Today, the sandbox genre is one of the most popular. In this Top 10 we have collected the best sandbox games. In these games you don't need to move along the plot, you will find an eternal shortage of food, water, resources and ammo, as well as an overabundance of monsters, zombies or other players, and almost all of them want to kill you!
Minecraft
Minecraft - there is hardly a gamer who has not heard of this game. An indie sandbox game with survival elements and an open world. In style, the game world consists entirely of blocks (landscape, objects, mobs, player). In this game, besides collecting resources, surviving, the player can do anything. Your possibilities are limited only by your imagination and the amount of resources.
Minecraft Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista
- Processor: 2.0 Single Core Processor
- RAM: 512Mb
- Disk space: 1 GB
Don't Starve
Don’t Starve is a survival sandbox action game in a world filled with science and magic. The player takes on the role of scientist Wilson, who is captured by an evil demon and sent to a mysterious wild land. Wilson must harness this world and its inhabitants in order to escape from here and return to his home.
Don't Starve Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista
- Processor: Intel Pentium IV (1.7 GHz) / AMD Athlon XP 1800+
- RAM: 1GB
- Video card: Radeon HD5450 or better; 256 MB or higher
- Disk space: 1 GB
Garry's Mod
Garry's Mod is a physical sandbox. Unlike regular games, there are no specific goals or objectives. We give you the tools and let you play. You create objects and put them together to create your own designs - whether it's a car, a rocket, a catapult or something as yet unnamed - it's up to you. If your design isn't great, don't worry! You can place a lot of characters in silly poses.
Minimum system requirements for Garry's Mod
- OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista
- Processor: Intel Pentium (1.8 GHz)
- RAM: 2 GB
- Video card: DirectX® 9 level Graphics Card (Requires support for SSE)
- Disk space: 5 GB
Space Engineers
Space Engineers is a space sandbox based on the construction, development and maintenance of various space objects. Players will have to build spaceships and stations of various sizes and purposes, pilot ships and mine minerals from asteroids.
Space Engineers Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: Intel i3 @ 3 GHz or higher (or AMD equivalent)
- RAM: 6 GB
- Disk space: 25 GB
The best sandbox games
Astroneer
Another game in which you have to conquer space. Astroneer takes place in the 25th century, during the space gold rush. Players will have to explore distant planets, risking their lives in the hope of getting rich. You will be able to change the topography of planets and their satellites and extract valuable resources. Resources can be sold or created from them into new tools, vehicles and modules, with which you can build anything - from industrial bases to planetary rovers.
Astroneer Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: X64 Dual Core CPU, 2 GHz
- RAM: 4 GB
- Video card: Geforce 4xx or higher / ATI HD 5xxx or higher, Rx 2xx or higher
- Disk space: 5 GB
The only goal in Rust is to survive. To do this, you will need to overcome problems such as hunger, thirst and cold. Build a fire. Build a shelter. Kill animals for meat. Defend yourself from other players and kill them for meat. Create alliances with other players and form a city.
Rust Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: Core 2 Duo 2 GHz
- RAM: 8 GB
- Disk space: 10 GB
The Forest
The Forest is a dark sandbox about survival in a night forest full of monsters. Unlike many games in the genre, The Forest has a plot, after the crash on the island, the main task will be not only survival, but also the search for the missing son.
Minimum system requirements for The Forest
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: Core Duo 2 GHz
- RAM: 4 GB
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT
- Disk space: 7 GB
ARK: Survival Evolved
ARK: Survival Evolved is an adventure game made in the genre of a collective journey, the game is similar to Rust, but with a slight difference. Together with other players, you will have to land on the mystical island of Ark and build a new civilization on it. You will fight together against powerful and dangerous dinosaurs, collect resources, grow fruits and vegetables, build houses and fences. Your task is to survive, reclaim the island from nature and turn it into your home.
ARK: Survival Evolved Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better
- RAM: 8 GB
- Video card: NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better
- Disk space: 60 GB
DayZ is an open world multiplayer game. The game takes place in the fictional post-Soviet state of Chernarus, whose inhabitants, as a result of some cataclysm, turned into aggressive zombies, and nothing good should be expected from the survivors. You have to look for weapons, food, medicine and all this in order to survive.
- OS: Windows 7 32-bit
- Processor: Core 2 Duo 2 GHz
- RAM: 4 GB
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 or AMD Radeon HD 5850 or Intel HD Graphics 4000 with 512 MB
- Disk space: 10 GB
Life is Feudal
Life is Feudal is a realistic medieval multiplayer sandbox action game with terraforming, free construction, an extensive crafting system, survival elements, a non-target combat system and much more. Allows you, along with thousands of other players, to immerse yourself in a living, breathing, and ever-changing gaming world.
