iRankGames
Space Engineers

8 Melee games like Space Engineers that you should try

Games like Space Engineers · Find similar →

More about this game →
Filter by:Melee×← Back to home

We filtered the 18 games similar to Space Engineers down to the 8 that fit the “Melee” category. VTOL VR: AH-94 Attack Helicopter, VTOL VR and No Man's Sky top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Space Engineers.

iRank74/ 100

Did you find what you were looking for?

GenreSandboxSubgenreCrafting Sandbox
Tags
SoloMultiplayer
Year 2013Dev Keen Software House
Stores
Steam ↗Xbox ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Melee” category, the closest game to Space Engineers is VTOL VR: AH-94 Attack Helicopter — scoring 49/100 on our similarity scale. VTOL VR and No Man's Sky follow close behind.

#1VTOL VR: AH-94 Attack Helicopter49#2VTOL VR49#3No Man's Sky89#4Scrap Mechanic89#5Starbound87
🗳️

Help us build the best rankings

Community powered

Vote on each result below — good match or not. Every vote directly shapes how we rank similar games for everyone.

The best melee games like Space Engineers

8 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Space Engineers. Each one has been evaluated across 18 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.

#1VTOL VR: AH-94 Attack Helicopter
49
iRank98
VTOL VR: AH-94 Attack Helicopter
SandboxCreative Sandbox
SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalMeleeSandbox WorldFirst Person
Steam👍 98%· 21K
Year 2017Dev Boundless DynamicsPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Shared with Space Engineers: sandbox freedom, deep simulation and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with historical setting, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →
Steam
#2VTOL VR
49
iRank98
VTOL VR
SandboxCreative Sandbox
SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalMeleeSandbox WorldFirst Person
Steam👍 98%· 21K
Year 2017Dev Boundless DynamicsPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Shared with Space Engineers: sandbox freedom, deep simulation and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings historical setting, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →
Steam
#3No Man's Sky
89
iRank76
No Man's Sky
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationCraftingFirst PersonThird Person
Steam👍 85%· 407KRAWG👍 67%· 1.6KMC75IGDB74· 38OC71· 149
Year 2016Dev Hello GamesPlaytime ~15hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of crafting sandboxes: sandbox freedom, adventure storytelling and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and strong narrative focus, while skipping combat tactical

Details →
SteamGOGXbox
#4Scrap Mechanic
89
iRank83
Scrap Mechanic
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
MultiplayerCo-opSoloMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationCraftingFirst PersonThird PersonEarly Access
Steam👍 92%· 117KRAWG👍 70%· 124
Year 2016Dev Axolot GamesPlaytime ~6hOn PC

✓ Same family of crafting sandboxes: sandbox freedom, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with online features and base building, while skipping combat tactical

Details →
Steam
#5Starbound
87
iRank84
Starbound
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
MultiplayerCo-opSoloMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiSpaceCraftingExploration
Steam👍 90%· 123KRAWG👍 73%· 852MC81IGDB87· 5OC85· 19
Year 2016Dev ChucklefishPlaytime ~17hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are crafting sandboxes — sharing sandbox freedom, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, precision platforming and vibe casual, while skipping deep simulation

Details →
SteamGOG
#6Terraria
82
iRank86
Terraria
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiCraftingExploration
Steam👍 97%· 1.5MRAWG👍 80%· 2.5KMC81IGDB81· 13OC79· 33
Year 2011Dev Engine Software · 505 GamesPlaytime ~15hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are crafting sandboxes — sharing sandbox freedom, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, precision platforming and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping combat tactical

Details →
SteamGOGXbox
#7Unturned
80
iRank66
Unturned
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationCraftingFirst PersonThird Person
Steam👍 91%· 563KRAWG👍 29%· 1.1K
Year 2014Dev 505 GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of crafting sandboxes: sandbox freedom, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics

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

Details →
SteamXboxPS
#8Kitchen Simulator 2015
75
iRank40
Kitchen Simulator 2015
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
SoloMeleeSandbox WorldExplorationCraftingFirst Person
Steam👍 40%· 329
Year 2015Dev WhackAKey GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Both are crafting sandboxes — sharing sandbox freedom, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, vibe casual and strong narrative focus, while skipping survival mechanics

Details →
Steam

Explore games similar to Space Engineers by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best Crafting Sandbox GamesBest Sandbox Games