13 Sandbox games like Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor 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 48 games similar to Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor down to the 13 that fit the “Sandbox” category. Kerbal Space Program, From Dust and X: Beyond the Frontier top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor.

iRank83/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

The best sandbox games like Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor

13 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor. Each one has been evaluated across 9 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.

#1Kerbal Space ProgramClosest overall match

iRank88

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 95%· 140KRAWG👍 84%· 408MC88IGDB87· 7OC81· 41

Year 2015Dev Squad · Private DivisionPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with punishing difficulty, setting space and setting scifi

How to build a spaceship capable of delivering a human crew into space - and return this crew back?

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals78Progression70

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Steam GOG Epic

#2From DustClosest on progression

iRank71

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationMagic

Steam👍 67%· 2.9KIGDB80· 5

Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, deep simulation and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, combat magic and fantasy world, while skipping visual first person

Where it drifts furthest from Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor.

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals0

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Steam Epic

#3X: Beyond the FrontierClosest on visuals

iRank60

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 75%· 387RAWG👍 56%· 32MC67IGDB30· 1

Year 1999Dev Egosoft · THQPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, melee combat and setting space, while skipping adventure storytelling

The Human Race had advanced to the point where we could travel among the stars, we developed giant automated machines to help us colonise other worlds, but there was a fault in their programming and they turned and attacked. Forcing us to lay a trap to protect Earth and exiling the Human race to stay on Earth once again.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor.

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 27 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression66

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 83%· 522RAWG👍 58%· 36MC72IGDB67· 2

Year 2003Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, melee combat and setting space, while skipping adventure storytelling

X²: The Threat is of a new generation of space simulator games, you play the role of Julian Gardna who continues the story set by X: Beyond The Frontier. The updated graphics engine gives the universe a fresher feel with newly designed ships and stations adding to the complexity of the universe.

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 23 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression57

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 86%· 36KIGDB89· 7

Year 2011Dev Team Bondi · Take-Two InteractiveOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat, while skipping deep simulation

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals64

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 92%· 5.6KIGDB78· 6OC76· 38

Year 2015Dev Ubisoft Reflections · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, vibe casual and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping deep simulation

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals64

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Steam PS

#7The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Year 1998Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat, while skipping deep simulation

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 28 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals62

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#8The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

iRank95

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB95· 6OC95· 164

Year 2023Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, ranged combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression64Visuals62

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB81· 4

Year 2007Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, stealth mechanics and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 19 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals62Progression50

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Xbox

#10The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

iRank97

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB98· 27OC96· 167

Year 2017Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, ranged combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor: progression.

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals62Progression39

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Nintendo

#11The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

iRank91

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB92· 15OC90· 71

Year 2013Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3 · Nintendo

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, combat magic and ranged combat, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor: visuals.

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression50Visuals45

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Nintendo

#12Scribblenauts Unlimited

iRank87

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationMagic

Steam👍 94%· 12KIGDB72· 10

Year 2012Dev 5th Cell · WB GamesOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, precision platforming and vibe casual, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor: visuals.

It predates Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals0

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Steam Nintendo

#13SpaceEngine

iRank93

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationCasual

Steam👍 96%· 16KRAWG👍 89%· 36

Year 2019Dev Vladimir RomanyukPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, vibe relaxing and strong narrative focus, while skipping adventure storytelling

SpaceEngine is a 1:1 scale science-based Universe simulator, featuring billions upon billions of galaxies, nebulae, stars, and planets, all shown at their full real-world scale.

Where it drifts furthest from Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor: visuals.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100World80Visuals0

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Steam GOG

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