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, lists of the most played, top deals and best free sandbox games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered
Red Faction: Guerrilla re-defines the limits of destruction-based game-play with a huge open-world, fast-paced guerrilla-style combat, and true physics-based destruction.
Animyst
Explore a strange and dark afterlife as the Undead. Inhabit the body of a Skeleton or Fleshy Corpse and build a new life in The Droughts, a giant desert of ancient ruins and occult monsters. Craft powerful spells and befriend or battle other players in a single open online world...
The Crew™ 2
Take on the American motorsports scene as you explore and dominate the land, air, and sea across the entire USA. With a wide variety of cars, bikes, boats, and planes, compete in a wide range of driving disciplines.
Wreckfest
Wreckfest is a demolition derby themed racing game with soft-body damage modeling, sophisticated driving dynamics and in-depth vehicle upgrading, featuring both demolition derbies and more traditional track races. It’s all about fun, breakneck racing and over-the-top crashes.
Jurassic World Evolution
Place yourself at the heart of the Jurassic franchise and build your own Jurassic World. Bioengineer dinosaurs that think, feel and react intelligently to the world around them and face threats posed by espionage, breakouts and devastating tropical storms in an uncertain world where life always finds a way.
Totally Accurate Battlegrounds
Grab your balloon crossbow and trusty inflatable hammer, because things are about to get wobbly! Be the last weirdo standing in the world-leading physics-based Battle Royale game.
Gunsmith
Build up your own arms manufacturing company. Find your factory, buy resources, produce a wide range of military equipment to sell to the highest bidder. Good or bad? That's up to you, who you do business with is your choice. Don't ask, don't tell, get paid. After all, war is about making money.
Next Day: Survival
Next Day is a multi-player SURVIVAL game with elements of RPG, in an imaginary country in Eastern Europe. Carry out an array of tasks, learn skills, and develop your character. Have shootouts with opponents and earn a reputation.
House Flipper
House Flipper is a unique chance to become a one-man renovation crew. Buy, repair and remodel devastated houses. Give them a second life and sell them at a profit!
The friends of Ringo Ishikawa
A highschool gang leader Ringo Ishikawa trying to live through his last autumn before graduation. With his best friends.
MachiaVillain
Machiavillain is an evil mansion management and strategy game, inspired by Dungeon Keeper, Prison Architect and all the horror movie clichés! Build your own manor, raise your monsters, set up your traps, and exterminate your victims. But to gain reputation you'll have to slay by the horror movie rules!
Albion Online
Albion Online is a fantasy sandbox MMORPG featuring a player-driven economy, classless combat system, and intense PvP battles. Explore a vast open world full of danger and opportunity. Grow your wealth, forge alliances, and leave your mark on the world of Albion.
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!
Conan Exiles
An online multiplayer survival game, now with sorcery, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian. Survive in a vast open world sandbox, build your home into a kingdom, and dominate your enemies in single or multiplayer.
Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation
Build, scavenge, craft, and perform occult rituals to survive in a demon-infested, post-apocalyptic colony simulation. Will you survive Judgment day?
A Total War Saga: THRONES OF BRITANNIA
From the multi-award-winning strategy series, A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia combines huge real-time battles with engrossing turn-based campaign, set at a critical flashpoint in history. Anglo-Saxons, Gaelic clans and Viking settlers clash for control. What Kingdom will you build?
The Forest
As the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.
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.
Rolling Line
Build your own model railway tracks and scenery or explore pre-made layouts, including 1000s of player-made layouts and mods on the Steam Workshop! Play in virtual reality and on PC!
Call to Arms
Call to Arms offers an innovative mix of real-time strategy and 3rd, as well as 1st person controls. Set in the time of modern warfare, the game offers realistically modeled vehicles and heavy weaponry. Command your troops to victory or fight by yourself in the 3rd or 1st person action mode.
Project AURA
Project Aura is a micro management game where you lead a Colony of Climate Disaster Survivors. You have been assigned the mission to build an habitat capable of survival in this new unknown world.
Most played sandbox games on Steam
Take a look at the top sandbox games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 17th 2025.
