If you haven’t played Terraria yet and you’re a big fan of crafting and building games, we’d strongly recommend it. This unassuming-looking 2D indie game hides oceanic depth; you’ll be constructing imposing fortresses and entire cities before you even know it.
With that said, even Terraria can lose its lustre over time, and you might find yourself hankering for some similar experiences that wander off the beaten path just a little bit. If that’s the case, then you’re in luck, as the gaming world is full of great alternatives to this indie classic. Here are 12 great games like Terraria.
1. Minecraft
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Minecraft in a roundup of games like Terraria, since the latter arguably takes a great deal of inspiration from the former. Minecraft is effectively Terraria but in 3D (or perhaps that should be the other way around), so if you like building things and farming for resources, you should already be playing Mojang’s iconic world-changing game. It’s available on pretty much every modern platform, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding it.
2. Core Keeper
Right now, Core Keeper is in Early Access, but there’s still plenty of content to entertain you and your friends for a good while, and regular updates are coming too. This one’s Terraria, but top-down and taking place entirely underground, to the point where Terraria and Core Keeper have actually crossed over in the past. Make sure to bring some friends along if you’re planning to explore Core Keeper’s world, as it can get a little lonely by yourself.
3. Starbound
If Terraria and Minecraft are a little too…down-to-earth for your tastes, then you might want to check out Starbound. It’s a sci-fi sandbox game in which you can explore a massive galaxy, colonise planets, and discover the mysteries of the universe, so there’s perhaps a greater sense of adventure and danger than the other games on this list offer. That doesn’t mean it’s not relaxing, though; Starbound is far from a pulse-pounding experience, so it’s still a great way to chill out.
4. Astroneer
Along the same lines as games like Minecraft and Terraria but possessing a unique feel and aesthetic all its own, Astroneer is a sandbox space exploration game with an emphasis on resource-gathering and crafting. Its huge, blocky universe is great fun to wander around and get lost in, and when it’s time to settle down, the base-building mechanics are satisfying as well. Again, it’s a good idea to grab friends for this one, so round up your buddies when you play.
5. Forager
We’ve heard Forager described as “Zelda meets Terraria”, and it’s hard to disagree with that classification. It’s a top-down sandbox game in which the goal is to build, craft, and slay monsters when they approach and try to stop you from building and crafting. Forager’s gameplay mechanics are fairly simple and surface-level, but that doesn’t mean it’s a shallow game. You’ll still have endless amounts of fun with this one if you love Terraria’s freeform approach.
6. Don’t Starve
If you wish Terraria had a bit more danger and peril to it, then Don’t Starve could well be the game for you. This isometric survival game puts you in a procedurally-generated world and asks you to, well, not starve. To facilitate this goal, you’ll need to gather food, craft items, and make sure to avoid the creepy-crawlies that come out when the light starts to fade. Don’t Starve Together is also a great alternative if you’d rather play alongside friends.
7. Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders 2 mixes the building and crafting gameplay of Minecraft with the bucolic aesthetic and vibe of Dragon Quest, and the combination works extremely well. Builders 2 adds more of a story to proceedings, too, so if you thought Terraria and Minecraft could be a touch directionless, this is the game for you. Build structures, slay Dragon Quest staple enemies, and try to bring balance back to a world blighted by evil; it’s classic Dragon Quest stuff mixed with Minecraft. What’s not to love?
8. Subnautica
A word of warning before we continue: Subnautica is not for the faint of heart. If you suffer from thalassophobia (that is to say, the fear of the ocean), then Subnautica is a game you’re going to want to avoid. However, if you love exploration and discovery, Subnautica should be on your “to play next” list. You must survive in a hostile ocean full of weird and wonderful creatures, and what’s more, the world isn’t procedurally generated, giving Subnautica’s ecosystem a sense of purpose.
9. Craft the World
Craft the World is described by its creators as part Dungeon Keeper, part Terraria, and part Dwarf Fortress, which feels like a pretty apposite description. You’ll explore a procedurally-generated world, build your very own fortress, and try to survive as hostile creatures besiege you. It doesn’t quite have the brutal difficulty of Dwarf Fortress or the relaxing quality of Terraria, but Craft the World is great fun nonetheless, so check it out if you love Terraria.
10. Factorio
One of many excellent factory sims available in the gaming world right now, Factorio tasks you with a simple, straightforward mission: build a factory. Of course, it’s not as easy as all that; building a factory in real life would be difficult, after all, and it wouldn’t be half as rewarding if you could do it without a struggle. Once you’ve got a huge, complex machine running and every constituent part is working like it should, the sense of achievement is immense.
11. Stardew Valley
There’s much less crafting in Stardew Valley when compared to Terraria, but the two games offer a similar soothing mixture of pixel art, relaxing gameplay, and freeform creativity. Stardew Valley is effectively a modern indie Harvest Moon (or Story of Seasons, as the original franchise is now known); you must build and maintain your very own farm, growing crops, tending to livestock, and getting to know the inhabitants of the town you’re living in.
12. Valheim
Valheim is a Viking survival sandbox that’s perhaps best described as “3D Norse Terraria with more combat”. You and your friends (or just you if you prefer to play solo) must build your settlement, venture out into the wilderness to forage for resources, and overcome a series of huge and challenging bosses. Valheim adds more challenge into the mix, but it should appeal to you if you’ve spent hours building hygge log cabins in Terraria.
