Sandbox gamesare defined by their open-endedness. Whether you’re building structures, crafting gear, or exploring endless procedurally-generated worlds, there’s always something to see, someone to meet or somewhere to discover. you may doanything, but are these games foreveryone?
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Maybe endless possibilities overwhelm you, or maybe you want to push the limits of the definition of “full customization”—regardless of where you land on the sandbox spectrum, there’s aNintendo Switchtitle waiting to draw you in and challenge you to discover new depths in the most creative parts of your mind. Sometimes you’ll be frustrated, other times you’ll be exhausted, but you’ll feel rewarded every time.
10Terraria
You don’t need three dimensions to realize you’re experiencing an instant classic when you drop intoTerraria, a more than one-decade-old sandbox adventure that keeps on kicking like it’s still fresh off its debut. This Super NES inspired title from Re-Logic and 505 Games can be found on just about every platform, but works particularly well on the Switch’s big but highly-mobile screen real estate.
With the most recent Journey’s End update now available on its Switch edition, you’ll have all the content you need to get the full, complete Terraria experience. With tons of gear to craft, villagers to encounter and bosses to vanquish, you’ll never run out of things to do in is action-packed adventure.
9Ark: Survival Evolved
Since first making its Switch debut in 2018,Ark: Survival Evolvedhas come a long way in closing the graphics and gameplay gap with its console and PC editions. And while you’d be wise to boot up this hefty survival sim with your device firmly planted in its dock, you can still get away with a solid experience while you’re on the go.
It’s you versus the indifferent, unforgiving forces of nature as you evade deadly raptors,fortify your baseagainst massive T-Rexes and tame your own collection of critters to use in your struggle against the elements.
8Minecraft: Bedrock Edition
No sandbox list would be complete without the all-time classic. While you can download both the Switch and Bedrock editions ofMinecrafton the Nintendo Switch, players of both the console and PC versions of the game will likely be more familiar with its Bedrock version on their handheld.
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Even if you’re not in the mood for a sandbox experience right now, at this point Minecraft is basically a default must-have for any Switch owner. At some point you’ll be on a plane, in a train, or chilling in the passenger seat on a long-haul road trip, and that primal desire to just, you know,mess aroundwill kick in. Minecraft will be your medicine. Drink it up.
7Don’t Starve
As games like Terraria andStarboundhave proven, sandbox games don’t require a first-person perspective to offer players immersive, rewarding experiences in otherwise harsh environments. With its unique art style that makes you feel like you’re wandering through some kind of dark gothic fairytale,Don’t Starveis as eye-catching as it is harrowing.
Don’t expect to have your hand held for long in this roguelike, where death is always lurking just around the corner. You’re basically on your own from the moment you drop into a new adventure, and you’ll need to buy into the grind if you don’t want your character’s sanity to hopelessly deplete. Once you get the hang of it, though, this big, bad world will truly come alive.
6Subnautica
Another highly-functional port of a first-person open world sandbox survival game à la Ark and No Man’s Sky,Subnauticatakes you to the deepest depths of an immense alien ocean teeming with all sorts of life that’s often less-than-willing to accommodate your presence.
Try your best to keep your wits about you as you collect resources, craft supplies and do your best to manage your oh-so-valuable oxygen, all while fending off a long list of predators that have added you to the menu. Get the right tech, and your journey will take you where no human has gone before.
5Stardew Valley
One part RPG, another part sandbox, and all parts infinitely playable, this charming 8-bit farm sim will have you finding joy in every nook and cranny of an honest day’s work. Whether you’re looking for a low-key activity toget yourself ready for bed, or want an easygoing experience that can quench your thirst for all things farming,Stardew Valleycan do no wrong.
Stardew Valley’s Switch version is practically identical to what you’ll find on consoles and PC, just without the ability to add mods. Never fear, though, there’s still plenty of fun, lighthearted vanilla content right at your fingertips that will keep you busy for days—especially if you’re a first-time player.
4No Man’s Sky
Few games come as close to an experience of a truly boundless world thanNo Man’s Sky, where “universe” is a more accurate word to describe the size of the expanse available for exploration. Despite the Switch’s hardware limitations, Hello Games has effectively managed to pack same experience you’ll get on PCs and consoles into the palms of your hands.
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Hop from procedurally generated solar system to procedurally generated solar system in your sleek spaceship to discover new worlds and commune with the lifeforms they host. You’ve got all the tools you need to build a life out there, but the real question is whether you’ve got the willpower, smarts and cunning to use them to your advantage.
3Lego Worlds
It’s Minecraft with a twist in this procedurally-generatedLegoparadise where, like with the real-life blocks themselves, the only real limit is your imagination. Complete quests, collect coins and build the structures of your dreams as you hop between unique worlds full of fantastical landscapes and their sometimes-needy residents.
While the quests might get a tad repetitive over time, completing enough of them will net you the studs you need to unlock new buildings to place throughout the areas you explore. Plus, Lego must have learned a thing or two fromMinecraft’s best world-editing mods, because the building mechanics are top-notch.
2Dragon Quest Builders 2
If you’re looking for a proper RPG with well-executed Minecraft-style sandbox mechanics, look no further. The second installment of Dragon Quest Builders gives players the best of both worlds, proving that it has truly earned the right to both the “Quest” and “Builder” parts of its name.
With a signature art style that sets it apart from its more pixelated cousin,Dragon Quest Builders 2takes place after the events of Dragon Quest 2. If Minecraft has started feeling a bit devoid of intelligent life, pop into this vibrant world of fanciful, dialogue-rich characters and let your imagination run wild.
1Astroneer
Sprinkle a little bit of No Man’s Sky here, add a dash of Deep Rock Galactic there, and you’ve got yourselfAstroneer, a nice little space-infused sandbox with all the right qualities to make it a serious contender for some permanent real estate on your Switch’s home screen.
Equip your terraforming ray gun and stock up on oxygen before you head out on what could be a truly endless adventure in this low poly explorer that puts you in the shoes of an astronaut tasked with surviving on an unfamiliar planet. Survey your environment, collect resources and build a base big enough to sustain your growing curiosity about what might be just over the horizon.
