9 Sandbox games like Factorio that you should try

What brings it close to Factorio is open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. Both also lean on base building. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is a first-person view.

Its point of contact with Factorio is a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds resource management and an isometric view. They part company on game mode: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat.

Shelved next to Factorio for good reason: a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds resource management and 2D presentation. They part company on visuals and game mode: this one brings adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty.

What brings it close to Factorio is open world exploration, single-player focus and crafting mechanics, and the two track each other on genre, world and progression. To that it adds pixel art. They part company on setting and game mode: this one brings fantasy world.

Same family as Factorio: a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on resource management and 2D presentation. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is post-apocalyptic world.

It comes from the same genre as Factorio and shares a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to base building and an isometric view. Where the two diverge is game mode and setting: a space setting.

The genre is the same as Factorio’s, and with it a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds crafting mechanics. They part company on visuals and game mode: this one brings procedural generation and horror setting.

The thread back to Factorio runs through deep simulation, a sandbox world and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on an isometric view and single-player focus. The distance is in genre — its own ground is real-time strategy.

With Factorio it shares deep simulation, a sandbox world and single-player focus. Both also lean on base building and an isometric view. The distance is in genre and visuals — its own ground is real-time strategy and a top-down view.