings · 287 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 227 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2021-02-05
- Data updated: 2026-08-25
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-area-51/id1537717101/reviews.md

## What is Idle Area 51?

The aliens have CRASH landed!
Salvage as much alien tech as possible from the downed UFO and take it to your super secret desert facility for research in Idle Area 51.

Start small and build your operation from scratch. Unlock the secrets of alien biology, UFO construction, high-powered laser weaponry and interstellar travel and gain more funding from the shadowy government department overseeing everything. Maximize the efficiency of your facility by speeding up your processes; buy more vans, get more salvage, increase your research stations, train your workers and grow your operations!

But you’ll need to work fast. Keep an eye out for the little green guys, get your tinfoil hats ready and expect a visit from the Guys in Black! Start a misinformation campaign to throw the public off the scent, watch out for raids on your facilities and upgrade your operations with goodies from interplanetary Star Gates and mysterious Quasars.

You’re in charge of the facility so develop your strategy, reduce costs, increase revenue and know that the choices you make will decide the fate of your operation ...and maybe even the world!

## Key features

- Salvage alien tech from crashed UFOs
- Build and upgrade a secret desert facility
- Research alien biology, weaponry, and travel
- Manage workers, vans, and research stations
- Defend against government raids and alien interference
- Unlock upgrades from Star Gates and Quasars

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tiny Gem Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tin Foil Hat | $9.99 | one-time |
| No Ads! | $9.99 | one-time |
| Government Coverup | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Gem Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Small Gem Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Massive Gem Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| Probe | $4.99 | one-time |
| LunarRover | $4.99 | one-time |
| Anamoly | $9.99 | one-time |
| Epic Gem Pack | $40.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Idle Area 51?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique space theme
- 🤩 Impressive graphics

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 🕰️ Slow progression without ads

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Loading screen freezes
- Money resets after updates
- Facilities and progress lost
- Ads not working properly

**Most requested features**

- More levels and content
- Offline mode
- Ability to skip ads
- Better balance between upgrades

## Recent user reviews (10 of 287)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-area-51/id1537717101/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Why aliens don’t visit earth to play this game

*2026-08-21, version 1.8.12*

I CANT PLAY like how am I supposed to play the game.
I JUST WANT TO PLAY THIS GAME.
This is why people like sprunki more than other games

### 1/5 — Loading…

*2026-07-04, version 1.8.12*

it loads forever, i haven’t even started the game

### 1/5 — Not loading

*2026-06-28, version 1.8.12*

I want to play it so bad I play in an iPad but every time I want to play it doesn’t load please fix

### 1/5 — Broken on launch

*2026-06-17, version 1.8.12*

This game no longer works for IOS 26.5, please update!

### 5/5 — From Julian

*2026-05-16, version 1.8.12*

I love the game it make me go crazy and I forgot my Duolingo lesson. to Idle Area 51

### 1/5 — Dumb

*2026-03-28, version 1.8.12*

The only goal of this game is to get you to watch ads.

### 1/5 — Huge bug

*2026-03-23, version 1.8.12*

Every time I leave the game and come back all of my places are making less than they were when I left why

### 1/5 — Frustration

*2026-03-20, version 1.8.12*

I downloaded it it made me use my Apple Pay and took $30 and when it downloaded it doesn’t even work

### 1/5 — Ad free

*2026-03-09, version 1.8.12*

Spent the money to go ad free. Worked for a bit. But now the game doesn’t even open. One of the idle games I actually enjoyed, and now it doesn’t work anymore. Lemme get my $10 back!

### 1/5 — Dead Game

*2026-03-01, version 1.8.12*

It does not open on IOS anymore and hasn’t in a while. Doesn’t seem like there is going to be a fix. Sadly I will be deleting. It was a pretty fun game but the Dev doesn’t respond or fix in a timely manner so I won’t be playing anymore.

## Frequently asked questions about Idle Area 51

### What is Idle Area 51 about?

Idle Area 51 is an idle simulation game where you manage a secret desert facility. Your goal is to salvage alien technology from crashed UFOs, research it, and expand your operations. You'll need to strategize to increase revenue, reduce costs, and defend your facility from various threats.

### What are the key features of Idle Area 51?

Key features include salvaging alien tech, building and upgrading your facility, researching alien biology and advanced technologies, managing workers and resources, and defending against government raids and alien interference. You can also unlock special upgrades from mysterious sources.

### Is Idle Area 51 free to play?

Yes, the game is free to download and play. It is supported by in-app purchases, allowing players to buy items or currency to speed up progress or enhance their gameplay experience. The game also includes advertisements.

### What kind of strategy is involved in Idle Area 51?

The strategy involves optimizing your facility's efficiency by upgrading vans, research stations, and training workers. You'll need to balance resource management, cost reduction, and revenue generation while also preparing for unexpected events like raids and alien encounters. Your choices directly impact the success of your operation.

### Who is the target audience for this game?

This game is designed for players who enjoy idle simulation and management games. It appeals to those who like building and expanding operations from scratch, with a particular interest in science fiction themes, aliens, and UFOs.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.8.12 — 2024-05-15

Bug fixes and app improvements :)

### 1.8.9 — 2023-02-20

Minor update to address font issues.

### 1.8.7 — 2021-10-14

The Aliens have a brand new update for you:

- Bringing more bug fixes and stability to you.

### 1.8.6 — 2021-10-08

The Aliens have a brand new update for you:

- Bringing more bug fixes and stability to you.

### 1.8.5 — 2021-09-30

The Aliens have a brand new update for you:

- Bringing more bug fixes and stability to you.

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## More apps by PlaySide

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All apps by PlaySide: https://appshunter.io/developer/551505830

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*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 2026-08-25.*