1. RimWorld
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more. RimWorld is a colony sim, base-building and survival game developed and published by Ludeon Studios. Released on October 17th 2018 has received 210,517 reviews of which 206,216 were positive and 4,301 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.7 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played sandbox game, thanks to its 23,736 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.7
206,216
4,301
23,736
players
2. Terraria
Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available! Terraria is a open world survival craft, sandbox and survival game developed and published by Re-Logic. Released on May 16th 2011 has received 1,409,473 reviews of which 1,373,979 were positive and 35,494 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.7 out of 10. While seeing 19,718 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among sandbox games based on player count.
9.7
1,373,979
35,494
19,718
players
3. Garry's Mod
Garry's Mod is a physics sandbox. There aren't any predefined aims or goals. We give you the tools and leave you to play. Garry's Mod is a sandbox, moddable and multiplayer game developed by Facepunch Studios and published by Valve. Released on November 29th 2006 has received 1,159,707 reviews of which 1,122,546 were positive and 37,161 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 19,479 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among sandbox games based on player count.
9.6
1,122,546
37,161
19,479
players
4. Factorio
Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you. Factorio is a automation, base-building and resource management game developed and published by Wube Software LTD.. Released on August 14th 2020 has received 215,209 reviews of which 208,770 were positive and 6,439 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. With 16,672 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played sandbox games.
9.6
208,770
6,439
16,672
players
5. Albion Online
Albion Online is a fantasy sandbox MMORPG featuring a player-driven economy, classless combat system, and intense PvP battles. Explore a vast open world full of danger and opportunity. Grow your wealth, forge alliances, and leave your mark on the world of Albion. Albion Online is a free to play, mmorpg and open world game developed and published by Sandbox Interactive GmbH. Released on May 16th 2018 has received 83,074 reviews of which 65,583 were positive and 17,491 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. With 8,045 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played sandbox games.
7.8
65,583
17,491
8,045
players
6. Tabletop Simulator
Tabletop Simulator is the only simulator where you can let your aggression out by flipping the table! There are no rules to follow: just you, a physics sandbox, and your friends. Make your own online board games or play the thousands of community created mods. Unlimited gaming possibilities! Tabletop Simulator is a tabletop, board game and simulation game developed and published by Berserk Games. Released on June 05th 2015 has received 70,660 reviews of which 66,735 were positive and 3,925 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. With 5,425 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played sandbox games.
9.3
66,735
3,925
5,425
players
7. Kenshi
A free-roaming squad based RPG. Focusing on open-ended sandbox gameplay features rather than a linear story. Be a trader, a thief, a rebel, a warlord, an adventurer, a farmer, a slave, or just food for the cannibals. Train your men up from puny victims to master warriors. Kenshi is a open world, sandbox and rpg game developed and published by Lo-Fi Games. Released on December 06th 2018 has received 98,135 reviews of which 93,712 were positive and 4,423 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 5,093 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played sandbox games.
9.4
93,712
4,423
5,093
players
8. People Playground
Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space. People Playground is a sandbox, gore and physics game developed by mestiez and published by Studio Minus. Released on July 23rd 2019 has received 281,763 reviews of which 277,746 were positive and 4,017 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.8 out of 10. With 4,286 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played sandbox games.
9.8
277,746
4,017
4,286
players
9. Space Engineers
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. Space Engineers is a space, sandbox and building game developed and published by Keen Software House. Released on February 28th 2019 has received 132,347 reviews of which 117,204 were positive and 15,143 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. With 4,133 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played sandbox games.
8.8
117,204
15,143
4,133
players
10. Timberborn
Humans are long gone. In a world struck by droughts and toxic waste, will your lumberpunk beavers do any better? A city-building game featuring ingenious animals, vertical architecture, water physics, and terraforming. Contains high amounts of wood. Timberborn is a city builder, voxel and colony sim game developed and published by Mechanistry. Released on September 15th 2021 has received 31,678 reviews of which 30,266 were positive and 1,412 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 3,459 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played sandbox games.
9.4
30,266
1,412
3,459
players
Best deals on sandbox games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of sandbox games available on Steam right now, updated on June 17th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted sandbox games.
1. Nova Lands
Nova Lands is a factory building, exploration, and island management game. Explore, engage in combat, and automate your industry. The planet you’re on is full of mysteries, creatures, people, and things to do. Welcome to your new home amongst the stars! Nova Lands is a automation, base-building and sandbox game developed by BEHEMUTT and published by HypeTrain Digital. Released on June 22nd 2023 has received 2,823 reviews of which 2,546 were positive and 277 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Featuring a massive 99% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for sandbox category.
