The quest for games that offer a fresh yet familiar experience like that of the timeless Minecraft can be quite the endeavour. Celebrated as one of the highest-selling games in history, Minecraft has captivated audiences with its unique combination of sandbox creativity, survival elements, and RPG progression. It's where players can give life to their own architectural wonders or adventurous realms, experiment with endless biome varieties, and engage with a multitude of creatures in a vibrant universe.

Whether your preference lies in the methodical design and construction aspects or in the heart-pumping survival challenge, you may find that seeking out comparable games to Minecraft is no easy task. The overwhelming selection on platforms like Steam might be quite extensive, but we have cut through the clutter to bring you a curated list of 20 games that share the spirit of Minecraft.

Ark: Survival Evolved

• Developer: Studio Wildcard
• Platform: Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Date: June 2, 2015

Featuring a more intense focus on crafting and survival than other sandbox offerings, Ark: Survival Evolved propels players into a world teeming with prehistoric life and futuristic undertones. Survival is key as you navigate through a landscape brimming with stunning biomes, each presenting its own unique challenges and treasures. Dinosaurs roam the land, representing both threats and potential allies, while opportunities to advance your technological prowess abound. Multiplayer options also allow for communal construction and strategic combat against or alongside fellow survivors.

Astroneer

• Developer: System Era Softworks
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Date: December 12, 2016

If you thought dinosaurs were a big differentiator, how do you feel about an interstellar sandbox setting? Astroneer is a stunning open-world game that sees you exploring and reshaping distant worlds as you please. You can build alongside friends or alone, craft vehicles to help your planetary and intergalactic exploration, terraform to create anything you'd like to and gather materials, and much more.

You can think of anything you see in Astroneer as clay waiting for you to remodel it to your liking with the handy in-game "deform" tool, whether it be for a base you're building or for easier travel. The sheer amount of creative possibilities makes Astroneer feel like a cozy spacecraft of sorts.

Cube World

• Developer: Picroma
• Platform: PC
• Release Date: July 2, 2013

Cube World is a voxel-based action RPG at its core, but, much like Minecraft, it focuses heavily on features typical of sandbox games including elements like crafting, exploration, taming, and more. If you favor Mojang's classic for such activities as well as its adorable blocky art style, Cube World may just be worth a look.

It's ideal for fans of combat and magic-aligned Minecraft mods, too, with adventurous questing and classes such as mage, ranger, rogue, and warrior to choose from. The gameplay itself is non-linear, meaning that you can create, fight, forage, or search for magic artifacts as you please at your own pace. If you're looking to take the colorful, procedurally generated world on with your friends in co-op, you can also opt to play online.

Dinkum

• Developer: James Bendon
• Platform: PC
• Release Date: July 14, 2022

At first glance, Dinkum may not seem like a game similar to Minecraft, but it shares more with Mojang's creation than one might think. While incorporating elements akin to Stardew Valley, such as farming, and features reminiscent of Animal Crossing like donating to a museum, Dinkum is fundamentally a sandbox game.

It allows for building, crafting, engaging in combat, gathering, mining, and exploration at will. The ability to terraform the Australia-inspired world as desired, coupled with its charming blocky aesthetic, might remind players of Minecraft. This title is enjoyable both solo and with friends, offering a cozy sandbox experience worth exploring.

Don't Starve

• Developer: Klei Entertainment
• Platform: Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Date: April 23, 2013

Don't Starve combines a uniquely eerie art style with a brutal survival challenge and an intriguing cast of characters to create an unforgettable experience. Similar to Minecraft, the game focuses on crafting, exploration, gathering, and mining. However, survival elements are much more pronounced, with magic and science playing vital roles in advancing through the game. Players must contend with darkness and monstrous creatures in a randomly generated world. For those looking to share their experiences with friends, the multiplayer spin-off, Don't Starve Together, offers a chance to explore this storybook-esque world in the company.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

• Developer: Square Enix
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Date: December 20, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders 2, along with its predecessor, is commonly described as Minecraft with RPG elements. Set against the backdrop of a fantasy world under threat, the game sports a blocky art style that fans of Minecraft will find familiar. Players can battle, build, craft, farm, gather, and explore.

The game offers a single-player campaign that mixes sandbox gameplay with RPG elements. Alternatively, players can engage in a dedicated online sandbox mode with up to three friends. Dragon Quest Builders is a fusion of the traditional Dragon Quest series and Minecraft, appealing to fans of both for its creative potential, charming chibi-style characters, and engaging gameplay.