Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Hardspace: Shipbreaker (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Hardspace: Shipbreaker on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Dyson Sphere Program, which both open world, science fiction, strategy and relaxing.
- Hardspace: Shipbreaker is tagged Space, Sci-fi, Simulation, Physics, Singleplayer, Destruction, Sandbox, Puzzle by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
- 3 are free to download, so you can test the resemblance yourself at no cost.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Dyson Sphere Program
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction, strategy and relaxing; shares 8 player tags including Space, Building and Simulation; released around the same time (2021).
Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire.
Dyson Sphere Program at a glance Released 2021 Studio Youthcat Studio Player sentiment 97% positive of 91,586 Price $19.99 SpaceBuildingSimulationSci-fiSandboxStrategySpace SimEarly Access
- 2
Surviving Mars
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Strategy, Space and Simulation; released around the same time (2018).
There will be challenges to overcome. Execute your strategy and improve your colony’s chances of survival while unlocking the mysteries of this alien world. Are you ready? Mars is waiting for you.
Surviving Mars at a glance Released 2018 Studio Haemimont Games Player sentiment 80% positive of 28,730 Price Not listed StrategySpaceSimulationSci-fiBuildingSandboxSpace SimFuturistic
- 3
Universe Sandbox
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and relaxing; shares 9 player tags including Sandbox, Space and Simulation.
Create & destroy on an unimaginable scale with a realistic physics-based space simulator. Explore the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Use science to bend the laws of gravity, collide planets, boil away oceans, fire epic space lasers, and customize your universe.
Universe Sandbox at a glance Released 2015 Studio Giant Army Player sentiment 96% positive of 32,082 Price $20.09 SandboxSpaceSimulationPhysicsDestructionEarly AccessRelaxingSpace Sim
- 4
SpaceChem
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy, puzzle and relaxing; shares 7 player tags including Puzzle, Sci-fi and Great Soundtrack.
Zachtronics is back with an ambitious new design-based puzzle game. Take on the role of a Reactor Engineer working for SpaceChem, the leading chemical synthesizer for frontier colonies. Construct elaborate factories to transform raw materials into valuable chemical products!
SpaceChem at a glance Released 2011 Studio Zachtronics Player sentiment 92% positive of 5,085 Price $9.99 PuzzleSci-fiGreat SoundtrackSpaceSimulationStrategyBuilding
- 5
X4: Foundations
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Space Sim, Simulation and Sandbox; released around the same time (2018).
Your journey to building a vast space empire begins behind the controls of a single ship. Explore, trade, fight, and build as you rise to command fleets, stations, and entire economies in a living, fully simulated universe that reacts to every decision.
X4: Foundations at a glance Released 2018 Studio Egosoft Player sentiment 80% positive of 30,064 Price $49.99 Space SimSimulationSandboxSpaceStrategyFirst-PersonProcedural GenerationBuilding
- 6
Empyrion - Galactic Survival
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Simulation, Space and Building; released around the same time (2020).
Build and explore in a true space sandbox survival adventure. Construct mighty capital vessels, sprawling planetary settlements, and vast space stations in your galactic journey to discover the mysteries of Empyrion!
Empyrion - Galactic Survival at a glance Released 2020 Studio Eleon Game Studios Player sentiment 78% positive of 34,399 Price $19.99 SimulationSpaceBuildingSpace SimSandboxPhysicsSci-fiStrategy
- 7
Jurassic World Evolution
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction, strategy and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Building, Simulation and Strategy; released around the same time (2018).
Place yourself at the heart of the Jurassic franchise and build your own Jurassic World. Bioengineer dinosaurs that think, feel and react intelligently to the world around them and face threats posed by espionage, breakouts and devastating tropical storms in an uncertain world where life always finds a way.
Jurassic World Evolution at a glance Released 2018 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 87% positive of 55,272 Price $44.99 BuildingSimulationStrategySandboxSci-fiGreat Soundtrack
- 8
Kerbal Space Program
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Space, Simulation and Sandbox.
In Kerbal Space Program, take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble fully-functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics.
