Best Sandbox Games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated sandbox games. For those who prefer not to search, check out lists of the most played, top deals and best free to play Sandbox games on Steam.
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Plan B: Terraform
Terraform a lifeless rock into a lush and habitable world. Build trucks, trains, and sprawling factories on an enormous hexagonal planet. Grow its population to millions. Enjoy a dynamic simulation of atmosphere, temperature, water, and forests.
Beyond the Map
Survival ARPG set in a procedurally generated fantasy world. Build a base, gear up, and fight to survive as you chase better loot and stronger enemies.
Waterpark Simulator
Build and run your own waterpark. Design slides, send guests flying with ragdoll physics, manage staff, and fully customize your park. Turn total madness into a five-star empire in this first-person management simulator!
Island Notes
Shipwrecked on a mysterious island, choose self-preservation or alliances. Master base-building, farming, fishing, romance and pet taming in this morally-charged survival simulator that blends strategy with human drama. Forge bonds, conquer nature, and evolve your humanity.
Planetary Life
Manipulate climate, add plants and evolve creatures in this planet and life sandbox simulation game. From cells to civilizations, spread life throughout the whole planet. Or just enjoy watching your creation burn!
Monarch : Medieval Remastered
In the medieval era, assume the role of a lord and engage with other lords，develop fiefdoms, and employ strategies involving intrigue, warfare, and plunder. Expand your territory and strengthen your house lineage Or, be a god, manipulate the world? This game primarily strategic role-playing elements
ERA ONE
Era One is an innovative space game that combines elements of real-time strategy, base building, space survival, and tactical battles. Players can create and customize their bases from scratch, construct various types of structures and warships, manage fleets, and engage in tactical space battles.
Lakeside Bar
A cozy management sim where the jazz is smooth, the cocktails are cooler than the evening breeze, and the lake reflects your perfect escape.
Grounded 2
Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. In this open-world, single-player or co-op survival adventure, craft weapons and armor, build your base, and traverse the playground on your buggy. But something else is out there—and it hasn’t forgotten you.
Captain Bones : A Pirate's Journey
Captain Bones is an action-adventure game set in an open pirate world. You must have survival skills to make ship battles and treasure hunts with your crew.
Endzone 2
Endzone 2 is a post-apocalyptic survival colony builder, where you embark to secure humanity's survival after a cataclysmic disaster. Discover and repopulate the last habitable grounds, while the survival of your people hinges on your wits, foresight, and resilience in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Pile Up!
"Pile Up!" is a strategic building game which you need to build houses, fulfill your people’s requests and manage your risky buildings in different ways on a small land. But don’t let your guard down in this chill environment, we only get you relaxed so you destroy everything you did.
Abiotic Factor
Abiotic Factor is a survival crafting experience for 1-6 players set in the depths of an underground research facility. Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade, and chaos from a dozen realms, the world’s greatest minds must survive against the universe’s biggest threats.
Forsaken Isle
Stranded on a desert island, explore, craft, build and fight in this action survival game!
Drill Core
Corporate greed meets strategic planet-mining in Drill Core! Drill to the heart of planets while managing workers, researching cutting-edge tech, and fortifying against alien attacks. Will you prioritize efficiency and risk your workers' safety, or focus on defense for survival?
The Wandering Village
The Wandering Village is a city-building simulation game on the back of a giant, wandering creature. Build your settlement and form a symbiotic relationship with the colossus. Will you survive together in this hostile, yet beautiful post-apocalyptic world, contaminated by poisonous plants?
Return from Core
Mine, build, and explore with Monster Girl companions in this underground sandbox adventure. Uncover lost tech, automate production, and forge bonds with allies as you fight to survive and journey back to the surface.
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition
Gird your loins and sharpen your steel! Besiege 20 unique enemy lords and battle friends online, in this expanded remaster of the classic 'castle sim'. Relive history with new units, opponents, visuals, audio, campaigns, skirmish trails, co-op and larger maps.
Kaizen: A Factory Story
Kaizen is an open-ended puzzle automation game from the original Zachtronics team, set in 1980s Japan. Design, build, and optimize production lines to create iconic products, like calculators, camcorders, and arcade machines.
Ground of Aces
Take command of a remote military air base during World War II. Build your own airfield, manage iconic aircraft and oversee your crew’s well-being. Prepare them against air raids and send your pilots on dangerous missions. Survive and help your nation win the war!
