Pocket Gecko [Review]

Idle games were quite a phenomenon of 2025, and one that I spent more time with then I thought I ever would. I have ADHD, so I’ve been keeping one open while writing my articles to help me focus. When people think of the idle games, usually the go to is Rusty’s Retirement, a cute game about robots running a farm. Yet, the world of idle games is so much bigger than that. They range from being fairly simple to surprisingly complex, and cover a wide range of subject matters, such as running a store, or collecting animals in a pasture, fishing or even a couple where you raise virtual people.

I was given a chance to review Pocket Gecko, and this has quickly become my go to idle game.

Pocket Gecko is a basic incremental clicker. There’s a pet gecko, and he catches bugs. This is done by the player clicking on him before time runs out. The rarer the bug, the more clicks it requires. Bugs can be put in a trophy case, which gives bonuses such as making herbivores or carnivores appear more frequently, or upping the chances of a rare catch. Or they can be sold. Henry starts pretty weak and not being able to catch much. Over time though, thanks to upgrades purchased with my hard earned money, I turned Henry into a bug catching beast and raked in the cash. Once the cash starts flowing, I was able to unlock new locations with rarer insects. Rinse and repeat.

There’s nothing revolutionary in the game design but, that works in its favor. Most of the time why I bounce off idle games is they’re too dang complex, requiring too much time and focus to interact with. Pocket Gecko hits that sweet spot of being a simple distraction but not demanding too much. The ability for the game to autoclick unlocks very quickly and after that players are free to check in as much or as little as they want. 

Plus the game itself is just SO darn cute. I’ve also been a sucker for virtual pets, and Henry is no exception. He is a big eyed cartoon cutie who makes cute squeaking noises when you poke him.

If you’re looking for a no stress virtual animal friend to keep you company, with a low stakes yet rewarding sense of progression and some fun extras, Pocket Gecko will definitely scratch that itch. It’s simple yet effective, and the ideal desktop friend.

Pocket Gecko is priced at $3.99 USD on Steam and on sale for 20% off until Feb 7.

Review: 8/10