This article is regarding games like Minecraft or Minecraft alternatives that you need to try. Well, A little game called Minecraft proved to be a revelation in videogames at the turn of the decade, inspiring a whole generation of players and developers in the process. Markus’ Notch’ Persson created a blocky, sandbox world that essentially allowed us to create and share whatever we wanted with our friends. It was a cultural phenomenon that sold millions of copies before Microsoft bought out Mojang, the small studio behind it, in 2014.
Over the years, there has been a slew of Minecraft clones, but none have delivered the full package like Minecraft. Well, On top of the vanilla experience, players have created Minecraft mods and Minecraft server plugins that extend the game’s creative possibilities even further, from changing the Ender Dragon to playing as Thomas The Tank Engine and even redesigning the entire game with mod packs like Feed The Beast.
However, you may want only a part of the Minecraft experience, augmented with other flavors and moods. This is where the best games like Minecraft come in. We’ve compiled a list of 28 games that are similar to Minecraft in some way, whether it’s the creative aspect, mining, exploration, or something else.
28 Best Games like Minecraft – Minecraft Alternatives
Since the blocky survival icon became a worldwide phenomenon, games like Minecraft have sprung up. Minecraft, which was launched in 2009, still has around 126 million monthly active players, so it’s no surprise that other games want a piece of the nether wood pie. Well, If you’re a Minecraft maniac looking for a new outlet for your crafting or want to experiment with the genre in a new way, we’ve compiled the perfect list of games like Minecraft, so you know what’s available. All of the games like Minecraft listed below are playable right now and span a variety of platforms, so you’re sure to find something you enjoy.
[lwptoc]1. Subnautica
The first on our list of the best games like Minecraft is Subnautica. Subnautica’s distinct brand of underwater, futuristic survival strands you on the enigmatic and watery Planet 4546B, an ocean world teeming with hostile life. Similar to Minecraft, your task as a lone survivor is to explore the world, overcome its dangers, and collect resources to build bases, submersibles, and new tools. In contrast to Minecraft, you’ll need to keep an eye on your oxygen levels as you plunge into the depths of the ocean! In addition, unlike its block-based predecessor, Subnautica has a proper plot that players will unearth (or un-water) as they explore their new home. The game also supports VR, providing a truly immersive experience. Subnautica: Below Zero, a standalone expansion, is also now available for Early Access on Steam. Overall, Subnautica is one of the best Minecraft alternatives.
2. Eco
Eco is ranked second on our list because it builds on the foundations laid down by Minecraft to form something that feels like a significant progression of those ideas. It, similar to Minecraft, has been used as both a teaching tool and a game, and for a good reason. Everything in this world is interconnected, and you must build a civilization from the ground up. That means you’re not only chopping down trees to build a place where you can craft your various recipes, but you’re also chopping down trees in places where it won’t erode the soil and keeping the waste byproduct of your crafting to a minimum, so it doesn’t pollute the water. While there are numerous modes of play, one of the most difficult is assembling a society with other players capable of preventing a meteor from destroying everything. Yeah. Best wishes on that!
3. Junk Jack
In this pixelated 2D playground, players can join you in Junk Jack for friendly crafting and exploring (or devious killing and trapping). Well, you never know what will happen if you dig too deep or travel too far away from home, but it usually ends in death. Many games of this type tend to drop players into a new world and let them loose. Junk Jack takes a unique approach. A lengthy tutorial introduces the premise and assists newcomers in truly understanding the nuances of the game, while a simpler crafting system based on item recipes also aids in bringing in less experienced players. That simplicity doesn’t come at the expense of purpose, which comes in the form of several in-game objectives to complete.
4. Fortnite
You may be more familiar with Fortnite’s battle royale mode, but did you know it also has a co-op mode? In Fortnite: Save The World, you begin with nothing more than a giant pickaxe, which you can use to whack against trees, rocks, and basically anything else in your quest to build the coolest fortress ever. That fortress will also need to be built quickly because zombies are on the move and intend to destroy everything in their path. To us, it sounds very Minecraft-like. If you do decide to play Fortnite: Battle Royale, you’ll find what happens when survival crafting meets PvP.
5. Fallout 4
One of the best Minecraft alternatives is Fallout 4. It may not strike you as a spiritual successor to Minecraft as an open-world RPG from Bethesda. For example, consider the Settlement system, in which you can demolish structures to acquire resources and build wondrous bases. This feature has all of the hallmarks of classic Minecraft gameplay, and Bethesda hasn’t been shy about expressing its affection for the franchise in the past. But, of course, the reality is that Fallout 4’s Settlement feature is only a small part of a much larger game, and you can ignore it entirely if you wish. However, experimenting with Fallout 4’s assortment of crafty contraptions yields its own unique rewards that cannot be found elsewhere.