Kerbal Space Program at a glance Released 2015 Studio Squad Player sentiment 96% positive of 146,438 Price $39.99 SpaceSimulationSandboxPhysicsSpace SimBuildingSci-fiStrategy
- 9
Oxygen Not Included
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Building, Simulation and Sandbox; released around the same time (2019).
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive.
Oxygen Not Included at a glance Released 2019 Studio Klei Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 143,589 Price $24.99 BuildingSimulationSandboxStrategySpaceSci-fiSpace Sim
- 10
Satisfactory
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Building, Sandbox and First-Person; released around the same time (2024).
Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. Play alone or with friends, explore an alien planet, create multi-story factories, and enter conveyor belt heaven!
Satisfactory at a glance Released 2024 Studio Coffee Stain Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 278,668 Price $39.99 BuildingSandboxFirst-PersonSimulationStrategySci-fiEarly Access
- 11
LOCKDOWN Protocol
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy, puzzle and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Early Access, Space and First-Person; released around the same time (2025).
A first person social deduction game, combining real time action and communication, playable up to 16 players. While most players will cooperate to complete objectives to ensure victory, a small portion of dissidents will try their best to stop them at all cost, without being caught.
LOCKDOWN Protocol at a glance Released 2025 Studio Mirage Creative Lab Player sentiment 86% positive of 19,873 Price $9.99 Early AccessSpaceFirst-PersonSci-fiPuzzleStrategy
- 12
Endless Sky
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction, strategy and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Space, Sci-fi and Simulation.
Endless Sky is a 2D space trading and combat game inspired by the classic Escape Velocity series. Work your way up from a relatively wimpy shuttle, cargo ship, or fighter, to a highly upgraded and customized flagship or to a massive fleet of warships or freighters.
Endless Sky at a glance Released 2015 Studio Michael Zahniser Player sentiment 92% positive of 7,092 Price Free SpaceSci-fiSimulationSpace SimSandboxStrategy
- 13
Moonbase Alpha
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction, strategy and puzzle; shares 6 player tags including Space, Simulation and Strategy.
NASA has once again landed on the lunar surface with the goal of colonization, research, and further exploration. Shortly after the return to the Moon, NASA has established a small outpost on the south pole of the moon called Moonbase Alpha.
Moonbase Alpha at a glance Released 2010 Studio Virtual Heroes Player sentiment 91% positive of 12,875 Price Free SpaceSimulationStrategySandboxFirst-PersonPuzzle
- 14
Cities: Skylines II
Why it matched: both open world, strategy and relaxing; shares 7 player tags including Simulation, Building and Sandbox; released around the same time (2023).
Raise a city from the ground up and transform it into a thriving metropolis with the most realistic city builder ever. Push your creativity and problem-solving to build on a scale you've never experienced. With deep simulation and a living economy, this is world-building without limits.
Cities: Skylines II at a glance Released 2023 Studio Iceflake Studios Player sentiment 56% positive of 91,995 Price $49.99 SimulationBuildingSandboxStrategyRelaxingEarly AccessGreat Soundtrack
- 15
Jurassic World Evolution 2
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction, strategy and relaxing; shares 5 player tags including Building, Simulation and Sandbox; released around the same time (2021).
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to Frontier’s highly successful Jurassic World Evolution. This bold new era in the Jurassic World Evolution game franchise builds upon the ground-breaking and immersive 2018 management simulation.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 at a glance Released 2021 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 90% positive of 47,023 Price $59.99 BuildingSimulationSandboxStrategySci-fi
- 16
The Lab
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy, puzzle and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including First-Person, Sandbox and Sci-fi.
Welcome to The Lab, a compilation of Valve’s room-scale VR experiments set in a pocket universe within Aperture Science. Fix a robot, defend a castle, adopt a mechanical dog, and more. Still not sold? It’s free!
The Lab at a glance Released 2016 Studio Valve Player sentiment 95% positive of 6,671 Price Free First-PersonSandboxSci-fiPuzzleStrategySimulation
- 17
Planetbase
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Space, Strategy and Simulation.
