Summary
- Sandbox games like Kerbal Space Program and Garden Galaxy offer players creative freedom in diverse settings.
- Scrap Mechanic and Townscaper provide creative challenges, allowing players to build machines or design gardens as they see fit.
- Minecraft reigns supreme as the ultimate sandbox game, offering survival challenges and unlimited building possibilities.
Sandbox titles give players the freedom to do whatever they wish in various different worlds. This means that players usually make games or challenges for themselves that truly unleash their creativity from putting together large battles some may have never seen before or building a magnificent building that they hope to eventually live in.
Immersive Indie RPGs Inspired By The Elder Scrolls
Fans of Skyrim, Morrowind, and Oblivion will want to check out these indie produced open world sandbox RPGs inspired by The Elder Scrolls franchise
There are multiple brilliant sandbox games for players to try. However, only some of them truly allow gamers to explore their creativity through different activities. Out of all the titles available these games are by far the best for players that wish to unleash their creativity while gaming.
Updated on March 8, 2024, by Megan Smith: Some of the best sandbox games are those that allow players to be as creative as possible. This is crucial for a sandbox game, as it means the player has complete freedom in the world they explore as well as an active medium that they can use to finally explore that creativity. Many of these sandbox games allow players to be creative through how they design the buildings they live in, or the vehicles needed to explore the world around them. With few limitations on how players can be creative, these are by far the best sandbox games that allow players to explore their imagination.
13 Kerbal Space Program
Metascore: 88
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 74%
- Released
- April 27, 2015
- ESRB
- e
- Engine
- unity, unity 5
- Franchise
- Kerbal Space Program
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Developer
- Squad
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Sandbox games can be set across a variety of settings. Space is a common setting for sandbox titles that players can experience through Kerbal Space Program. In this game, a player must help the tiny green species known as Kerbals make it into space and explore the galaxy.
However, to get to this point they must first make a perfect spaceship for the Kerbals that will successfully lift off and then can be directly around space. This gives players the creative freedom to experiment with the parts of the spaceships they want to either make something that works great or just the wackiest ship ever. While players are ab;e to try a wild variety of shi designs this is the limit of the creativity in kerbs space program which means that even with its great review it remains at the bottom of the list.
12 Garden Galaxy
Metascore: TBD
- Platform: PC
- Released: 2022-12-14
- Developer: Anneka Tran
- Genre: Indie, Casual
Relaxing or cozy titles can also be sandbox games and Garden Galaxy is by far one of the greatest of the bunch. This game is quite straightforward as it leaves the player with the freedom to make their own little garden from an assortment of items they are randomly given.
It is up to the player to decide how they wish to design their garden and as they gradually earn coins from the mysterious visitors that will spend time in the player's creation, they will unlock new items to use. As Garden Galaxy has a simple premise, with the player left to create their garden as they see fit this is another title with limited creativity though still adorable.
11 Scrap Mechanic
Metascore: TBD
- Platform: PC
- Released: 2016-01-20
- Developer: Axolot Games
- Genre: Adventure, Simulation
Scrap Mechanic itself claims to be a creative paradise, and therefore it's of no surprise that this title is one of the best sandbox games that allows players to unleash their creativity. In this title players can either be creative alone or with friends as they defend against waves of evil Farmbots.
Early Open-World & Sandbox PS3 Games Almost No One Remembers
Before the heydays of open-world sandbox games, these PlayStation 3 games showcased something unique, only to be forgotten years later.
To defend against these robots, players must create a variety of machines from the scrap they collect. With both a survival mode to defend and a creative mode that allows players to create whatever they wish, Scrap Mechanic leaves players free to play how they want. Creativity has its limits in Scrap Mechanic as players will still need to think logically as the way they build their base should still be a great defense. However, the spare resources could be used to make something else.
10 Townscaper
Metascore: 63
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 69 /100 Critics Rec: 79%
- Released
- June 30, 2020
- ESRB
- e
- Engine
- Unity
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Developer
- Oskar Stålberg
- Genre(s)
- City Builder
Another relaxing sandbox game that allows players to unleash their inner creativity must be Townscaper. In this simple title players are free to create the town of their dreams as they simply place down houses to create their own little neighborhood.
