Best Sandbox Games

Sandbox games are a type of video game that allows players to explore and interact with a virtual world in a non-linear way. These games typically provide players with a large open world to explore, with few restrictions on what they can do or where they can go.

What are sandbox Games?

One of the defining features of sandbox games is their emphasis on player freedom and creativity. In many sandbox games, players are able to build, craft, and create their own structures, objects, and even entire worlds. This allows players to exercise their creativity and imagination and express themselves in new and exciting ways.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the best sandbox games you can play across all available platforms.

Best Sandbox Games on Mobile

Let’s take a look at the best sandbox games you can play on the go.

1. Roblox

Roblox is a massively multiplayer online sandbox game that allows players to create their own games and experiences, as well as play games created by other players. With a user-friendly game development platform and a massive community of players, Roblox offers endless possibilities for creativity and exploration.
Players can create everything from simple platformers to complex role-playing games, with a wide range of different tools and assets to work with. With regular updates and a passionate community, Roblox is a fantastic sandbox game for anyone looking to create, share, and play games on their mobile device.

Also read: Roblox Review: What Age Is It For? Are There Parental Controls? Is The Game Free?

2. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a farming simulator that allows players to build and customize their own farm, interact with NPCs, and explore a charming and immersive world. With a wide range of crops to grow, animals to raise, and resources to gather, players can create a thriving farm that provides for their needs and the needs of their community.
The game features a deep crafting system that allows players to create a wide range of items, from tools and equipment to decorations and furniture. With beautiful graphics, a relaxing soundtrack, and addictive gameplay, Stardew Valley is a must-play for anyone looking for a mobile sandbox game that offers a mix of creativity and relaxation.

3. The Sandbox Evolution

The Sandbox Evolution is a sandbox game that allows players to create their own worlds and games, as well as share them with other players online. With a wide range of different tools and assets to work with, players can create everything from simple platformers to complex role-playing games.
The game features a user-friendly development platform that makes it easy for players to create and share their creations, as well as a vibrant community of players who are always creating and sharing new content. With regular updates and a passionate community, The Sandbox Evolution is a fantastic sandbox game for anyone looking to unleash their creativity and share their creations with others.

4. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an open-world game that allows players to explore a vast and detailed world filled with missions, side quests, and activities. With a huge range of different vehicles to drive, weapons to use, and characters to interact with, players can create their own unique stories and adventures in a sandbox environment.
The game features a deep and engaging story that spans multiple cities and characters, as well as a range of different gameplay mechanics, from driving and shooting to role-playing and stealth. With stunning graphics, a fantastic soundtrack, and hours of gameplay, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a must-play for anyone looking for a mobile sandbox game that offers a mix of action and exploration.

5. Goat Simulator

Goat Simulator is a sandbox game that allows players to take control of a goat and wreak havoc on a variety of environments, from cities to amusement parks. With a range of different absurd and hilarious abilities, players can cause chaos and destruction in a sandbox environment that is both hilarious and satisfying.
The game features a range of different challenges and objectives to complete, as well as a variety of different goats to unlock and play as. With tongue-in-cheek humor, addictive gameplay, and a unique sandbox experience, Goat Simulator is a fantastic mobile sandbox game for anyone looking for a wacky and entertaining gaming experience.

6. Junk Jack

Junk Jack is a sandbox game that allows players to explore, build, and survive in a procedurally generated world filled with resources and danger. With a range of different biomes to explore, players can gather resources, craft items, and build their own structures and homes.
The game features a deep crafting system that allows players to create a range of different items and equipment, as well as a variety of different enemies and creatures to fight. With multiplayer support and regular updates, Junk Jack is a fantastic mobile sandbox game for anyone looking for a survival-focused experience that combines exploration and creativity.

7. Garry’s Mod

Garry’s Mod is a sandbox game that allows players to create and manipulate objects in a physics-based environment. With a range of different tools and objects to work with, players can create complex machines, structures, and contraptions that interact with the game’s physics engine in unique and fascinating ways.
The game also features a range of different multiplayer modes, allowing players to compete or collaborate with other players in a sandbox environment. With a dedicated community of players and a range of different mods and add-ons to download, Garry’s Mod is a must-play for anyone looking for a mobile sandbox game that offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience.

Best Sandbox Games for PC

Now that we are done with the best games for your mobile phone, let’s look into the best games you can play on your PC. This platform offers more room for games that are harder on your device as well.

