The Best Crafting open-world Games for Nintendo Switch

Update : Botworld Odyssey added at rank #41.
1

Nova Lands (2023)

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83
Review score
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Playstation 4 Xbox One PC Windows Nintendo Switch

Dive into Nova Lands, where your creativity fuels an open-world adventure of base-building and automation! Master resource management, befriend or battle exotic creatures, and design a thriving industry with adorable helper bots. Unleash your inner strategist and transform untamed wilds into a flourishing empire. Embark on your journey in Nova Lands today!

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What we like:
  • Engaging base-building and automation
  • Diverse biomes with unique challenges
  • Customizable helper bot AI adds depth
  • Satisfying progression and skill tree
  • Charming pixel art and soundtrack
What could be improved:
  • Late-game content a bit slow

  • management
  • crafting
  • open-world
  • resource-management
  • automation
  • resource
  • pixel
  • survival
  • base-building
  • farming
  • simulation
  • 2d
  • boss-fight
  • boss
  • building

2

Astroneer (2019)

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94
Review score
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Xbox One Playstation 4 PC Windows Nintendo Switch IOS iPhone

Embark on a cosmic journey in Astroneer, where you can shape worlds to your heart's content. Dig, build, and survive in a sandbox universe, creating bases and vehicles with friends. Uncover mysteries and enjoy a crafting odyssey across vibrant planets—your space adventure awaits!

Buy

What we like:
  • Engaging crafting and building mechanics
  • Vibrant, immersive worlds
  • Relaxing, open-ended gameplay
  • Satisfying cooperative multiplayer
  • Regular updates with new content
What could be improved:
  • Occasional control and camera issues

  • survival
  • crafting
  • sandbox
  • cooperative
  • open-world
  • exploration
  • space
  • drop-in
  • drop-out
  • resource
  • base-building
  • adventure

3

TerraTech (2018)

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90
Review score
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PC Windows Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One Mac OS Linux

TerraTech is the perfect game for creative kids who love to build their own vehicles and explore a randomly generated world. Construct powerful machines, bases, and weapons to defend against rival miners, gather resources, and improve your standing with the Mining Corporations. Explore treacherous mountain ranges, luscious grasslands, and huge deserts while building and creating your own unique style. The gameplay is fun and intuitive, and the simplistic graphics don't require high-end hardware.

Buy

What we like:
  • Fun and intuitive gameplay
  • Creative freedom with lots of room for your own style
  • Enticing game with interesting mechanics
  • Simplistic graphics don't require high-end hardware
  • Provides a unique and addictive experience
What could be improved:
  • Feels empty with repetitive fetch quests
  • Lack of big updates
  • Multiplayer needs a lot of work

  • sandbox
  • building
  • crafting
  • open-world
  • construction
  • vehicle
  • survival
  • robots
  • physics
  • early-access
  • exploration
  • funny-looking
  • online
  • vehicles

4

DYSMANTLE (2021)

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87
Review score
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Mac OS Android IOS iPhone Nintendo Switch Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 4 PC Windows

DYSMANTLE is a post-apocalyptic open-world game where you explore a world inhabited by nasty and vile creatures. Craft permanent weapons, tools, outfits, and trinkets, farm plants, cook delicious recipes, and solve puzzles to gain upgrades. With over 99% of everything breakable for materials, the possibilities are endless. Enjoy the bittersweet apocalypse and thrive in a dangerous world.

Buy

What we like:
  • Progression system is nice
  • Unique story with nice plot twist
  • Great feedback when hitting stuff
  • Cathartic to destroy everything
  • Good value for amount of content
What could be improved:
  • Crafting system is too grindy
  • Building feels like an afterthought
  • Travel is painfully slow
  • Lack of purpose for building and sleeping

  • zombies
  • survival
  • crafting
  • open-world
  • post-apocalyptic
  • beast
  • rpg

5

Forager (2019)

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89
Review score
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Android Nintendo Switch PC Windows Xbox One IOS iPhone

Forager is a 2D open-world game inspired by many other farming, crafting and exploration games. You play as a little white unnamed humanoid thing and start on a single small island filled with rocks, trees, flowers and other resources. You use the starting tool to chop down trees or mine rocks to start crafting objects. As you progress, you earn experience points to unlock new skills and craft new tools as well as purchase more land to expand your area of exploration. There are also puzzles to solve that award special treasure chests or items.

