Games Like Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program 2 is the sequel to the acclaimed space-flight simulation game Kerbal Space Program. Enter the next generation of space adventure with exciting new parts, stunning visuals, fully revamped UI and Map View, and rich new environments to explore.

Why similar: Science 18.7%, Space 15.7%, Space Sim 13.8%, Sandbox 10.5%, Moddable 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: The direct sequel retains KSP’s part-based rocket construction, orbital launches, interplanetary missions, and delightfully failure-prone physics sandbox.

Bring to life anything you can imagine from rockets and airplanes to cars and more. Automate them with a visual programming language. Explore 3D planets and make your own. Share your creations online. Complete contracts, conquer milestones, and unlock technology in the newly added Career Mode.

Why similar: Science 18.8%, Space Sim 17.2%, Space 12.5%, Moddable 10.8%, Sandbox 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: A highly KSP-like aerospace sandbox centered on designing rockets, planes, and spacecraft, then flying them with accessible but substantial physics.

In Spaceflight Simulator, you will get to build your rockets, plan launches and flights, attempt landings, deploy payloads and explore new worlds.

Why similar: Space Sim 23%, Space 19.2%, Science 17.7%, Sandbox 14.3%, Simulation 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: Its streamlined 2D format still delivers the essential KSP loop of assembling multistage rockets and mastering real orbital maneuvers.

Space Engineers is a sandbox engineering game where you design and build ships, stations, and planetary bases in a fully destructible environment. Explore planets and space, mine resources, survive hazards, and engage in combat alone or with friends in Creative or Survival modes.

Why similar: Space Sim 20.4%, Space 17.9%, Moddable 15.6%, Sandbox 12.3%, Physics 10%

Why You'll Like It: Build spacecraft block by block, engineer functional systems, and fly them through a sandbox where mass, thrust, power, and structural design matter.

Take part in a space program. Design spacecrafts and send them off to explore the vast expanses of space. Experience the real scale of the Solar system and the size of its celestial bodies.

Why similar: Science 17.8%, Space 16%, Space Sim 15.8%, Sandbox 10.4%, Physics 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: This space-program sandbox combines rocket assembly, mission planning, and physics-based launches in a format closely aligned with KSP’s core appeal.

Build airplanes by snapping parts together, designing wing sections, and attaching engines. At any time, you can strap yourself into the cockpit and see how it flies with realistic physics. If you're not in the mood for building, over 100,000 airplanes are available to download for free.

Why similar: Moddable 23.3%, Sandbox 23.2%, Physics 18.6%, Building 16.3%, Open World 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: Its modular vehicle editor and immediately testable flight physics offer a lighter but very satisfying version of KSP’s design-and-iterate process.

Build and fly your own airplane! Complete missions to earn money, upgrade your plane, and discover new locations in an open world.

Why similar: Science 23.2%, Sandbox 21.2%, Physics 18.4%, Building 18.3%, Simulation 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: Designing, assembling, and testing aircraft component by component makes it a strong choice for KSP players who enjoy engineering experimentation.

Flight of Nova is a simulator based on newtonian mechanics in which you control spacecraft in the Noren star system. You fly multiple types of spacecraft doing transport and search missions in an environment with realistic aerodynamics and orbital physics.

Why similar: Space Sim 34%, Space 16.2%, Sandbox 13.6%, Physics 13.4%, Simulation 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the challenge of physically believable spaceflight by having players pilot a craft from atmospheric flight into orbit and back.

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.

Why similar: Science 20.3%, Space Sim 18.8%, Space 16.4%, Sandbox 11.3%, Physics 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: While less focused on vehicle building, its interactive gravity simulation is ideal for experimenting with the celestial mechanics behind KSP’s orbital gameplay.

Build and fly realistic aircraft. Use free-form fuselage and wing editor tools and tune your engines to recreate aircraft from any era or design your own.

Why similar: Sandbox 26.2%, Science 24.1%, Physics 16.6%, Simulation 15.8%, Building 15.3%

Why You'll Like It: A detailed aircraft construction sandbox where custom airframes, engines, and controls must survive genuinely demanding flight physics.

Join a world where you design, create and pilot your own air sea rescue service. Release your inner hero as you battle fierce storms out at sea to rescue those in need.

Why similar: Sandbox 36.4%, Physics 23.5%, Building 22.5%, Open World 12.2%, Exploration 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: Create vehicles with logic, engines, fuel systems, and moving parts, then test whether your engineering survives difficult rescue scenarios.

A physics-based mining sim, set in the thickest debris field in Sol. Every action has a reaction, lasers are invisible without a medium, and your thrust is a potent weapon. Find trade, adapt your equipment to your playstyle, hire a crew to help. Unravel the mysteries of the rings, or just get rich.

