Sandbox game recommendations

A set of systems, zero rush and the question "what do I want to do here?": the sandbox delivers real freedom, from building cities to causing chaos. Here are the highest rated sandbox games in the catalog.

The 25 best sandbox games

1. 1

   Super Mario Odyssey (2017)

   Nintendo — Nintendo ↗

   97
2. 2

   The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

   Nintendo — Nintendo ↗

   97
3. 3

   The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

   Nintendo — Nintendo ↗

   96
4. 4

   LittleBigPlanet (2008)

   PlayStation — PS Store ↗

   95
5. 5

   Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

   PlayStation · PC — PS Store ↗

   95
6. 6

   Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

   PlayStation · PC — PS Store ↗

   94
7. 7

   The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

   PlayStation · Nintendo · PC — PS Store ↗ · Nintendo ↗

   94
8. 8

   The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009)

   PlayStation · PC

   94
9. 9

   Grand Theft Auto III (2001)

   PlayStation · PC — PS Store ↗

   93
10. 10

    Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

    PlayStation · PC — PS Store ↗

    93
11. 11

    Dwarf Fortress (2006)

    PC — Steam ↗

    93
12. 12

    Wobbledogs (2022)

    Nintendo · PC — Nintendo ↗ · Steam ↗

    93
13. 13

    Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

    PlayStation · PC — PS Store ↗ · Steam ↗

    92
14. 14

    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

    PlayStation · Nintendo · PC — PS Store ↗ · Nintendo ↗ · Steam ↗

    92
15. 15

    Satisfactory (2024)

    PC — Steam ↗

    92
16. 16

    Dyson Sphere Program (2021)

    PC — Steam ↗

    92
17. 17

    BeamNG.drive (2015)

    PC

    92
18. 18

    Loddlenaut (2023)

    PC — Steam ↗

    92
19. 19

    Crime Scene Cleaner (2024)

    PC

    92
20. 20

    Goat Simulator 3 (2022)

    PlayStation · PC

    92
21. 21

    Fields Of Mistria (2024)

    PC

    92
22. 22

    Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (2021)

    Nintendo · PC

    92
23. 23

    Tiny Glade (2024)

    PC

    92
24. 24

    Crysis (2007)

    PlayStation · PC — PS Store ↗

    91
25. 25

    Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition (2009)

    PlayStation · PC

    91

How this list was built: we start from a catalog of 20,827 PlayStation, Nintendo and PC games, then filter and sort by score — the critic score (Metacritic or IGDB) where it exists, the player score in the exceptions (hover a score to see its source). It is updated along with the catalog.