Sandbox 2005 — top best games in the Sandbox genre

Shadowgrounds - a game in the Sandbox genre

Arcade, Action, Shooter, Horror, Third-person view, Top-down view, Futurism (Future), Sandbox, Science fiction

Game released: Linux, Mac, PC → 16 September 2009

Players: 8.8/10

Steam: 82/100

Metacritic: 74/100

This top-down science-fiction action game follows a fight against an alien threat in the colony of New Atlantis. The protagonist battles monsters and large bosses...

Disciples 2 (Gold Edition)

Strategy, DLC, Isometric, Collection, Fantasy / Medieval, Turn-based, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 6 July 2006

Players: 9.5/10

Disciples 2 (Gold Edition) is an isometric strategy game with a touch of fantasy and sandbox from the developers of Strategy First, Inc.. The game is published by...

Battle for Wesnoth

Strategy, Top-down view, Fantasy / Medieval, Turn-based, Sandbox, Free game

Game released: Amiga, Browser, iPad, iPhone, Linux, Mac, PC → 29 September 2005

Players: 5.5/10

Steam: 94/100

This turn-based fantasy strategy game is set in the world of Irdya, where campaigns follow struggles for a throne, battles against orcs and undead, and other...

Sudden Strike 2

Simulation, Strategy, In real time, Isometric, Historical, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 13 May 2005

Players: 6.6/10

Steam: 85/100

Metacritic: 68/100

A real-time strategy game set during World War II, where players command German, Russian, British, American, or Imperial Japanese forces on battlefields around the...

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3

Strategy, In real time, Business / Management, First-person view, Third-person view, Sandbox

Game released: Mac, PC, iOS → 28 November 2005

Steam: 87/100

Metacritic: 81/100

A theme park management simulator that lets players view the park from different angles and ride its roller coasters. 3D graphics allow the camera to move around...

Disciples 2: Gallean's Return

Strategy, DLC, Isometric, Collection, Fantasy / Medieval, Turn-based, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 6 July 2006

Steam: 83/100

An expansion for Disciples 2: Dark Prophecy, this compilation includes the base game and two standalone expansions: Disciples II: Guardians of the Light and...

Operation Flashpoint: Elite

Simulation, Action, Shooter, Flight Simulator, First-person view, Third-person view, Helicopters, Collection, Sandbox, Tanks

Game released: Xbox → 8 November 2005

Players: 9.9/10

FireFly Studios' Stronghold 2

Simulation, Strategy, In real time, Business / Management, Isometric, Fantasy / Medieval, Historical, City Building, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 18 August 2006

Players: 8.1/10

Steam: 90/100

A medieval city-building simulator and real-time strategy game about castle life and a struggle for power in a kingdom divided by rival barons. In Stronghold 2, the...

Space Colony

Simulation, Strategy, In real time, Isometric, Futurism (Future), City Building, Sandbox

Game released: Mac, PC, Android → 22 June 2004

Players: 5.8/10

Steam: 78/100

Metacritic: 74/100

Space Colony is a management simulator with real-time strategy elements and an isometric camera view from the creators of the Stronghold series. You will take on...

Ground Control

Action, Strategy, In real time, Third-person view, Top-down view, Futurism (Future), Sandbox, Tanks, Post-apocalyptic

Game released: PC → 21 October 2005

Metacritic: 86/100

Ground Control — The main goal of the game is to destroy enemy troops and buildings using the terrain features and the strengths of your own army. Combat...

Far Cry: Instincts

Action, Shooter, First-person view, Sandbox

Game released: Xbox → 30 September 2005

Players: 6/10

Far Cry: Instincts is a special version of the first-person shooter for the Xbox game console. You will again have to return to the tropical island in the person of...

OpenTTD

Simulation, Strategy, Business / Management, Isometric, Sandbox, Trains, Construction

Game released: Acorn 32-bit, iPad, iPhone, Linux, Mac, webOS, PC, Zodiac → 13 November 2005

Players: 9.3/10

Steam: 90/100

OpenTTD is an economic simulation game about running a transport company. Players earn money by carrying passengers and cargo over road, rail, water, and air...

Pariah

Action, Shooter, First-person view, Futurism (Future), Sandbox

Game released: PC, Xbox → 4 August 2005

Players: 8.9/10

Metacritic: 70/100

This futuristic first-person shooter follows Dr. Jack Mason and his infected patient, Karina. After a transport crash leaves them stranded in a prison amid Earth's...

