If you’re looking for a new world to turn into your own, our list of the best sandbox games is here to help. We’ve got plenty of options for vast games on Switch and mobile that put exploration at the forefront. So, it’s time to pack your bag, stick on some comfy shoes, and make your mark on a brave new world.
When you’re done here and are in the mood for your next huge open-world adventure, why not check out our many guides to the upcoming RPG behemoth Xenoblade Chronicles 3. We’ve already covered all you need to know about Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Noah, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Nopon, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Mio, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 heroes, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 amiibo.
So, let’s dig into our list of sandbox games for Switch and mobile
Minecraft – Switch and mobile
It doesn’t get more sandbox than this. Minecraft has been one of the biggest games in the world for over a decade, and that’s largely attributed to the insane amount of possibilities that each of its game modes presents. Explore the world in survival, build your own fortress, and explore the depths of the world and the enemies found within. Building structures in Minecraft is especially rewarding after finding your own resources, and the added thrill of the occasional creeper just waiting to blow it all up.
Creativity pushes this beyond and has seen some truly remarkable things made all in the name of fun. Players have created enormous recreations of real-life locations, Ocarina of Time, and even painstakingly recreated the fantasy world of Game of Thrones. There’s no limit to the possibilities, hence why we are still seeing fantastic creations to this very day.
Goat Simulator – Switch and mobile
Alright, now let’s do a silly one. Less about creation and more about simple exploration, Goat Simulator has you playing as a very, very naughty goat. Let loose on an unexpecting town, the goat can cause true chaos, destroy buildings, terrify locals, and even summon a demon.
There’s a lot to discover and so much to do, with it all sold beautifully by the physical comedy of lobbing a ragdoll goat off a rooftop. If you still don’t know that joy, it’s well worth giving this one a go yourself.
Terraria – Switch and mobile
A fantasy exploration and building game on a 2D plane, Terraria is so much deeper than its brilliant but modest visuals might imply. It’s always satisfying to gather resources, make a little cabin, and fight enemies to gather even more goodies.
Here everything just feels right, with slick controls and so much to see and do. Players might be surprised even to discover just how much is on offer here, as this is one journey you could potentially never finish.
ARK: Survival Evolved – Switch
Alright, listen, imagine an open-world game where you explore and create things, but with dinosaurs. If the elevator pitch doesn’t work, I’m not sure what will. ARK: Survival Evolved is a fun game where payers explore a post-apocalyptic world overrun by dinosaurs and must work alongside them to stake their claim on this barren planet.
It’s great fun to fortify your settlement, and there are a lot of different ways to interact with the world. It’s also recently had a major update on Switch so runs better than ever before, so this is a great time to pick it up.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 – Switch
HOO BOY. Hold on to your hats, as I tell you about a little game called Dragon Quest Builders 2. It’s perfect, comprehensive, a masterpiece, and certainly not appreciated enough in its time. Built on the bones of the peerless fantasy RPG series Dragon Quest, Builders 2 takes that world and some mechanics but instead delivers the best open-world creative (or building) game I’ve ever played.
Imagine Minecraft had a story so good it could make you cry, had amazing new twists that simplify and expand upon regular building tools, and then slapped on some fantastic visuals and music. Folks, I am begging you to go play Dragon Quest Builders 2. It runs great on Switch and has a huge demo (which also transfers save data when you purchase) but it is also available on PS4 and Xbox, just go and play it.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch
Yeah, it’s a sandbox game and I won’t hear any arguments about it. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has a gigantic open world with its own bespoke physics engine, allowing you to create scenarios entirely depending on chemical reactions and the elements. Use a metal barrel and lightning to start a fire, carry an electric charge through several lightning-based weapons, or float a bomb on the breeze thanks to a balloon pulled from an Octorok’s belly. Breath of the Wild works because of its grandiose story, its beautiful visuals, and thrilling combat.
But, if Nintendo just released the tools on offer here, it would still be one of the best games ever made. It’s phenomenal to think that people are still discovering things in this game, but more, that often these discoveries make sense. Did you know you can boil eggs by placing them in the Death Mountain natural hot springs? Of course, you can. We hope to be exploring another open world soon, so we’ll keep our eye on the Breath of the Wild 2 release date.
Two Point Campus – Switch
Growing up in the 90s, Sim fever had taken over the world. Sim City, The Sims, and titles like Theme Hospital were widely popular, and now many years later, some of the team behind the latter are back. The sequel to Two Point Hospital, Two Point Campus takes everything players loved about that title and goes bigger and better.
Design and manage your own university, while trying to meet the demands of your many graduates. The devil is in the details, and while the Two Point games have a lot of comedy in them, there is a very finely tuned management sim game under the hood, with so many different ways to build your site and run things.
Townscaper – Switch and mobile
If your brain can’t handle any tasks today (I get you), and instead you want to meander and play, then might I recommend the lovely title Townscaper? There are no objectives, there is nothing to unlock, and there is absolutely no purpose here. Instead, Townscaper is all about just playing.
With the press of a button or tap of the screen, this barren blue world becomes populated with gorgeous pastel buildings. Another tap will add another room or a little bridge, and as you explore you can build a gorgeous tiny village and fiddle around with it to your heart’s content. If I ever had to describe as “lovely” then I just might pick Townscaper. Pick it up on Switch or also on your mobile device.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Switch
We didn’t think it possible, but The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a step above Breath of the Wild, both in quality and in creativity. The open world of Hyrule is now yours to explore with an entirely new toolset, including the bizarre Zonai devices.
Use rockets, wheels, balloons, and so much more to craft and power your own creations. It’s not often that a game actually lets you think of creative solutions to puzzles, but Tears of the Kingdom is truly about the spirit of experimenting.
Read all about it in our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom review, and be sure to check out our guides covering Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Zonai, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom shrines, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom koroks, and much more.
Stardew Valley – Switch and mobile
Stardew Valley is one of the most important indie darlings of the last ten years of gaming, and it just so happens to be an incredible sandbox game. You can play this however you want. You can be a formidable farmer, an amazing angler, a money-making miner, or all three at the same time. The sandbox element is your own farm, which you can use as you please. There’s so much freedom here, it’s easy to lose hours at a time without realizing it.
If you need a little assistance getting started in Pelican Town, see our Stardew Valley fish, Stardew Valley farm layout, and Stardew Valley bookseller guides. Or, for more of the same, check out our picks for the best games like Stardew Valley.
That’s all we have for today, but be sure to check back for even more great sandbox games for Nintendo Switch and mobile soon. If you want to find another great game to play today, why not browse our bumper guide to the very best Switch games for some inspiration?