Best Games Like Minecraft: 12 Picks on Steam

Games like Minecraft usually share one simple pleasure: you start with nothing, punch your way to a few materials and end up with a base, a tool or a project that is entirely yours. If that loop of gathering, crafting and building is what you miss, the twelve games below keep it and change the setting, the goal or the pace.

Minecraft itself reached its full release in November 2011 after an early public alpha in 2009, and it has been copied, remixed and reinterpreted ever since. The picks here are all on Steam, sorted by what kind of fit they are, with the player modes Steam lists for each.

What makes games like Minecraft feel similar?

Almost nothing here copies Minecraft’s blocky look. What carries over is the shape of the play: an open world, resources you gather yourself, recipes that turn them into better tools, and a place you can claim and shape. Most of these also let you play alone or with friends, which is a big part of why Minecraft sticks around.

Past that, the games split into three groups. Some keep the digging and building and add combat and progression. Some turn it into a survival adventure with bosses and weather. Some drop the danger and lean into planning, automation or a quiet routine. Pick the group first and the choice gets easier.

Which games like Minecraft focus on digging, crafting and building?

These are the nearest relatives: you tunnel, gather, craft and build, and the world responds to what you do.

Terraria

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Terraria is the usual first answer, and for good reason. It is a 2D sandbox where you dig for ore, craft ever-better gear, build a home for the characters you meet and take on tougher enemies and bosses. Steam describes it as blending classic action games with sandbox creativity, and the reviews are Overwhelmingly Positive across more than 1.5 million entries.

It suits players who like Minecraft’s mining and progression but want more combat. Steam lists single-player, online co-op and online PvP (player versus player) modes, plus full controller support.

Core Keeper

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Core Keeper puts you in a vast underground cavern where you mine, build a base, craft tools, fight, fish and farm. The store page mentions raising animals and defeating legendary Titans, so there is more to do than dig. It reads like Minecraft’s cave-diving stretches turned into a whole game.

It suits players who want a cosy-but-busy mining adventure to share. Steam lists it for 1-8 players with online co-op, and it has Very Positive reviews.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

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This is a block-building RPG (role-playing game) set in a fantasy land threatened by an evil cult. You explore, battle, build and harvest through a single-player campaign, then can build bigger projects in an online sandbox mode. The campaign gives you direction, which is useful if Minecraft’s open-ended start ever left you wondering what to do.

It suits builders who like a guiding story and charming characters. Steam lists single-player and online co-op, with the sandbox mode for up to four players, and reviews are Very Positive.

Which games like Minecraft are best for survival with friends?

If you mostly remember Minecraft’s first night, building a shelter before the monsters arrive, these are for you. They add pressure, bosses and a sense of progress through danger.

Valheim

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Valheim is a survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology. You craft weapons, build halls, sail the open seas and take on regional bosses called the Forsaken. Each biome has its own resources and dangers, so progress feels like moving through distinct chapters.

It suits groups who want a shared saga and a base to come back to. Steam lists single-player and online co-op, and it shows a release of Sep 9, 2026, with Very Positive reviews.

Enshrouded

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Enshrouded is a solo and co-op survival action RPG where a corrupting fog called the Shroud is devouring the kingdom of Embervale. You forge a hero through a deep skill tree, explore a handcrafted world, and build anywhere in a fully terraformable land. The terraforming is the closest it comes to Minecraft’s dig-anywhere freedom.

It suits players who want building and a proper fantasy RPG together. Steam lists single-player and online co-op, shows Oct 15, 2026 as the release date, and reviews are Very Positive.

Grounded

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Grounded shrinks you to the size of an ant and drops you in a backyard full of giant insects. You explore, build and survive in first person, and a story mode asks how you got this small. That tiny scale gives familiar gathering and crafting a fresh angle.

It suits friends who want something playful but still dangerous. Steam lists single-player and online co-op with up to three friends, and reviews are Very Positive.

Don’t Starve Together

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Klei’s wilderness survival game has you gather resources, craft items and build structures in a strange world full of odd creatures and hidden dangers. The store page calls the original an uncompromising survival game, so expect it to be less forgiving than Minecraft. It also invites you to cooperate with friends in a private game or strike out on your own.

It suits players who enjoy being a little overwhelmed together. Steam lists co-op, PvP, LAN modes and Steam Workshop support, and reviews are Very Positive.

7 Days to Die

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Steam describes 7 Days to Die as a mix of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense and role-playing, set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by the undead. You loot, mine, craft and build, and fortifying your base matters because the threats come to you. It also includes a level editor.

