Sandbox Hidden Gems on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated sandbox games.
Filters & Lists
Wrongworld
Crash-landed on a surreal, low-poly world filled with freakish inhabitants, choose between permadeath and non-permadeath modes and embark on an epic (and ridiculous) survival adventure. Will you manage to stay alive as you unravel the mysteries of Wrongworld and search for a way home?
Cave Digger VR
Cave Digger VR is a virtual reality mining game in an alternative western setting. Gear up with numerous unique tools and explore the town and the depths of the mountain. Discover secrets, easter eggs and multiple endings!
Signal Simulator
Game inspired by SETI. Take the role of a scientist to find an extraterrestrial signal .Control massive Radio Antennas by using interactive control in your Observatory. Detect , download and decode unknown or story telling signals. Manage and Maintain an electrical system to improve your systems and make it more efficient.
Galimulator
Galimulator is a galactic empire simulation and sandbox game. See how Empires rise and fall, and how the people in them climb through the ranks to bring prestige to their Dynasty. Then throw in an invasion of self replicating Smatter monsters if you want to spice things up.
Game Dev Studio
Welcome to your own Game Dev Studio! How will you run your own offices and ascend to greatness in the gaming industry?
Diesel Railcar Simulator
Drive vintage diesel trains, shifting gears manually and trying to reach a perfect score. Create new routes, trains and timetables. Share your creations and download new content from the Workshop.
The Islander
The Islander is a fast building/farming game set somewhere in an exotic Polynesia. Plant crops, bushes and trees, build livestock pens, but don’t forget to make it look classy by adding various decorations.
Verdant Skies
Verdant Skies is a life simulation game born from a love for games like Harvest Moon and a desire to create something unique with modern gameplay and deep storytelling. Ensure the success of the colony as you make friends and pursue romance with a diverse cast of characters.
BREAK ARTS II
Faster than anyone. Stronger than anyone. And more stunning. Customize your robot for “cyber battle racing” in a game that offers all the thrills of racing, battle, and customization. Online, Offline, Time-Attack... which mode will you dominate?!
cyubeVR
Immerse yourself in a voxel game exclusively designed for VR. A beautiful infinite procedural world. Explore, gather resources, craft with your hands in 3D, and build anything you can imagine. Featuring great VR controls, near-infinite view distance, Steam Workshop mod support, and much more!
Nantucket
Chase after Moby Dick, and live through the Golden Age of American whaling in this seafaring strategy game. Set sail around the world, manage your ship and crew, and live Ishmael's story, the sole survivor of the Pequod, a few years after the events narrated by Herman Melville in his masterpiece.
Total Miner
Total Miner is an open world voxel sandbox game. It is primarily designed for creative RPG game builders, but also has two action/adventure style game modes where you can just jump in and play.
Wooden Battles
Build a wooden fort, place your units, watch the mayhem!
Disassembly 3D
Disassembly and destruction physics sandbox simulator. Detailed models of objects and vehicles and their internal parts. Disassemble objects successfully to unlock weapons mode and destruction. Fight evil mannequins with everything you got in physical combat!
Shark Simulator
Shark Simulator is a WTF physics sandbox. Play as Ed the shark, and give those tourists a vacation they will remember!
Tasty Planet
Control a tiny ball of grey goo with the ability to eat anything smaller than itself. The more it eats, the bigger it gets! Soon you'll be able to eat the entire planet!
Computer Tycoon
Computer Tycoon is a fairly complex Business Grand Strategy game about Computer Evolution. Start in the 70s, invent until 2034, create the best computer systems, upgrade your infrastructure, lead a team, and alter computer history! It is time to "Think Different"
The Caribbean Sail
Name your crew, purchase supplies, sail the world, harpoon fish, plunder your enemies, die horribly, unlock a new Captain and do it all over again!
Voxel Turf
Voxel Turf is a block based urban sandbox. Build cities, blow up buildings, complete missions or fight for territory. Build a real estate empire, or perhaps just drive around and blow stuff up. Its your choice!
Chroma Lab
Chroma Lab is a VR particle physics sandbox. Surround yourself with hundreds of thousands of colorful particles that stick together like a fluid which you can interact with using a variety of tools.
Airmen
Airmen is a first person ship building and battling game featuring airships, landships and watercraft. Crew your ship solo or alongside friends on dangerous expeditions into the archipelago to complete contracts, collect resources, and upgrade your ships.
Home Wars
Do you hate bugs and arachnids? Seeing them creeps you out? Would you like them to disappear off the face of the Earth? GOOD! This is the right game for you! In HW you’ll play as a General of a toy soldiers army, with the sole purpose of saving the owner’s house from the invasion of those damn Bugs.
Block'hood
Block’hood is a neighborhood-building simulator that celebrates the diversity and experimentation of cities and the unique ecosystems within them. Budding city planners will have access to 200+ building blocks to combine and to create unique neighborhoods and discover the implications of their designs.
Weed Shop 2
Weed Shop 2 is a first person recreational Marijuana dispensary simulator where you'll get to grow the hottest strains, expand your business, hire employees and much more!
Disney Infinity 2.0: Gold Edition
Enjoy Disney Infinity with a Full Toy Box! Disney Infinity 2.0: Gold Edition invites you to enter the worlds of Disney Storytelling and Marvel Adventures with all Disney Infinity 2.0 Characters and Playsets Unlocked to enjoy experiences only Disney, Marvel, and your imagination can bring to life.
Disney Infinity 1.0: Gold Edition
Enjoy Disney Infinity with a Full Toy Box! Disney Infinity 1.0: Gold Edition gives you the freedom to create stories and play experiences with all Disney Infinity 1.0 Characters and Playsets Unlocked and ready for you to mix, match and mash up to invent just about any adventure you can imagine.
Junk Jack
Make the world truly yours in Junk Jack, a relaxing sandbox experience focused on building and improving your home. Discover new planets, tame and breed creatures, cook foods, collect animal companions, farm exotic plants, collect fish, grow flowers, play with your friends!
The Herbalist
"The Herbalist" is a smooth and meditative game from the creators of "Everlasting Summer". You'll need to recreate some recipes of ancient potions with Slavya.
Demolish & Build 2017
Become a boss of Demolition & Build company. Destroy small wooden huts and huge concrete buildings. Manage your workers. Invest earned cash in your own land properties and rent them for profit in open sandbox world. Use various hand tools, buy new machines and customize their parts.
Giant Machines 2017
Take control over seven of the biggest industrial machines in the world. During the 14 mission campaign you will punch through the snows of Greenland, plow the steppes of Wyoming and travel all the way to sunny Florida. Your hard work will be completed by launching a space shuttle into space.
Children of a Dead Earth
The most scientifically accurate space warfare simulator ever made. Now with Steam Workshop!
Ultimate Arena
Pick and create characters to fight to the death in this action-packed nonsensical arena simulation.
8-Bit Hordes
From the team that brought you 8-Bit Armies comes a new fantasy RTS as fast-paced and friendly as the original! 8-BIT HORDES is a colorful strategy-arcade game that is easy to learn for players of all skill levels. Collect resources, build up and defend your base, amass your army of orcs or humans and ultimately crush your opponents!