Best Sandbox indie games under $20
These are the best sandbox indie games you can buy for under $20. indielist lists 157 paid sandbox games with a list price at or below $20, ranked by Steam review count so the most-validated picks lead. The average list price here is $15.81, and the cheapest is PropHunter at $3.99. The most reviewed is Terraria with 1,247,686 Steam reviews. Beyond the budget end, this wider list adds 125 mid-price picks between $10 and $20 that a stricter under-$10 list leaves out. Every price is the tracked Steam list price, not an estimate, and each game links to a white-box sales estimate you can open and audit rather than a black-box number. This is a value list: a sensible price crossed with real player validation, so you can find a sandbox game that is actually good, not just affordable. Free-to-play titles are excluded here; this is about paid games that punch above their price.
Games
157
Avg list price
$15.81
Cheapest
$3.99
- T
Terraria
2011 · Action
$9.99 1,247,686 reviews · 97% positive
- G
Garry's Mod
2006 · Casual
$9.99 1,098,377 reviews · 97% positive
- W
Wallpaper Engine
2018 · Casual
$4.99 951,931 reviews · 98% positive
- S
Stardew Valley
2016 · Indie
$14.99 901,380 reviews · 98% positive
- A
ARK: Survival Evolved
2017 · Action
$14.99 588,535 reviews · 83% positive
- T
The Forest
2018 · Action
$19.99 583,870 reviews · 96% positive
- D
Don't Starve Together
2016 · Action
$14.99 377,538 reviews · 95% positive
- R
Raft
2022 · Adventure
$19.99 324,860 reviews · 93% positive
- P
People Playground
2019 · Action
$9.99 301,659 reviews · 97% positive
- 鬼
鬼谷八荒 Tale of Immortal
2023 · Action
$19.99 224,932 reviews · 56% positive
- H
Human Fall Flat
2016 · Adventure
$19.99 175,540 reviews · 95% positive
- T
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
2021 · Indie
$19.99 144,989 reviews · 98% positive
- S
Slime Rancher
2017 · Action
$19.99 140,413 reviews · 98% positive
- P
POSTAL 2
2012 · Action
$9.99 138,992 reviews · 97% positive
- S
Starbound
2016 · Action
$14.99 120,658 reviews · 90% positive
- T
The Isle
2015 · Action
$19.99 113,444 reviews · 80% positive
- T
The Long Dark
2017 · Adventure
$19.99 112,347 reviews · 89% positive
- M
My Summer Car
2025 · Indie
$14.99 109,459 reviews · 95% positive
- D
Don't Starve
2013 · Adventure
$9.99 97,202 reviews · 97% positive
- D
Dyson Sphere Program
2021 · Indie
$19.99 83,815 reviews · 97% positive
- N
Noita
2020 · Action
$19.99 81,754 reviews · 95% positive
- S
Supermarket Simulator
2025 · Casual
$19.99 79,802 reviews · 92% positive
- R
Ravenfield
2017 · Action
$17.99 76,768 reviews · 97% positive
- T
Tabletop Simulator
2015 · Casual
$19.99 74,870 reviews · 96% positive
- P
Plague Inc: Evolved
2016 · Casual
$14.99 59,754 reviews · 94% positive
- W
WEBFISHING
2024 · Casual
$4.99 57,413 reviews · 97% positive
- G
Goat Simulator
2014 · Casual
$9.99 54,838 reviews · 91% positive
- W
WorldBox - God Simulator
2021 · Indie
$19.99 51,763 reviews · 95% positive
- C
Core Keeper
2024 · Action
$19.99 50,922 reviews · 93% positive
- C
Crosshair X
2020 · Action
$9.99 43,938 reviews · 93% positive
- S
Stranded Deep
2022 · Adventure
$19.99 43,831 reviews · 73% positive
- P
PC Building Simulator
2019 · Indie
$19.99 42,185 reviews · 93% positive
- G
Game Dev Tycoon
2013 · Casual
$9.99 40,403 reviews · 95% positive
- G
Graveyard Keeper
2018 · Adventure
$19.99 40,205 reviews · 85% positive
- P
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator
2022 · Indie
$19.99 38,211 reviews · 93% positive
- B
Banished
2014 · Indie
$19.99 37,944 reviews · 90% positive
- T
Thief Simulator
2018 · Action
$19.99 37,546 reviews · 88% positive
- F
Forager
2019 · Action
$19.99 35,599 reviews · 89% positive
- F
Fields of Mistria
2026 · Indie
$13.99 33,196 reviews · 97% positive
- W
Who's Your Daddy?!