1. Minecraft

Minecraft is a sandbox game that has become a cultural phenomenon since its release in 2011. Players are placed in a procedurally generated world and must gather resources, craft tools, and build structures in order to survive and thrive.
The game’s blocky graphics and simple mechanics have spawned countless mods, servers, and spin-off games, making Minecraft one of the most popular sandbox games of all time. With endless possibilities for exploration, creativity, and gameplay, Minecraft is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game on PC.

Also read: What Game is Most like Minecraft? Best Free Alternatives Games

2. Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V is an open-world game that allows players to explore the fictional city of Los Santos and its surrounding countryside. Players can switch between three different characters, each with their own story and missions to complete.
The game features a range of different gameplay mechanics, from driving and shooting to role-playing and heists. With stunning graphics, a fantastic soundtrack, and a vast and detailed world to explore, Grand Theft Auto V is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that offers a mix of action and exploration.

3. Terraria

Terraria is a 2D sandbox game that combines elements of platforming, crafting, and exploration to create a unique and engaging experience on PC. Players can explore a vast and diverse world filled with enemies, treasures, and resources, using a variety of weapons and tools to survive and thrive.
The game features a robust crafting system that allows players to create a wide range of items, from weapons and armor to furniture and decorations. With multiplayer support and regular updates, Terraria is a fantastic sandbox game for anyone looking for a gaming experience that combines exploration, combat, and creativity.

4. RimWorld

RimWorld is a colony management game that puts players in charge of a group of survivors stranded on a distant planet. Players must gather resources, build structures, and manage their colonists’ needs and relationships in order to survive and thrive.
The game features a deep and engaging story that is generated procedurally, with each playthrough offering a unique and challenging experience. With a range of different gameplay mechanics, including combat, research, and diplomacy, RimWorld is a must-play for anyone looking for a deep and engaging sandbox game on PC.

5. Factorio

Factorio is a factory simulation game that challenges players to build and optimize a complex network of machines and conveyor belts. Players must gather resources, research new technologies, and manage their production lines in order to build a massive automated empire.
With a range of different gameplay modes, including campaign, free play, and multiplayer, Factorio offers endless possibilities for creativity and strategy. With deep and addictive gameplay, Factorio is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that challenges their problem-solving skills.

6. Starbound

Starbound is a 2D sandbox game developed by Chucklefish and released in 2016. The game allows players to explore a vast and procedurally generated universe filled with planets, creatures, and resources. Players can gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and explore a range of different biomes, each with its own unique set of creatures and resources to discover. With a deep and engaging story that players can uncover as they explore the universe, Starbound is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that offers a mix of exploration, crafting, and storytelling.

One of the unique aspects of Starbound is its emphasis on player choice and customization. Players can create and customize their own character, choose from a range of different races and character classes, and even build and customize their own spaceship. The game also features a range of different gameplay modes, including survival, casual, and hardcore modes, as well as a dedicated multiplayer mode that allows players to explore the universe with friends. With stunning pixel art graphics, a deep and engaging story, and a range of different gameplay mechanics to explore, Starbound is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that offers endless possibilities and a unique blend of exploration and customization.

7. Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program is a space flight simulation game that challenges players to design, build, and launch their own rockets and spacecraft. Players must gather resources, research new technologies, and manage their crew’s needs and safety in order to explore the solar system and beyond.
The game also features a robust modding community, with a wide range of different mods and add-ons available for download. These mods can add new parts, features, and gameplay mechanics to the game and can greatly enhance the overall experience for players.

8. Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a medieval action and strategy game that allows players to create and lead their own army in a sandbox world filled with factions, politics, and warfare. Players can gather troops, recruit companions, and engage in epic battles on a massive scale.
The game features a deep and engaging world that is filled with unique characters, locations, and quests. With stunning graphics, addictive gameplay, and a range of different gameplay modes, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that offers a mix of action and strategy.

9. Cities: Skylines

Cities: Skylines is a city-building simulation game that challenges players to design and manage their own urban metropolis. Players must balance the needs of their citizens with the constraints of their budget and resources, building infrastructure, managing traffic, and responding to disasters and emergencies.
Cities: Skylines offers a wide range of different gameplay modes, including sandbox, scenario-based challenges, and a full campaign mode. In sandbox mode, players have unlimited resources and can experiment freely with different designs and concepts. In scenario-based challenges, players must meet specific objectives and overcome specific challenges in order to succeed. In the campaign mode, players must complete a series of different missions and objectives in order to build a successful city and unlock new features and challenges.

