10 Sandbox games like Summer Islands 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 Summer Islands down to the 10 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Plague Inc: Evolved, Europa Universalis IV and Stronghold 3 Gold top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Summer Islands.

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The best sandbox games like Summer Islands

10 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Summer Islands. Each one has been evaluated across 15 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.

#1Plague Inc: EvolvedClosest overall match

iRank87

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opCasualSandbox WorldIsometric

Steam👍 94%· 62KRAWG👍 86%· 667MC80IGDB80· 3

Year 2015Dev Ndemic CreationsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings survival mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and combat tactical, while skipping procedural generation

Plague Inc: Evolved is a biological simulation/strategy game developed by Ndemic Creations. In Plague Inc: Evolved the player controls a disease, that infects patient zero in a selected country.

It predates Summer Islands by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone88Game mode76Visuals57World56

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Steam Xbox PS

#2Europa Universalis IVClosest on progression

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSandbox WorldManagementIsometric

Steam👍 88%· 136KRAWG👍 83%· 396MC87IGDB85· 2

Year 2013Dev Paradox Development Studio · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, open world exploration and combat tactical, while skipping vibe casual

Europa Universalis IV is a global strategy game developed by Paradox Interactive. It is the fifth game in the series, not counting the add-ons. ###Gameplay The game can take place at any time starting from the late Middle Age to the Napolean Wars era.

Where it drifts furthest from Summer Islands: world.

It predates Summer Islands by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100Game mode76Visuals57World48

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opSandbox WorldManagementIsometric

Steam👍 33%· 4.8KRAWG👍 28%· 50IGDB52· 3

Year 2012Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, combat tactical and ranged combat, while skipping vibe casual

Stronghold 3: Gold is the long-awaited third installment in the award winning castle-building series. Set 10 years after the original, the Wolf it seems, has cheated death and during his painful recovery he’s become even more bitter and twisted. Now he seeks revenge.

Where it drifts furthest from Summer Islands: world.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly negative, against very positive for Summer Islands.

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

Genre100Game mode72Progression62Visuals57World44

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Steam

#4RollerCoaster Tycoon 2Closest on tone

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCasualSandbox WorldManagementIsometricPixel Art

Steam👍 90%· 5.8KIGDB60· 1

Year 2002Dev Chris Sawyer Productions · InfogramesOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom.

≠ Missing: procedural generation.

Where it drifts furthest from Summer Islands: game mode.

It predates Summer Islands by 23 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100Progression100Visuals100World56Game mode44

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldManagementIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 5.6KIGDB70· 3

Year 2005Dev Firefly Studios · 2K GamesOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: open world exploration, combat tactical and melee combat, while skipping vibe casual

Where it drifts furthest from Summer Islands: visuals and game mode.

It predates Summer Islands by 20 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression58World56Game mode49Visuals44

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Steam

#6Stronghold 2: Steam Edition

iRank81

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldManagementIsometric

Steam👍 89%· 5.6KRAWG👍 68%· 40

Year 2005Dev FireFly Studios · 2K GamesOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, combat tactical and setting medieval, while skipping vibe casual

Stronghold 2 is a real time strategy computer game released in April 2005 in which the player develops a stronghold in the middle ages. It is the sequel to Stronghold, released in 2001, also by Firefly Studios.

Where it drifts furthest from Summer Islands: visuals and game mode.

It predates Summer Islands by 20 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression58World56Game mode49Visuals44

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldManagementTactical

Steam👍 92%· 20KIGDB76· 1

Year 2010Dev Paradox InteractiveOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, combat tactical and historical setting, while skipping vibe casual

It predates Summer Islands by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Progression100World58Game mode51

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldIsometricHistorical

IGDB68· 2

Year 2008Dev Trine Game Studios · JoWooD ProductionsPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, historical setting and setting medieval, while skipping vibe casual

A life simulation where you control a dynasty through various professions.

Where it drifts furthest from Summer Islands: visuals and game mode.

It predates Summer Islands by 17 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World57Game mode49Visuals47

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Steam

#9Europa Universalis III

iRank79

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldIsometricHistorical

Steam👍 83%· 2.0KIGDB70· 1

Year 2007Dev Paradox InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, sandbox freedom and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy and historical setting, while skipping vibe casual

It predates Summer Islands by 18 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals57Game mode51World50

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Steam

#10Black & White

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldIsometricMagic

Year 2001Dev Lionhead Studios · Electronic ArtsOn PC · Mac

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, open world exploration and combat magic, while skipping vibe casual

Where it drifts furthest from Summer Islands: progression and world.

It predates Summer Islands by 24 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals57Game mode49World47Progression0

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