Why similar: Space 22%, Space Sim 20%, Science 19.9%, Physics 10.9%, Sandbox 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A physics-conscious space mining game where ship handling, momentum, equipment, and damage make operating in space feel tangible.

The most scientifically accurate space warfare simulator ever made. Now with Steam Workshop!

Why similar: Space 31.8%, Science 26.7%, Space Sim 14.2%, Simulation 12.9%, Sandbox 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: This hard-science spacecraft design game emphasizes realistic propulsion, heat, weapons, and orbital combat for players who enjoy KSP’s technical side.

Space Engineers 2 is a playable Early Access Alpha sandbox focused on engineering, exploration, and colonization in a fully destructible universe. Design and build ships, stations, and planetary bases while uncovering the story of Miro and Ivan Sokol. Help shape the future of the Almagest system.

Why similar: Science 16.1%, Space 15.8%, Space Sim 12.9%, Moddable 12.8%, Sandbox 11.3%

Why You'll Like It: It expands on the original’s block-built spacecraft and engineering sandbox with modernized construction tools and large-scale space projects.

Take On Mars places you right in the middle of mankind’s most exciting undertaking. Start out in the seat of a rover operator, finish as the first human to have ever set foot on the Red Planet.

Why similar: Space 25%, Science 18.2%, Space Sim 15.5%, Simulation 9.5%, Sandbox 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: It blends Mars exploration with rover design, science objectives, and space-program flavor, making it a natural follow-up for mission-focused Kerbonauts.

Stationeers puts you in control of the construction and management of a space station to run by yourself or online with your friends. Complex atmospheric, electrical, manufacturing, agriculture, and gravitational systems require your thought and management at all times!

Why similar: Science 24.8%, Space 19.9%, Moddable 17%, Sandbox 13.9%, Physics 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its demanding construction and survival systems reward the same careful engineering mindset used to make reliable Kerbal craft and bases.

Over 1000 unique components allow you to build and command voxel vehicles from the deep ocean to outer space! Forge strategies, allegiances and fleets strong enough to destroy eight deadly factions of the planet and reign supreme. A genre-defying mashup of simulation, building, RTS and RPG.

Why similar: Space 27%, Sandbox 24.2%, Physics 18.9%, Building 18.5%, Simulation 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: Its exceptionally deep vehicle construction lets you build physically functional craft and solve engineering problems involving propulsion, armor, weapons, and control systems.

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.

Why similar: Space 35.7%, Space Sim 15.2%, Sandbox 15.1%, Building 13.6%, Simulation 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: It scratches KSP’s large-scale space engineering itch through interplanetary logistics, automation, and ambitious planetary infrastructure.

Build the ultimate vehicle and explore a vast open world filled with challenges and adventure. Play solo or team up with friends in multiplayer to conquer the toughest obstacles. With a thrilling campaign mode and endless creative possibilities, Trailmakers is the ultimate sandbox for adventurers.

Why similar: Space 41.4%, Sandbox 17.8%, Physics 14.6%, Building 12.8%, Open World 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: A welcoming physics construction game about inventing vehicles, testing them immediately, and iterating on designs that fail in entertaining ways.

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.

Why similar: Space Sim 37.8%, Space 31.4%, Sandbox 7.9%, Open World 7.4%, Simulation 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: Its galaxy-scale piloting and exploration provide a more polished spaceflight adventure for players who primarily enjoy KSP’s travel and discovery.

The world's first science-based photorealistic interactive 3D planetarium that models the entire Universe, using procedural generation for uncharted areas.

Why similar: Space 20.8%, Science 20.5%, Space Sim 20.3%, Sandbox 14.4%, Education 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a vast, scientifically grounded universe for exploration and spacecraft flight, appealing to the astronomical wonder behind KSP.

Command the Nimbatus and craft drones out of hundreds of different parts. Survive unknown threats in a fully destructible, procedural universe, compete against other players in different arenas or enjoy complete creative freedom in the sandbox.

Why similar: Space Sim 28.4%, Space 23.1%, Sandbox 12.6%, Physics 10.1%, Building 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: Build programmable, modular drones and repeatedly refine their systems through experimentation, giving it a compact KSP-like engineering loop.

Besiege is a physics building game about constructing medieval machines to annihilate armies, obliterate castles and overcome challenging obstacles. Conquer the campaign or skirmish with friends in Multiplayer!

Why similar: Moddable 28.7%, Sandbox 23.1%, Physics 18.9%, Building 16.3%, Simulation 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: Its freeform machine building and physics-driven trial-and-error capture the same joyful cycle of invention, catastrophe, and redesign.

Design and simulate the starships of your dreams! Command your ship or fleet in epic battles and manage your crew while exploring a dangerous galaxy. Play alone or with friends, test your ships in online PvP, and let your imagination reach for the stars!

