Minecraft is killing the sandbox game genre and with good reason of course. Initially a computer game, the franchise has now been expanded to gaming consoles, tablets, and has seen large success on the merchandising front. Having sold more than 100 million copies of the game, it is currently the best-selling PC game of all time and the second best video game of all time behind Tetris.
Minecraft is different from a majority of video games as there are no defined goals that players must accomplish. Due to the lack of traditional restrictions, this game falls into the classification of a ‘sandbox’ game. The idea is that the game is most comparable to playing in a child’s sandbox, where rules and restrictions are thrown aside, and the only limitation is the player’s imagination. These sandbox games are similarly termed ‘building’ games, as players relate the game to a session of building with Legos or other branded building blocks.
With as much success as Minecraft has had, it comes as no surprise that other game developers would try to create games like Minecraft by emulating the concepts of Minecraft that were so catchy to players.
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Games Like Minecraft: Top 10 Best Building Games Like Minecraft
If you are a fan of Minecraft, surely you’ve thought about trying out these other similar games like Minecraft to see where they match or fall short of expectations when compared to Minecraft. Here are I’m listing 10 best building games like Minecraft that I think are comparable to Minecraft, with a brief review of why you should give them a try.
1. Terraria
Terraria is one of the best building games like Minecraft. Just like Minecraft, Terraria is a sandbox game that focuses on exploration and building. However, this game is only 2-dimensional, and the graphics are merely similar to popular titles seen on the Super Nintendo console. You are likely to be skeptical when they see that it is 2-dimensional (as if the blocky graphics of Minecraft wasn’t a downgrade enough), but rest assured that this game is guaranteed to show you a good time.
If you are looking for HD quality graphics and a realistic experience, this game may not be for you. However, most players have raved about the addictive nature of the game and it is available on multiple platforms, including mobile devices. It means you can find a time and place to play Terraria just about anywhere and anytime!
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2. RoBlox
This game predated Minecraft, as it first released in 2004 under the name of “Dynablocks.” The game features a large amount of customization of the player’s character and many different building options. The game is free to play, but players are encouraged to pay for one of the many subscription options to unlock more game features and game currency.
The great part about RoBlox is the endless amount of creativity allowed by players. Players can design their mini-games for others to play and there is sure to be one that you love and get hooked on pretty quick. Parents can relax with this game knowing there is a safe chat mode for younger players.
3. Lego Worlds
If we are talking about best building games like Minecraft, we might as well mention the building toy king itself – Lego. The brand is known for its real-world dominance of children’s building blocks and is now getting into the virtual world competition as well. They released a beta version of the game in June 2015, and the full version is still in the works.
The game is essentially a virtual Lego world where players can build to their hearts’ content. A release date is not yet set in stone, but projected sometime during 2016. The game is only available on Windows at this point, but will likely be available across multiple platforms.
4. Block Story
Block Story is yet another game like Minecraft. You may find this game on the Steam engine, and players can expect to build and expand similar to other sandbox style games. The difference maker in this game is the presence of dragons and monsters that give this game a little more adult feel to it. This game also has a decent role-playing aspect to it, rather than the pointless building and surviving seen in other titles.
5. Trove
Trove is a sandbox style game but goes a different route than Minecraft, as it is very similar to other massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) that have come before it. The game is currently out on Windows and is expected to release on Xbox One and Playstation 4 soon. Players chose a class of character to play and get to explore various world zones. There is an element of crafting in the game and players will often battle computer-controlled enemies.
A feature that is unique to this game is that each player can build a permanent structure called cornerstones to serve as their home. The structure is affixed to a permanent location in a world until the player decides to take it down. This home base feature is unique and may be one main reason that players are attracted to it.
6. Terasology
Terasology is yet another game like Minecraft. The game looks nearly identical to Minecraft, and the initial building play style is very similar as well. It was designed to look and feel like Minecraft, but the difference between this game and its role model is the developmental nature of the game. Terasology is an open-source, meaning others that enjoy contributing to the development of the game can partake in making changes to this game over time.
7. The Sandbox
The Sandbox is a mobile game that is available on both Android and iOS platforms. The look and graphics are even more basic than Minecraft’s block-style look, but the game is similar to Minecraft, in that you are free to explore and create.
8. Survivalcraft
One element of Minecraft is survival, but this mobile game brings survival to the forefront as the primary focus. While you still get to build and use tools, it’s all about survival here. You have to worry about a lot of other threats besides zombies, such as weather, food and wild animals. The pixelated look of this game makes it very similar to Minecraft. You can play this game on Windows Phone, Android and iOS devices.
9. Minetest
Minetest is as close to Minecraft as it gets. The game is essentially the free cloned version of Minecraft, and you can play it on Windows, Linux, Mac and Android platforms. Players will get essentially the same experience as playing Minecraft players, but with a smaller community. In other words, it is one of the best games like Minecraft you’ll ever play.
10. Blockland
This game is the predecessor for what the new Lego Worlds game will likely be once it is fully released. Blockland may not be able to compete with Lego Worlds long term because of the name value, but in the short term, players can enjoy building a block world with other players. It is available on Windows and Mac platforms.
Should You Stick to Minecraft or Go for Other Similar Games Like Minecraft?
“Whether you should go for other similar games like Minecraft or stick to Minecraft?” – Good question! But none other than you can answer this best. It is easy to follow the majority and play Minecraft, but it may be best for players to do some research and explore their options with other similar games like Minecraft before getting locked into any one game. Each game is unique in a way and offers at least one benefit over the other mentioned games like Minecraft. Players also need to determine what amount of money they are willing to invest in a game.
Whether you enjoy building, crafting, surviving or just playing in an open world, this genre of game has many titles to choose from. Finding out which feature is most important to you will go long ways towards figuring out which game will make you happiest in the long run.
More importantly, you should find out which game your friends and family are currently playing. If you enjoy gaming with people you know, it may be best to jump on something that has already got them hooked. They should be able to help you through the game’s learning curve and get you up to speed quick.
However, if you enjoy playing on your own and meeting new people, you can only start up on whichever game you want. Based on user-base counts alone, you are most likely to find more people you know playing Minecraft. Also, it is one game that will surely hold a large player base for quite some time while others may slowly die off for lack of support.
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The Pro Review from TechReviewPro
Now that you’ve had a chance to read about all ten of these best building games like Minecraft, you should be well equipped to make your gaming decisions. Also, do not feel like you have to lock yourself in just one of these great titles. Several players are currently enjoying several of the titles on this list. Especially if you like to play games at home and on the go.
Just choose one title to play at home, possibly a Windows or Mac based title, and choose a different title on your mobile device when you are one the go. The best thing about this list of best building games like Minecraft is that players aren’t forced into an “either/or” decision, and they can play as many as they’d like.
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