10 Best Sandbox Games on Steam (2025)

Sandbox games are like big virtual playgrounds. Instead of telling players what to do, these games say, “Here's a world, now go have fun!” On Steam, there are tons of sandbox games that let players build, explore, and create their own stories. Excited to find out which ones are the best? We have curated a list of the ten best sandbox games on Steam.

10. Kerbal Space Program

Designing rockets and launching them into space is the core idea of Kerbal Space Program, but it’s way more than just pressing a button and flying away. Every aspect of the rocket counts, from the engines to the fuel tanks, and it has to be all balanced to make a flight a success. Gravity, atmosphere, and velocity influence how the spacecraft will behave, so a badly designed rocket could spin out of control or crash to the ground before it ever reaches space. Planets have varying conditions, such as high gravity or no atmosphere, which makes it difficult to land. Mistakes result in explosions, failed landings, or ships lost in space forever, but that's what makes it so rewarding to master the mechanics.

9. People Playground

Messing around with different objects leads to some crazy interactions in People Playground. The game gives a big open space to place humans, machines, and all sorts of tools to see how they react. Dropping a dummy onto spikes or setting off explosions to watch the effect are just a few things that can be done. Objects react to fire, electricity, and physics in different ways, so there’s always something new to try. Tools include guns, melee objects, and even vehicles for causing chaos in the most random ways. Every experiment leads to something unexpected, so the game never runs out of ways to cause destruction.

8. Stardew Valley

Farming, fishing, and exploring make Stardew Valley one of the best sandbox games on Steam. Players take over an old farm, clean up the land, and grow crops to make money. Animals like cows and chickens give milk and eggs, which can be sold or used for cooking. Seasons change, bringing new crops and festivals that make each part of the year feel different. Furthermore, fishing, cooking, and decorating the farm give plenty to do besides growing plants. Everything moves at a relaxed pace, so there is no need to rush through anything.

7. A Game About Digging A Hole

A small house with a garden has something buried underneath in A Game About Digging A Hole. A shovel is all that's needed to start, and every scoop of dirt uncovers valuable stuff. Selling these finds brings money to upgrade tools, which helps dig even deeper. Better tools mean better rewards, leading to more discoveries underground. No rush, no complicated rules — just dig, sell, upgrade, and keep going until the big secret is found.

6. Cities: Skylines

If you are into city-building games, you might already know about Cities: Skylines. This one lets you design a whole city from nothing while handling traffic, economy, and public services. Roads, power, and water need proper setup so everything runs without problems. The citizens will definitely react to changes, so if you don’t plan well, you’ll end up with traffic jams and unhappy people. Plus, managing pollution, crime, and natural disasters just makes things even trickier. There’s a pretty deep simulation system that makes sure every decision you make impacts how the city grows.

5. Teardown

Imagine a world where everything can be destroyed in any way. Teardown lets players smash, break, and demolish buildings using hammers, explosives, and even vehicles. Every object in the game reacts realistically, so walls crumble, debris falls, and fires spread naturally. Missions often need creative destruction, like blasting open walls to create shortcuts or using physics to knock down obstacles. The tools allow you to blast through all types of materials, and thicker walls require larger explosives. And after you've destroyed your target, escaping is the real challenge.

4. Space Engineers 2

Space Engineers 2 brings a huge space sandbox where players can design and build anything they want. Ships, space stations, and massive structures all come together using a simple grid system. Blocks fit smoothly without needing separate small or large grids, so designs feel more natural. Controls allow easy adjustments, like rotating parts or fixing mistakes with a quick undo. A redesigned interface makes everything clearer, so building feels natural even for beginners.

3. Totally Accurate Battle Simulator

Armies fight in the weirdest way possible in Totally Accurate Battle Simulator. Units wobble around like ragdolls, which makes battles look funny and completely random. Players drop different fighters on the battlefield, like knights, archers, and even giant creatures. The game runs on physics, so every battle plays out in its own crazy way depending on unit placement. After setting up an army, units charge at each other and crash in the most ridiculous ways. Watching fights unfold is the best part since nothing ever goes as expected.

2. House Flipper 2

In House Flipper 2, you're a house renovator and get to transform old houses into stunning homes. To begin with, you have to fix the dirty walls and broken floors before you reach the main stuff. Tools like hammers and drills help remove unwanted parts, while paint and furniture bring the place back to life. Money earned from selling renovated homes can be used to buy better tools and bigger projects. Every house has different problems, like leaky pipes or damaged roofs, so there’s always something new to deal with. Turning a messy place into a dream home feels really satisfying.

1. Tiny Glade

This sandbox game on Steam lets players create castles, cottages, and ruins however they want. Tiny Glade works like a doodle pad where every line turns into detailed buildings. Walls curve on their own, doors pop up when paths cross, and wooden beams adjust as structures grow. No rules or restrictions mean everything looks good without extra effort. The game is all about creativity, so there are no challenges or goal, just a peaceful space to build.