# Games like Universe Sandbox

> The closest matches to Universe Sandbox: SpaceEngine, Kerbal Space Program, SPORE™, Solar 2, and Space Engineers. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.

## Similar games, ranked

The full ranked list, 24 games, best match first (the HTML page shows the top 8 as cards).

1. [SpaceEngine](https://imho.run/games/314650/spaceengine) — Also Science and Education, like Universe Sandbox. 8,862 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/314650/)
2. [Kerbal Space Program](https://imho.run/games/220200/kerbal-space-program) — Shares physics simulation with Universe Sandbox. 77,731 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/220200/)
3. [SPORE™](https://imho.run/games/17390/spore) — Also God Game and Science, like Universe Sandbox. 37,494 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/17390/)
4. [Solar 2](https://imho.run/games/97000/solar-2) — Also God Game and Space, like Universe Sandbox. 1,141 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/97000/)
5. [Space Engineers](https://imho.run/games/244850/space-engineers) — Also Destruction and Space, like Universe Sandbox. 67,178 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/244850/)
6. [Teardown](https://imho.run/games/1167630/teardown) — Also Destruction, like Universe Sandbox. 73,315 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1167630/)
7. [WorldBox - God Simulator](https://imho.run/games/1206560/worldbox-god-simulator) — Also God Game and Destruction, like Universe Sandbox. 28,024 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1206560/)
8. [Distant Worlds: Universe](https://imho.run/games/261470/distant-worlds-universe) — Also Space, like Universe Sandbox. 1,147 Steam reviews, 71% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/261470/)
9. [Hardspace: Shipbreaker](https://imho.run/games/1161580/hardspace-shipbreaker) — A frequent pick in Universe Sandbox players' libraries, and another Simulation. 15,871 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1161580/)
10. [Stellaris](https://imho.run/games/281990/stellaris) — A frequent pick in Universe Sandbox players' libraries, and another Strategy. 75,169 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/281990/)
11. [Planet Coaster 2](https://imho.run/games/2688950/planet-coaster-2) — Also God Game, like Universe Sandbox. 7,716 Steam reviews, 72% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2688950/)
12. [From Dust](https://imho.run/games/33460/from-dust) — Shares terraforming with Universe Sandbox. 1,980 Steam reviews, 62% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/33460/)
13. [Archean](https://imho.run/games/2941660/archean) — Also Science and Space, like Universe Sandbox. 190 Steam reviews, 89% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2941660/)
14. [Juno: New Origins](https://imho.run/games/870200/juno-new-origins) — A frequent pick in Universe Sandbox players' libraries, and another Indie. 1,983 Steam reviews, 89% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/870200/)
15. [Oxygen Not Included](https://imho.run/games/457140/oxygen-not-included) — Shares physics simulation with Universe Sandbox. 48,352 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/457140/)
16. [No Man's Sky](https://imho.run/games/275850/no-man-s-sky) — A frequent pick in Universe Sandbox players' libraries, and another Action. 180,011 Steam reviews, 82% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/275850/)
17. [EVE Online](https://imho.run/games/8500/eve-online) — A frequent pick in Universe Sandbox players' libraries, and another RPG. 22,693 Steam reviews, 73% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/8500/)
18. [BeamNG.drive](https://imho.run/games/284160/beamng-drive) — Also Destruction, like Universe Sandbox. 197,183 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/284160/)
19. [Space Simulation Toolkit](https://imho.run/games/1196080/space-simulation-toolkit) — Also Education and Space, like Universe Sandbox. 391 Steam reviews, 81% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1196080/)
20. [Terra Firma 2](https://imho.run/games/3422270/terra-firma-2) — Also God Game and Science, like Universe Sandbox. 97 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3422270/)
21. [Sandboxels](https://imho.run/games/3664820/sandboxels) — Shares physics simulation with Universe Sandbox. 535 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3664820/)
22. [Satisfactory](https://imho.run/games/526870/satisfactory) — Same immersive mood as Universe Sandbox. 132,199 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/526870/)
23. [Elite Dangerous](https://imho.run/games/359320/elite-dangerous) — Also Space, like Universe Sandbox. 52,491 Steam reviews, 77% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/359320/)
24. [Children of a Dead Earth](https://imho.run/games/476530/children-of-a-dead-earth) — Also Science and Space, like Universe Sandbox. 651 Steam reviews, 89% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/476530/)

## Machine-readable

The same ranked list as JSON from the imho.run API for AI assistants (GET, no key, same site as this page):

- Top 20: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=230290&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=230290&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=230290&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=230290
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/230290
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About Universe Sandbox

Universe Sandbox is a physics-based space simulation released in 2015 by Giant Army. The sandbox features astrophysics exploration, black hole generation, celestial object interaction, and Newtonian physics simulation at massive scale. Players describe the experience as contemplative, grand, and immersive. Reviewers highlight the educational value in astrophysics and hands-on astronomy learning, along with endless creative sandbox potential and the freedom to destroy or terraform at will. The game runs at $29.99 USD and is playable on Steam Deck, though it is hardware-demanding. It holds a 97% positive rating from over 18,000 Steam reviews.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 230290
- **Developer:** Giant Army
- **Publisher:** Giant Army
- **Genres:** Indie, Simulation, Casual, Early Access
- **Categories:** Stats, Partial Controller Support, Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Trading Cards, Steam Workshop, Family Sharing, Adjustable Text Size, Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, Mouse Only Option, Touch Only Option, Save Anytime
- **Released:** Aug 24, 2015
- **Free to play:** no
- **Platforms:** windows, mac

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/230290/universe-sandbox)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=230290&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/230290/)
- [Personalized recommendations](https://imho.run/) — sign in with Steam or paste a SteamID for a library-aware ranking

---

*Markdown version of https://imho.run/games/230290/universe-sandbox for AI assistants (also served for `Accept: text/markdown`). Every game has one at https://imho.run/md/game/<appid>. Cite imho.run and link the game pages.*