The best sandbox games, according to hackers
12 sandbox games were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 4 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended sandbox games with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Free and fully open source
Free, fully open-source sandbox game and engine where people build, play multiplayer games and write their own mods. Critics say it is not as good as Minecraft and its controls feel rough.
Timeless, fun, many options
Recommended as a fun, timeless game with many options that people still enjoy years after first playing it. Critics mention a lingering bug.
Mods and maps still made
People recommend Garry's Mod for its open-ended sandbox play, with mods and maps still being made years later and a lasting influence on culture and games.
All 12 sandbox games, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minecraft | 222 | 149 | 60% | 13 | 10 yrs11 owners | — |
| 2 | Luanti | 23 | 4 | 85% | 7 | — | Approved |
| 3 | No Man's Sky Cosmos | 22 | 31 | 42% | 1 | — | — |
| 4 | Voxile | 16 | 1 | 94% | 3 | — | — |
| 5 | Terraria | 14 | 4 | 78% | 7 | — | Approved |
| 6 | Garry's Mod | 12 | 1 | 92% | 4 | — | Approved |
| 7 | Valheim | 11 | 1 | 92% | 5 | — | Approved |
| 8 | Subnautica | 9 | 2 | 82% | 8 | — | — |
| 9 | Tiny Glade | 8 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| 10 | Hytale | 7 | 1 | 88% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 11 | Minetest | 5 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 11 | Sandustry | 5 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same sandbox game in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to sandbox games that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.