10 Sandbox games like Derail Valley that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Derail Valley down to the 10 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Offroad Mania, Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 and My Summer Car top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Derail Valley.

iRank96/ 100

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GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

The best sandbox games like Derail Valley

10 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Derail Valley. Each one has been evaluated across 14 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Offroad ManiaClosest overall match

iRank94

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloRelaxingNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldProceduralExploration

Steam👍 94%· 518

Year 2020Dev Active GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Same family of racing sims: deep simulation, racing gameplay and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings skill tree progression, visual 3d and visual third person, while skipping resource management

Offroad Mania — based on realistic car physics game for everyone, who like off road and challenge. We've prepared for you 120 levels + free roam (rocks, trees, bridges, ramps and so on) and 5 amazing 4×4 off road cars (differents suspensions, engines) for fun driving.

Where it drifts furthest from Derail Valley: visuals and progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Derail Valley.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression44Visuals0

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Steam

#2Car Mechanic Simulator 2021

iRank86

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 36KRAWG👍 71%· 58

Year 2021Dev Red Dot Games · PlayWayPlaytime ~11hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of racing sims: deep simulation, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design and visual 3d, while skipping vibe relaxing

Check out more gameshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/1078760/Motorcycle_Mechanic_Simulator_2021/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1088770/Car_Mechanic_Simulator_VR/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/407130/Tank_Mechanic_Simulator/ More VR simulatorshttps://store.steampowered.

Genre100Game mode100World81Visuals71Progression51Tone50

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Steam Xbox

#3My Summer CarClosest on visuals

iRank89

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst PersonEarly Access

Steam👍 95%· 114KRAWG👍 81%· 83

Year 2016Dev Amistech GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC

✓ Both are racing sims — sharing deep simulation, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: sports simulation, survival mechanics and roguelike runs, while skipping vibe relaxing

MY SUMMER CAR is the ultimate car owning, building, fixing, tuning, maintenance AND permadeath life survival simulator. You start the game with hundreds of loose parts and assemble both car and engine. Not only you need to maintain your car, but yourself as well.

Where it drifts furthest from Derail Valley: tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Derail Valley.

Genre100Visuals100World81Game mode76Progression62Tone45

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonEarly Access

Steam👍 97%· 393KRAWG👍 88%· 127

Year 2015Dev SureHit StudioPlaytime ~4hOn PC · iOS

✓ Same family of racing sims: deep simulation, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, multiplayer gameplay and visual third person, while skipping strong narrative focus

BeamNG.drive is a realistic, immersive driving game offering near-limitless possibilities. Our soft-body physics engine simulates every component of a vehicle in real time, resulting in realistic, dynamic behavior.

Genre100World83Visuals71Progression60Game mode54

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 90%· 54KIGDB81· 3OC80· 66

Year 2020Dev Saber Interactive · Focus EntertainmentOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of racing sims: deep simulation, racing gameplay and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings multiplayer gameplay, co op and visual third person, while skipping vibe relaxing

Where it drifts furthest from Derail Valley: game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Derail Valley.

Genre100World83Visuals71Progression62Tone57Game mode32

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloRelaxingNarrativeProceduralSandbox WorldOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 96%· 12KRAWG👍 77%· 103

Year 2017Dev GrizzlyGamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of racing sims: deep simulation, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with sports simulation, vibe casual and melee combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

A quick note from the developers: Superflight is a game about flying in a wingsuit through colorful mountainscapes and scoring as many points as possible by pulling off risky proximity maneuvers. If you enjoy simple games about flying and speed, look no further!

Where it drifts furthest from Derail Valley: visuals.

Genre100Game mode100World100Tone76Progression50Visuals0

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Steam

#7Car Mechanic Simulator 2018Closest on progression

iRank81

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationManagementFirst Person

Steam👍 91%· 53KRAWG👍 76%· 100IGDB67· 2

Year 2017Dev Red Dot Games · PlayWayPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of racing sims: deep simulation, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: multiplayer gameplay and crafting mechanics, while skipping adventure storytelling

A methodical repair sim: diagnose a fault, strip the car to the part that causes it, rebuild, then test-drive it — with barn-find and junkyard modes for hunting classics to restore. The detail is real enough that actual mechanics recognise it. The tutorial is the near-universal complaint: it explains almost nothing, and the opening hours are spent unscrewing wheel bolts to work out the loop yourself.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Derail Valley.

Genre100Visuals100Progression85World74Game mode71

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Steam Epic PS

#8Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game

iRank94

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldManagementEarly Access

Steam👍 94%· 17K

Year 2015Dev Camshaft SoftwarePlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Both are racing sims — sharing deep simulation, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: multiplayer gameplay, crafting mechanics and visual third person, while skipping adventure storytelling

Current Release StatusThe current release contains the Car and Engine design aspects of Automation along with a simplified "Lite Campaign" version of the Tycoon gameplay.

Where it drifts furthest from Derail Valley: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Derail Valley.

Genre100World80Progression62Game mode56Tone50Visuals0

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Steam

#9Skate 2

iRank83

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationMultiplayer

IGDB83· 4

Year 2009Dev EA Black Box · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of racing sims: deep simulation, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: sports simulation and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping adventure storytelling

Genre100World81Progression57Game mode55

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#10Car Mechanic Simulator 2015

iRank75

GenreSimulationSubgenreVehicle SimSub-subgenreSim Racing

SoloSandbox WorldManagementFirst PersonMultiplayer

Steam👍 92%· 15KRAWG👍 55%· 92MC68

Year 2015Dev PlayWayPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of racing sims: deep simulation, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, vibe casual and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping adventure storytelling

Featured DLChttp://store.steampowered.com/app/434910/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/434900/ http://store.steampowered.com/app/434901/ About the GameNew cars, new tools, new options, more parts and much more fun in the next version of Car Mechanic Simulator! Take your wrench!

Where it drifts furthest from Derail Valley: tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Derail Valley.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode86Progression66World51Tone0

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Steam

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