6. Space Engineers
Space Engineers is also one of the best Minecraft alternatives. It is a classic space-based sandbox that allows you to design spaceships, vehicles, and planetary outposts in both survival and creative modes. With its unique volumetric physics engine, you can dig, build, and destroy anything you see (and nothing is more in the spirit of Minecraft than that). The game’s technology is designed to be realistic and accurate to what could be created in real life in the near future, so it’s also educational (sort of). Multiplayer allows you to play with up to 16 players per world, allowing you to collaborate or fight for control. In addition, the game’s thriving modding community provides you with new ships to fly and planets to explore.
7. Craft The World
An underground labyrinth requires exploration and mining, and Craft the World assigns you to lead a group of dwarves in search of the materials needed to find fantastic fortresses. After completing their days-long construction project, it’s time to use the in-game library of simple recipes to craft weapons, items, ammunition, and more. However, unlike Minecraft, where you are only a single presence in the world, Craft the World provides you with a group of earth-dwelling homunculi to assist you with a variety of tasks. Do you require some extra muscle? Assign them the task of repelling oncoming savages. What about setting up some traps? With some clicks there and here, you can send them on their way.
8. No Man’s Sky
If Minecraft popularised the concept of procedural generation, No Man’s Sky took it and took it sky-high into the vastness. Well, You’re not exploring a single world, but over 18 quintillions, though the familiar survival crafting loop is still alive and well; there’s just spaceships and aliens involved now as well. The game had a rocky start because it couldn’t quite live up to the high expectations of players. However, it has since been completely revamped and reshaped into a truly worthwhile experience brimming with activities, tired of a planet? There is no need to create a new world; simply hop into your spaceship and fly to another. All in all, No Man’s Sky is one of the Minecraft alternatives.
9. Rust
You’ve been thrown into a cruel world with no guidance or instruction. Die. Die once more. You’ll eventually figure out how to survive by crafting weapons, equipment, and makeshift shelters in order to avoid harm from other players, not to mention the radiation and weather hazards of the land itself. Also, That part should sound familiar to Minecraft players, but Rust is an experiment in the depravities of human nature, not Minecraft. On the one hand, this means your newly-spawned avatar is likely to die a lot at the hands of nefarious raiders. On the other hand, a helpful group of like-minded players can turn the survival adventure into a rewarding team effort. Well, It’s not for everyone, but credit where credit is due to Facepunch Studios for making a game with no time for kitsch.
10. The Flame in the Flood
Anyone who enjoys the risk-reward dynamic of survival crafting games but is tired of the first-person style gameplay that began with Minecraft will likely enjoy The Flame in the Flood. In The Flame in the Flood, unlike most survival games, you’re constantly on the move, heading downstream in a washed-out America to find the source of a radio signal. Flame in the Flood stands out due to its figurative and literal pace, as well as its ambient visuals and folky soundtrack, making it well worth its comparatively higher asking price. Plus, who does not like the idea of a loyal dog as a companion in these trying times?
11. Lego Worlds
Lego Worlds is heavily based on Minecraft, which takes a lot of inspiration from Lego, so you could say these two games have a lot in common. In Lego Worlds, you can destroy and build ‘en masse,’ tearing down entire environments in one foul swoop to build fantastical structures with the game’s robust crafting tools. But there’s a campaign mode, collectibles, classic Lego-style gameplay, and a wonderfully theatrical narrator in Peter Serafinowicz. The Lego Worlds brings that classic Lego charm to the genre it helped to create, creating the game an infectious quality that manages to charm the pants off anyone messing around in its brick-based biomes. All in all, Lego Worlds is also one of the best Minecraft alternatives.
12. Factorio
In this time-eater from Wube Software, survival meets resource management. Well, After a crash landing on an alien planet, it’s up to you to build the machines needed to survive (and possibly escape) this hostile new world. The developers have made no secret of the fact that they were inspired by Minecraft mods like IndustrialCraft, and the spirit of building and surviving is evident in Factorio. The game is one of the more difficult ones on this list, but with time and careful planning, you could soon be the owner of a gleaming new industrial sprawl. But beware: the alien wildlife has learned from the zombies and creepers and will become increasingly hostile to you as you build and pollute their planet!
