Surviving Mars

24 Sandbox games like Surviving Mars that you should try

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We filtered the 29 games similar to Surviving Mars down to the 24 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Oxygen Not Included, Jurassic World Evolution 2 and Pacific Drive top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Surviving Mars.

iRank76/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

Tags

Solo

Year 2018Dev Haemimont Games

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗Epic ↗Xbox ↗PS ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Sandbox” category, the closest game to Surviving Mars is Oxygen Not Included — scoring 94/100 on our similarity scale. Jurassic World Evolution 2 and Pacific Drive follow close behind.

#1Oxygen Not Included94 #2Jurassic World Evolution 292 #3Pacific Drive89 #4Fallout Shelter88 #5Forager85

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The best sandbox games like Surviving Mars

24 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Surviving Mars. Each one has been evaluated across 12 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.

#1Oxygen Not Included

94

Oxygen Not Included

GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiSpaceBase BuildingManagementExploration

Steam👍 97%· 140KRAWG👍 85%· 379MC86

Year 2017Dev Klei EntertainmentPlaytime ~7hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are colony sims — sharing deep simulation, survival mechanics and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, punishing difficulty and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping visual isometric

#2Jurassic World Evolution 2

92

Jurassic World Evolution 2

GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiManagementBase BuildingExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 90%· 46KIGDB72· 5OC79· 81

Year 2021Dev Frontier DevelopmentsOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are colony sims — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere, strong narrative focus and melee combat, while skipping setting space

Steam Epic Xbox

#3Pacific Drive

89

Pacific Drive

GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

SoloSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 83%· 26KRAWG👍 69%· 85IGDB84· 5OC80· 77

Year 2024Dev Ironwood Studio · Kepler InteractivePlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS

✓ Both are colony sims — sharing survival mechanics, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, horror tension and racing gameplay, while skipping open world exploration

#4Fallout Shelter

88

Fallout Shelter

GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

SoloSandbox WorldSci-FiBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 88%· 81KIGDB68· 9

Year 2015Dev Bethesda Game Studios · Bethesda SoftworksOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Both are colony sims — sharing deep simulation, survival mechanics and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and vibe casual, while skipping open world exploration

85

Forager

GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 90%· 43KIGDB71· 4OC76· 28

Year 2019Dev Hop Frog · Humble BundleOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Both are colony sims — sharing survival mechanics, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, deep RPG systems and puzzle design, while skipping setting space

82

Factorio

GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 98%· 229KRAWG👍 87%· 808MC83IGDB86· 2OC82· 14

Year 2020Dev Wube SoftwarePlaytime ~20hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of colony sims: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and survival mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings multiplayer gameplay, co op and crafting mechanics, while skipping setting space

Steam GOG Nintendo

81

Satisfactory

GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiBase BuildingExplorationManagement

Steam👍 97%· 270KRAWG👍 89%· 355IGDB95· 2OC91· 26

Year 2024Dev Coffee Stain StudiosPlaytime ~12hOn PC

✓ Both are colony sims — sharing deep simulation, sandbox freedom and survival mechanics

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, multiplayer gameplay and co op, while skipping setting space

49

Maia

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloSandbox WorldSci-FiSpaceBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 44%· 1.1K

Year 2013Dev Simon Roth · Machine StudiosPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Shared with Surviving Mars: deep simulation, survival mechanics and sandbox freedom

≠ Where it differs: brings real-time strategy, procedural generation and crafting mechanics, while skipping open world exploration

49

Kenshi

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 112KRAWG👍 77%· 191MC75IGDB84· 1

Year 2018Dev Lo-Fi GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Like Surviving Mars, it's known for sandbox freedom, deep simulation and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, deep RPG systems and adventure storytelling, while skipping setting space

#10Space Colony: Steam Edition

52

Space Colony: Steam Edition

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceSci-FiBase BuildingManagementExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 80%· 658MC74IGDB77· 3

Year 2015Dev FireFly StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Like Surviving Mars, it's known for deep simulation, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, cozy, relaxing feel and visual 2d, while skipping survival mechanics

#11Dyson Sphere Program

51

Dyson Sphere Program

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceSci-FiBase BuildingExplorationManagement

Steam👍 98%· 91KRAWG👍 85%· 84

Year 2021Dev Youthcat Studio · Gamera GamePlaytime ~8hOn PC

✓ Like Surviving Mars, it's known for deep simulation, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with visual 3d, visual third person and early access, while skipping survival mechanics

#12Cities: Skylines

50

Cities: Skylines

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 289KRAWG👍 87%· 1.5KMC85IGDB76· 13OC83· 91

Year 2015Dev Colossal Order · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~9hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with Surviving Mars: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, while skipping survival mechanics

Steam Epic Xbox

#13Jurassic World Evolution

50

Jurassic World Evolution

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiManagementBase BuildingExplorationIsometric

Steam👍 87%· 55KIGDB74· 13OC71· 99

Year 2018Dev Frontier Developments · Universal PicturesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Surviving Mars, expect deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat, while skipping survival mechanics

50

Tropico 4

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 92%· 13KRAWG👍 67%· 511MC78IGDB74· 4

Year 2011Dev Feral Interactive · Kalypso MediaPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Surviving Mars, expect deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings real-time strategy, while skipping survival mechanics

#15Tycoon City: New York

50

Tycoon City: New York

GenreStrategySubgenreCity Builder

SoloSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagementIsometric

Steam👍 42%· 285MC67IGDB73· 2

Year 2006Playtime ~2hOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world.

≠ Missing: survival mechanics.

Complete list of sandbox games like Surviving Mars

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Surviving Mars, 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.

Two Point Hospital

Two Point Hospital

Simulation · Sandbox

Tropico Reloaded

Tropico Reloaded

Simulation · Sandbox

Tropico 3

Tropico 3

Simulation · Sandbox

Cities in Motion

Cities in Motion

Simulation · Sandbox

shapez

shapez

Sandbox · Simulation

Townscaper

Townscaper

Sandbox · Simulation

Rusty's Retirement

Rusty's Retirement

Simulation · Sandbox

shapez 2 - Factory

shapez 2 - Factory

Simulation · Puzzle

Imagine Earth

Imagine Earth

RTS · Simulation

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Rankings in the same genre

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