DayZ Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7 32-bit
- Processor: Intel - Core i5 2.5 GHz, AMD - Phenom II X4 2.5 GHz
- RAM: 8 GB
- Video card: NVIDIA - GeForce® GTX 660, AMD - Radeon™ HD 6970
- Disk space: 50 GB
Many modern gamers have long been tired of formulaic blockbusters and RPGs with simulated nonlinearity that lead the player by the hand through the plot outline. They wanted to set goals for themselves, move freely around the world and express their creativity in every possible way. And the relatively recently popular Sandbox genre was able to provide them with all of the above. Below we will look at fifteen of the best sandbox games on PC that have been released over the past five years and have a large community of fans.
The best sandboxes for PC and other platforms
RUST
- Platform: Windows, Linux, Mac OS
- Release date: December 11, 2013
- Developer: Team Garry
One of the most famous sandbox games, which, while in early access, acquired an impressive number of features. The formula is simple - the player is thrown into a hostile environment “in what his mother gave birth to” and he must stay there as long as possible, collecting supplies, creating equipment for himself and rebuilding his home. Just don’t think that all of the above is very simple - in addition to hunger, thirst and the threat of freezing, other players also pose a considerable danger. In the unfriendly world of Rust, everyone wants to take over your resources.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcvDUxdmntw Video can’t be loaded: Rust Trailer – 2017 (Official) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcvDUxdmntw)
The game is most enjoyable in co-op. By putting together a team with friends, you can gain a significant advantage in manpower, thanks to which you will quickly gain access to advanced weapons and build fortifications for yourself.
Stardew Valley
- , Nintendo Switch, PS Vita
- Release date: February 26, 2016
- Developer: Sickhead Games
Stardew Valley is an extremely simple farming simulator that can captivate players for many dozens of hours. Our protagonist receives a letter from a dying relative who leaves him his farm as an inheritance. But her condition leaves much to be desired. Having set the character's parameters in the editor and received some resources (money and seeds) for the first time, you can begin to restore the farm. There are four main ways: mining, breeding animals, growing plants, fishing.
In addition to all of the above, there are also side activities. Players will be able to attend cultural events like the city fair and birthday parties, make friends among the residents, enter into relationships and even marriage. In general, you definitely won’t be bored in this pixel world.
Hitman
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
- Release date: March 11, 2016
- Developer: IO interactive
The latest installment of the Hitman series has finally returned to its roots and once again given players the freedom of action that was so missing in Absolution. As before, players will play as a genetically enhanced bald assassin, eliminating various crime lords with all accessible ways. At each large level, there are dozens of such options - not only a banal shooting from a sniper rifle or a pistol with a silencer, but also the possibility of setting up an accident, planting a bomb, dressing up as a waiter/cook and treating the victim with poison, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di1WLSFzgyE Video can’t be loaded: Hitman Gameplay Trailer E3 2016 Official Trailer HD (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di1WLSFzgyE)
A big plus is also that the matter is not limited to the storyline alone. In the game, it is possible to complete contracts issued by developers and other players to kill random characters, which further increases replayability. It’s not surprising that you want to return to this beautifully detailed world again and again.
No Man's Sky
- Release date: August 9, 2016
- Developer: Hello Games
Although the creators of this space simulator were not able to fulfill all their promises to the people who paid for the development of their product and recruited great amount negative reviews from the press and ordinary gamers, it still deserves mention. The scale of the explored world is simply amazing - quintillions of randomly generated planets, on which various shapes life (some of them are quite intelligent and have their own language), mineral deposits are given, Natural resources. Each world is unique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoLNSRUOwjI Video can’t be loaded: No Man’s Sky: official trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoLNSRUOwjI)
Players will have to study planets, trade, and interact with their inhabitants. There is even some semblance of a storyline with its own tasks and ultimate goal, but it very quickly fades into the background, since traveling is much more interesting.
Just Cause 3
- Platform: Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
- Release date: December 1, 2015
- Developer: Avalanche Studios
The third part of the adventures of Rico Rodriguez, who is accustomed to fighting South American dictatorial regimes alone. In the sequel, the basic concept has not changed - we are still offered to liberate vast territories of the islands from armed mercenaries, but now there are even more ways to creatively eliminate enemies, and the graphics and physics have evolved significantly.
Now you can almost destroy huge buildings to the ground, tie your opponents to explosive barrels with a proprietary rope, and pull together several vehicles. There is zero realism here, but everything looks like a Hollywood blockbuster - beautiful and fun.
