12 Sandbox games like Shadows of Doubt 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 Shadows of Doubt down to the 12 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Starfield, Cyberpunk 2077 and Fallout: New Vegas top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Shadows of Doubt.

iRank77/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

The best sandbox games like Shadows of Doubt

12 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Shadows of Doubt. Each one has been evaluated across 22 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.

#1StarfieldClosest on genre

iRank71

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 57%· 173KIGDB85· 9OC84· 221

Year 2023Dev Bethesda Game Studios · Bethesda SoftworksOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Fits the first-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with shooter, first-person shooting and setting space, while skipping puzzle design

At its best in the hand-built cities and the faction questlines, where the writing and the systems both hold. Ship building is deeper than it first appears. The exploration loop is the weak point — procedurally generated planets repeat their points of interest quickly, and the constant loading screens between surface, ship and space break any sense of continuity.

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: combat and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for Shadows of Doubt.

Genre100Progression100World77Tone61Game mode57Visuals54

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Steam Xbox PS

#2Cyberpunk 2077Closest overall match

iRank80

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloRangedMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldCyberpunkSci-FiExplorationSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 86%· 938KRAWG👍 83%· 3.0KMC73IGDB75· 21OC76· 226

Year 2020Dev CD Projekt Red · CD PROJEKT REDPlaytime ~29hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and visual third person, while skipping deep simulation

Cyberpunk 2077 is a science fiction game loosely based on the role-playing game Cyberpunk 2020. ###Setting The game is set in the year 2077 in a fictional futuristic metropolis Night City in California.

Genre100Tone100Setting100Progression100World77Combat64

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Steam GOG Epic

#3Fallout: New VegasClosest on combat

iRank89

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloStealthMeleeRangedNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 257KRAWG👍 89%· 2.6KMC84IGDB82· 9

Year 2010Dev Obsidian Entertainment · Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~12hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with shooter, survival mechanics and first-person shooting, while skipping deep simulation

The writing is why it endures: factions with coherent positions, quests that resolve several ways, and an ending that actually reflects a decade of small choices. Reputation matters everywhere. Technically it is fragile — it shipped buggy and remains so, with crashes common enough on modern systems that most players install community patches first.

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: setting.

It predates Shadows of Doubt by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Progression81World77Tone61Game mode56

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloStealthRangedMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 81%· 424KRAWG👍 70%· 3.4KMC84IGDB85· 21OC87· 159

Year 2015Dev Bethesda Game Studios · Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~38hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, survival mechanics and first-person shooting, while skipping deep simulation

The best shooting in the series by some distance, plus settlement building that becomes its own game if you let it. Power armour finally feels like a vehicle. The dialogue wheel is the loss — four options that collapse into the same outcome, and a voiced protagonist that narrows roleplaying compared with New Vegas.

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: setting and progression.

It predates Shadows of Doubt by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100World77Tone61Game mode56Visuals54

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloStealthMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 81%· 22KIGDB89· 10

Year 2008Dev Bethesda Game Studios · Bethesda SoftworksOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the first-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with shooter, survival mechanics and first-person shooting, while skipping deep simulation

Its strength is atmosphere and discovery: the Capital Wasteland rewards wandering, and the metro tunnels connecting it create a genuine sense of a broken city. VATS makes combat readable. The main quest is thin and railroads hard at the end, and the green filter over everything flattens the visual variety across dozens of hours.

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: setting.

It predates Shadows of Doubt by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100Combat85World77Tone60Game mode56

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Steam GOG Epic

#6Prototype 2Closest on game mode

iRank77

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthDarkNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExploration

Steam👍 77%· 16KIGDB77· 10

Year 2012Dev Radical Entertainment · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Like Shadows of Doubt, it's known for deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, survival mechanics and horror tension, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: visuals and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Shadows of Doubt.

It predates Shadows of Doubt by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Tone100Combat84World77Progression76Genre75

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerStealthMeleeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldExploration

Steam👍 85%· 17KIGDB75· 7

Year 2013Dev Undead Labs · Microsoft StudiosOn PC

✓ If you enjoyed Shadows of Doubt, expect deep RPG systems, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, shooter and third-person shooting, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: setting and visuals.

It predates Shadows of Doubt by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Combat85World77Genre75Tone69Progression57

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 77%· 106KRAWG👍 77%· 476MC80IGDB82· 21OC79· 70

Year 2015Dev Frontier DevelopmentsPlaytime ~14hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the first-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, punishing difficulty and setting space, while skipping action RPG combat

One of the interesting facts about Elite Dangerous is its realistic scale representation of the Milky Way which is an open-world and the gameplay is itself open-ended.

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: tone and combat.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Shadows of Doubt.

It predates Shadows of Doubt by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World77Progression75Visuals55Game mode49Setting32

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Steam Epic Xbox

#9The Elder Scrolls II: DaggerfallClosest on world

iRank87

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeRangedDarkSandbox WorldOpen WorldProceduralExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 86%· 3.5KIGDB89· 1

Year 1996Dev Bethesda SoftworksOn PC

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: combat magic, fantasy world and historical setting, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: setting and combat.

It predates Shadows of Doubt by 28 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Progression71Visuals69Tone59Game mode55

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Steam GOG

#10Grounded

iRank85

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

MultiplayerSoloMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 90%· 94KIGDB78· 5OC82· 58

Year 2022Dev Obsidian Entertainment · Xbox Game StudiosOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings survival mechanics, horror tension and horror setting, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: setting and combat.

Genre100World72Game mode59Visuals55Progression31Combat26

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Steam Xbox PS

#11Assassin's Creed III Remastered

iRank69

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExploration

Steam👍 63%· 15KIGDB80· 1OC69· 47

Year 2019Dev Ubisoft Barcelona · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Shadows of Doubt, expect deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with historical setting and visual third person, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: setting and visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for Shadows of Doubt.

Game mode100Combat87World76Genre75Progression74Tone56

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Steam Epic PS

#12The Elder Scrolls: Arena

iRank83

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeRangedSandbox WorldOpen WorldProceduralExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 80%· 2.5KIGDB88· 2

Year 1994Dev Bethesda SoftworksOn PC

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with combat magic and fantasy world, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Shadows of Doubt: setting and combat.

It predates Shadows of Doubt by 30 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Progression71Visuals69Game mode55Combat49

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Steam GOG

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