28 Sandbox games like ISLANDERS: New Shores 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 39 games similar to ISLANDERS: New Shores down to the 28 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Dorfromantik, shapez 2 - Factory and shapez top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to ISLANDERS: New Shores.

iRank96/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

The best sandbox games like ISLANDERS: New Shores

28 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to ISLANDERS: New Shores. Each one has been evaluated across 10 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.

#1DorfromantikClosest overall match

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldBase Building

Steam👍 96%· 29KRAWG👍 80%· 220OC83· 30

Year 2022Dev Toukana InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Nintendo

✓ Both are city builders — sharing puzzle design, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: card game strategy, procedural generation and combat tactical, while skipping visual isometric

Dorfromantik is a relaxing building strategy and puzzle game in which you place tiles to create ever-growing, idyllic village landscapes. With Dorfromantik, you can immerse yourself in a quiet, peaceful world at any time and take a break from everyday life.

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: visuals.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression63World61Visuals0

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldBase Building

Steam👍 97%· 14K

Dev tobspr Games · Gamera GamesPlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are city builders — sharing deep simulation, puzzle design and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with procedural generation, setting space and resource management, while skipping turn-based strategy

Dive into a factory-building game where the focus is on just that — building huge factories! Construct sprawling multi-level factories and min-max your layouts without limits. Shapez 2 is tailor-made for enthusiasts who crave the thrill of optimizing production lines and perfecting automation.

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: visuals and progression.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World68Progression39Visuals0

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Steam

#3shapez

iRank96

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 15K

Year 2020Dev Tobias Springer · PrismatikaOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Same family of city builders: sandbox freedom, deep simulation and puzzle design

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, procedural generation and resource management, while skipping turn-based strategy

Do you like automation games? Then you are in the right place! shapez is a relaxed game in which you have to build factories for the automated production of geometric shapes. As the level increases, the shapes become more and more complex, and you have to spread out on the infinite map.

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: progression.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals77Tone71World64Progression42

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Steam GOG Epic

#4Rusty's RetirementClosest on world

iRank97

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 97%· 15K

Year 2024Dev Mister Morris GamesPlaytime ~18hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with cozy, relaxing feel, fantasy world and setting scifi, while skipping puzzle design

Rusty's Retirement is an idle-farming simulator designed to sit at the bottom of your screen allowing you to work on other tasks while caring for your farm! Grow crops: Plant crops and watch Rusty get to work as he waters, nurtures, and harvests.

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: visuals.

Genre100Game mode100World100Tone72Progression52Visuals46

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 91%· 72KRAWG👍 74%· 294MC83IGDB83· 12OC85· 58

Year 2016Dev Frontier DevelopmentsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping puzzle design

Surprise, delight and thrill crowds as you build the theme park of your dreams. Build and design incredible coaster parks with unparalleled attention to detail and manage your park in a truly living world. Piece-by-Piece Construction: Planet Coaster makes a designer out of everyone.

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

It predates ISLANDERS: New Shores by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Tone88Game mode80Visuals68Progression48

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Steam

#6TownscaperClosest on visuals

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 95%· 21KIGDB80· 1OC73· 16

Year 2020Dev Oskar Stålberg · Raw FuryOn Xbox · Android · PC

✓ Both are city builders — sharing sandbox freedom, deep simulation and vibe casual

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, cozy, relaxing feel and procedural generation, while skipping puzzle design

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Progression76Tone68World52

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 91%· 4.4KRAWG👍 79%· 70IGDB90· 1

Year 2016Dev Raylight Games · Toplitz ProductionsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, setting cartoon and resource management, while skipping puzzle design

BUILD UP YOUR OWN GAMES EMPIRE Form your own game studio in the early 1980s starting in a small garage. Develop your own game concepts, create a team and develop megahit video games. Research new technologies, train your staff, upgrade your offices, moving up to bigger and better locations.

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

It predates ISLANDERS: New Shores by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals66Tone60Progression40

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 289KRAWG👍 87%· 1.5KMC85IGDB76· 13OC83· 91

Year 2015Dev Colossal Order · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~9hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are city builders — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with resource management, while skipping puzzle design

Cities: Skylines is a traditional city-building game, which allows players to experience urban planning in all aspects including zoning, road placement, transportation, taxation, and improvement of welfare.

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

It predates ISLANDERS: New Shores by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression75Tone49

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 92%· 35KIGDB87· 10OC84· 127

Year 2018Dev Two Point Studios · SegaOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Where it differs: brings resource management, while skipping puzzle design

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Tone50Progression42

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldBase Building

Steam👍 92%· 44KIGDB70· 10OC75· 70

Year 2019Dev Pathea Games · Team17On PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and vibe casual

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics, while skipping puzzle design

Where it drifts furthest from ISLANDERS: New Shores: visuals and progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

Genre100Game mode100Tone67World61Progression33Visuals0

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Steam GOG Epic

#11Children of the Nile

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometricHistorical

Steam👍 85%· 465MC75IGDB75· 2

Year 2008Dev Tilted Mill EntertainmentPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings historical setting and resource management, while skipping puzzle design

Children of the Nile™ is a unique gem of a city-building game, unparalleled in both grandeur and attention to detail. As Pharaoh you will guide your people through thousands of years of history: from simple hunter-gatherers to the creation of an immortal civilization.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

It predates ISLANDERS: New Shores by 17 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression73

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometricManagement

Steam👍 88%· 971RAWG👍 57%· 47IGDB82· 2

Year 2003Dev Frog City Software · Kalypso MediaPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of city builders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Its own twist: resource management, while skipping puzzle design

TROPICO RELOADED is the ultimate game compilation for hobby-dictators and those dreaming of their own Caribbean island.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

It predates ISLANDERS: New Shores by 22 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression73

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Steam GOG

#13Tycoon City: New York

iRank56

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometricManagement

Steam👍 42%· 285MC67IGDB73· 2

Year 2006Playtime ~2hOn PC

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with resource management, while skipping puzzle design

Special OfferOfficially Licensed Tycoon City: New York T-Shirts are available on Amazon! About the GameHere's your chance to make it big in the Big Apple... New York City, the city that never sleeps!

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

It predates ISLANDERS: New Shores by 19 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression67

Details →

Steam

#14WorldBox

iRank95

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloRelaxingSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 95%· 54K

Year 2018Dev Maxim KarpenkoOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with sandbox freedom, deep simulation and vibe relaxing

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, cozy, relaxing feel and procedural generation, while skipping puzzle design

Genre100Game mode100World78Progression73Visuals58Tone52

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometricManagement

Steam👍 77%· 1.1KRAWG👍 57%· 47MC70IGDB67· 1

Year 2011Dev Colossal Order · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the city builders cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Its own twist: resource management, while skipping puzzle design

Just UpdatedCities in Motion has just received a Free update to include the German city, Munich!

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against overwhelmingly positive for ISLANDERS: New Shores.

It predates ISLANDERS: New Shores by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression58

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Steam GOG

Complete list of sandbox games like ISLANDERS: New Shores

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with ISLANDERS: New Shores, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.