Portal Knights
- Platform: Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, mobile
- Release date: February 25, 2016
- Developer: Keen Games
A three-dimensional action role-playing game in which the player will have to try on the role of a portal knight and go to conquer various construction worlds full of dangerous dungeons, caves and lakes. There are several typical RPG classes to choose from - warrior, mage and ranger (dodgeman). In the process of development, the character gains new skills, acquires better equipment, which will help him win more strong opponents, including giant bosses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4bGL2KcKsI Video can’t be loaded: Portal Knights - release trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4bGL2KcKsI)
In addition to battles, the game features a well-developed construction system. Several dozen different materials will help you create a grandiose structure. And furniture and other interior items will make it a cozy home, to which you will not be ashamed to invite your friends. Yes, one of the main advantages of Portal Knights is the ability to play in co-op with random Steam users or invited friends.
RimWorld
- Release date: November 4, 2013
- Developer: Ludeon Studios
RimWorld is a kind of rethinking of the well-known Dwarf Fortress, rightfully considered one of the most detailed and casual-unfriendly games of the past. However, this time there were no elves, gnomes and other fantasy attributes, which were replaced by the construction of a settlement on another planet. The plot begins with the crew of your interstellar ship crashing on an inhospitable alien world, with only three colonists surviving. It is them that gamers will have to manage for the rest of the time, protecting them from external threats and helping to develop their base.
At start new game you can choose one of the preset systems artificial intelligence, which will generate various events in the process, setting the pace of the gameplay. One AI will let you relax and enjoy construction, the second will gradually complicate the tasks, and the third will become completely unpredictable. This will make each new gaming session completely unique.
Scrap Mechanic
- Platform: PC (Steam)
- Release date: January 20, 2016
- Developer: Axolot Games
If you're looking for a sandbox game that puts the emphasis on construction, you'll definitely enjoy Scrap Mechanic. Main character game ends up on an alien planet inhabited by hostile robots. And now, in order to survive, he will need to build his own mechanisms, more advanced and capable of dealing with all ill-wishers. Starting with next to nothing and having only the most basic recipes at their disposal, players will gradually learn to create truly impressive creations from combinations of more than a hundred parts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kjBuCK_ZKM Video can’t be loaded: Scrap Mechanic – Creative Mode Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kjBuCK_ZKM)
Currently, the project continues to be in early access and is being actively developed. Already present in the list of possibilities cooperative game, creative mode with an infinite number of spare parts, Steam Workshop support. The creators have been releasing regular updates with new content for the second year now and are not going to stop.
The Sims 4
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
- Release date: September 2, 2014
- Developer: Maxis
The Sims 4 has long been a well-deserved first place among games in the life-sim genre (life simulator). The formula is simple and straightforward - players create characters, give them certain characteristics, and then release them into the world. Gamers are not given any goals or ultimate objectives; they can have fun at their own discretion: make acquaintances, build a career, enter into relationships and start families. In general, it turns out to be some kind of imitation real life(with its own conventions, of course).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z00mK3Pxc8w Video can’t be loaded: The Sims 4: Official Launch Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z00mK3Pxc8w)
The main advantage of The Sims is the abundance of content. The standard version is supplemented by regularly released addons for various purposes - some allow characters, for example, to go on a hike outside the city, while others add ghosts and vampires to the game. There are also thousands of small modifications for the game from fans, many of which are not inferior in quality to the official ones.
Gnomoria
- Platform: PC (Steam)
- Release date: February 23, 2016
- Developer: Robotronic Games
Another good Dwarf Fortress copycat, this time not trying to disown its ancestor. In this construction strategy, we also have to take command of the dwarven fortress and develop it according to our own plans. The manager is given complete freedom of action on a large and completely destructible map, which is generated randomly. But do not forget that your charges are mortal and may well go to the next world due to lack of water and food. We will have to rebuild a farm, market, pasture and other food industry facilities.
There was also a combat component. A prosperous fortress will become a real magnet for assorted ill-wishers who will regularly attack residents. To fight off skeletons, goblins and other evil spirits, you will have to train and equip a strong army.
Besiege
- Platform: Windows, Linux, MacOS
- Release date: January 28, 2015
- Developer: Spiderling Studios
Do you want to feel like a real engineer? Then you should definitely pay attention to Besiege. The point of the game is to use the parts at your disposal to invent a wide variety of machines for destroying enemies and test them in combat conditions. There are catapults, battering rams, flamethrowers and many other deadly weapons. But they need to be installed correctly, otherwise the whole structure will simply fall apart at the first shot.
In last year's update, multiplayer battles, much anticipated by many, were added to the game, allowing 2-8 players to fight each other at the same time. The developers also included in the addition a set of creative tools that make it possible to make your own map or game scenario.
