Minecraft is a classic, loved for its open-world sandbox where you can build, explore, and survive. If you’re looking for Minecraft alternatives on Android to switch things up, here are 10 games that capture its essence. These Android sandbox games focus on crafting, building, and exploration, with unique twists to keep you hooked in 2025.
1. Terraria
Price: $4.99 on Google Play Store
Often called Minecraft’s 2D cousin, Terraria is one of the best crafting games Android has to offer, with its own distinct charm. You can reshape landscapes, build epic structures, and explore over 20 biomes filled with NPCs and enemies. Its deeper RPG elements let you level up and grab better gear to tackle tougher foes. It’s a standout among mobile survival games because it’s all about crafting and surviving in a randomly generated world, but its 2D perspective and robust combat system make it unique.
Features
- Play with up to seven friends in multiplayer.
- Tons of craftable items with regular updates.
- Pixel-art style with varied biomes like forests and the underworld.
2. Stardew Valley
Price: $4.99 on Google Play Store
Stardew Valley is a farming and life sim that feels like Minecraft’s resource-gathering and building, perfect for fans of open-world games Android. You start with a rundown farm, then grow crops, raise animals, and dive into a mysterious dungeon. Its charming pixel art and town interactions make it a cozy, engaging experience. It’s a gem among Android farming simulators, with its knack for building and managing resources, plus extra layers of farming and socializing that can keep you hooked for hours.
Features
- Deep farming, crafting, and mining systems.
- Build relationships with NPCs, even marry them.
- Multiplayer for teaming up with friends.
3. Roblox
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Roblox is a massive platform where you can jump into user-made worlds, many of which feel like Minecraft thanks to their blocky look and sandbox style. It’s a hit with younger players and offers tons of multiplayer games Android users love, from survival challenges to creative building. It captures Minecraft’s sandbox and multiplayer spirit, but it’s more about hopping between diverse, user-created block-building games for endless variety.
Features
- Free to play, with optional in-game buys (Robux).
- Roblox Studio lets you make your own worlds, no coding needed.
- Big multiplayer servers for hanging out.
4. Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition
Price: $4.99 on Google Play Store
Don’t Starve throws you into a creepy world as Wilson, stuck in a strange land. You’ll craft tools, build shelters, and gather resources to survive hunger and monsters, making it a top pick for survival adventure games. Its randomly generated maps mean every run is different. It mirrors Minecraft’s survival and crafting in a random world, but its darker tone and unforgiving mechanics set it apart.
Features:
- Cool Tim Burton-inspired art.
- Tough survival with permanent death.
- Multiplayer (Don’t Starve Together) for co-op.
5. Survivalcraft 2
Price: $3.99 on Google Play Store
Survivalcraft 2 is one of the closest Minecraft-like games to the original, with blocky worlds where you mine, craft, and build. Survival is tough, with hunger, weather, and wild animals to manage. You can also share custom maps and tweak textures for extra fun. It’s similar to Minecraft with its blocky building and survival focus, but unique challenges like weather and map-sharing make it a fresh take.
Features
- Detailed crafting and realistic physics.
- Different biomes and survival challenges.
- Share worlds online with others.
6. Block Craft 3D
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Block Craft 3D is a free game focused on building cool stuff in a blocky world, much like Minecraft’s creative mode. It’s easy to pick up, making it ideal for casual players diving into creative building games. It’s all about building with blocks, just like Minecraft, but designed for quick, mobile-friendly sessions.
Features
- Bright graphics and easy building controls.
- Multiplayer to show off your creations.
- New blocks and tools added regularly.
7. Luanti (Minetest)
Price: Free on Google Play Store
Luanti, once called Minetest, is a free, open-source game that feels a lot like Minecraft. You get huge blocky worlds to craft and explore, and its modding community lets you customize it to your heart’s content, making it a favorite among open-source games Android. It’s a bit rough, but super flexible. It’s a sandbox with crafting and building like Minecraft, but its open-source nature makes it endlessly tweakable.
Features
- Free with tons of mods to customize.
- Runs well on older Android phones.
- Multiplayer and local network support.
8. The Blockheads
Price: Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$24.99)
The Blockheads is a compact sandbox game with blocky visuals, where you explore, craft, and survive across different biomes. It’s built for mobile, so it’s easy to jump into for fans of mobile crafting games. It captures Minecraft’s exploration and crafting, but in a smaller, mobile-optimized package.
Features
- Mix of 2D and 3D graphics.
- Multiplayer and exploration focus.
- In-app purchases for extra content.
9. WorldCraft: 3D Build & Craft
Price: Free with in-app purchases
WorldCraft is all about multiplayer and building in blocky worlds, much like Minecraft. You can team up with others to create massive projects or explore together, perfect for fans of online multiplayer games. Its community focus keeps things lively. It nails Minecraft’s multiplayer and building spirit, with a strong community feel.
Features
- Active online community for building together.
- New textures and tools added often.
- Free with optional in-app purchases.
10. LostMiner
Price: Free with in-app purchases
LostMiner blends Minecraft and Terraria, offering a 2D sandbox to craft, explore, and survive. Its random worlds are packed with secrets, and you can fish, build, and gather resources, making it a great 2D sandbox games pick. It mixes Minecraft’s sandbox freedom with Terraria’s 2D exploration, tailored for mobile players.
Features
- Pixel-art style with random worlds.
- Free with optional in-app purchases.
- Fun mechanics like fishing and crafting.