For the better part of the last decade, Minecraft has dominated the survival-crafting space. There is just something addictive about infinite worlds and endless possibilities, which are only made wider with modpacks and updates. But sometimes, it is nice to play something a bit different, whilst still remaining in a familiar blocky world.
New Pokemon Game Has Serious Minecraft Vibes
Nintendo announces a new Pokemon game, which has serious Minecraft vibes, and could be an excellent pick for the fans of the popular sandbox.
Just around the corner, there are plenty of upcoming crafting games that allow players to explore cube-like worlds full of creatures and lands to be built upon, which emulates the same feeling of Minecraft, whilst still offering something new in environments that are simply begging to be explored.
Everwind
Blending Survival With Heavy RPG Elements
- Release Date: Coming Soon
- Developer: Enjoy Studio S.A.
Everwind blends sandbox survival with RPG depth, setting players on an adventure across floating islands and lands as far as the eye can see. Its fully destructible environments, resource gathering, and crafting echo the creative spirit of Minecraft, but the twist comes from the skyfaring mechanics that send players far above the ground into a whole new realm of elevation.
The game also emphasizes cooperative play, supporting full multiplayer where friends can band together to battle enemies, share resources, and expand their skyship. Personalization adds another layer, with customizable characters and the freedom to shape the environment however players choose, and conquer the enemies within it.
Pokémon Pokopia
No More Fighting Gym Leaders
Pokémon Pokopia
- Released
- March 5, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo, Game Freak
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation, Simulation
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch 2
Pokémon Pokopia takes the beloved monster-collecting formula and grounds it in a sandbox life-sim world where farming, crafting, and exploration are just as important as training. Instead of focusing solely on battles, players settle in Pokopia, cultivating crops and expanding their homestead to fill it with adorable Poké pals.
Steam's Upcoming 'Realistic Minecraft' Game May Be Forced to Walk on Eggshells It Didn't See Coming
An upcoming indie game taking clear inspiration from Minecraft may run into some unexpected turbulence with its core design conceit.
The cute, colorful presentation and freedom to shape daily life make it feel a lot like Minecraft or Stardew Valley, but with all the same charm of the Pokémon series. For fans of the IP and lovers of cozy simulators, it offers a uniquely laid-back but endlessly engaging sandbox to both collect creatures and build an entire home in.
Allumeria
Returning To A Simpler Time
- Release Date: 2026
- Developer: Unomelon
Allumeria, at a glance, looks like an early version of Minecraft from many updates ago. The inspiration is clear, but there are a lot of unique elements that make it stand out from the crowd, like the engaging boss battles and expansive dungeons that give players a different kind of objective to seek out in the world.
The whole world has the same procedural scale as its source, but it brings with it some additional features like customization block types that open the doors for way more build options down the line. Everything from glass stairs to pink floors is possible, allowing players to build their perfect base and then venture out to defeat the next threat, and come home to their cozy abode.
Lucid Blocks
Minecraft Meets Liminal Spaces
- Release Date: To be announced
- Developer: Eric Alfaro
Lucid Blocks is easily one of the most interesting upcoming Voxel games out there. The emphasis is truly on atmosphere, as while players still need to survive and build out a base in the world, the true draw comes from the endless, eerie environments that are littered across the landscape.
Infinite libraries, massive abandoned warehouses, and entire cities made of plastic, the game brings the concept of liminal spaces and infuses it with the blocky charm of Minecraft perfectly. It is as much a survival game as it is a horror game, as players need to grapple with both the entities within the world and the surreal nature of the locations themselves.
Dwarf Delve
Mining Over And Over Again
- Release Date: To Be Announced
- Developer: Gloom Box
Dwarf Delve is a super interesting blend of survival and extraction mechanics, sending players deep into the depths below in search of treasures that can only be retrieved if they make it out alive. The primary look comes from the desire to build a cozy Dwarven home on the surface, so players are encouraged to dig deeper and search for valuables for longer.
The constant risk of death makes every excursion a gamble that can either lead to riches or failure. But the urge to try again makes the gameplay so addictive, and the reward of crafting better gear and a more welcoming home makes the loop both satisfying and deeply enjoyable.
Lay of the Land
A Living, Breathing Environment
- Release Date: To Be Announced
- Developer: Southern Cross Interactive
Lay of the Land takes the concept of a truly physical world and effortlessly simulates everything from falling sand to forest fires in real time. Players need to venture across the unknown lands and seek out treasures, all while fending off powerful foes that are dead set on taking them down.
Upcoming Survival Games With Ridiculous Mechanics
The survival genre of video games continues to evolve, with these upcoming titles introducing new and fascinating gameplay features.
The game offers about as much creative freedom in terms of building as Minecraft, but has a more rounded feel thanks to the smaller cubes that comprise the world. This means that structures appear more realistic and players have much more control over how their base comes to life, whether on the surface or deep in the mines below.
Tenkemo
Cozy Crafting Together
- Release Date: To Be Announced
- Developer: Meh Studios
Tenkemo drops players into a world packed with fun and adventure, giving them so much to do both in solo and cooperative worlds. There's caves to explore, mountains to climb, and animals in desperate need of a home, which many players will jump at the opportunity to provide.
The game has a decent amount of depth as well, with players having access to a slew of technological recipes that can grant power and resources to fuel the players' adventures. With a horde of AI bots on the hunt, players need to gear up quickly and defend their pets from the takeover, using everything they can to stay alive and keep expanding their home.
PlanetSmith
It Doesn't Always Have To Be Cubes
- Release Date: To Be Announced
- Developer: Incandescent Games
PlanetSmith is a peculiar sandbox game that eschews traditional cube-like environments, instead generating worlds composed of hexagonal blocks from pole to pole. At first, it might seem like a step away from the flexible building of Minecraft, but the change still offers players plenty of chances to show off their creativity and style.
The survival elements remain familiar, with players needing to enter mines to gather resources, which can be used to build structures and take on bosses within the world. When they are ready, players can even build spaceships to blast off to a whole new world, lending it a uniquely open feel that sets it apart from other sandbox games.
Upcoming Survival Sandbox Game Aloft Takes a Humanist Approach to Restoring the Environment
Aloft wants to make players invested in fighting back a corruption by investing players in its environment, letting them make mistakes along the way.