Starbound
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS3, Vita
- Release date: July 22, 2016
- Developer: Chucklefish Ltd
Starbound is not just another project that arose in the wake of the popularity of Minecraft. The developers of this 2D sandbox have absorbed all the best from similar products and generously flavored them with their own gameplay features. The player's path in the world of Starbound begins with ordinary survival - getting food, building a shelter, defending against monsters. But soon, firmly on his feet, he sets off to conquer various continents, worlds and universes, collecting a collection of unique items.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O6PUh3reG0 Video can’t be loaded: Starbound 1.0 Launch Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O6PUh3reG0)
Each world has its own weather conditions, randomly generated landscape and opponents. By starting a new game session, you will get a completely new experience, which, by the way, you can share with friends by going on a joint adventure. And don’t let the stylization of games from antediluvian 16-bit consoles scare you, here it’s appropriate and adds a certain flavor.
Life is Feudal: Your Own
- Platform: Windows PC
- Release date: January 12, 2018
- Developer: Bitbox Ltd
Developers from Bitbox have created a realistic open-world sandbox game that invites players to try out developed system crafts, the possibility of free terraforming/construction and, of course, spectacular sword battles (where in medieval Europe without jousting). But the game is best revealed in co-op, when several players unite and build their own settlement, fighting it off from the attacks of the same groups of gamers eager to take everything for themselves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkeDAkDV8Uk Video can’t be loaded: Life is Feudal game in Russian – Trailer | News MMO (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkeDAkDV8Uk)
On the other hand, many players did not like the features of the combat system, the lack of content when it comes to choosing armor and weapons, and riding horses. But otherwise the project is very interesting and can captivate you for several hundred hours (Steam statistics confirm this).
The Forest
- Platform: Windows PC
- Release date: April 30, 2018
- Developer: Endnight Games
The main character of the game was flying with his son on a passenger plane until it crashed in the middle of a deserted jungle. More precisely, they turned out to be not completely wild - a whole tribe of bloodthirsty cannibals was located nearby. To fight them on their territory, you will have to collect resources, make tools and build a fortified camp, surrounding it with deadly traps. This is the only way to survive deadly night attacks and learn to make successful daytime forays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3b4tMRhQiA Video can’t be loaded: The Forest | Gameplay Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3b4tMRhQiA)
It is recommended to go through The Forest for the first time in the evening alone and with good headphones. The atmosphere is sometimes frightening, and the sounds made by enemies running in the dark give you goosebumps. But for repeated playthroughs, it’s worth calling your friends. You can also arrange a turtle race or a gladiator fight with severed limbs.
Kerbal Space Program
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U
- Release date: April 27, 2015
- Developer: Squad
The KSP player will lead a team of alien astronauts sent on a research mission to explore space. Having decided on a goal and built a rocket (which is no longer so easy), you will go to other planets. That's just limited quantity available resources confuses all plans for a carefree trip - you will have to be creative and calculate everything down to the smallest detail. And then it turns out that behind the cartoon graphics and funny green humanoids lies a real test for mental abilities player.
If free play doesn’t appeal to you, but you want to set a specific goal for yourself, welcome to career mode. In it, gamers are asked to complete a sequential chain of contracts for aerospace companies.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is no shortage of interesting projects PC users do not experience the sandbox genre. And this does not even take into account the recently announced sandbox games, the release of which is being prepared for the second half of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. There's a lot to see there. Also worthy of mention are such recognized masterpieces as Minecraft and Terraria. They are still popular and can compete with even modern new products.
Sandboxes are a genre in which there is a developed world - a system consisting of elements interacting with each other. The player is left to his own devices, he can make whatever he wants out of the “grains of sand”. This kind of gameplay has a lot to do with creativity. Anyone with curiosity will definitely find something interesting in sandboxes.
The popularity of the genre is not difficult to explain. It is much easier and faster for a developer to make an interconnected system of elements with rules and let algorithms do the rest, rather than manually creating every millimeter of the design. And players get from this genre an almost endless number of combinations, which you can enjoy until you get bored. Below is a rating of the most interesting representatives of the direction.
10. Don't Starve
A stylish, two-dimensional sandbox with great humor and many secrets waiting to be discovered. Initial task simple - to survive by overcoming the feeling of hunger. Players will have to engage in gathering and hunting, and later construction and farming. Over time, an unfriendly world will begin to create increasingly difficult challenges for the foreigners who invade it. There will be enough adventure for a long time, which can be extended with several additions.
9. The Sims 4
It is perhaps the most important project of EA, which is well deserved. The game allows you to feel like a designer, architect and puppeteer. In it you can take control of a family you have created with your own hands and lead it through several generations. A huge number of nuances, features, items and many additions can drag on for many hours.
8. EVE Online
What could be more exciting than a huge galaxy filled with many players who trade, fight, spy, explore the world and do much more with each other. Users form alliances that fight each other, betray each other, split alliances and create new ones. Stories happening in this world often become the subject of news and attract the attention of people from all over the world.
7. Mount & Blade: Warband
A game where you can literally rob caravans. A complex role-playing game in a fictional medieval world that allows you to feel like a commander, bandit, lord or merchant. The number of possibilities is truly impressive. But the main feature is a living world in which something is constantly happening.
