There are a lot of video games out there and in this era of mobile and home-based gaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic?
Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest, and unforgettable games through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best video games, we’d like to highlight the best sandbox titles of all time. From sprawling cityscapes to those that reach the far reaches of space, you have a lot of games to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Grand Theft Auto 5
Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA) is an incredible entry in the series. The game takes place in the fictional city of Los Santos, where players freely explore a massive and detailed environment. Its open-ended gameplay allows players to choose their own path and engage in different activities. From completing missions to fighting NPCs, GTA 5 allows fans to shape their experiences as they play through it.
Players will love driving through its streets and getting into mischief whenever they please. Additionally, the game features various mini-games like tennis and golf for you to try out to ensure players continue playing. The game’s storyline is equally impressive as you’ll love switching between the game’s three protagonists to see how their journeys unfold.
If you’re looking for a fun sandbox title that allows you to break the law, Grand Theft Auto 5 is worth purchasing.
Minecraft
Minecraft is an extraordinary sandbox title that captured the hearts of millions of players worldwide. At its core, it’s a digital playground that persuades players to create unthinkable things and explore its world to their hearts’ content.
The game provides a vast environment for you to explore and tamper with at your leisure. Whether you want to build a civilization or spend time gathering resources is up to you.
This game’s all about utilizing your imagination to your fullest ability. However, if you find that to be a daunting task, Minecraft has excellent multiplayer components for you to try out. For example, Minecraft is home to many distinct servers run by professionals or players like you. Each server carries its own set of themes, rules, and designs for you to discover.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a game that’ll supply you with endless fun, check out Minecraft.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a great follow-up to the first game. This game blends exploration, storytelling, and player agency to create an incredibly immersive experience. With a myriad of activities and interactions available, Red Dead Redemption 2 stands as a great example of a sandbox game done right.
This game offers players incredible freedom to explore its vast locale to their liking. From the bustling streets to the uncharted wilderness, players can traverse a breathtakingly crafted landscape that’s lively and memorable. You’ll adore participating in numerous activities like hunting wildlife, robbing areas, and partaking in casual games like poker.
On top of having incredible, well-developed characters and a storyline that gets better the more you progress through it, Red Dead Redemption 2’s will impress you.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a great game with an expansive fantasy world. This, along with the game’s intricate quest lines and countless customization options, helps Skyrim create a truly immersive experience for players.
For instance, Skyrim’s open world is an impressive feat of game design. The game features lively and intriguing locations from treacherous dungeons to dense forests. Each location has its own stories and secrets. Players can embark on epic quests, join factions, engage in thrilling battles, and stumble upon bandit camps. The sheer scope and attention to detail in Skyrim’s open world create a sense of awe and exploration that’ll keep players hooked for hours to come.
On top of having rich customization options, Skyrim’s an incredible game that’ll entertain everyone.
Terraria
Terraria is a fantastic game that combines elements of exploration, building, and survival to create a dynamic experience. With its pixelated art style and diverse gameplay mechanics, Terraria offers players an expansive world to explore, endless construction possibilities, and challenging encounters with powerful bosses.
This game’s emphasis on creativity and freedom, along with its addictive gameplay loop, makes Terraria an excellent sandbox game. For instance, Terraria’s procedurally generated worlds are brimming with different biomes, like forests, deserts, and underground caverns. Each biome holds multiple challenges and creatures for players to encounter.
On top of having a rich progression system, Terraria is a great game that’ll keep you occupied and hooked.
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky is a remarkable sandbox game that offers players a vast and procedurally generated universe to explore. With its emphasis on exploration, resource gathering, and base-building, No Man’s Sky provides endless possibilities and immersive experience.
The game’s vast universe is enticing as players will love traveling between planets, star systems, and galaxies. Each area has different terrain, flora, and fauna for players to see and interact with. The sheer size of its universe creates a sense of awe and wonder and encourages players to explore these areas fully to uncover its secrets.
On top of having fun resource-gathering components and fun space battles, No Man’s Sky is a great sandbox title that continues to delight its audience.
SimCity
SimCity gives players the chance to build and manage their own virtual cities. With its emphasis on city planning, resource management, and urban development, SimCity delivers a unique gameplay experience you don’t want to miss. Players will adore this game for its city-developing mechanics, including infrastructure, public services, and economic policies.
Moreover, SimCity has you manage multiple aspects of your city, such as traffic flow and citizen happiness. It’s important to note that your actions, whether good or bad, have a strong impact on your city’s development. For instance, building more factories can result in increased pollution, leading to negative effects on your citizen’s health. It’s these minor details that make SimCity a joy to play through.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a great simulation and sandbox title that allows players to create and manage a farm. This game’s farming mechanics are alluring, as you’ll have a blast cultivating crops, raising animals, and tending to your own farm. The game also introduces multiple seasons, each with its own set of crops and activities, providing you with an ever-changing gameplay experience.
Stardew Valley’s world is more expansive than you think. It’s filled with many secrets, treasures, and diverse environments. Players can venture into caves to mine for resources and forge relationships with the inhabitants to build deeper connections.
On top of having engaging community events, amazing quests, and nice graphics, Stardew Valley continues to captivate audiences.
RimWorld
RimWorld is an exceptional sandbox game that offers players an immersive experience regarding colony management and survival. With its emphasis on storytelling, complex AI systems, and recourse management, RimWorld provides endless possibilities and challenges for players.
RimWorld’s storytelling is fascinating. The game has you manage a group of colonists who crash-land on an unknown planet. This presents players with different events, conflicts, and obstacles, like raids, food shortages, and natural disasters, creating a rich experience that keeps them engaged and invested in their colony’s fate. The game’s AI system is robust, allowing for great social dynamics, resulting in compelling stories.
Give this game a shot if you love titles that provide you with endless possibilities.
Cities: Skylines
Cities: Skylines is one of the best sandbox games. In it, players must create and manage their dream city in a dynamic and immersive environment. Players have complete control over every aspect of their city’s development, from its road networks to its zoning and infrastructure. This level of freedom allows for endless creativity and experimentation, allowing you to create immaculate cities.
Players will appreciate that every decision that make in the game has pros and cons. For example, inefficient transportation systems can lead to traffic congestion and unhappy citizens, while effectively handling your resources can lead to incredible growth and a thriving society.
With its wonderful community-driven mod support, you’re likely to put many hours into this game.
So, there we have it, our pick for the best sandbox video games through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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