Best Sandbox indie games under $20
These are the best sandbox indie games you can buy for under $20. indielist lists 147 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 $15.43, and the cheapest is Crosshair X at $1.99. The most reviewed is Terraria with 1,218,154 Steam reviews. Beyond the budget end, this wider list adds 110 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
147
Avg list price
$15.43
Cheapest
$1.99
- T
Terraria
2011 · Action
$9.99 1,218,154 reviews · 97% positive
- G
Garry's Mod
2006 · Casual
$9.99 1,072,116 reviews · 97% positive
- W
Wallpaper Engine
2018 · Casual
$4.99 917,727 reviews · 98% positive
- S
Stardew Valley
2016 · Indie
$14.99 870,552 reviews · 98% positive
- A
ARK: Survival Evolved
2017 · Action
$14.99 579,791 reviews · 83% positive
- T
The Forest
2018 · Action
$19.99 572,957 reviews · 96% positive
- V
Valheim
2021 · Action
$19.99 453,292 reviews · 94% positive
- D
Don't Starve Together
2016 · Action
$14.99 367,610 reviews · 95% positive
- P
Project Zomboid
2013 · Indie
$19.99 344,149 reviews · 94% positive
- R
Raft
2022 · Adventure
$19.99 318,498 reviews · 93% positive
- P
People Playground
2019 · Action
$9.99 293,591 reviews · 98% positive
- F
Fallout 4
2015 · RPG
$19.99 287,429 reviews · 81% positive
- F
Fallout: New Vegas
2010 · Action
$9.99 208,574 reviews · 96% positive
- 鬼
鬼谷八荒 Tale of Immortal
2023 · Action
$19.99 191,000 reviews · 55% positive
- H
Human Fall Flat
2016 · Adventure
$19.99 173,023 reviews · 95% positive
- T
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
2021 · Indie
$19.99 140,808 reviews · 98% positive
- S
Slime Rancher
2017 · Action
$19.99 136,682 reviews · 98% positive
- M
Mount & Blade: Warband
2010 · Action
$19.99 134,620 reviews · 98% positive
- S
Starbound
2016 · Action
$14.99 120,582 reviews · 90% positive
- F
Far Cry 3
2012 · Action
$19.99 118,689 reviews · 88% positive
- P
POSTAL 2
2012 · Action
$9.99 114,324 reviews · 97% positive
- T
The Long Dark
2017 · Adventure
$19.99 110,320 reviews · 89% positive
- M
My Summer Car
2025 · Indie
$14.99 105,569 reviews · 95% positive
- S
Scrap Mechanic
2016 · Action
$19.99 104,965 reviews · 92% positive
- T
The Isle
2015 · Action
$19.99 104,770 reviews · 80% positive
- J
Just Cause™ 3
2015 · Action
$19.99 103,283 reviews · 84% positive
- D
Don't Starve
2013 · Adventure
$9.99 96,238 reviews · 97% positive
- D
Dyson Sphere Program
2021 · Indie
$19.99 82,756 reviews · 97% positive
- E
Elite Dangerous
2015 · Action
$19.99 81,272 reviews · 77% positive
- N
Noita
2020 · Action
$19.99 79,689 reviews · 95% positive
- S
Supermarket Simulator
2025 · Casual
$19.99 77,801 reviews · 92% positive
- R
Ravenfield
2017 · Action
$17.99 75,450 reviews · 97% positive
- W
WEBFISHING
2024 · Casual
$4.99 57,077 reviews · 97% positive
- M
Mad Max
2015 · Action
$19.99 56,749 reviews · 92% positive
- P
Plague Inc: Evolved
2016 · Casual
$14.99 56,431 reviews · 94% positive
- G
Goat Simulator
2014 · Casual
$9.99 54,433 reviews · 91% positive
- W
WorldBox - God Simulator
2021 · Indie
$19.99 49,191 reviews · 95% positive
- C
Core Keeper
2024 · Action
$19.99 48,849 reviews · 93% positive
- S
Saints Row: The Third
2011 · Action
$9.99 48,670 reviews · 96% positive
- T
Tabletop Simulator
2015 · Casual
$19.99 47,958 reviews · 96% positive
- F
Forager
2019 · Action
$19.99 43,580 reviews · 90% positive
- F
Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition
2009 · RPG
$19.99 43,485 reviews · 82% positive
- S
Stranded Deep
2022 · Adventure
$19.99 43,274 reviews · 74% positive
- T
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition (2009)
2009 · RPG
$14.99 42,508 reviews · 95% positive
- P
PC Building Simulator
2019 · Indie
$19.99 41,949 reviews · 94% positive
- G
Game Dev Tycoon
2013 · Casual
$9.99 40,080 reviews · 95% positive
- C
Crosshair X
2020 · Action
$1.99 39,907 reviews · 93% positive
- G
Graveyard Keeper
2018 · Adventure
$19.99 38,701 reviews · 85% positive
- B
Banished
2014 · Indie
$19.99 37,741 reviews · 90% positive
- P
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator
2022 · Indie
$19.99 37,088 reviews · 93% positive
- T
Thief Simulator
2018 · Action
$19.99 36,753 reviews · 88% positive
- B
Bully: Scholarship Edition
2008 · Action
$14.99 36,505 reviews · 84% positive
- T
The Escapists 2
2017 · Indie
$19.99 33,458 reviews · 91% positive
- W
Who's Your Daddy?!