2016 · Action
$9.99 32,021 reviews · 80% positive
- G
Golf It!
2023 · Casual
$8.99 31,176 reviews · 90% positive
- D
Dorfromantik
2022 · Casual
$13.99 27,514 reviews · 96% positive
- H
Hydroneer
2020 · Adventure
$14.99 27,291 reviews · 86% positive
- D
Dinkum
2025 · Adventure
$19.99 24,722 reviews · 92% positive
- N
Necesse
2025 · Action
$14.99 24,677 reviews · 93% positive
- U
Untitled Goose Game
2020 · Action
$19.99 23,000 reviews · 96% positive
- T
Tiny Glade
2024 · Casual
$14.99 22,997 reviews · 97% positive
- F
Forts
2017 · Action
$14.99 21,333 reviews · 92% positive
- F
Feed and Grow: Fish
2016 · Action
$14.99 20,911 reviews · 78% positive
- T
Townscaper
2021 · Casual
$5.99 20,116 reviews · 95% positive
- V
Viscera Cleanup Detail
2015 · Indie
$12.99 18,103 reviews · 92% positive
- C
Call to Arms
2018 · Action
$14.99 17,492 reviews · 79% positive
- G
Gold Mining Simulator
2017 · Indie
$19.99 16,442 reviews · 73% positive
- T
Tower Unite
2025 · Action
$19.99 16,265 reviews · 90% positive
- E
Easy Red 2
2022 · Action
$8.99 14,636 reviews · 90% positive
- S
shapez
2020 · Casual
$9.99 14,357 reviews · 96% positive
- W
Wobbledogs
2022 · Casual
$19.99 13,901 reviews · 98% positive
- Y
Youtubers Life
2017 · Adventure
$19.99 13,747 reviews · 77% positive
- M
Mist Survival
2018 · Action
$10.99 13,713 reviews · 76% positive
- A
Amazing Frog?
2014 · Action
$19.99 11,207 reviews · 94% positive
- D
DYSMANTLE
2021 · Action
$19.99 11,071 reviews · 91% positive
- P
Planetbase
2015 · Indie
$14.99 9,591 reviews · 80% positive
- S
Spaceflight Simulator
2022 · Indie
$14.99 9,573 reviews · 97% positive
- T
The Farmer Was Replaced
2025 · Casual
$9.99 9,495 reviews · 96% positive
- L
Little Inferno
2012 · Adventure
$14.99 9,200 reviews · 95% positive
- C
Cassette Beasts
2023 · Indie
$19.99 9,061 reviews · 94% positive
- A
Ale & Tale Tavern
2024 · Action
$14.99 8,791 reviews · 89% positive
- E
Elin
2024 · Indie
$19.99 8,509 reviews · 93% positive
- B
Beasts of Bermuda
2018 · Adventure
$19.99 8,472 reviews · 69% positive
- C
CastleMiner Z
2014 · Action
$5.99 7,953 reviews · 81% positive
- F
Fireworks Mania - An Explosive Simulator
2020 · Action
$14.99 7,573 reviews · 97% positive
- L
Let's School
2023 · Casual
$19.99 7,511 reviews · 93% positive
- W
while True: learn()
2019 · Indie
$12.99 7,397 reviews · 91% positive
- S
Shieldwall
2023 · Action
$17.99 7,219 reviews · 86% positive
- T
The Tenants
2022 · Casual
$19.99 7,082 reviews · 79% positive
- M
My Dream Setup
2023 · Casual
$5.99 6,779 reviews · 92% positive
- T
Thief Simulator 2
2023 · Action
$19.99 6,667 reviews · 88% positive
- U
UnderRail
2015 · Indie
$14.99 6,424 reviews · 86% positive
- O
Overgrowth
2017 · Action
$19.99 6,308 reviews · 81% positive
- D
Day of Dragons
2019 · Indie
$19.99 6,286 reviews · 65% positive
- O
Opus Magnum
2017 · Indie
$19.99 6,074 reviews · 97% positive
- H
HARD BULLET
2020 · Action
$19.99 5,886 reviews · 83% positive
- I
Incredibox
2021 · Casual
$4.99 5,673 reviews · 97% positive
- T
The Coin Game
2026 · Adventure
$19.99 5,658 reviews · 92% positive
- G
Grocery Store Simulator
2024 · Action
$14.99 5,355 reviews · 91% positive
- R
Rising World
2014 · Action
$14.99 5,338 reviews · 86% positive
- G
gogh: Focus with Your Avatar
2025 · Casual
$11.99 4,923 reviews · 91% positive
- G
Guilty as Sock!