Guide a group of space settlers trying to establish a base on a remote planet. Grow food, collect energy, mine resources, survive disasters and build a self-sufficient colony in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
Planetbase at a glance Released 2015 Studio Madruga Works Player sentiment 80% positive of 10,438 Price $7.49 SpaceStrategySimulationSci-fiBuildingSandboxSpace Sim
- 18
Elite Dangerous
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Space Sim, Space and Sci-fi.
Take control of your own starship and blaze your trail in an ever-changing galaxy. Master the arts of combat, mining and trade or venture out into the unknown across a 1:1 scale universe.
Elite Dangerous at a glance Released 2014 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 77% positive of 107,348 Price $5.99 Space SimSpaceSci-fiSimulationFirst-PersonSandboxStrategy
- 19
Anno 2205
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and Futuristic.
In Anno 2205™, you join humankind‘s next step into the future with the promise to build a better tomorrow. You conquer Earth, establishing rich, bustling cities and grand industrial complexes, but to secure the prosperity of your people, you must travel into space.
Anno 2205 at a glance Released 2015 Studio Blue Byte Player sentiment 70% positive of 6,335 Price $39.99 StrategySimulationFuturisticSci-fiSpaceBuildingSandbox
- 20
Teardown
Why it matched: both open world, strategy and puzzle; shares 6 player tags including Destruction, Physics and Sandbox; released around the same time (2022).
Prepare the perfect heist in a fully destructible, simulated voxel world. Tear down walls with vehicles or use explosives to create your own shortcuts. Shape the environment to your advantage in the most creative ways you can imagine. Play solo or with up to 12 players in multiplayer.
Teardown at a glance Released 2022 Studio Tuxedo Labs Player sentiment 96% positive of 135,539 Price $29.99 DestructionPhysicsSandboxFirst-PersonSimulationPuzzle
- 21
Mini Motorways
Why it matched: both strategy, puzzle and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and Puzzle; released around the same time (2021).
Mini Motorways is a strategy simulation game about designing the road map for a growing city. Build a traffic network, one road at a time, to create a bustling metropolis. Redesign your roads and place your motorways to get everyone where they need to go. How long can you keep the city moving?
Mini Motorways at a glance Released 2021 Studio Dinosaur Polo Club Player sentiment 96% positive of 24,384 Price $9.99 StrategySimulationPuzzleRelaxingBuildingGreat Soundtrack
- 22
Dorfromantik
Why it matched: both strategy, puzzle and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Puzzle, Relaxing and Strategy; released around the same time (2022).
Dorfromantik is a peaceful building strategy and puzzle game where you create a beautiful and ever-growing village landscape by placing tiles. Explore a variety of colorful biomes, discover and unlock new tiles and complete quests to fill your world with life!
Dorfromantik at a glance Released 2022 Studio Toukana Interactive Player sentiment 96% positive of 29,565 Price $9.09 PuzzleRelaxingStrategySandboxSimulationProcedural Generation
- 23
Into the Breach
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy and puzzle; shares 6 player tags including Strategy, Puzzle and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2018).
Control powerful mechs from the future to defeat an alien threat. Each attempt to save the world presents a new randomly generated challenge in this turn-based strategy game.
Into the Breach at a glance Released 2018 Studio Subset Games Player sentiment 94% positive of 22,246 Price $14.99 StrategyPuzzleSci-fiSimulationProcedural GenerationGreat Soundtrack
- 24
Planet Zoo
Why it matched: both open world, strategy and relaxing; shares 6 player tags including Simulation, Building and Sandbox; released around the same time (2019).
Build a world for wildlife in Planet Zoo. From the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon comes the ultimate zoo sim. Construct detailed habitats, manage your zoo, and meet authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world you create around them.
Planet Zoo at a glance Released 2019 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 91% positive of 97,527 Price $44.99 SimulationBuildingSandboxStrategyGreat SoundtrackRelaxing
Common questions
What game is most like Hardspace: Shipbreaker?
Dyson Sphere Program, on the evidence we have. It both open world, science fiction, strategy and relaxing. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to Hardspace: Shipbreaker" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with Hardspace: Shipbreaker. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.