Games Like Terraria: 8 Survival Sandboxes to Dig Into

The closest games to Terraria are Starbound, Core Keeper and Minecraft: you dig, gather, build your base and power up until you're taking on huge bosses. Beaten the Wall of Flesh and everything after it? Or just want a new world to sink into? Here are 8 games with that same irresistible loop, solo or with friends.

Why Terraria is so addictive

Terraria, released in 2011 by Re-Logic, looks like a simple 2D block game at first. In reality, it's an action and exploration game where every ore you find unlocks a better weapon, which lets you dig deeper, find better ore, and so on.

Bosses set the pace. Every win changes the world, opening new biomes and new enemies. Add NPCs who move into the houses you build and generous multiplayer, and you get a game people keep coming back to. According to players on IGDB, the main adventure takes about 25 hours, and about 67 hours with extras.

That's also why it's hard to replace: few games balance building, combat and discovery this well. The picks below each nail at least one of those three.

How to pick your next sandbox

If you want the same thing in space, Starbound is your game. If you prefer pure building, go with Minecraft. If bosses and underground exploration are what hook you, Core Keeper and SteamWorld Dig are your best bets. And if you want tougher survival, Don't Starve and Valheim will test you.

For more building ideas, see our games like Minecraft and games like Valheim lists.

1. 

   1. Starbound

   2016

   Often called Terraria in space, and that's fair. Same 2D view, same mining and crafting loop, but you hop from planet to planet aboard your ship. There are quests, colonies to found and lots of freedom. The most direct replacement on the list.

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2. 

   2. Core Keeper

   2024

   Top-down instead of side-on, but the spirit is the same: you dig through a vast underground world, farm, craft gear and fight bosses. Co-op is excellent. For getting back that layer-by-layer sense of progress Terraria does so well.

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3. 

   3. Minecraft: Java Edition

   2011

   The 3D cousin. Less focused on bosses and combat, Minecraft gives you almost endless building freedom and a world that stretches forever. If you spent more time building castles in Terraria than fighting, you'll feel right at home.

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4. 

   4. Don't Starve

   2013

   A survival game with a hand-drawn gothic look. You gather, craft, manage hunger and sanity, and the night is deadly. Harsher and less forgiving than Terraria, it suits players who enjoy tension and learning by failing.

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5. 

   5. SteamWorld Dig

   2013 · Main story 7 h

   A mining robot, a shaft that keeps going deeper, ore you sell to upgrade your gear. Shorter and more guided than Terraria, it's the dig and upgrade loop boiled down to its essence. Perfect for a weekend between two big sandbox binges.

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6. 

   6. Valheim

   2021

   A 3D Viking survival game where you explore, build bases and beat bosses to push into new biomes. The structure is very close to Terraria's, and multiplayer is a blast. For players who want the same progression in a more immersive world.

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7. 

   7. No Man's Sky

   2016 · Main story 31 h

   Exploration taken to the extreme: endlessly generated planets, mining, crafting, bases to build and a ship to tie it all together. Fewer bosses, more wonder. If discovery was your favorite part of Terraria, this is a trip that never ends.

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8. 

   8. Stardew Valley

   2016 · Main story 50 h

   Calmer, but plenty of Terraria players love it. You run a farm, build relationships with a town and explore a mine full of monsters. Combat is simple, but the progression loop is just as hard to put down. More ideas in our games like Stardew Valley list.

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FAQ

What game is most similar to Terraria?

Starbound is the closest: the same 2D view and the same mining, crafting and building loop, plus travel between planets. Core Keeper keeps the underground exploration, crafting and bosses, but switches to a top-down view that still feels very familiar.

What games like Terraria are good in co-op?

Core Keeper, Valheim and Starbound all play great with friends, with shared bases and bosses to take down together. Minecraft is also an excellent pick if you want to build with friends on a shared server for weeks on end.

How long does it take to beat Terraria?

According to players on IGDB, the main adventure takes about 25 hours, and about 67 hours with the extra content. Completing everything takes far longer, since the game is packed with items, bosses and difficulty modes.