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Kerbal Space Program

49 Games like Kerbal Space Program that you should try

Games like Kerbal Space Program · Find similar →

If Kerbal Space Program left you wanting more, this list of 49 similar games is for you. Each one shares part of its essence — adventure storytelling, punishing difficulty and a sandbox world — and the NextGameLike editorial team ranks them by a similarity score computed across 14 attributes. X2: The Threat comes closest (78/100).

NextGameLike89/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure
Tags
HardcoreSolo
Year 2015Dev Squad

Quick answer

The closest game to Kerbal Space Program is X2: The Threat — scoring 78/100 on our similarity scale. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and From Dust follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Kerbal Space Program

49 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Kerbal Space Program. Each one has been evaluated across 14 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

X2: The Threat

78
NGL72
X2: The Threat
Closest on genre
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationFirst PersonThird Person
Year 2003Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC

It shares the essentials of what Kerbal Space Program does: open world exploration, a space setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in progression — its own ground is resource management.

It predates Kerbal Space Program by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World100Visuals78Progression46
2

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

71
NGL97
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationSkill TreeThird Person
Year 2017Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

Genre puts it alongside Kerbal Space Program, and so does a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is loot and gear systems, and fantasy world.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression64Visuals45Setting31
3

From Dust

75
NGL71
From Dust
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationIsometric
Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

It comes from the same genre as Kerbal Space Program and shares exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. The common ground extends to an isometric view. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: fantasy world.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression70Visuals53Setting0
4

X: Beyond the Frontier

78
NGL60
X: Beyond the Frontier
Closest overall match
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationFirst PersonThird Person
Year 1999Dev Egosoft · THQPlaytime ~1hOn PC

If Kerbal Space Program worked for you because of a sandbox world, a space setting and single-player focus, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. The distance is in progression — its own ground is resource management.

It predates Kerbal Space Program by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World100Visuals78Progression53
6

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

68
NGL95
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationThird Person
Year 2023Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

The genre is the same as Kerbal Space Program’s, and with it a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings fantasy world and crafting mechanics.

Released 8 years after Kerbal Space Program.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression51Visuals45Setting36
7

Assassin's Creed

71
NGL81
Assassin's Creed
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationSkill TreeThird Person
Year 2007Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

Same family as Kerbal Space Program: a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to skill tree progression and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: fantasy world.

It predates Kerbal Space Program by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression79Visuals45Setting26
8

SpaceEngine

65
NGL93
SpaceEngine
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiSpaceExploration
Year 2019Dev Vladimir RomanyukPlaytime ~1hOn PC

Genre puts it alongside Kerbal Space Program, and so does open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel and 3D presentation.

Released 4 years after Kerbal Space Program.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World82Progression75Tone0
9

Outer Wilds

63
NGL90
Outer Wilds
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloOpen WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationFirst Person
Year 2019Dev Mobius Digital · Annapurna InteractiveOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

Same family as Kerbal Space Program: open world exploration, a space setting and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings strong narrative focus and 3D presentation.

Released 4 years after Kerbal Space Program.

Genre100Game mode100Setting90Progression75World56Visuals48
10

Roblox

73
Roblox
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person
Year 2006Dev Roblox CorporationOn PS4 · Android · PC

Its point of contact with Kerbal Space Program is exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. Both also lean on a first-person view. The distance is in game mode — its own ground is multiplayer gameplay.

It predates Kerbal Space Program by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Visuals78Progression70Game mode35
11

Grow Home

64
NGL85
Grow Home
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationThird Person
Year 2015Dev Ubisoft Reflections · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

Shelved next to Kerbal Space Program for good reason: open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression75Visuals46Setting43
12

Bully

62
NGL92
Bully
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2006Dev Rockstar New England · Take-Two InteractiveOn PS4 · PC

On paper it is what Kerbal Space Program is — exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds a third-person camera. They part company on visuals and game mode: this one brings multiplayer gameplay.

It predates Kerbal Space Program by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Progression70Game mode55Visuals45
13

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

62
NGL89
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationIsometric
Year 2009Dev Rockstar Leeds · Rockstar GamesOn Android · iOS

The genre is the same as Kerbal Space Program’s, and with it exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. To that it adds an isometric view. They part company on visuals and game mode: this one brings multiplayer gameplay.

Genre100World100Progression70Game mode55Visuals53
14

Animal Crossing: City Folk

64
NGL70
Animal Crossing: City Folk
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationIsometricThird Person
Year 2008Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2 · Nintendo

The thread back to Kerbal Space Program runs through exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in game mode — its own ground is multiplayer gameplay.

Genre100World100Visuals79Progression70Game mode55
15

Super Mario Odyssey

57
NGL97
Super Mario Odyssey
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2017Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 8 · NintendoOn Switch

Shelved next to Kerbal Space Program for good reason: exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is fantasy world and co-op play.

Genre100World100Progression70Game mode48Visuals45Setting0

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Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to Kerbal Space Program by category

If Kerbal Space Program left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the adventure or the simulation that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Kerbal Space Program look-alike but simply the best Open-World Adventure Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Adventure Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.