8.7
2,546
277
-99%
19.99€
0.37€
2. Tchia
A Tropical Open-World adventure. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around a beautiful archipelago in this physics-driven sandbox. Take control of any animal or object you can find, and Jam on your fully playable Ukulele. Tchia is a adventure, open world and sandbox game developed by Awaceb and published by Kepler Interactive. Released on March 21st 2024 has received 422 reviews of which 380 were positive and 42 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 99% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in sandbox games.
8.4
380
42
-99%
34.99€
0.64€
3. Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master
A dungeon in danger ! Build, manage, and defend your tower in the satirical heroic fantasy universe of Dungeon of Naheulbeuk. From a shaky establishment to an infamous lair! Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master is a management, simulation and funny game developed by Artefacts Studio and published by Dear Villagers. Released on November 15th 2023 has received 1,408 reviews of which 1,006 were positive and 402 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 99% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in sandbox games.
6.9
1,006
402
-99%
24.99€
0.44€
4. Mech Mechanic Simulator
Become a Mech Mechanic to deconstruct, rebuild, paint and fix gigantic iron machines. You live in an age of enormous machines and you better get ready to get your hands dirty! Mech Mechanic Simulator is a mechs, crafting and sandbox game developed by Polyslash and published by Valkyrie Initiative. Released on March 25th 2021 has received 628 reviews of which 403 were positive and 225 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 99% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for sandbox games.
6.2
403
225
-99%
19.50€
0.36€
5. SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator
A unique artist sim game with realistic paint mixing, physics and numerous painting tools. Upgrade and customize your studio, complete tasks, sell and expose art, buy instruments and get famous! SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator is a design & illustration, sandbox and immersive sim game developed by Goose Minded and published by HypeTrain Digital. Released on October 13th 2022 has received 4,359 reviews of which 4,239 were positive and 120 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for sandbox games.
9.4
4,239
120
-98%
24.99€
0.55€
6. Scribblenauts Unlimited
The best-selling, award-winning franchise is back – on your home PC in gorgeous HD for the first time. Scribblenauts Unlimited is a puzzle, casual and adventure game developed by 5th Cell Media and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Released on February 15th 2013 has received 11,755 reviews of which 11,038 were positive and 717 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for sandbox games.
9.1
11,038
717
-98%
19.99€
0.42€
7. Transport Fever
Transport Fever is a railroad-focused tycoon game. Players start in 1850 and build up a thriving transport company. As an emerging transport tycoon, the player constructs stations, airports, harbors and makes money by connecting areas requiring transport services. Build up your own Empire! Transport Fever is a flight, city builder and sandbox game developed by Urban Games and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. Released on November 08th 2016 has received 10,722 reviews of which 8,934 were positive and 1,788 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for sandbox games.
8.1
8,934
1,788
-98%
29.99€
0.67€
8. Havendock
Breathe easy and thrive in this cozy colony sim. Build a haven for castaways, manage resources, live your best life on the ocean. Lead your humble settlement into a high-tech society. Havendock is a singleplayer, strategy and city builder game developed by YYZ Studio and published by IndieArk and Pretty Soon. Released on April 22nd 2025 has received 1,399 reviews of which 1,191 were positive and 208 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for sandbox games.
8.1
1,191
208
-98%
19.50€
0.42€
9. Main Assembly
You’re the designer, engineer and architect if you can imagine it you can create it! Construct robots of any shape or size from eight-legged spider bots to eerie UFO contraptions. Main Assembly is a 3d, online co-op and co-op game developed by Bad Yolk Games and published by Team17. Released on January 26th 2021 has received 1,314 reviews of which 1,115 were positive and 199 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for sandbox games.
8.1
1,115
199
-98%
19.99€
0.43€
10. Black Skylands
Become the captain of an airship and explore the world of the skies, gather resources and build powerful weapons, uncover ancient secrets and fight beneath your ship's sails. Black Skylands is a pixel graphics, open world and sandbox game developed by Hungry Couch Games and published by tinyBuild. Released on August 15th 2023 has received 3,894 reviews of which 3,236 were positive and 658 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 98% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for sandbox games.
8.0
3,236
658
-98%
19.50€
0.45€
Free sandbox games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play sandbox games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on June 17th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play sandbox games.
