The Best Survival sandbox Games

Update : Space Engineers 2 added at rank #39.
1

Astroneer (2016)

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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!


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
  • base-building
  • drop-out
  • resource
  • adventure

2

Satisfactory (2024)

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92
Review score
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PC Windows

Satisfactory is an engaging first-person factory-building game on an alien planet, allowing players to explore a pre-generated world and harvest natural resources to create automated factories. With great power systems and conveyor belts to help automate resource collection and transportation, the game offers a fun and addictive experience for control freaks and automation enthusiasts. The added survival element provides extra depth, making it a must-play for exploration and building game fans.


What we like:
  • Engaging first-person factory-building experience
  • Pre-generated world for unique gameplay experience
  • Fun power systems and conveyor belts for resource automation
  • Survival element adds extra depth
  • Great for building and automation enthusiasts
What could be improved:
  • May require significant time investment to unlock useful devices and modes of transportation
  • Demands patience, structure and adaptability

  • factory-building
  • first-person
  • crafting
  • survival
  • sandbox
  • automation
  • open-world
  • resource
  • factory
  • cooperative
  • robo-said
  • factory-builder
  • base-building
  • exploration
  • simulation

3

Kenshi (2018)

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92
Review score
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PC Windows

Experience the ultimate freedom in Kenshi, a unique open-world RPG that lets you forge your own path. Play as anyone, from a trader to a warlord, and shape your destiny in a harsh desert environment. Craft new equipment, build fortified havens, and research technologies to survive. With no limitations and a dynamic world, this is not just a game - it's a simulated life waiting to be conquered.


What we like:
  • Open world sandbox gameplay
  • Unique and interesting characters
  • High replayability
  • Immersive atmosphere
What could be improved:
  • Graphics could be better
  • Lack of a deep story

  • squad
  • sandbox
  • survival
  • rpg
  • open-world
  • post-apocalyptic
  • free-roaming
  • farming
  • management
  • open-ended
  • real-time
  • base-building
  • city-building
  • empire
  • travelling

4

Wizard With a Gun (2023)

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

Dive into 'Wizard with a Gun', an enchanting survival adventure where you craft bullets, battle beasts, and bend time! Team up with friends or brave it alone in a world where your magical firepower is your lifeline. Customize your wizard and tower, uncover secrets, and master the art of gunomancy in this bewitching, chaotic realm.

Buy

What we like:
  • Stunning art style
  • Engaging crafting and customization
  • Co-op gameplay enhances fun
  • Unique time-travel gameplay mechanic
  • Captivating story with deep lore
What could be improved:
  • Potential grind for gear
  • Some clunky inventory management

  • survival
  • sandbox
  • crafting
  • cooperative
  • rogue-like
  • isometric
  • twin-stick
  • set
  • boss
  • shooter
  • magical
  • tower
  • exploration
  • online
  • resource

5

Space Engineers (2019)

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84
Review score
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Xbox One Android Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows

Space Engineers is a sandbox game about engineering, construction, exploration and survival in space and on planets. Players build space ships, space stations, planetary outposts of various sizes and uses, pilot ships and travel through space to explore planets and gather resources to survive.


  • sandbox
  • volumetric
  • survival
  • physics
  • block
  • space
  • open-world
  • crafting
  • building
  • construction
  • realistic
  • grid

6

Core Keeper (2024)

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86
Review score
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Linux Xbox One Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Playstation 5 PC Windows

Core Keeper is a mining/crafting-adventure game that combines elements from games like Terraria, Stardew Valley, and Valheim. Dive into a subterranean world where you mine, build, and battle in an ever-expanding cave of wonders. Forge your path, unearth relics, and conquer monstrous foes, solo or with friends. It's a sandbox of secrets waiting for you to uncover!


What we like:
  • Infinite exploration with diverse biomes
  • Complete creative freedom in a fully destructible environment
  • Rich in secrets and stunning vistas
  • Varied gameplay with distinct regions
  • Extensive mod support enhances replayability
What could be improved:
  • Challenging navigation without clear landmarks
  • Limited inventory and storage space

  • survival
  • crafting
  • sandbox
  • cooperative
  • mining
  • cooking
  • farming
  • pixel
  • open-world
  • building
  • boss
  • procedural
  • simulation

7

No Man's Sky (2016)

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

8

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.


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

9

The Planet Crafter (2024)

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86
Review score
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PC Windows

A space survival open world terraforming crafting game, designed for 1 to 10 players. Alter the ecosystem of an inhospitable planet to render it habitable for humanity. Survive, gather resources, and build your base. Then, generate oxygen, warmth, and pressure to create a brand new biosphere.


  • survival
  • crafting
  • open-world
  • cooperative
  • sandbox
  • automation
  • exploration
  • base-building
  • sci-fi
  • building
  • resource-management
  • space

10

Aground (2018)

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93
Review score
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Linux Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One

Aground is a Mining/Crafting RPG with a goal, story, and reason to craft and build. The gameplay is simple, but engaging with tons of features. In Aground, you can raise dragons and launch into space, fight enemies, discover magic, and explore secrets. If you're into crafting games with a lot of exploration, Aground is a thoroughly addictive game with plenty to discover.


What we like:
  • Story is interesting and allows for a lot of exploration
  • Crafting is solid and varied
  • Mod support and community are helpful
  • Gameplay is engaging and controls are good
  • Freedom to choose which islands to visit and play at your own pace.
What could be improved:
  • Item storage can be tedious and requiring a lot of trips
  • Low-resolution graphics may take some getting used to
  • Lack of personal relationships with NPCs
  • Basic tutorial and sometimes requires use of outside resources for guidance.

  • survival
  • crafting
  • dragon
  • mining
  • open-world
  • base-building
  • city-building
  • building
  • post-apocalyptic
  • exploration
  • sandbox
  • 2d
  • choices
  • management
  • story

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