2016 · Action
$9.99 31,689 reviews · 80% positive
- G
Golf It!
2023 · Casual
$8.99 30,802 reviews · 90% positive
- D
Dorfromantik
2022 · Casual
$13.99 29,288 reviews · 96% positive
- D
Dinkum
2025 · Adventure
$19.99 28,794 reviews · 92% positive
- T
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition
2009 · RPG
$14.99 28,147 reviews · 95% positive
- F
Fields of Mistria
2024 · Indie
$13.99 28,045 reviews · 98% positive
- H
Hydroneer
2020 · Adventure
$14.99 27,976 reviews · 86% positive
- N
Necesse
2025 · Action
$14.99 27,331 reviews · 93% positive
- M
Mindustry
2019 · Strategy
$9.99 26,869 reviews · 96% positive
- F
Forts
2017 · Action
$14.99 24,805 reviews · 92% positive
- F
Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
2015 · RPG
$9.99 24,772 reviews · 94% positive
- U
Untitled Goose Game
2020 · Action
$19.99 24,491 reviews · 96% positive
- C
Call to Arms
2018 · Action
$14.99 23,978 reviews · 79% positive
- T
Tiny Glade
2024 · Casual
$14.99 23,876 reviews · 97% positive
- V
Viscera Cleanup Detail
2015 · Indie
$12.99 23,520 reviews · 92% positive
- H
Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
2016 · Action
$19.99 23,453 reviews · 97% positive
- F
Fallout 3
2008 · RPG
$9.99 22,018 reviews · 81% positive
- T
Tower Unite
2025 · Action
$19.99 21,723 reviews · 90% positive
- T
Townscaper
2021 · Casual
$5.99 21,532 reviews · 95% positive
- F
Feed and Grow: Fish
2016 · Action
$14.99 21,181 reviews · 78% positive
- A
Assassin's Creed® Revelations
2011 · Action
$19.99 20,215 reviews · 84% positive
- G
Gold Mining Simulator
2017 · Indie
$19.99 16,185 reviews · 73% positive
- S
shapez
2020 · Casual
$9.99 15,505 reviews · 96% positive
- Y
Youtubers Life
2017 · Adventure
$19.99 15,401 reviews · 77% positive
- W
Wobbledogs
2022 · Casual
$19.99 14,778 reviews · 98% positive
- M
Mist Survival
2018 · Action
$10.99 14,139 reviews · 76% positive
- S
Subsistence
2016 · Action
$13.99 13,700 reviews · 72% positive
- L
Little Inferno
2012 · Adventure
$14.99 13,630 reviews · 95% positive
- E
Easy Red 2
2022 · Action
$8.99 13,097 reviews · 90% positive
- H
HumanitZ
2026 · Action
$19.99 13,067 reviews · 75% positive
- S
Scribblenauts Unlimited
2012 · Adventure
$19.99 12,293 reviews · 94% positive
- B
Bloons TD 5
2014 · Action
$9.99 11,872 reviews · 95% positive
- A
Amazing Frog?
2014 · Action
$19.99 11,546 reviews · 94% positive
- D
DYSMANTLE
2021 · Action
$19.99 11,456 reviews · 91% positive
- C
CastleMiner Z
2014 · Action
$5.99 11,137 reviews · 81% positive
- C
Cassette Beasts
2023 · Indie
$19.99 10,738 reviews · 94% positive
- P
Planetbase
2015 · Indie
$14.99 10,342 reviews · 80% positive
- A
Ale & Tale Tavern
2024 · Action
$14.99 9,935 reviews · 89% positive
- B
Beasts of Bermuda
2018 · Adventure
$19.99 9,647 reviews · 69% positive
- S
Spaceflight Simulator
2022 · Indie
$14.99 9,224 reviews · 97% positive
- O
Overgrowth
2017 · Action
$19.99 8,976 reviews · 81% positive
- E
Elin
2024 · Indie
$19.99 8,900 reviews · 93% positive
- A
Aviassembly
2025 · Simulation
$9.99 8,889 reviews · 97% positive
- D
Dead Rising® 2
2010 · Action
$19.99 8,714 reviews · 78% positive
- T
The Farmer Was Replaced
2025 · Casual
$9.99 8,613 reviews · 96% positive
- W
while True: learn()
2019 · Indie
$12.99 8,119 reviews · 91% positive
- S
Settlement Survival
2022 · Simulation
$19.99 7,934 reviews · 86% positive
- D
Day of Dragons
2019 · Indie
$19.99 7,784 reviews · 65% positive
- F
Fireworks Mania - An Explosive Simulator
2020 · Action
$14.99 7,771 reviews · 97% positive
- S
Sticky Business
2023 · Casual
$9.99 7,495 reviews · 94% positive
- L
Let's School
2023 · Casual
$19.99 7,256 reviews · 93% positive
- O
Opus Magnum
2017 · Indie
$19.99 6,950 reviews · 97% positive
- A
Animal Revolt Battle Simulator
2022 · Action
$14.99 6,711 reviews · 95% positive
- M
My Dream Setup
2023 · Casual
$5.99 6,672 reviews · 91% positive
- T
Thief Simulator 2
2023 · Action
$19.99 6,471 reviews · 88% positive
- H
HARD BULLET
2020 · Action
$19.99 6,424 reviews · 83% positive
- I
Incredibox
2021 · Casual
$4.99 5,778 reviews · 97% positive
- G
Guilty as Sock!