2025 · Casual
$5.50 4,699 reviews · 90% positive
- T
TheoTown
2019 · Adventure
$9.99 4,693 reviews · 95% positive
- F
Fun with Ragdolls: The Game
2019 · Action
$14.99 4,493 reviews · 88% positive
- D
DEEEER Simulator: Your Average Everyday Deer Game
2021 · Action
$14.99 4,474 reviews · 92% positive
- N
NEO Scavenger
2014 · Indie
$14.99 4,448 reviews · 90% positive
- J
Job Simulator
2016 · Action
$19.99 4,427 reviews · 91% positive
- N
Niche - a genetics survival game
2017 · Indie
$17.99 4,361 reviews · 86% positive
- T
Terminus: Zombie Survivors
2024 · Adventure
$19.99 4,350 reviews · 94% positive
- F
Fantasy Map Simulator
2024 · Indie
$7.99 4,248 reviews · 89% positive
- F
Factory Town
2021 · Indie
$19.99 4,161 reviews · 91% positive
- M
Moonstone Island
2023 · Adventure
$19.99 4,106 reviews · 84% positive
- I
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival
2024 · Indie
$19.99 4,042 reviews · 84% positive
- T
The Bloodline
2023 · Action
$19.99 3,803 reviews · 83% positive
- S
SHENZHEN I/O
2016 · Indie
$14.99 3,759 reviews · 95% positive
- T
Tinkerlands
2025 · Action
$12.99 3,651 reviews · 86% positive
- P
Plan B: Terraform
2025 · Indie
$15.99 3,635 reviews · 91% positive
- O
Ostranauts
2026 · Indie
$19.99 3,204 reviews · 77% positive
- S
SUMMERHOUSE
2024 · Casual
$4.99 3,136 reviews · 93% positive
- J
Juno: New Origins
2023 · Indie
$19.99 3,104 reviews · 89% positive
- B
Bio Inc. Redemption
2018 · Indie
$12.99 3,086 reviews · 87% positive
- R
REKA
2024 · Adventure
$19.99 3,044 reviews · 83% positive
- C
Cepheus Protocol
2020 · Action
$19.99 3,005 reviews · 75% positive
- S
STANDBOX
2023 · Action
$7.99 2,942 reviews · 90% positive
- T
Teddy's Haven
2025 · Adventure
$14.99 2,904 reviews · 96% positive
- M
Maltese's Fluffy Onsen
2025 · Casual
$5.99 2,784 reviews · 94% positive
- S
Space Pirates And Zombies 2
2017 · Action
$19.99 2,736 reviews · 79% positive
- H
Heat
2020 · Action
$19.99 2,611 reviews · 49% positive
- A
Astro Colony
2026 · Action
$19.99 2,430 reviews · 80% positive
- F
Farmer's Life
2023 · Casual
$19.99 2,382 reviews · 89% positive
- I
IfSunSets
2024 · Action
$19.99 2,327 reviews · 75% positive
- F
Flyout
2023 · Indie
$19.99 2,303 reviews · 84% positive
- F
Farm Manager 2021
2021 · Casual
$19.99 2,300 reviews · 79% positive
- B
Beltmatic
2024 · Casual
$6.99 2,236 reviews · 95% positive
- H
House Builder
2024 · Adventure
$19.99 2,199 reviews · 80% positive
- M
Megaton Rainfall
2017 · Action
$15.99 2,175 reviews · 72% positive
- S
Ship Graveyard Simulator
2021 · Action
$14.99 2,154 reviews · 64% positive
- W
Warsim: The Realm of Aslona
2022 · Indie
$9.99 2,012 reviews · 96% positive
- B
BRUTALISTICK VR
2024 · Action
$9.99 1,906 reviews · 95% positive
- W
Warlord: Britannia