6. Arma 3
Initially, the project was created as a military simulator, meticulously reproducing all aspects of modern combat. But thanks to the support of the community, which develops free gameplay modifications, the game has outgrown itself. Gameplay ranges from warfare to role-playing role-playing.
5. Kerbal Space Program
This unique and ambitious sandbox aims to simulate space flight. The launch of a rocket or satellite is preceded by a fully controlled concept development process. Players can explore and conquer a dozen planets in the fictional system.
4. Garry's Mod
This game is actually a tool for creating your own maps, videos or modifications. And the number of additions created by the community is amazing. There is also psychological thrillers, mini-games, simulators, horror and much more. Thus, Garry’s Mod is a door to an entire universe created exclusively by players.
3. Scrap mechanic
Nice cartoon graphics, a set of blocks and tools, physics - this is the starting set from which players will have to build various mechanisms. The focus from stationary objects, which is popular in other sandboxes, has been moved to moving objects. In addition, all this is available for online play, which allows you to organize competitions for the title of the best mechanic
2. Minecraft
There is probably no game that has done more for the sandbox genre. Minecraft, using algorithms from scratch, creates a completely random, but similar to the real world, consisting of cubes. Players explore the world, build amazing structures, create pictures from blocks, and develop their own modifications. Moreover, it can be enjoyed either alone or with friends. To miss such a phenomenon is a real crime.
1. Wild Terra
Let's be honest, those who love the sandbox genre are not looking for chic graphics or a plot, what is important to them is the gameplay. Imagine a world in which absolutely everything is created by real players. Do you want to arm yourself with a sword and put on chain mail? To do this, you need to find a player willing to chain it all up. Take a free and open world full of possibilities, let users do whatever they want in it and you get Wild Terra. This project from Russian developers is constantly developing and adding new functions, but everything you need is already there.
No rules, only free choice. It was by the freedom and content of the game world that we judged the games in this category.
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Best games 2017 | Main nominations
About the nomination
The gaming term “sandbox” means that the game is extremely non-linear and allows the player to do whatever comes into his head: run in all four directions, explore the world, complete quests in any order, build or destroy something - just like in a real nursery sandbox. No rules, only free choice.
It was by the freedom and content of the game world that we judged the games in this category.
Third place. Assassin's Creed: Origins
It seems that the era in which it was customary to criticize each new part of Assassin’s Creed in advance is over. Ubisoft They gave their favorite franchise an extra year of development - and they did the right thing. The game they ended up with certainly can’t be called a “conveyor” game.
And it was the “sandbox” that influenced this. Yes, she was there earlier in the series too. But let’s be honest: after running around Paris or London for a couple of hours, we quickly lost interest in them - there was nothing to do in the expressive scenery. Similar friend against each other, capturing enemy bases, collecting useless collections, boring additional tasks - that’s the whole menu. Only the story missions were really exciting, for which no effort was spared on the script and direction.
So, in " Origins“All tasks are like this. There are more than a hundred additional quests in the open world, and for each the developers were not too lazy to come up with a separate plot, cutscenes, heroes and unique situations. This is not to mention stage-by-stage investigations that can last for half a game, as well as hunting, chariot racing and all kinds of treasure hunts. For such honest work on mistakes, we are happy to give “Istoki” third place.
Second place. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
One problem with many so-called "open world games" is that the world is often not that open. Here The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and it really gives the player complete freedom. Once you go beyond the starting plateau, you can do anything. Including immediately going to fight with the main villain named Ganon. Moreover, the game will almost immediately show where this same Ganon is waiting for you. In starting pants, it will, of course, be a little difficult to kill him, but there is such a possibility. This is what Breath of the Wild is all about.
And that's not to mention the rest of the splendor! About a huge world with thousands of mysteries. About a whole flurry of items and abilities. About systems that are logically and beautifully linked with each other. About many stories - big and small. About taming horses, finally! And not just horses.
Everything in this world is needed for something. A tree is not just decoration: you can climb on it, you can even cut it down so that you can later use the log for its intended purpose. Which one? Yes to anyone! At least kill monsters with it, or even build a bridge. The rules here do not limit, but provide opportunities. This is why it’s nice to return to the game - every time you can discover something new. For example, finally mastering the shieldboard.
Breath of the Wild is about freedom and creativity. What more could you ask for from a sandbox?
First place. Horizon Zero Dawn
It is customary to reward games that have made a breakthrough in some area. From this point of view, Horizon is not the best example to follow. It just so happened that there is almost nothing fresh in it. By at least, as far as the sandbox is concerned. But she handles other people’s work in such a way that you’re amazed.