Buy

What we like:
  • Fun gameplay
  • Earn experience points
  • Craft new tools
  • Expand land area
  • Solve puzzles for rewards
  • Extra content unlocked from feats in game
What could be improved:
  • No real story needed
  • Stamina must be monitored closely
  • Price tag for the game may seem high compared to content offered

  • crafting
  • farming
  • dungeon
  • open-world
  • survival
  • exploration
  • puzzle
  • skill

6

No Man's Sky (2016)

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89
Review score
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PC Windows Android Mac OS Xbox Series X osvr psvr Playstation 5 Xbox One Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch

No Man's Sky is a massive universe-sim sandbox experience that lets you explore an infinite number of planets with unique lifeforms and environments. Upgrade your ship and suit for survival and choose your own path - whether you want to be a trader, fighter, or explorer. The game offers great graphics and good VR support with the ability to play with friends and share your discoveries.


What we like:
  • Deliver on promises
  • Great graphics
  • Cross-play enabled
  • Good VR support
What could be improved:
  • Some bugs present
  • Not challenging enough
  • No co-op progression

  • inventory
  • survival
  • exploration
  • sci-fi
  • crafting
  • pirates
  • resource
  • discovery
  • trading
  • aliens
  • multiplayer
  • sandbox
  • space
  • open-world
  • management

7

Pokemon Legends: Arceus (2022)

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83
Review score
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Nintendo Switch

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a revolutionary game that takes players back to the roots of the Pokemon series, with a revamped catching mechanic and open-world gameplay reminiscent of Breath of the Wild. The addition of a research system and new types of Pokeballs enhance the catching experience. It successfully addresses annoyances that have plagued the series, making it one of the most exciting Pokemon games in years.

Buy

What we like:
  • Revamped catching mechanic
  • Open-world gameplay reminiscent of Breath of the Wild
  • Research system adds depth
  • New types of Pokeballs enhance catching experience
  • Addresses annoyances that have plagued the series
What could be improved:
  • Lackluster graphics in certain areas
  • Sparse and barren world design

  • battle
  • open-world
  • crafting
  • turn-based
  • rpg
  • exploration
  • boss-fight
  • fight

8

Starsand (2021)

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73
Review score
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Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows

In Starsand, you'll explore a vast and unforgiving desert, scavenging for resources, building a shelter, and hunting to survive. With dynamic weather and day/night changes, you'll have to plan and act wisely to uncover the secrets of an ancient civilization and make it back home. Can you survive in this harsh environment and make it out alive?

Buy

What we like:
  • Good survival elements
  • Interesting premise
  • Nice desert atmosphere
  • Nice exploration aspects
  • Unique navigation system
What could be improved:
  • Limited content
  • Clunky gameplay
  • Unforgiving resource allocation
  • Bugs and glitches
  • Lack of save points

  • survival
  • crafting
  • open-world
  • base-building
  • resource-management
  • building
  • inventory
  • 3d
  • management
  • sandbox
  • aliens
  • sci-fi
  • atmospheric
  • realistic
  • first-person

9

Subnautica (2018)

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98
Review score
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Mac OS Xbox Series X Xbox One osvr Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows Nintendo Switch

Plunge into Subnautica's alien ocean world, where survival hinges on your ability to adapt. Build, explore, and unravel mysteries in a breathtaking underwater realm. It's not just a game—it's an odyssey beneath the waves that will test your instincts and dazzle your senses.

Buy

What we like:
  • Gorgeous, immersive environments
  • Deep crafting and base-building
  • Compelling exploration and discovery
  • Rich storyline and world-building
  • Dynamic sound design enhancing atmosphere
What could be improved:
  • Occasional performance dips in deep areas
  • Limited inventory space can frustrate resource management

  • survival
  • underwater
  • crafting
  • open-world
  • exploration

10

Subnautica: Below Zero (2019)

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90
Review score
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Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One Xbox Series X Playstation 5

Plunge into the icy depths of Subnautica: Below Zero! Unravel the mystery of your sister's disappearance while braving the alien arctic. Craft, explore, and survive in a world teeming with otherworldly wonders. Each discovery propels you through a story rich with adventure and intrigue. Are you ready to uncover the secrets beneath the ice?

Buy

What we like:
  • Stunning alien underwater environments
  • Engaging narrative with a personal quest
  • Diverse biomes filled with unique creatures
  • Streamlined survival mechanics
  • Inviting to both series veterans and newcomers
What could be improved:
  • Some resources can be challenging to locate
  • Exploration may be hindered by confusing terrain

  • underwater
  • survival
  • crafting
  • exploration
  • open-world

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