6 Games with a space setting like Universe Sandbox 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 Universe Sandbox down to the 6 that fit the “Space” category. Kerbal Space Program, X2: The Threat and X: Beyond the Frontier top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Universe Sandbox.

iRank78/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

The best games with a space setting like Universe Sandbox

6 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Universe Sandbox. Each one has been evaluated across 7 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 WorldSpaceExploration

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

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

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

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, punishing difficulty and setting scifi

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

Genre100Game mode100World100Setting80Progression71

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceExploration

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 scifi

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 Universe Sandbox by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Setting80Progression58

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Steam GOG

#3X: Beyond the Frontier

iRank60

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSpaceExploration

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 scifi

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.

It predates Universe Sandbox by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Setting78Progression67

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Steam

#4SpaceEngineClosest on progression

iRank93

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceExploration

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

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.

Released 4 years after Universe Sandbox.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100World80Setting70