The structure of the world and the laws by which it lives migrated partly from the last Far Cry, partly from "The Witcher 3". Here we also wander through picturesque spaces, hunt a variety of animals to create medicine or a new costume, and look for tempting places or artifacts. And sometimes we also repel enemy camps, which, of course, can be attacked from different sides and with different tactics. In general, it’s familiar. But everything is put together so harmoniously that the player himself is happy to turn off the path in order to shoot someone or rob a stash. Moreover, you won’t last long here without resources.
Sandbox games have passed their end highest point a few years ago. It was then that they appeared one after another, like recently MOBA, and in Lately– Battle Royale. Of course, sandbox games appear on PC and other platforms to this day, as the genre remains in demand, but we are no longer dealing with fire, but with the warmth and light of its former glory. In this top games are some of best games open-world sandboxes. Discover new ones, remember old ones, ask “where is so-and-so” and “why is this one so low” - we welcome your presence!
1. Minecraft
Minecraft is more of a phenomenon than just a game. It was with this seemingly simple project that the craze for the sandbox genre with survival elements began. The impact of Minecraft on the gaming industry is difficult to overestimate. This game was not afraid to be eight-bit in the era of the dominance of “graphics” and achieved success no matter what. Many developers have become convinced that - at least in sandboxes - it is more important for players to have a huge number of options than to have cutting-edge visuals.
Minecraft captivated players with its procedural world generation and the potential to create anything. While casual players were trying to create their own cozy little world, hardcore players were creating real miracles of design, architecture and even engineering. Cathedrals and towers, real and fictional castles, space cruisers and stations were embodied in Minecraft. The most unusual projects in the memory of gaming journalists were a working computer and a virtual Denmark almost in full size.
Minecraft is a game that has gone down in history and a household name. Minecraft is a Sandbox with a capital S.
2. Terraria
Terraria can, with some stretch, be called Minecraft in two dimensions. Well, okay, it’s a stretch, but still, this game got into second place for a reason. The world of Terraria is much more fleshed out and fleshed out, it's not a blank canvas... but that doesn't mean it's inferior. If Minecraft is dominated by green, blue and brown colors, then the palette of “terraria” is much richer.
At the same time, space remains limited. Both games encourage exploration and creativity, but Terraria is more about exploration. The 2D projection allows players to go much deeper than Minecraft players need to. And in general, stop comparing these games already! A little late, of course, the idea appeared, towards the very end of the review, but still: Terraria is unique enough not to be in the shadow of other sandboxes.
3. Starbound
Starbound is one of the few sandboxes (maybe the only one) that can be played like a roguelike. One of its modes is so hardcore that you can't die in it at all. If your character dies, Starbound is removed from your computer and library, and if you want to play again, Gabe will have to pay a second time. Okay, in fact, you will just lose the pumped up character and his pets.
Yes, yes, exactly the pumped one: the hero can choose a race and customize his abilities, that is, a little like in Trove. Yes, yes, pets: the hero can tame amazing creatures in amazing worlds(just look at the picture), that is, a little like in ARK. In a word, this game can seem like many things, while remaining itself: a cool space adventure with construction, team recruitment and a role-playing component.
4. ASTRONEER
The name of this game comes from a combination of astronaut and pioneer - as you might guess, it is about pioneer astronauts. Not the ones with red ties, but the ones who are pioneers. This word is also not accidental: in ASTRONEER, perhaps, you need to walk more than in other space “sandboxes” on this list. Moreover, it is the most pleasant thing to do.
The fact is that ASTRONEER has an interesting picture... at least if your machine is able to cope with all the optimization quirks, since the game is in early access. The developers managed to create a unique style that seems somehow warm and soft, despite the fact that it is cold in space, and the game has a lot of sharp corners and geometric shapes. There is an opinion that it’s all about light - flashlights, lamps and natural springs they shine in such a way that there is no other word for it than “affectionate”. With such light, it is interesting to wander even through dark, lifeless underground corridors in search of resources for building a base, not to mention exploring new planets.
5. Trove
In 2015, when Trove first appeared and our site had a completely different name, we sometimes didn’t know what category to categorize this game into. If there was news about the appearance of a new class, they wrote that it was an MMORPG; if there was news about the appearance of a new biome, they wrote that it was a “sandbox”. We have to admit that Trove combines features of both genres, but since it was not included in the MMORPG selections, let it at least be here. Still deserves it.
Trove has its own world, but it cannot be changed - well, except perhaps by “plucking off” resources and crafting items from them. The construction component of the game is manifested in creating your own house and special regime, where there are no enemies and the character's class does not matter. This is where the Trove community creates their own versions of famous structures or their own projects. However, at its core the game remains an MMORPG, so it doesn’t get such a high place in the sandbox top. Unfortunately, we don’t have a selection of MMORPG+sandbox on PC yet...