2022 · Action
$19.99 1,899 reviews · 88% positive
- L
Laundry Store Simulator
2024 · Indie
$11.99 1,827 reviews · 90% positive
- G
Grey Hack
2017 · Indie
$19.99 1,816 reviews · 90% positive
- S
Skin Deep
2025 · Action
$19.99 1,690 reviews · 94% positive
- B
Builder Simulator
2022 · Adventure
$19.99 1,654 reviews · 71% positive
- F
Farlands
2026 · Casual
$17.99 1,641 reviews · 90% positive
- T
The Last Starship
2026 · Indie
$19.99 1,635 reviews · 75% positive
- I
Into The Flames
2023 · Action
$19.99 1,557 reviews · 81% positive
- E
EXAPUNKS
2018 · Indie
$19.99 1,380 reviews · 95% positive
- D
Doodle Empires
2025 · Indie
$6.99 1,320 reviews · 93% positive
- A
A Webbing Journey
2025 · Adventure
$9.99 1,319 reviews · 99% positive
- D
Dustland Delivery
2024 · Adventure
$7.99 1,275 reviews · 88% positive
- B
Better Mart Simulator
2025 · Casual
$14.99 1,271 reviews · 89% positive
- U
UnReal World
2016 · Indie
$14.50 1,255 reviews · 94% positive
- T
Tiny Town VR
2017 · Casual
$14.99 1,214 reviews · 92% positive
- B
Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer
2025 · Action
$18.99 1,139 reviews · 79% positive
- P
Plains of Pain
2023 · Action
$19.99 1,021 reviews · 84% positive
- A
Aquarist
2024 · Casual
$15.99 957 reviews · 83% positive
- P
PropHunter
2021 · Action
$3.99 925 reviews · 77% positive
- C
Contraption Maker
2014 · Casual
$12.99 924 reviews · 91% positive
- W
Waltz of the Wizard
2019 · Action
$19.99 909 reviews · 91% positive
- S
ServiceIT: You can do IT
2025 · Casual
$12.99 702 reviews · 56% positive
- M
Mad Smartphone Tycoon
2024 · Casual
$11.99 578 reviews · 71% positive
- I
I Am Cat
2024 · Adventure
$19.99 543 reviews · 68% positive
- S
Smack Studio
2024 · Action
$14.99 526 reviews · 84% positive
- U
Urge
2021 · Action
$17.99 502 reviews · 90% positive
- S
Seeds of Calamity
2026 · Adventure
$14.99 274 reviews · 81% positive
- F
Flock
2024 · Adventure
$19.99 256 reviews · 96% positive
- H
Haunted House Renovator
2025 · Adventure
$19.99 201 reviews · 46% positive
- M
Milling machine simulator
2022 · Action
$19.99 187 reviews · 88% positive
- O
Out of Orbit
2023 · Action
$14.99 176 reviews · 80% positive
- M
Mix Universe
2023 · Casual
$14.99 116 reviews · 96% positive
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best sandbox indie games under $20?
- indielist lists 157 paid sandbox indie games priced at or below $20, ranked by Steam reviews, led by Terraria (1,247,686 reviews). The cheapest is PropHunter at $3.99.
- How is this "under $20" list built?
- By a data filter, not opinion: a paid sandbox game qualifies if its tracked Steam list price is at or below $20. The list is ranked by review count and updates as prices and the catalog change. Free-to-play games are excluded.