With no actual goal to achieve, it is down to the player to create their own challenges; they can simply see how far their creativity expands as they gradually build their own town that can either be filled with canals or up above the clouds. While Townscaper may have a lower score than Kerbal Space Program, it still appears higher. This is because this calm town building title has far more potential for players to get creative.
9 Space Engineers
Metascore: 68
Space Engineers
- Released
- February 28, 2019
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Sandbox
Besides Kerbal Space Program, there are plenty of other sci-fi themed sandbox titles that allow players to get creative with their spacecraft. One great example of this is Space Engineers. Players can either create alone or with friends, as they work together to build whatever their minds can imagine.
Creating all sorts of epic spacecraft is exactly what Space Engineers is designed for, as players will not only need to think about how cool their ship looks, but also if it can functionally move through space. Anything is possible with a little bit of imagination and creativity.
8 Roblox
Metascore: TBD
Roblox - Game
Roblox, by definition, is more than just a game, it's also a game creation system. This title encourages players to create their own interesting worlds for other players to adventure within. Since its initial release in 2006, Roblox, and all the games that can be found within it, have been made by its own player base.
Open-World Games That Push The Boundaries Of Sandbox Gameplay
Open-world games that heavily lean into sandbox gameplay elements tend to shine brightly.
The quality of these games has improved over the years with players being given all the tools to truly allow their creativity to run free as well as inspiring others to give it a go also. The games within the game have gotten more complex, and the supportive community has grown to an impressive size.
7 No Man's Sky
Metascore: 71
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 36%
- Released
- August 9, 2016
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
- Publisher(s)
- Hello Games
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Space continues to be a great setting for sandbox games. No Man's Sky may have had a rocky start but in recent years the game has been updated to appeal to many players. While exploration is a prominent factor of the game, many also enjoy the chance to create incredible bases across a variety of planets.
After collecting various resources players can find themselves a place on a planet to start building their base. Through research, they can unlock new pieces of furniture that will really allow them to explore their creativity. As mentioned, much of this content was later added to the game, with new pieces to put together for the player to use to create their incredible base. Now players can create potential outposts of planets of their choice that allow them to live their space dream.
6 House Flipper 2
Metascore: 79
- Platform: PC
- Released: 2023-12-14
- Developer: Frozen District, Empyrean
- Genre: Simulation
While players may commonly be taking jobs with various clients to help renovate their homes in the way they want, or simply helping them clean up, a big part of House Flipper 2 is the player purchasing their own different homes and giving them a make-over before selling them for a profit.
Players will be able to build new walls, install a variety of windows, as well as choose paintings and wallpapers in whichever style they desire. It is up to the player's creativity to make the house of their dreams, or just a monstrosity.
5 Terraria
Metascore: 81
Terraria
- Released
- May 16, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Re-Logic
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Vita, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, 3DS, Stadia, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Terraria is an unbelievable pixel title that has interested many players with not only its hardcore survival elements but also its exploration and freedom to build whatever. Players will need to create places for the people they find while exploring in Terraria, this can lead to either simple rectangle homes or creating a wonderful hotel to house every resident.
Best Medieval Sandbox Games
Medieval sandboxes make for some of gaming's best experiences, letting players forge their own epic legends.
Although the game is played from a side-view which makes everything 2D, players are still able to test their creativity in this sandbox world. This game also has plenty of materials for players to unlock and interesting furniture options that gives players plenty of options when decorating their home base. Although, this side view still makes placements limited.
4 Teardown
Metascore: 80
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 74%
- Released
- April 21, 2022
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Tuxedo Labs
- Publisher(s)
- Tuxedo Labs
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Puzzle
Sometimes the most creative games are the ones where people aren't building but are instead breaking things down, Teardown is exactly that title. In Teardown players are free to destroy whatever they want or explore in any way they can think of. This therefore gave Teardown a higher place on the list due to it exploring creativity in a way that didn't include building.
Players can reach new heights in creative ways by using the objects around them or simply breaking a hole through a building to get to the other side. In a recent update Teardown now has a creative mode which not only allows players to break things across the world but also adding their own buildings to destroy.