6. Eco
Eco is the youngest game in this top. It first became known three years ago, when fundraising for its development began on Kickstarter. Then the project disappeared from the radar for a long time, so its appearance in Steam Early Access can be called sudden. What makes it all the more interesting is that Eco starts right in the middle of the list: an honor that is rarely awarded to games that have not yet had time to really prove themselves. What's the secret?
The fact is that Eco, as the authors call it, is an “imitation of an ecosystem.” Not quite the same as a sandbox, is it? From conditional “sand” you can build anything, destroy it, then build it again, and then destroy something built by someone else. This will not work in Eco: everything that is mined, crafted and built in this game must be completely calculated and meaningful. Otherwise, the economy and environment simply will not withstand the weight of your “brave new world”, and everything will have to start all over again. Although, perhaps, someone enjoys watching the death of civilization...
7. Kerbal Space Program
People have long been dreaming about aliens who will fly to Earth on sparkling saucers and help us achieve progress and peace. But in fact, it is very likely that these same aliens themselves are just exploring their star system, dreaming of distant worlds. Kerbal Space Program is a game about just such characters, small anthropomorphic aliens with big ambitions.
Strictly speaking, this is not so much a “sandbox” as a constructor: the player’s task is to build a rocket that can fly to a certain target, land, take off again and return back. Selecting spare parts and calculating fuel is painstaking work, but its success increases the joy of a successful launch. Of course, doing this over and over again can get boring, but this did not happen: the game is developing, the possibilities are expanding, and in March we will have the first major addition, which will allow players to create their own scenarios and share them with the community. Not multiplayer yet, but maybe close...
8. Space Engineers
You probably noticed that the setting of most of the games in this collection is cosmic. Apparently, it is its infinity that developers associate with the endless potential of sandbox. True, the first places are occupied by projects that stand out from this series, so a “sandbox in space” is not a guarantee of success. And you can’t write much about space ones - only about those that are completely different, and this one is not one of them.
Space Engineers has been stuck in Early Access for five years now. Sometimes it probably freezes literally: after all, it’s a closed beta. The game contains all celestial bodies - planets, moons, asteroids, but, judging by the trailers, for some reason the lion's share of the action falls on the asteroids. We emphasize that it is action: in this sandbox you can fight, like in some Star Wars Battlefront. As they say, I studied to be a space engineer, but became... space ranger. True, this applies more to the multiplayer mode.
9. No Man's Sky
This online game will be remembered for a long time as an ideal example of an “expectations vs reality” situation. No Man's Sky caused a storm of excitement at its first showing during E3: insanely beautiful, full of endless possibilities, and even with multiplayer. The players waited patiently, waited, then waited a little more... but what they got was something that will give developers nightmares about their reaction for a long time to come.
Of all the standards, No Man's Sky met the most aesthetic standards: the planets were actually something to gawk at. But the further players got into space, the more repetitive the content and gameplay became. However, even all this would be tolerable if it were possible... to meet at least one player! The promise of multiplayer turned out to be such a blatant deception that the game might never be forgiven for it. Many copies have been recalled... but the game is amazingly still alive. Now, update after update, the creators are trying to bring No Man’s Sky at least a little closer to what they promised three years ago.
10. Creative
Imagine a more fantasy, more story-driven, more colorful, but less popular Minecraft - and you get Creativerse. Why, with all the “more”, did this game not take off? It is clear that imitators will always be in the shadow of the original, but the creators of Creativerse really tried. Although, they definitely did only one aspect better.
Creativerse characters are much less abstract than, for example, in Minecraft: they are more detailed, they have at least some backstory (receiving a miraculous mechanical arm), and they can fly. Add to this a relatively well-defined plot component and several unique features, for example, taming animals. However, human consciousness is a curious thing, and according to the laws of art, a person more easily associates himself with something abstract rather than concrete. A copycat game can be more or less in some ways - and therefore it is, well, “more or less”. Such comparisons are usually not inherent in the original.
11. Entropia Universe
In this space MMO, the developers did everything to give players as much freedom as possible, giving them the opportunity to have fun in their own sandbox as their heart desires. To do this, they created several planets with different rules and events, and allowed them to do whatever they wanted.
Literally - here you can go into a world where only fans of hard rock and lovers of all kinds of evil live. Or join the endless war against robots. Or try your luck in PvP brawls. Well, having saved up some money, you can buy a personal one land plot, build your mansion on it and throw a noisy party. By the way, all honestly acquired property can be sold profitably with the withdrawal of game currency into real money.
12. Worlds Adrift
A “lamp” sandbox with airships, fragments floating in the sky and an impressively beautiful environment. According to the game's lore, the world was destroyed as a result of some kind of catastrophe, and now people are forced to wander among the ruins of civilization in search of long-lost knowledge.