Also read: Best Cities: Skylines Modes to Install

10. Besiege

Besiege is a physics-based sandbox game that allows players to design and build their own siege weapons and war machines. Players must gather resources, design their creations, and then test them against a range of different challenges and scenarios. The game features a range of different materials and components to work with, allowing players to create everything from simple catapults to complex tanks and aircraft.
With a dedicated community of players and a range of different mods and add-ons available, Besiege offers endless possibilities for creativity and experimentation. With addictive gameplay and a unique sandbox experience, Besiege is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that challenges their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Best Sandbox Games for Console

If you’re a console player and don’t really enjoy playing on your phone or PC, we got a list for you too. Here are the top ten sandbox games you can play on PC.

1. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is an action-adventure game set in ancient Greece. Players take on the role of either Alexios or Kassandra, descendants of the Spartan king Leonidas, and must navigate the political intrigue and battles of the Peloponnesian War.
The game features a vast and detailed open world with stunning graphics and a range of different environments to explore. Players can engage in a range of different activities, including naval combat, hunting, and exploration. With a deep and engaging story, a range of different gameplay mechanics, and a stunning open world to explore, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that offers a mix of action and adventure.

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an action RPG set in a vast and detailed open world inspired by Slavic mythology. Players take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a Witcher, and must navigate a range of different quests and storylines while exploring the world around them.
The game features stunning graphics, deep and engaging characters, and a range of different gameplay mechanics, including combat, crafting, and exploration. With a range of different quests and side quests to complete, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that offers a mix of action, role-playing, and exploration.

3. Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn is an action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has been reduced to small tribes living in a world overrun by robotic creatures. Players take on the role of Aloy, a young hunter, and archer, and must explore the world around them while uncovering the secrets of their past.

4. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is an action-adventure game set in ancient Greece. Players take on the role of either Alexios or Kassandra, descendants of the Spartan king Leonidas, and must navigate the political intrigue and battles of the Peloponnesian War.
Players can engage in a range of different activities, including naval combat, hunting, and exploration. With a deep and engaging story, a range of different gameplay mechanics, and a stunning open world to explore, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a must-play for anyone looking for a sandbox game that offers a mix of action and adventure.

5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an action RPG developed by Bethesda Game Studios and released in 2011. The game allows players to explore a vast and detailed open world set in the region of Skyrim, a fictional province in the world of Tamriel.

In terms of gameplay, Skyrim features a robust character customization system, allowing players to choose from a range of different races, abilities, and skills. The game also features a deep and engaging combat system, with a range of different weapons and magic spells to use in battle.

6. Just Cause 4

Just Cause 4 is an action-adventure game developed by Avalanche Studios and released in 2018. Players take on the role of Rico Rodriguez, a special agent tasked with overthrowing the government of the fictional country of Solís.

Another unique aspect of Just Cause 4 is its destructible environments. Players can use explosives and other weapons to destroy buildings, bridges, and other structures, creating new opportunities for exploration and gameplay. The game also features a range of different missions and activities to complete, including story missions, side missions, and challenges.

7. No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky is a sci-fi sandbox game developed by Hello Games and released in 2016. Players explore a procedurally generated universe, discovering new planets, galaxies, and alien species along the way. The game features a range of different gameplay mechanics, including space exploration, combat, and resource gathering, as well as a vast and detailed open world to explore.
With a dedicated multiplayer mode, base building, and the ability to customize and upgrade spaceships, No Man’s Sky offers a deep and engaging sandbox experience that can be tailored to each player’s individual preferences.

8. Spider-Man (2018)

Spider-Man is an action-adventure game developed by Insomniac Games and released in 2018. Players take on the role of Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, and swing through the streets of New York City while battling a range of different enemies.

One of the standout features of Spider-Man is its web-slinging mechanics. Players can swing through the city using Spider-Man’s web-shooters, allowing for fast and fluid traversal of the game’s vast and detailed open-world. The game also features a range of different combat mechanics, allowing players to fight crime and take down villains using a variety of different attacks, combos, and special moves.

9. Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game developed by Sucker Punch Productions and released in 2020. Players take on the role of Jin Sakai, a samurai warrior tasked with defending the island of Tsushima from the invading Mongol army.

In Conclusion

Sandbox games offer a unique and immersive experience that allows players to explore vast and detailed open worlds, engage in a range of different activities, and tailor their gameplay experience to their individual preferences. Whether you prefer building and crafting in Minecraft, engaging in criminal activities in Grand Theft Auto V, or exploring a post-apocalyptic world in Horizon Zero Dawn, there is a sandbox game out there for everyone.

The games on this list represent the best of the best in the sandbox genre, offering deep and engaging stories, stunning graphics, and a range of different gameplay mechanics to keep players entertained for hours on end. No matter which game you choose to play, you are sure to be transported to a world filled with adventure, excitement, and endless possibilities. So why not dive in and start exploring? The sandbox awaits!