It suits players who liked building defences more than building mansions. Steam lists single-player, co-op, PvP, LAN and cross-platform multiplayer, with Very Positive reviews.

Which games like Minecraft suit builders and planners?

Not everyone wants monsters at the door. These swap danger for design, automation and a slower rhythm.

Astroneer

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In Astroneer you use a Terrain Tool to dig, collect, shape, build and colour the ground of alien worlds, almost like molding clay. Bases snap together from modular pieces, and you manage resources and automate production as you learn about the universe. Terrain deformation is what makes it feel closest to Minecraft’s digging.

It suits explorers who want a bright, curious sandbox. Steam lists single-player and online co-op, with Very Positive reviews.

Satisfactory

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Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. You land on an alien planet as a FICSIT employee, harvest resources and connect them with conveyor belts into multi-story factories. If your favourite Minecraft moment was wiring up a huge machine, this is that moment stretched into a full game.

It suits planners who enjoy optimising. Steam lists single-player, online co-op and cross-platform multiplayer, and reviews are Overwhelmingly Positive.

Eco

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Eco simulates a whole ecosystem with growing plants and animals, and warns that a meteor strike threatens the world. You build towns, farm, hunt, research technology and trade with other players, while every action affects the environment. It is a survival game about society more than about swinging a pickaxe.

It suits groups who like to specialise and negotiate. Steam lists it in Early Access, with single-player, online and LAN co-op modes, and Very Positive reviews.

Stardew Valley

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Stardew Valley is a country-life RPG where you inherit your grandfather’s farm and turn the overgrown plot into a thriving home. It is calmer than the rest of this list, but the loop of tools, resources and slowly improving your land will feel familiar. For more in that vein, see our list of games like Stardew Valley.

It suits players who want a gentle routine. Steam lists online, LAN and split-screen co-op, and reviews are Overwhelmingly Positive.

How do you choose between these games like Minecraft?

Start with the part of Minecraft you miss most.

• Digging and exploring: Terraria, Core Keeper or Astroneer.
• Building with a purpose: Dragon Quest Builders 2, Satisfactory or Eco.
• Surviving as a group: Valheim, Enshrouded, Grounded or Don’t Starve Together.
• Something calmer: Stardew Valley.

If you are playing with friends, check the mode first. Valheim and Core Keeper handle bigger groups, while Grounded tops out at four. If you want a break from survival, our guide to games like It Takes Two covers co-op titles with more structure.

What mistakes should you avoid when picking a Minecraft-style game?

• Expecting the same freedom everywhere. Many of these have bosses, stories or a tech tree that pull you forward. That is a change of pace, not a flaw.
• Assuming survival means relaxing. Don’t Starve Together and 7 Days to Die are tougher than a typical Minecraft world, so read the store description first.
• Ignoring release status. Eco is listed in Early Access, so it may still change.
• Buying for a group without checking modes. Confirm co-op, PvP and LAN options before everyone buys.
• Wanting a free option. None of the picks here is listed as free to play on Steam.

Where to go next

If a roguelike run sounds more your speed than a long sandbox, try our best roguelike games. For more shortlists in the same style, browse the games like topic or the best games on Steam.

Whichever you choose, each game’s card above links to its Steam page, where you can check screenshots, trailers and current player modes before you commit.

Questions and answers

What is the most similar game to Minecraft?

On this list, Terraria is the closest in spirit. You dig, collect materials, craft better gear and build a base, with fighting and bosses layered on top. It is 2D rather than 3D, so if you want a first-person feel, Valheim or Enshrouded come nearer.

Is there a game that is like Minecraft?

Yes, several. Terraria, Core Keeper and Dragon Quest Builders 2 share the mining and block-building loop. Valheim, Enshrouded and Grounded keep the gather, craft and build survival loop in a more adventure-driven shape. Which fits best depends on whether you miss digging, building or exploring.

Which games like Minecraft can I play with friends?

All twelve picks here list co-op or multiplayer on Steam. Valheim supports 1-10 players, Core Keeper 1-8, and Dragon Quest Builders 2 up to four in its online sandbox mode. Stardew Valley even lists split-screen co-op if you want to share one screen.

Are there games like Minecraft focused on building rather than fighting?

Yes. Satisfactory is about building huge automated factories, Eco is about building a society and an economy, and Dragon Quest Builders 2 gives you a campaign plus a building sandbox. Astroneer also leans on base building and terrain shaping more than combat.