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Gold!

Simulation, Strategy, In real time, Business / Management, First-person view, Third-person view, Collection, Sandbox

Game released: PC → April 2008

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Gold! is a first-person simulator with strategy, business simulator and sandbox elements from the studio Frontier Developments Ltd.. The game...

Gish

Action, Strategy, Third-person view, Puzzle, Sandbox, Indie, Adventure

Game released: BlackBerry, J2ME, Linux, Mac, PC → 7 August 2009

Players: 9.6/10

Steam: 60/100

Metacritic: 80/100

This action-adventure game with puzzle elements follows Gish, a ball of tar who ventures into the subterranean sewers of the forgotten city of Dross to rescue his...

Alien Hominid (2004)

Action, Shooter, Third-person view, Futurism (Future), Sandbox

Game released: GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 → 23 November 2004

Steam: 95/100

Metacritic: 78/100

This 2D side-scrolling action game follows an alien travelling across the globe in search of its UFO. Along the way, the protagonist battles armed enemies, advances...

Empire Earth 2

Strategy, In real time, Isometric, Top-down view, Historical, Sandbox, Construction

Game released: PC → October 2007

Steam: 89/100

Metacritic: 79/100

Empire Earth 2 — you will lead the great nations of Korea, Germany, and America in the main game, and the nations of Egypt, Russia, and the Maasai tribe in the...

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

Action, Shooter, First-person view, Futurism (Future), Sandbox

Game released: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 → 25 March 2005

Players: 10/10

Metacritic: 83/100

This first-person science-fiction shooter follows Sergeant Cortez on a journey through the past, present, and future to trace the origin of the malevolent...

Warcraft 2: Battle.net Edition

Strategy, In real time, Top-down view, Collection, Fantasy / Medieval, Sandbox

Game released: Mac, PC → May 2003

Players: 10/10

Warcraft 2: Battle.net Edition is a top-down strategy game with a touch of fantasy and sandbox from the developers of Blizzard Entertainment Inc.. The main...

TrackMania Original

Racing, First-person view, Third-person view, Collection, Puzzle, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 28 July 2006

Players: 5.5/10

TrackMania Original is a first-person racing game with puzzle and sandbox elements from the masters at Nadeo SAS studio. The game is published by Focus Home...

Freeciv

Strategy, Business / Management, Isometric, Top-down view, Sandbox

Game released: Acorn 32-bit, Amiga, Linux, Mac, PC → June 2003

Players: 9.6/10

A turn-based strategy game about guiding a civilization from a tribal settlement in 4000 BC through the centuries and toward space colonization. The player founds...

Mutant Storm

Arcade, Action, Shooter, Top-down view, Futurism (Future), Sandbox

Game released: Linux, PC, Xbox → 19 May 2003

Mutant Storm is a top-down arcade game with a mixture of action, shooter and sandbox from the developers from the PomPom studio. The main publisher of the game is...

Dai senryaku 7: Modern Military Tactics

Strategy, Top-down view, Turn-based, Sandbox

Game released: Xbox → 16 February 2005

Metacritic: 74/100

This turn-based, top-down military strategy game focuses on modern warfare. Players command an army and deploy vehicles for land, sea, and air attacks, taking...

Narbacular Drop

Action, First-person view, Third-person view, Puzzle, Fantasy / Medieval, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 24 April 2005

Players: 10/10

Narbacular Drop is a first-person action game with puzzle, fantasy and sandbox elements from the masters at Nuclear Monkey Software. The game is published by...

TrackMania Sunrise eXtreme

Racing, First-person view, Third-person view, Top-down view, Puzzle, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 20 November 2009

TrackMania Sunrise eXtreme is a first-person race with a mixture of puzzle and sandbox from the developers of the Nadeo SAS studio. The game is published by Deep...

Atari Collection: Strategie

Simulation, Strategy, DLC, Business / Management, Third-person view, Isometric, Collection, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 30 June 2005

Atari Collection: Strategie is a third-person simulator with strategy, business simulator and sandbox elements from the developers of BreakAway Games Ltd., Chris...

Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy

Strategy, DLC, Isometric, Futurism (Future), Sandbox

Game released: PC → 4 February 2005

Metacritic: 77/100

An expansion for Galactic Civilizations featuring a campaign about the origins of the Altarians, an alien civilization that resembles humanity. Across a series of...

8th Wonder of the World

Strategy, In real time, Isometric, Fantasy / Medieval, Sandbox, City Building

Game released: Mac, PC → 21 December 2004

Players: 7.7/10

Steam: 83/100

8th Wonder of the World — an exciting real-time strategy game with an isometric camera view. The story of the game unfolds several years after the events of...

Fallen Lords: Condemnation

Action, Strategy, Third-person view, Fantasy / Medieval, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 3 June 2008

Players: 8.3/10

Fallen Lords: Condemnation — The game begins with the main character dying and facing a choice of which otherworldly group to join. You can support angels or...

SuperPower 2

Strategy, Warships / Submarines, In real time, Business / Management, Helicopters, Sandbox, Tanks, Simulation, Grand strategy

Game released: PC → 29 July 2008

Players: 7.7/10

Steam: 78/100

Metacritic: 51/100

SuperPower 2 is a global real-time strategy with elements of a management simulator. In the game, you will control entire countries in three main aspects...

JAMDAT Sudoku

Strategy, Educational game (Education), Top-down view, Puzzle, Sandbox

Game released: BREW, J2ME → 20 December 2005

JAMDAT Sudoku is a top-down strategy game with a mix of educational game, puzzle and sandbox from the developers of JAMDAT Mobile (Canada) ULC. The main publisher...

FireFly Studios' Stronghold 2 Deluxe

Simulation, Strategy, In real time, Business / Management, Isometric, Fantasy / Medieval, Historical, City Building, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 18 April 2005

Players: 9.7/10

Steam: 90/100

Metacritic: 63/100

This medieval castle simulator and real-time strategy game centres on managing an estate, caring for its subjects and waging war against rival lords. Players...

Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project

Action, Shooter, Platformer, Third-person view, Puzzle, Sandbox

Game released: PC, Xbox 360, iOS → 10 March 2009

Players: 10/10

Metacritic: 58/100

This third-person action platformer sends Duke Nukem to New York City in pursuit of the villain Mech Morphix. Duke fights across skyscraper rooftops and through...

Crimson Fields

Strategy, Third-person view, Top-down view, Futurism (Future), Turn-based, Sandbox

Game released: Dreamcast, Linux, Mac, Palm OS, Symbian, PC, Windows Mobile → 13 August 2009

Crimson Fields is a third-person strategy game with sandbox...

Postal 2: Share the Pain

Action, Shooter, DLC, First-person view, Sandbox

Game released: Linux, Mac, PC → 4 February 2005

Players: 9.3/10

Metacritic: 59/100

An expansion for Postal 2, combining the POSTAL 2 single-player game with the Share The Pain multiplayer mode. The game takes place in open 3D environments where...

Kohan 2: Kings of War

Strategy, In real time, Isometric, Sandbox, Fantasy

Game released: PC → 5 August 2005

Players: 8.9/10

Steam: 93/100

Metacritic: 81/100

This real-time fantasy strategy game takes place in Khaldun, where the timeless war between Light and Shadow resumes after a brief respite. Civil war spreads across...

Vulture for NetHack

Role-playing game, Roguelike, Procedural generation, Dungeons, Sandbox, Turn-based

Game released: PC, Linux → 1 February 2005

Steam: 72/100

An isometric graphical interface for the roguelike NetHack presents its dungeons in a point-and-click format while retaining the original keyboard commands. The...

GEOM

Strategy, Top-down view, Puzzle, Sandbox

Game released: PC → 11 May 2005

GEOM is a top-down strategy with a mixture of puzzle and sandbox from developers from the studio Indiepath Ltd. The game is published by Indiepath...

Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006

Simulation, First-person view, Third-person view, Sandbox, Trains

Game released: PC → August 2006

Players: 6.4/10

Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006 — train control simulator, including over 150 different locomotives, authentically presented by the developers, based on their...

Amped 3

Third-person view, Sports game, Sandbox, Skiing

Game released: Xbox 360 → 2 December 2005

Metacritic: 72/100

Amped 3 — In addition to the main story, there are several ski resorts with many challenges. Completing these tasks earns the player respect points and money...

Sandbox

Best Games in the Sandbox genre of 2005 (Game released)