Best sandbox games 2024

the Best sandbox games Let your imagination run wild, whether it’s creating something new, recreating existing worlds, or just having fun to pass the time. To do this, we’ve compiled an excellent list of games on Nintendo Switch and mobile, all of which put exploration at the forefront.

Once you’re done exploring all the vast worlds we’ve collected, how about trying a different kind entirely? Check out our picks for Best Switch RPG Games And all Best free mobile games.

Here are the best sandbox games on Switch and mobile devices:

Minecraft – Switch and Mobile

Minecraft is a bit of a given for any list of the best sandbox games, but it deserves its place. This game has been entertaining millions for over a decade now, whether it’s through creators designing distinct in-game structures or a team of friends coming together to tackle the survival mode. It truly is the epitome of the sandbox genre, allowing you to play your way, and we don’t see it losing any of its popularity anytime soon.

Creativity pushes this even further and has seen some truly amazing things created in the name of fun. Players have created massive recreations of real-life locations, such as Ocarina of Time, and have painstakingly recreated the fantasy world of Game of Thrones. There are no limits to the possibilities, which is why we still see amazing creations to this day.

Cityscapes – Sim Builder – Mobile

The sandbox and city builder genres go hand in hand, and the gorgeous 3D architecture of Cityscapes – Sim Builder, combined with the excellent process of growing your fledgling virtual city, looks absolutely stunning. The monthly City Pass brings you exclusive landmarks and buildings, giving you even more reasons to come back every week to complete some engaging quests.

Developed by a team of experienced city building experts, Cityscapes tasks you with keeping your growing population happy, by creating a simulated city that not only looks beautiful, but functions well, too.

Terraria – Switch and Mobile

Terraria is a 2D fantasy exploration and building game that’s much deeper than its gorgeous but mediocre visuals might suggest. It’s always fun to collect resources, create a little cabin, and fight enemies to collect more goodies.

Here everything feels right, with great controls and plenty to see and do. Players may even be surprised to discover just how much is on offer here, as this is a journey that will likely never end.

ARK: Survival Evolved – Switch

Okay, listen, imagine an open world game where you explore and make things, but with dinosaurs. If an elevator pitch doesn’t work, I’m not sure what will. ARK: Survival Evolved is a fun game where players explore a post-apocalyptic world overrun by dinosaurs and must work alongside them to stake their claim on this barren planet.

It’s a lot of fun to fortify your settlement, and there are lots of different ways to interact with the world. There’s also recently been a big update on the Switch, so it runs better than ever, so now’s a good time to pick it up.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 – Switch

Hoo boy. Hold on to your hats, I’m telling you about a little game called Dragon Quest Builders 2. It’s perfect, it’s all-in, it’s a masterpiece, and it was definitely underappreciated in its time. Built on the bones of the unparalleled fantasy RPG series Dragon Quest, Builders 2 takes that world and some of the mechanics but instead delivers the best open-world creative (or building) gameplay you’ve ever played.

Imagine that Minecraft had a story so good it could make you cry, had amazing new developments that simplified and expanded the normal building tools, and then added some great visuals and music. Folks, I implore you to play Dragon Quest Builders 2. It works great on Switch and has a huge demo (which also transfers save data upon purchase) but it’s also available on PS4 and Xbox, just play it.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch

Yes, it’s a sandbox game and I won’t hear any arguments about it. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has a huge open world with its own physics engine, allowing you to create scenarios based entirely on chemical and elemental reactions. Use a metal barrel and lightning to start a fire, carry an electrical charge through various lightning-based weapons, or float a bomb in the breeze thanks to a balloon pulled from Octorok’s belly. Breath of the Wild works because of its lavish story, beautiful visuals, and exciting combat.

However, if Nintendo had just released the tools shown here, it would still be one of the best games ever made. It’s amazing to think that people are still discovering things in this game, but more often than not these discoveries make sense. Did you know that you can boil eggs by placing them in Death Mountain’s natural hot springs? Of course you can.

Double Point Campus – Switch

Sim fever arose in the 1990s and took the world by storm. Sim City, The Sims, and titles like Theme Hospital were hugely popular, and now after many years, some of the team behind the latter are back. A sequel to Two Point Hospital, Two Point Campus takes everything players loved about that title and gets bigger and better.

Design and manage your own university, while trying to meet the demands of your many graduates. The devil is in the details, and although Two Point’s games have plenty of comedy, there’s a very finely tuned management simulation game under the hood, with many different ways to build your site and run things.

The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom Tears – Switch

We didn’t think it would be possible, but The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a step above Breath of the Wild, both in quality and creativity. The open world of Hyrule is now available for you to explore with an all-new toolkit, including exotic Zonai devices.

Use rockets, wheels, balloons and more to make and power your own creations. It’s not often that a game lets you think of creative solutions to puzzles, but Tears of the Kingdom is truly about the spirit of the experience.

Read all about it on our website Zelda Kingdom Tears reviewand be sure to check out our guides coverage Zelda: Tears of the Zonai Kingdom, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Shrines, Zelda: Tears of the Korok KingdomAnd much more.

Stardew Valley – Switch and Mobile

Stardew Valley is one of the most important indie games of the last ten years of gaming, and it happens to be an amazing sandbox game. You can play this however you want. You can become a great farmer, a great hunter, a money-making miner, or all three at the same time. The sandbox element is your own farm, which you can use as you wish. There’s so much freedom here, it’s easy to waste hours at a time without even realizing it.

If you need a little help getting started in Pelican City, check out our website Stardew Valley Fish, Stardew Valley farm layoutand Stardew Valley Bookseller Evidence. Or, for more of the same, check out our picks of the best Games like Stardew Valley.

LEGO Worlds – Switch

Although you can dismiss this as a Minecraft scam, we think that is far from the truth. LEGO Worlds is just as charming, but Traveler’s Tales’ take on the sandbox genre is full of blockbuster goodness. Using a range of iconic LEGO pieces, sets and more to conjure strange and beautiful worlds, you can hop across the universe and meet a host of colorful characters, too.

If you’re a fan of a bit of LEGO silliness, LEGO Worlds is worth checking out.

Astronaut – switch

Working on the scale of No Man’s Sky and throwing a little sci-fi fantasy in there, Astroneer’s gameplay will keep you creative for hours. You’ll need to make your own way in the vastness of space, and what better way to do that than by creating massive bases and more to ensure your survival? There’s always something mysterious around the corner, so take a big step forward into the unknown.

Recovery 2 – Mobile

This GTA-style sandbox title is all about high-octane action and distorting the world around you in the most chaotic ways possible. Want to race down the street in a rocket car? Do you want to duel other enemies inside a tank? You can do that, and much more. Payback 2’s Custom Mode also lets you tweak the action to your liking, across seven maps and nine different game modes.

That’s all we’ve got for today, but be sure to check back for more great sandbox games for Nintendo Switch and mobile coming soon. If you’d like to find another great game to play today, why not browse through our comprehensive game guide Best Switch Games For some inspiration?