9 Sandbox games like The Isle 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 29 games similar to The Isle down to the 9 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Project Zomboid, Conan Exiles Enhanced and Green Hell top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to The Isle.

iRank80/ 100

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GenreSurvivalSubgenreHorror Survival

The best sandbox games like The Isle

9 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Isle. Each one has been evaluated across 19 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.

#1Project ZomboidClosest on genre

iRank86

GenreSurvivalSubgenreHorror Survival

MultiplayerCo-opDarkNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExplorationEarly Access

Steam👍 94%· 449KRAWG👍 74%· 469

Year 2013Dev The Indie StonePlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are horror survival games — sharing survival mechanics, horror tension and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, punishing difficulty and procedural generation, while skipping fighting mechanics

The game combines the genres of survival horror and role-playing game. The main theme of the game - survival during a zombie apocalypse.

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: visuals.

Genre100Tone79World79Setting68Game mode54Progression51

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Steam GOG

#2Conan Exiles EnhancedClosest on combat

iRank64

GenreSurvivalSubgenreOpen World PvP Survival

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 79%· 114KRAWG👍 33%· 457MC67IGDB71· 10

Year 2017Dev FuncomPlaytime ~10hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with The Isle: survival mechanics, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, single-player focus and PvP competition, while skipping horror tension

Now includes THE FROZEN NORTH expansion update Far to the north, a vast new land has been discovered. A cold and rugged landscape where snow-capped mountains and dark, haunted forests stretch as far as the eye can see.

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for The Isle.

Combat100World100Game mode88Tone83Visuals64Progression60

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Steam Xbox PS

#3Green HellClosest overall match

iRank83

GenreSurvivalSubgenreHorror Survival

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExploration

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: single-player focus, crafting mechanics and base building, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: visuals and progression.

Released 4 years after The Isle.

Genre100Combat100Setting100World100Game mode93Tone43

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Steam Xbox PS

#4Sons Of The ForestClosest on tone

iRank79

GenreSurvivalSubgenreHorror Survival

MultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExplorationEarly 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: single-player focus, base building and crafting mechanics, while skipping deep RPG systems

An entirely new experience from the makers of the ‘The Forest’ Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator.

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: visuals and progression.

Released 9 years after The Isle.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Setting100World100Game mode67

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Steam

#5Subnautica: Below Zero

iRank87

GenreSurvivalSubgenreHorror Survival

MultiplayerMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExploration

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 setting scifi, single-player focus and base building, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: visuals and game mode.

Released 6 years after The Isle.

Genre100Combat100World100Setting70Tone48Progression42

GenreSurvivalSubgenreHorror Survival

MultiplayerMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldHorrorExploration

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 setting scifi, single-player focus and crafting mechanics, while skipping deep simulation

Subnautica is a first-person game about survival in the deep sea. You control Ryley Robinson, a space traveler in the 22nd century, who crash-landed his starship on a planet that is covered almost entirely by the ocean.

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: visuals and game mode.

Released 3 years after The Isle.

Genre100Combat100World100Setting72Tone46Progression40

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeDarkNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldHorrorExplorationEarly Access

Steam👍 74%· 47KOC64· 14

Year 2015Dev Beam Team GamesOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Shared with The Isle: survival mechanics, adventure storytelling and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with single-player focus, crafting mechanics and resource management, while skipping horror tension

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: visuals and progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for The Isle.

Combat100Tone100Setting100World100Game mode92Genre50

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Steam Epic Xbox

#8Don't Starve TogetherClosest on progression

iRank85

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineDarkNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldHorrorExploration

Steam👍 95%· 531KRAWG👍 72%· 1.4KMC83

Year 2016Dev Klei EntertainmentPlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like The Isle, it's known for survival mechanics, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings punishing difficulty, single-player focus and crafting mechanics, while skipping horror tension

Don't Starve Together is surrealistic and grim survival game made up for six people simultaneously. Initially, Don't Starve is a single-player game with a core mechanic of going through various problems of your character. You have to sleep and eat well.

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: visuals.

Setting100World100Game mode93Tone76Progression66Genre50

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Steam

#9Raft

iRank85

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 93%· 372KRAWG👍 77%· 448IGDB80· 1

Year 2022Dev Redbeet Interactive · Axolot GamesPlaytime ~8hOn PC

✓ Shared with The Isle: survival mechanics, adventure storytelling and deep simulation

≠ Where it differs: brings single-player focus, crafting mechanics and base building, while skipping horror tension

By yourself or with friends, your mission is to survive an epic oceanic adventure across a perilous sea! Gather debris to survive, expand your raft and be wary of the dangers of the ocean!

Where it drifts furthest from The Isle: progression.

Released 7 years after The Isle.

World100Game mode93Visuals61Genre50Progression39

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Steam

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