Worlds Adrift invites you to build a flying ship from scrap materials and set off on a journey through the ruins of a once prosperous world. In this adventure you will find new friends, fight with enemies, and also get resources, improve your ship, explore colorful locations and survive among heavenly storms. If Sea of Thieves seems too mundane for you, then the endless ocean of air will surely satisfy your craving for vast spaces.
13. Boundless
A voxel sandbox that allows you to collect worlds, build architectural masterpieces, hunt incredible creatures, create and trade items, influencing the game economy.
Boundless opens up almost limitless possibilities for players, allowing them to change the world however they want. The game boasts the usual Minecraft cube style, a large number of radically different planets, a convenient portal system that allows you to move between them in the blink of an eye, advanced item crafting, exciting combat - in general, you won’t be bored here.
14. Planet Nomads
In this fantastic game with elements of a survival simulator, you will go to a distant planet, where you will do the usual things for a colonist: exploring the territory, collecting resources, building a base, designing vehicles and fighting with local wildlife.
Planet Nomads differs from other “survival games” by placing less emphasis on survival itself, and more on research and creativity. Yes, the character must eat, drink and sleep, but he will not suffer greatly from unsatisfaction of basic needs. But the game world will show you local beauties, intrigue you with its secrets and, perhaps, challenge you with its dangers. Well, don’t forget about the wealth and variety of crafting possibilities.
15. Ylands
A cartoony sandbox with co-op that opens up a lot of creative possibilities for players - including accessible tools for creating own games. The built-in editor allows you to implement entire scenarios - for example, a race track, a puzzle arena and an adventure challenge.
Besides all this, Ylands is also cute, beautiful game. It's fun to play alone and in multiplayer, and the large amount of content gives it good replay value.
16. Crowfall
In this sandbox MMORPG from genre veterans who worked on the first Ultima, players can explore several worlds, fight each other, take part in castle sieges, and so on. The developers profess complete freedom of action, so in Crowfall you can literally do anything - from learning any profession to organizing political life game world. The authors did not forget about terraforming, construction and crafting, so there is entertainment here for players who prefer to create rather than fight.
17. Dark and Light
The sandbox from the Chinese company Snail Games allows you to build cities, fight monsters and participate in factional wars. Magic plays an important role here, and the game world is inhabited by the most unimaginable creatures - in general, the ideal contender for your favorite game if you want to escape from the everyday life around you. On top of that, Dark and Light also looks beautiful (thanks to UE4), and also intrigues with an interesting story.
18. Staxel
This game will certainly interest fans of “farms” who love to dig up beds, care for animals and gradually develop their estate. But the game differs from most of its peers in the genre by the presence of additional mechanics, such as advanced construction capabilities and searching for hidden treasures. Cubic graphics and multiplayer included.
19. LEGO Worlds
A cubic sandbox with funny humor, endless building possibilities and online mode. There is still a story somewhere in the game, but most gamers skip it, focusing on exercising their creativity. And you can realize yourself in LEGO Worlds in different ways: create your own worlds or explore others, play LEGO sets from the real world, ride vehicles and mounts, look for cunningly hidden golden blocks and sculpt masterpieces of architectural thought. If deep down you still feel like a child, then this game is just for you.
20. Wurm Unlimited
Another MMORPG sandbox, the “residents” of which can influence its world with their actions and actions. Despite the not-so-modern graphics and the difficulty of mastering, it can drag you on for a long time - once you get used to the controls and game rules, you suddenly find yourself trying to level the site for your own castle for the third hour in a row, while simultaneously planning to craft cool equipment and learn a couple of professions for your character. Further - more: large-scale wars, battles with monsters and other adventures await you.
21. Crea
Let's move on from war games to more peaceful ones. Crea is just one of those: it is a two-dimensional sandbox with a huge world inhabited by friendly and not so friendly creatures. Here you have to do the usual things for the genre: explore territories, extract resources, look for treasures in the depths of dungeons, build your own personal house, create equipment, and so on. Among the distinctive features of the game are leveling up like in TES (the skills that are used are leveled up) and support for modding.
We wait
Ashes of Creation
A fantasy MMORPG with an open world to explore, house construction, player influence on the economy, and quest chains that change in real time. The game is being developed former employees SOE, who worked on EverQuest and Planetside, so the gameplay promises to be at least interesting. But Mail.Ru as a publisher will certainly lower the expectations of some players.
Seed
A simulator of a colonizer of an unknown planet with a complex ecological system and the opportunity to try yourself as a farmer growing plants unknown to earthly science. The developers promise to establish not just cooperation between the characters, but also family ties, and also provide players with the opportunity to influence the economy of the colony by setting their own prices for grown products.
Satisfactory
A cooperative game from Coffee Stain Studios, the creators of the goat simulator Goat Simulator. Satisfactory promises to be less mocking and will invite players to build a factory together – again on a distant unknown planet. Judging by the gameplay videos, we are waiting for something like Factorio, but with a first-person view.
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