10 Sandbox games like Fallout 3 that you should try

Of everything here, this is the nearest thing to Fallout 3 — the two agree on genre, game mode and tone. Both also lean on post-apocalyptic world and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: ranged combat and historical setting.

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Fallout 3 on genre, game mode and tone. The common ground extends to post-apocalyptic world and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression: base building.

The resemblance to Fallout 3 is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. They part company on setting and combat: this one brings a space setting.

It shares the essentials of what Fallout 3 does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is combat and setting: dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat.

The common ground with Fallout 3 is structural: deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. To that it adds melee combat and post-apocalyptic world. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere.

The common ground with Fallout 3 is structural: deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. Both also lean on melee combat and post-apocalyptic world. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere.

It resembles Fallout 3 most in how it is built: deep RPG systems, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: historical setting.

On paper it is what Fallout 3 is — open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on setting and game mode: this one brings horror setting and multiplayer gameplay.

Genre puts it alongside Fallout 3, and so does a sandbox world, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and magic-based combat.

It comes from the same genre as Fallout 3 and shares a sandbox world, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. The distance is in setting and combat — its own ground is magic-based combat and fantasy world.