Universal Paperclips
by Frank Lantz · 2017
9.2
house score
The verdict
The AI-alignment thought experiment as a four-hour masterpiece. You start clicking 'make paperclip' and end up dismantling the universe. No prestige, no grind — just a perfectly paced three-act arc that every incremental since has quietly copied.
Hot take
It's the only idle game that's also required reading. Finish it once and you'll understand the whole genre's DNA — and probably think differently about superintelligence for a week.
Screenshots
The facts
| Developer | Frank Lantz |
| Released | 2017 |
| Status | complete |
| Platforms | web, ios, android |
| Primary mechanic | make paperclips, automate, optimize a runaway economy |
| Prestige system | none (linear three-act arc) |
| Active vs idle | active-heavy |
| Offline progress | No |
| Monetization | free |
| Pay to win | No |
| Complexity | medium |
| Est. length | 4-6 hours |
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Last verified by the Almanac: 2026-09-04