13. Dragon Quest Builders 2
Another game that wears its Minecraft inspiration on its sleeve is the survival-craft action RPG Dragon Quest Builders 2. The game immerses you in a charming block-based fantasy world ruled by an evil cult. What are the cult’s goals? To get rid of anyone who dared to be creative. As a result, the world is crumbling around you, and it’s your job to defy the cult and assist the people in rebuilding their destroyed homeland. Building on the Dragon Quest series’ decades-long success, the game differs from its inspiration by including a variety of RPG-style quests, as well as familiar series elements such as slimes, quirky dialogue, and an enchantingly retro soundtrack by regular series composer Koichi Sugiyama.
14. King Arthur’s Gold
The ability to design and build a castle is as fun here as it is in Minecraft. Well, You’ll dig into the medieval land around your home and generally use the environment to fend off invading players. King Arthur’s Gold excels at both the rewards of construction and the hilarity of destruction. With up to 32 players online, King Arthur’s Gold can get ferociously chaotic, but always in a good way. Players will need to learn how to use the three classes properly, as well as get used to the physics of the game’s combat tools, such as the catapult. There are also sharks, and sharks are awesome.
15. Block Fortress
In Block Fortress, defense is a matter of life and death, as the strength of your barracks is put to the test by an endless onslaught of enemy hordes. For the player, this means spending the majority of your time building armaments, walls, and other features to create the strongest, most robust base possible. The scope of construction is only limited by your imagination and your ability to extract valuable resources as quickly as possible. If figuring out the best defenses against the world’s creepy crawlies is your favorite part of Minecraft, you’ll enjoy Block Fortress.
16. Don’t Starve
When it comes to survival crafting scares, the Creeper will always reign supreme, but Don’t Starve’s king comes dangerously close to dethroning that Minecraft icon. The similarities continue with Don’t Starve’s emphasis on survival through the crafting of tools and shelter, despite your extremely limited resources. The game, on the other hand, stands out due to its wonderfully gothic aesthetic, which looks like a children’s book crossed with H.P. Lovecraft. And, as the title suggests, Klei Entertainment’s roguelike uses hunger as only the first obstacle for players to overcome in a tough-as-nails survival experience. Staying nourished has never been more difficult, and fire has never been a better ally.
17. Colony Survival
At first glance, Colony Survival appears to be another game similar to Minecraft (albeit Minecraft with some very nice shaders), but it’s actually a very different beast. Well, You’re tasked with building a colony from scratch (or assigning your various colonists to build it for you) and defending it against the hordes of monsters that attack your settlement each night in this unusual blend of tower defense and survival strategy. The colonists are at the core of the gameplay, able to be assigned to various roles such as guards, farmers, and miners, and generally being a lot smarter than your average mumbling Minecraft villager.
18. Kerbal Space Program
Minecraft, at its core, is all about unleashing creativity and problem-solving abilities. You require a bed, so you gather the necessary materials, arrange them as needed, and construct a bed. The Kerbal Space Program works in a similar manner. No, you’re not out in the wilderness erecting massive replicas of famous landmarks, but you are employing critical thinking skills to assist cute cartoon critters in surviving the harsh realities of space travel. Kerbal Space Program, similar to Minecraft, has been used as an educational tool by teachers in schools. See, games can be both fun and educational!
19. Starbound
Starbound’s tagline pretty much sums up what to expect: “survive, discover, explore, and fight.” Aside from that, an infinite universe means endless possibilities in its generous heaps of 2D co-op gameplay, particularly when it comes to shaping the world and discovering new locations to set up shop. Exploring the game with friends – whether to farm, try your hand at space exploration, or create weaponry for quests – is intended to be enjoyable in and of itself, rather than merely a means to an end. Meanwhile, it is an open-ended experience; the addition of quests and NPCs imbues the game with a contextual purpose, as opposed to Minecraft’s narrative-free adventuring.
20. 7 Days to Die
Few things are more associated with survival and scavenging than the horror of having to survive a zombie outbreak, and 7 Days to Die plays heavily on those apocalyptic sentiments. Well, The realistic, dark world may not look like other sandbox games, but that doesn’t mean it ignores the genre’s tried and true gameplay staples. Scavenging, trap-making, and shelter-building are all well represented, as is the possibility of catastrophic failure. In addition, the blood moon rises on every seventh night, bringing a relentless horde of faster, stronger zombies right to your doorstep, turning the proceedings into a real fright fest.
21. CubeWorld
Cube World is a game that takes place in randomly generated worlds full of blocks as far as the eye can see. It is based on crafting and character progression. Characters can modify their armor and other wearables for the sake of fabulous self-expression, with a strong emphasis on cosmetic customization. Cube World, on the other hand, takes inspiration from games like The Legend of Zelda. Cube World, inspired by such exploration-heavy games, provides players with an arsenal of skills to help them trudge through the endless world. Choosing a combat class and specialization transforms the game from a simple exploration simulator to a meaty RPG adventure packed with missions, bosses, and creepy caves to explore.