1. Albion Online
Albion Online is a fantasy sandbox MMORPG featuring a player-driven economy, classless combat system, and intense PvP battles. Explore a vast open world full of danger and opportunity. Grow your wealth, forge alliances, and leave your mark on the world of Albion. Albion Online is a free to play, mmorpg and open world game developed and published by Sandbox Interactive GmbH. Released on May 16th 2018 has received 83,074 reviews of which 65,583 were positive and 17,491 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. With 8,045 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free sandbox games on Steam.
7.8
65,583
17,491
8,045
players
2. Trove
Grab your friends, hone your blades, and set off for an epic procedurally generated adventure in Trove! Battle the Shadow in realms filled with dungeons and items created by your fellow players. Whether hunting treasure or building realms of your own, it’s never been this good to be square! Trove is a free to play, open world and sandbox game developed and published by gamigo US Inc.. Released on July 09th 2015 has received 92,370 reviews of which 74,103 were positive and 18,267 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 776, this sandbox game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free sandbox games on Steam.
7.9
74,103
18,267
776
players
3. OpenTTD
OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe. OpenTTD is a simulation, building and free to play game developed and published by OpenTTD. Released on April 01st 2021 has received 14,394 reviews of which 13,845 were positive and 549 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 448, this sandbox game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free sandbox games on Steam.
9.4
13,845
549
448
players
4. Counter-Strike Nexon
Counter-Strike Nexon is a Free to Play MMOFPS offering competitive PvP and PvE action including content from the original Counter-Strike and all new game modes, map creation function, weapons, and hordes of Zombies! Counter-Strike Nexon is a free to play, fps and zombies game developed by Valve and NEXON and published by NEXON. Released on October 07th 2014 has received 42,702 reviews of which 28,373 were positive and 14,329 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 336 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free sandbox games on Steam.
6.6
28,373
14,329
336
players
5. Wurm Online
A sandbox MMORPG that has pushed the boundaries on what it means to be open world and stood the test of time. Dig, mine, shape the world around you and make your lasting mark! Wurm Online is a free to play, sandbox and rpg game developed and published by Code Club AB. Released on July 24th 2020 has received 2,328 reviews of which 1,444 were positive and 884 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.1 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 156 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free sandbox games on Steam.
6.1
1,444
884
156
players
6. Resonite
Enter a novel digital universe with infinite possibilities. Whether you resonate with people around the world in a casual conversation, playing games and socializing or you riff off each other when creating anything from art to programming complex games, you'll find your place here. Resonite is a early access, casual and sandbox game developed by Yellow Dog Man Studios and Frooxius and published by Yellow Dog Man Studios. Released on October 06th 2023 has received 1,252 reviews of which 1,023 were positive and 229 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 150 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #6 position in the best free sandbox games on Steam.
7.8
1,023
229
150
players
7. The Powder Toy
The Powder Toy is a classic physics sandbox game, which simulates air pressure and velocity, heat, gravity and a countless number of interactions between different substances The Powder Toy is a simulation, sandbox and 2d game developed and published by The Powder Toy Team. Released on June 14th 2024 has received 1,852 reviews of which 1,824 were positive and 28 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played free sandbox games on Steam.
9.4
1,824
28
87
players
8. MergeCrafter
Welcome to the magical world of Runaria! Explore dungeons, chop trees, mine rocks, and discover hidden treasure! Merge identical items to create valuable resources, Craft new tools and upgrade them with powerful enchantments! Setup passive mining drills and tree farms to rebuild your camp! MergeCrafter is a relaxing, sandbox and match 3 game developed and published by Fiveamp. Released on August 23rd 2022 has received 815 reviews of which 592 were positive and 223 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free sandbox games on Steam.
7.0
592
223
77
players
9. Haven & Hearth
A free-to-play MMORPG with crafting, building, landscaping, foraging, hunting, fishing, a dash of poetry, and open PvP combat, Haven & Hearth is a early access, mmorpg and rpg game developed and published by Seatribe. Released on November 01st 2024 has received 790 reviews of which 596 were positive and 194 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free sandbox games on Steam.
7.2
596
194
60
players
10. Egg Surprise
A fun clicker with economic simulation in the penguin kingdom. Obtain rare collections, venture into dangerous dungeons, and build your own civilization! Egg Surprise is a simulation, clicker and arcade game developed and published by SQRT Games. Released on June 20th 2024 has received 1,196 reviews of which 818 were positive and 378 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free sandbox games on Steam.
6.6
818
378
52
players