2025 · Casual
$5.50 5,450 reviews · 90% positive
- J
Job Simulator
2016 · Action
$19.99 5,382 reviews · 91% positive
- G
gogh: Focus with Your Avatar
2025 · Casual
$11.99 5,000 reviews · 91% positive
- D
DEEEER Simulator: Your Average Everyday Deer Game
2021 · Action
$14.99 4,721 reviews · 92% positive
- L
Let's Build a Zoo
2021 · Simulation
$19.99 4,063 reviews · 89% positive
- F
Fantasy Map Simulator
2024 · Indie
$7.99 4,060 reviews · 89% positive
- T
Tinkerlands
2025 · Action
$12.99 3,872 reviews · 86% positive
- C
Cepheus Protocol
2020 · Action
$19.99 3,610 reviews · 76% positive
- J
Juno: New Origins
2023 · Indie
$19.99 3,451 reviews · 89% positive
- R
REKA
2024 · Adventure
$19.99 3,362 reviews · 83% positive
- S
SUMMERHOUSE
2024 · Casual
$4.99 3,283 reviews · 93% positive
- O
Outpath
2023 · Adventure
$14.99 3,027 reviews · 93% positive
- S
STANDBOX
2023 · Action
$7.99 2,930 reviews · 91% positive
- M
Maltese's Fluffy Onsen
2025 · Casual
$5.99 2,921 reviews · 95% positive
- M
Megaton Rainfall
2017 · Action
$15.99 2,234 reviews · 72% positive
- F
Flyout
2023 · Indie
$19.99 2,216 reviews · 83% positive
- W
Warsim: The Realm of Aslona
2022 · Indie
$9.99 2,178 reviews · 96% positive
- B
Builder Simulator
2022 · Adventure
$19.99 2,153 reviews · 72% positive
- B
Beltmatic
2024 · Casual
$6.99 2,110 reviews · 94% positive
- 9
9 Days
2024 · Action
$14.99 2,073 reviews · 71% positive
- T
The Sapling
2019 · Simulation
$17.99 1,908 reviews · 90% positive
- L
Laundry Store Simulator
2024 · Indie
$11.99 1,856 reviews · 89% positive
- T
The Last Starship
2026 · Indie
$19.99 1,544 reviews · 75% positive
- S
Small Spaces
2025 · Casual
$12.99 1,383 reviews · 89% positive
- B
BRUTALISTICK VR
2024 · Action
$9.99 1,245 reviews · 96% positive
- A
A Webbing Journey
2025 · Adventure
$9.99 1,234 reviews · 99% positive
- B
Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer
2025 · Action
$18.99 1,193 reviews · 79% positive
- B
Better Mart Simulator
2025 · Casual
$14.99 1,156 reviews · 90% positive
- A
Aquarist
2024 · Casual
$15.99 1,115 reviews · 84% positive
- H
House Flipper - Garden DLC
2019 · Casual
$14.99 894 reviews · 66% positive
- K
Kerbal Space Program: Making History Expansion
2018 · Indie
$14.99 754 reviews · 68% positive
- S
ServiceIT: You can do IT
2025 · Casual
$12.99 665 reviews · 58% positive
- S
Smack Studio
2024 · Action
$14.99 628 reviews · 85% positive
- K
Kerbal Space Program: Breaking Ground Expansion
2019 · Indie
$14.99 534 reviews · 77% positive
- S
Space Engineers Deluxe
2017 · Action
$7.99 236 reviews · 81% positive
- M
Milling machine simulator
2022 · Action
$19.99 182 reviews · 88% positive
- O
Out of Orbit
2023 · Action
$14.99 147 reviews · 79% positive
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best sandbox indie games under $20?
- indielist lists 147 paid sandbox indie games priced at or below $20, ranked by Steam reviews, led by Terraria (1,218,154 reviews). The cheapest is Crosshair X at $1.99.
- 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.