Games Like Minecraft
Quick Answer
The closest games to Minecraft are Terraria, Valheim, Dragon Quest Builders 2, Core Keeper and Enshrouded. Below are 10 picks with the reason for each — what carries over from Minecraft, and what does not.
What Made Minecraft Work
Minecraft hands you a world, a handful of simple tools and no instructions, and lets you decide what the game is. That is why 'games like Minecraft' means different things to different players: surviving the first night, building something huge, exploring with friends, or automating everything with redstone. Each pick below is strong at one of those four, so find yours first.
Minecraft was created by Markus Persson and first released to the public on PC in 2009, with the full release by Mojang in November 2011. Microsoft bought Mojang in 2014, and it is now on almost every platform, with cross-play between them in the Bedrock edition.
10 Games Like Minecraft
1.Terraria(2011)
Minecraft in 2D, with far more bosses, loot and progression.
Why it fits: Re-Logic, 2011 on PC: dig, build and fight through a world that gets harder as you go deeper.
Where to play it: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android
More about this game →2.Valheim(2021)
Viking survival with building that looks great and co-op for up to ten.
Why it fits: Iron Gate, early access on PC in 2021: explore, build longhouses and fight bosses in a procedurally generated world.
Where to play it: PC, Xbox
More about this game →3.Dragon Quest Builders 2(2018)
Block building with a story and goals, ideal if creative mode felt aimless.
Why it fits: Square Enix, 2018 on PS4 and Switch: rebuild towns with villagers who give you projects.
Where to play it: PS4, Switch, PC, Xbox One
More about this game →4.Core Keeper(2022)
Top-down mining, farming and bosses, great with friends.
Why it fits: Pugstorm, early access on PC in 2022: an underground world for one to eight players.
Where to play it: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch
More about this game →5.Enshrouded(2024)
A modern survival-crafting world with voxel building and proper dungeons.
Why it fits: Keen Games, early access on PC in 2024: build anything, block by block, in a fog-covered fantasy world.
Where to play it: PC
Games like this →6.Astroneer(2016)
Reshape whole planets and build bases, relaxed and colourful.
Why it fits: System Era Softworks, early access on PC and Xbox One in 2016: a deformable solar system for up to four players.
Where to play it: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
More about this game →7.Satisfactory(2019)
If redstone and farms were your thing: factory building in first person.
Why it fits: Coffee Stain Studios, early access on PC in 2019: automate production lines across an alien planet.
Where to play it: PC
More about this game →8.Subnautica(2014)
Survival and base building under the sea, with a real story to uncover.
Why it fits: Unknown Worlds, early access on PC in 2014: dive deeper to find better materials and the truth about the planet.
Where to play it: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch
More about this game →9.Don't Starve Together(2014)
Harder survival with a dark storybook look, best with a group.
Why it fits: Klei Entertainment, early access on PC in 2014: the co-op version of Don't Starve.
Where to play it: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
More about this game →10.LEGO Worlds(2015)
A gentler brick-built sandbox for younger players.
Why it fits: TT Games, early access on PC in 2015: build with LEGO bricks in procedurally generated worlds.
Where to play it: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
More about this game →
Where to Start
Terraria is the classic first step: same freedom, more bosses and loot. For co-op survival with friends, Valheim or Core Keeper. If redstone farms were your favourite part, Satisfactory. For younger players, LEGO Worlds or Dragon Quest Builders 2.
How We Picked These Games
Every pick lets you gather, build and shape the world, and none of them tells you how to play it. We left out pure building toys with no survival, and survival shooters where building is an afterthought.
Get the Mind Skills Arcade app
Free brain games for memory, logic, math and focus, from the makers of this game finder. Plays offline.
Free · iPhone & Android · no account
Games Like Minecraft Compared
Year is each game's first release anywhere, on the platform in the next column. "Play it now" is where it can be bought or played today.
| Game | Year | First released on | Play it now | Closest to Minecraft in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terraria | 2011 | PC | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android | The same freedom, in 2D |
| Valheim | 2021 | PC | PC, Xbox | Co-op survival and building |
| Dragon Quest Builders 2 | 2018 | PS4, Switch | PS4, Switch, PC, Xbox One | Block building with goals |
| Core Keeper | 2022 | PC | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch | Mining and crafting with friends |
| Enshrouded | 2024 | PC | PC | Voxel building in a survival world |
| Astroneer | 2016 | PC, Xbox One | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | Reshape the terrain itself |
| Satisfactory | 2019 | PC | PC | Automation like redstone farms |
| Subnautica | 2014 | PC | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch | Survival and bases, underwater |
| Don't Starve Together | 2014 | PC | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | Harder survival as a group |
| LEGO Worlds | 2015 | PC | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | A brick sandbox for younger players |
Which One to Play, by What You Liked
If you liked Minecraft for survival mode and the first night, try Valheim, Don't Starve Together and Subnautica. Gathering to stay alive, building shelter and pushing a little further each day.
If you liked Minecraft for building big things, try Enshrouded, Dragon Quest Builders 2 and LEGO Worlds. Block-by-block building with enough pieces to make anything you can picture.
If you liked Minecraft for redstone and automatic farms, try Satisfactory and Astroneer. Machines, power and production lines you design and then watch run.
If you liked Minecraft for playing on a server with friends, try Terraria, Core Keeper and Valheim. Shared worlds where everyone can take a job: mining, building, fighting bosses.
Buy This Game
* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support Justlikegames
Made by one person, for free
I run Justlikegames pretty much for free — covering hosting, APIs, and the hours spent writing recommendation lists by hand. There are no paywalls, no intrusive popups, and no "premium" tier. If the site has helped you find your next favorite game, a coffee goes a long way toward keeping it that way.
Buy me a coffeeEven $3 covers a day of API costs. Thank you 💛
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Lists
- Games like Stardew Valley — Build, farm and craft at your own pace, alone or with friends.
- Games like The Sims — Sandboxes where the main project is the place you live.
More PC Games Like Pages
Explore Other Consoles
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Trying to choose between two games? See our side-by-side breakdowns.
Get Game Recs Weekly
Top picks, hidden gems, and deals — straight to your inbox. No spam, ever.
