27 Sandbox games like Islanders 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 38 games similar to Islanders down to the 27 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Dorfromantik, Imagine Earth and shapez 2 - Factory top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Islanders.

iRank87/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

The best sandbox games like Islanders

27 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

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

#1DorfromantikClosest overall match

iRank88

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldProceduralBase Building3D

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, combat tactical and resource management, while skipping strong narrative focus

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.

Released 3 years after Islanders.

Genre100Game mode100World100Tone94Progression71Visuals58

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Steam GOG Nintendo

#2Imagine EarthClosest on visuals

iRank81

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloRelaxingSandbox WorldProceduralBase Building3DTop-DownIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 955OC80· 12

Year 2021Dev Serious BrothersPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Shared with Islanders: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, setting scifi and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping vibe casual

Planetary Colonization Imagine Earth is a real-time planet simulation and a build up strategy game. Your job as a space colony manager is to explore and populate distant planets. Build up thriving and profitable colonies on a global scale and trade resources and goods into space.

Game mode100World100Visuals100Tone82Progression52Genre50

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingSandbox WorldProceduralBase Building3D

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 setting space, resource management and crafting mechanics, 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: progression.

Genre100Game mode100World100Tone93Visuals53Progression49

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Steam

#4shapez

iRank96

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualSandbox WorldProceduralBase 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, resource management and crafting mechanics, 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: tone.

Genre100Game mode100World84Visuals58Progression50Tone44

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingNarrativeSandbox WorldProceduralBase 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: cozy, relaxing feel, open world exploration and exploration and discovery, while skipping puzzle design

Genre100Game mode100Tone84World82Progression82Visuals71

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Steam GOG Epic

#6Planet CoasterClosest on tone

iRank84

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualRelaxingNarrativeSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometric3D

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, multiplayer gameplay and resource management, 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.

Genre100Tone100Game mode81World81Visuals76Progression63

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloCasualNarrativeSandbox WorldBase BuildingIsometricTop-Down

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 setting cartoon, resource management and crafting mechanics, 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.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals89World77Tone57Progression51

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloRelaxingCasualNarrativeSandbox WorldBase Building3D

Steam👍 94%· 109KRAWG👍 76%· 351MC62IGDB62· 4OC62· 27

Year 2018Dev Ultimate Games · PlayWayPlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Its own twist: open world exploration, multiplayer gameplay and resource management, while skipping puzzle design

House Flipper is a unique chance to become the one-man renovating crew. Buy, repair and upgrade devastated houses. Give them a second life and sell at a profit! At your disposal is a collection of tools and parts.

Where it drifts furthest from Islanders: visuals.

Genre100Tone100Progression77Game mode70World61Visuals32

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloRelaxingSandbox WorldProceduralBase 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 fantasy world, while skipping puzzle design

Where it drifts furthest from Islanders: visuals.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression81Tone61Visuals47

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Steam itch.io

#10Rusty's Retirement

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: visuals.

Released 5 years after Islanders.

Genre100Game mode100World78Tone74Progression65Visuals39

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: visuals and progression.

Genre100Game mode100Tone70World53Progression47Visuals0

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Steam GOG Epic

#12Tycoon 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 very positive for Islanders.

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

Genre100Game mode100World78Progression77Visuals71

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.

It predates Islanders by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Progression79World74Visuals71

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Steam GOG

#14Children 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.

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

Genre100Game mode100Progression80Visuals71World70

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: tone.

Genre100Game mode100Progression81World79Visuals71Tone23

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Steam Epic Xbox

Complete list of sandbox games like Islanders

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Islanders, 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.