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Project Zomboid

5 Sandbox games like Project Zomboid that you should try

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We filtered the 26 games similar to Project Zomboid down to the 5 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Sons Of The Forest, Green Hell and Subnautica: Below Zero top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Project Zomboid.

iRank85/ 100

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GenreSurvivalSubgenreHorror Survival
Tags
DarkHardcoreSoloMultiplayer
Year 2013Dev The Indie Stone
Stores
Steam ↗GOG ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Sandbox” category, the closest game to Project Zomboid is Sons Of The Forest — scoring 88/100 on our similarity scale. Green Hell and Subnautica: Below Zero follow close behind.

#1Sons Of The Forest88#2Green Hell82#3Subnautica: Below Zero79#4Subnautica79#5Don't Starve Together48
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The best sandbox games like Project Zomboid

5 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Project Zomboid. Each one has been evaluated across 25 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.

#1Sons Of The Forest
88
iRank79
Sons Of The Forest
SurvivalHorror Survival
MultiplayerSoloCo-opDarkNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExplorationCraftingEarly Access
Steam👍 88%· 304KRAWG👍 67%· 129OC78· 12
Year 2024Dev Endnight Games · NewnightPlaytime ~11hOn PC

✓ Same family of horror survival games: survival mechanics, horror tension and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: melee combat, base building and visual first person, while skipping deep RPG systems

Details →
Steam
#2Green Hell
82
iRank83
Green Hell
SurvivalHorror Survival
MultiplayerSoloCo-opNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExplorationCrafting
Steam👍 85%· 97KIGDB83· 3OC79· 49
Year 2019Dev Creepy JarOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the horror survival games cluster, with survival mechanics, horror tension and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: melee combat, online features and base building, while skipping deep RPG systems

Details →
SteamXboxPS
#3Subnautica: Below Zero
79
iRank87
Subnautica: Below Zero
SurvivalHorror Survival
SoloMultiplayerNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExplorationCrafting
Steam👍 90%· 105KIGDB85· 5OC83· 60
Year 2021Dev Unknown Worlds EntertainmentOn Xbox · PS4 · Switch

✓ Same family of horror survival games: survival mechanics, horror tension and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, setting scifi and base building, while skipping deep simulation

Details →
SteamEpicXbox
#4Subnautica
79
iRank88
Subnautica
SurvivalHorror Survival
SoloMultiplayerNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExplorationCrafting
Steam👍 97%· 359KRAWG👍 84%· 1.5KMC83IGDB84· 11OC84· 57
Year 2018Dev Unknown Worlds EntertainmentPlaytime ~10hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are horror survival games — sharing survival mechanics, horror tension and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, setting scifi and base building, while skipping deep simulation

Details →
SteamEpicXbox
#5Don't Starve Together
48
iRank85
Don't Starve Together
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
MultiplayerCo-opSoloDarkHardcoreNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldHorrorExplorationCraftingIsometric2D
Steam👍 95%· 531KRAWG👍 72%· 1.4KMC83
Year 2016Dev Klei EntertainmentPlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like Project Zomboid, it's known for survival mechanics, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings online features, while skipping horror tension

Details →
Steam

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