22. Trove
The next on our list of the best Minecraft alternatives is Trove. It is a voxel game, so the visual similarities between it and Minecraft are obvious. Well, Trion World’s action-oriented MMO features mines and caverns crawling with enemies and the promise of unfathomable rewards, allowing players to team up with friends to advance their character and conquer Trove’s lengthy to-do list. Trove, on the other hand, is more concerned with being an MMO than a Minecraft clone, with its extensive range of classes designed to facilitate and encourage playstyle variation. Its use of loot, bosses, and dungeons deviates from the conventions of its aesthetic inspiration by drawing from the well of RPG tropes.
23. Ark: Survival Evolved
While the description “Minecraft with dinosaurs” is probably a little too reductive, it does give you an idea of what to expect from Ark: Survival Evolved. You awaken on the beaches of a mysterious island teeming with Jurassic beasts, but it’s not long before your crafting and combat skills come in handy in your quest to become king of the jungle. The Ark is a game obsessed with Darwinism and the natural hierarchy. Begin as a naked prey and work your way up to become an apex predator. The game gradually transforms from a survival experience to a power fantasy, emulating the concept of evolution in a way that few other games have.
24. Robocraft
Well, With a name like Robocraft, it’s clear what inspired this online robot battle brawler. Here, Construct your bot from a dazzling array of block-based components, then unleash it to clobber it out on futuristic alien worlds. What you can build is also impressive, with possibilities ranging from flying machines to tanks to a replica Batmobile. Although the construction screen may be a little complicated for newcomers, the game’s tech trees ensure that you aren’t immediately overwhelmed by blocks. Robocraft has an impressive arsenal of guns for your battle bots, allowing you to fight in a variety of ways, and additions like shielding and cloaking mean that the only thing stopping you from creating the ultimate blocky bot is your imagination.
25. Castle Story
Although it is a strategy game, Castle Story’s strong emphasis on tactically overpowering your enemies does not preclude you from building a variety of structures in the process. The desire to participate in mass deforestation is also shared by Minecraft, but it’s all for a good cause, that good cause being an impenetrable castle made entirely of wooden blocks. The ability to design your own defenses adds extra spice to Castle Story’s gameplay, which quickly turns into a wonderfully addictive marriage of creativity and tactics.
26. Stardew Valley
With all of the large-scale construction going on, it’s easy to forget that Minecraft includes the opportunity to enjoy the underappreciated joys and small victories of owning and caring for a garden or even a full-fledged farm. Stardew Valley is a full-fledged game based on the same concept. Having said that, there is a bit that distinguishes it. Here, In Stardew Valley, players can get to know their local community of fictional characters and even start a romance with some of them if they so desire. The game also draws inspiration from Animal Crossing and JRPGs, as well as Minecraft, and its hybrid nature prevents it from becoming too reliant on a single genre.
27. Roblox
Roblox‘s insanely popular online sandbox allows you to create almost anything you can think of. Want to construct a massive skyscraper only to have it explode in spectacular fashion, or throw a disco party complete with flashing lights and an on-stage DJ? Take a chance. The world is yours to do as you please, and the possibilities are limitless thanks to the game’s sophisticated editing tools. Roblox places a strong emphasis on the social aspects of building and deconstructing with friends, with nearly everything in the world created by the players (and there are a lot of them, with over 100 million active users as of 2019). So if Minecraft is a little too solitary for you, give it a shot.
28. Terraria
The last on our list of the best games like Minecraft is Terraria. When you first start out in the 2D world of Terraria, you will have to slaughter many trees on your way to building shelter, just like in Minecraft. But it’s a necessary sacrifice because there are things that go bump in the night in this world – things that would very much like to slay you, even as you try to figure out what to do with your ever-growing pile of natural (and supernatural) resources. Terraria, thankfully, gives you more options for dealing with the encroaching evil, with a greater emphasis on combat and unique items; and crafting is more than just a means of security against the world’s persistent dangers, conquering the world’s bosses and dungeons along the way. With the game’s most recent major update, Journey’s End, set to release in 2020, there’s probably never been a better time to play. Overall, Terraria is one of the best Minecraft alternatives.
Conclusion: Games like Minecraft
Our list of the best 28 games like Minecraft comes to an end here. Please let us know in the comments section below if you know of any other games like Minecraft.
