The best game like Minecraft is Terraria — often called Minecraft’s closest sibling, it takes the same mine-craft-build loop and packs it into a 2D world stuffed with bosses and gear. Valheim is the pick for survival and base-building in 3D, while Palworld and Core Keeper put fresh spins on the formula.
Here are the best games like Minecraft — sandbox and survival games about mining, crafting, building and exploring — and which one suits you.
Best games like Minecraft
Eight sandbox and survival games that deliver Minecraft’s mix of mining, crafting and creative freedom.
| Game | Platforms | Why it’s like Minecraft |
|---|---|---|
| Terraria | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch, mobile | The 2D mine-craft-build loop with bosses and biomes |
| Valheim | PC, Xbox | Norse survival crafting and satisfying base-building |
| Palworld | PC, Xbox | Survival crafting fused with creature collecting |
| Core Keeper | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Top-down mining, farming and boss fights underground |
| Enshrouded | PC, PS, Xbox | Modern survival with deep base-building and crafting |
| Conan Exiles | PC, PS, Xbox | Open sandbox survival with huge building freedom |
| Starbound | PC | 2D sandbox building across procedurally generated planets |
| Satisfactory | PC, PS, Xbox | First-person building taken to factory-sized scale |
How we picked them
Minecraft’s pull is a simple loop taken to infinity: gather resources, craft tools, build whatever you can imagine, and survive the night. We weighted games that keep that loop front and centre. Terraria is the closest in spirit — it’s the 2D take almost everyone reaches for next — while Valheim is the best if you want 3D survival with friends. Palworld and Core Keeper add combat and progression twists, and Satisfactory is here for players who loved building most of all. Nearly every pick supports co-op, just like Minecraft.
The top picks explained
Four games that best fill the Minecraft-shaped hole.
#1
Best survival
Best twist
Best underground
More survival and co-op picks? See our best survival games, best co-op games and best indie games guides.
Which one to play
Pick based on what you loved about Minecraft.
| You loved… | Play |
|---|---|
| Mining, crafting and bosses | Terraria or Core Keeper |
| Survival with friends | Valheim or Enshrouded |
| Building on a huge scale | Satisfactory or Conan Exiles |
| Something with a fresh hook | Palworld |
