11 Sandbox games like House Builder 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 47 games similar to House Builder down to the 11 that fit the “Sandbox” category. From Dust, Scribblenauts Unlimited and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to House Builder.

iRank73/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

The best sandbox games like House Builder

11 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to House Builder. 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.

#1From DustClosest overall match

iRank71

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationMagic

Steam👍 67%· 2.9KIGDB80· 5

Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with combat magic, fantasy world and visual isometric, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from House Builder: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for House Builder.

It predates House Builder by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression52Visuals0

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Steam Epic

#2Scribblenauts Unlimited

iRank87

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloCasualSandbox WorldOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 94%· 12KIGDB72· 10

Year 2012Dev 5th Cell · WB GamesOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from House Builder: visuals and tone.

It predates House Builder by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression48Tone41Visuals0

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Steam Nintendo

#3The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

iRank95

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationRanged

IGDB95· 6OC95· 164

Year 2023Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: ranged combat, fantasy world and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from House Builder: visuals and progression.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression41Visuals0

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Nintendo

#4The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

iRank91

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationMagic

IGDB92· 15OC90· 71

Year 2013Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3 · Nintendo

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: combat magic, ranged combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from House Builder: visuals and progression.

It predates House Builder by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression35Visuals0

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Nintendo

#5The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

iRank97

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationRanged

IGDB98· 27OC96· 167

Year 2017Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: ranged combat, fantasy world and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from House Builder: visuals and progression.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression29Visuals0

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Nintendo

#6SpaceEngineClosest on tone

iRank93

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloCasualRelaxingNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExploration3D

Steam👍 96%· 16KRAWG👍 89%· 36

Year 2019Dev Vladimir RomanyukPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with procedural generation, setting scifi and setting space, while skipping adventure storytelling

SpaceEngine is a 1:1 scale science-based Universe simulator, featuring billions upon billions of galaxies, nebulae, stars, and planets, all shown at their full real-world scale.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World83Visuals73Progression59

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloCasualRelaxingNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExploration

Steam👍 92%· 5.6KIGDB78· 6OC76· 38

Year 2015Dev Ubisoft Reflections · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, cozy, relaxing feel and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from House Builder: visuals.

It predates House Builder by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Tone85Progression59Visuals0

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Steam PS

#8X2: The ThreatClosest on progression

iRank72

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationManagementFirst Person

Steam👍 83%· 522RAWG👍 58%· 36MC72IGDB67· 2

Year 2003Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, melee combat and setting space, while skipping adventure storytelling

X²: The Threat is of a new generation of space simulator games, you play the role of Julian Gardna who continues the story set by X: Beyond The Frontier. The updated graphics engine gives the universe a fresher feel with newly designed ships and stations adding to the complexity of the universe.

Where it drifts furthest from House Builder: visuals.

It predates House Builder by 21 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals44

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Steam GOG

#9X: Beyond the Frontier

iRank60

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationManagementFirst Person

Steam👍 75%· 387RAWG👍 56%· 32MC67IGDB30· 1

Year 1999Dev Egosoft · THQPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, melee combat and setting space, while skipping adventure storytelling

The Human Race had advanced to the point where we could travel among the stars, we developed giant automated machines to help us colonise other worlds, but there was a fault in their programming and they turned and attacked. Forcing us to lay a trap to protect Earth and exiling the Human race to stay on Earth once again.

Where it drifts furthest from House Builder: visuals.

It predates House Builder by 25 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals44

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Steam

#10L.A. Noire

iRank87