Looking for the thrill of exploring a world at your fingertips that you get while playing Astroneer? Here are some of the most highly regarded games like Astroneer that will keep you entertained for hours. If you like exploration, base building, and crafting, then these games should be perfect for you. There is just something about the freedom of open-world games that takes this genre to another level. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
No Man’s Sky
If exploring a procedurally generated universe is your cup of tea, then No Man’s Sky is sure to please. When it comes to games like Astroneer, you really can’t get much closer or better than this game. Just like Astroneer, this game encourages you to jump into its infinite open-world universe to explore foreign planets, mine resources, and build to your heart’s content. No Man’s Sky can be a little less peaceful as it involves some combat, however, there is not much and it is entirely avoidable. The game’s focus is primarily on investigating the vast worlds and stars around you. One thing that No Man’s Sky has going for it that Astroneer does not is the ability to fly a ship around planets and out into space. This will allow you to explore more than just the surface of celestial bodies but outer space as a whole. If you enjoyed Astroneer and haven’t played No Man’s Sky yet, this is the first game you should consider when looking for a comparable experience.
Check out No Man’s Sky on Steam!
Starbound
Starbound is a 2D option among games like Astroneer that will have you traversing planets, gathering resources, and constructing bases. This game is like a cross between Terraria and Astroneer with its pixel block art style and an endless procedurally generated universe. You will get to travel to all sorts of planets and moons with your spaceship. You can then beam down to explore and gather resources. Certain planets will have various hazards that you will need the right equipment for, and similar to Terraria you will need to fight various hostile creatures and NPCs. You can build bases on any planets you wish and your ship also acts as a mobile customizable base that can be upgraded and made larger.
In Starbound, you are a recent graduate of the Protectorate, which is a galactic peacekeeping organization from Earth. Your graduation ceremony is interrupted by a tentacle creature that destroys Earth and sends you off into the stars with your damaged ship. From here you must explore the mysteries of the Starbound universe to save it from this new evil. Starbound also has a vibrant modding community that expands this already vast game even further. When it comes to games like Astroneer, don’t dismiss Starbound simply because of its 2D-pixel art. You don’t want to miss out on this amazing game!
Check out Starbound on Steam!
ICARUS
When it comes to adventures on foreign plants, ICARUS brings a much more survival-based experience. You are a contracted explorer who goes down onto planets that have gone through a failed terraforming process. The environment is hostile to humans but rich with resources that are wanted back on Earth. You will make runs down to the planet’s surface to complete missions and gather resources. The progress your character makes persists beyond each mission, and you can buy items to take with you on your journeys. While this game is not nearly as peaceful as Astroneer, it will have you gathering resources on strange worlds just the same. So, if you are looking for a more intense survival exploration experience that is still similar to Astroneer, then give ICARUS a try.
Check out ICARUS on Steam!
Space Engineers
If you want to lean into the building side of games like Astroneer then look no further than Space Engineers. This vast open-world construction sandbox will have you building anything you can think up from mining outposts, landers, spaceships, and space stations. The limit is only your imagination. The technical gameplay aspects of this game are deep and can even be overwhelming at times. The good news is that you can also project blueprints of other people’s creations into your game and replicate them. This can be great for those who want to spend more time gathering resources and exploring. Another cool aspect of this game is the level of automation that can be achieved using the various components. Automated drilling and refining platforms can be constructed to help you get everything you need to build whatever crazy ideas you come up with. In Space Engineers, you can build and create anything you can dream up.
Check out Space Engineers on Steam!
The Planet Crafter
The Planet Crafter is one of the closer parallels to Astroneer. You land on a planet to terraform it for humans to live on. Gather resources and construct buildings while managing your food, water, and oxygen. This game is very peaceful with no fighting or dangers outside running out of one of the three aforementioned survival necessities. There is a mission log to guide you along and give you a loose set of directions to follow similar to Astroneer. The main difference between Planet Crafter and Astroneer is that Planet Crafter is not procedurally generated. It is one large handcrafted world for you to enjoy and explore. This makes its finer details nicer, however, it does reduce some replay value as the world will never change and there are no additional worlds to explore.
Check out The Plant Crafter on Steam!
Subnautica
So far we have been exploring planets and outer space, however, there is an entire underwater world to search in Subnautica. There are wonderous aquatic visuals in this game and it can be an unrivaled exploratory adventure. Trade in your space suit for some diving gear and swim through exotic undersea fauna, tour ancient ruins, and see vibrant sea creatures. However, you may have to be on the lookout for predators, as well as manage the standard food, water, and oxygen levels that most survival games use. This game also has a robust resource-gathering and crafting system as you’d expect from a game in this genre. Instead of looking to the stars, try diving into the deep blue unknown in Subnautica.
Check out Subnautica on Steam!
7 Days to Die
While space and a zombie apocalypse are very different environments, there are key aspects of 7 Days to Die that earn it a spot on our list of the best games like Astroneer. This zombie survival game puts a heavy emphasis on building and resource collection. You will need to dig extensive mines to fortify your base from the undead. The building options are quite extensive as well, with a multitude of shaping options available for most blocks. So, whether you’re just looking to build an amazing end-of-the-world bunker or a beautiful home, 7 Days to Die has you covered.
This game leans in the survival and base defense genres quite heavily compared to Astroneer. You will need to contend with the dead when exploring cities and building your base. There are missions given via the various trade posts on the map that will keep you occupied and exploring new locations as well. There is the option to use the default map for the game or use a procedurally generated one. The base defense aspect is the most unique part of the game, occurring every 7th night and making you contend with a massive horde of zombies attacking you wherever you are. There is no hiding, you will have to build up your defenses and hold out through the night.
Check out 7 Days to Die on Steam!
Grounded
Ever wonder what exploring your backyard as an ant would be like? In the game Grounded, you and up to 3 friends are shrunken down to insect-size proportions. You must survive the now gigantic wilderness that was your backyard and find a way to return to normal size. The exploration from such a unique perspective will give you the adventurous feeling that roaming planets in Astroneer gives you. Constructing a base to keep you safe, from the once tiny but now way too big for comfort insects, is key to survival. This means your base-building itch will also be scratched. If you have a spider phobia be warned, this game will most certainly give you the creeps.
Check out Grounded on Steam!
Valheim
Perhaps you are seeking a more Nordic and mythological-themed option for games like Astroneer. Valheim is a clever mix of open-world survival, base-building, and hack-and-slash combat. You are sent to Valheim to prove yourself worthy of going to Valhalla. You must survive in this world filled with dangerous creatures while defeating several bosses. Explore a beautiful procedurally generated world as you build a base and gather resources to craft increasingly better gear to take on the challenges that lie ahead. The exploration and base building is something you will enjoy if you are a fan of Astroneer. Just beware, this game’s combat can be quite challenging at times, with harder difficulties making it comparable to Dark Souls.
Check out Valheim on Steam!
The Forest Series
Both The Forest and its sequel Sons of the Forest are excellent games like Astroneer and share some key similarities to Astroneer. The premise of the game is that you are stranded in a forest teaming with mutant cannibals. You must explore and search for clues as to what is going on and how to escape with your life. Building a base to keep you safe from the increasingly hostile cannibals is both challenging and entertaining. Vast cave systems are also a wonderous sight to behold and explore. While the cannibals make things far less peaceful than Astroneer, these games are amazing. If you’re willing to contend with some hostile mutant natives during your expeditions and base-building efforts, give the Forests series a try. They will not disappoint you!
Check out The Forest on Steam!
Check out Sons of the Forest on Steam!