Why similar: Space Sim 29.4%, Space 29%, Building 14.5%, Simulation 7.3%, Sci-fi 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: Design functional starships room by room, balance power and propulsion, and watch your construction decisions play out in live space encounters.

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.

Why similar: Space 22.7%, Sandbox 20.4%, Building 20.1%, Space Sim 10.9%, Simulation 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its systems-heavy colony simulation rewards careful management of gases, heat, resources, and fragile life-support machinery.

Equipped with cutting-edge salvaging tech, carve & slice spaceships to recover valuable materials. Upgrade your gear to take on more lucrative contracts and pay your billion credits debt to LYNX Corp!

Why similar: Space 31.2%, Space Sim 17.7%, Physics 14.8%, Sandbox 14.5%, Simulation 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: Dismantling spacecraft in zero gravity turns ship systems, structural awareness, and spaceborne physics into a methodical engineering puzzle.

Lead a major space agency as you guide humanity to Mars in this strategy simulation game. Construct a base, design and build rockets, conduct missions throughout the Solar System, and write your own history of Space exploration. Created with support from the European Space Agency.

Why similar: Science 22.9%, Space Sim 21.1%, Space 20.4%, Education 10.4%, Building 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: This space-agency strategy game trades hands-on rocket building for mission planning, research, funding, and the pressure of reaching space successfully.

Do you have what it takes to become an astronaut? Reentry is a realistic space flight simulator inspired by the early NASA space programs, from orbiting Earth in Mercury and Gemini, to the moon landing in project Apollo. Learn the procedures. Operate the spacecraft. Complete the mission.

Why similar: Space Sim 23.6%, Space 22%, Science 21.2%, Physics 8.8%, Simulation 6.9%

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!

Why similar: Space Sim 22.5%, Space 22.2%, Sandbox 13%, Building 10.7%, Physics 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: Build and pilot ships and planetary bases in a survival-oriented universe with exploration and progression layered over the construction sandbox.

Explore the Solar System. Mine and drop asteroids. Colonize and terraform. Lead the space race and compete with other corporations on your way to profit. Watch the expansion of human race over the centuries.

Why similar: Science 21.2%, Space 19.1%, Space Sim 17%, Sandbox 11.9%, Physics 9.5%

This "spaceship simulation roguelike-like" allows you to take your ship and crew on an adventure through a randomly generated galaxy filled with glory and bitter defeat.

Why similar: Space 51.6%, Space Sim 23.6%, Simulation 6.3%, Sci-fi 5.6%, Difficult 5.1%

Enter the creative paradise of Scrap Mechanic! Build fantastic machines, go on adventures with your friends and defend against waves of evil Farmbots in this imaginative multiplayer survival sandbox. With Scrap Mechanic’s powerful creation tools you can engineer your own adventures!

Why similar: Sandbox 25.3%, Building 21.3%, Physics 19.5%, Moddable 11.6%, Open World 9.7%

The ultimate space sandbox. Participate in epic fleet battles, form alliances, strive to dominate entire galaxies and harness the universe’s resources for your industrious empire or the destruction of others. Customise your experience, the universe is yours!

Why similar: Space 36.9%, Sandbox 21.9%, Space Sim 11.4%, Building 11.1%, Open World 7%

Mine asteroids, salvage space debris, design your own small or massive spacecraft using individual functional components, complete missions, and engage in battles against enemies in a vast galaxy with realistic physics based on orbital mechanics or in a classic physics mode.

Why similar: Space 38.3%, Space Sim 16.8%, Sandbox 16.7%, Simulation 11.8%, Building 7.5%

Mine and craft your way to orbit, build your own starship and explore a vast, dangerous galaxy alongside your crew. For players who love a meaningful survival progression, a unique and elegant building system, and epic space-opera scale.

Why similar: Space 28.9%, Space Sim 16.4%, Sandbox 16.2%, Building 14.3%, Simulation 9.9%

Dynamic abstract sandbox universe. Changes and evolves as you do.

Why similar: Space 39%, Sandbox 19.6%, Space Sim 15.2%, Physics 8.7%, Simulation 6.5%

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!

Why similar: Sandbox 33.5%, Building 27.1%, Open World 17.6%, Simulation 8.3%, Exploration 5.6%

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.

Why similar: Space Sim 24.3%, Space 23.5%, Moddable 17.6%, Sandbox 14.1%, Simulation 6.8%

Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.

Why similar: Sandbox 39.8%, Moddable 22.2%, Building 15.5%, Open World 9.4%, Simulation 7.7%

Interact with strange new worlds in a unique and tactile way, molding the environment itself as if it were clay in your hands. Build your base, master resource management, automate your production lines, and more as you unravel the mysteries of the universe, alone or with friends.

Why similar: Space 41.3%, Sandbox 20.5%, Building 12.4%, Open World 11.3%, Exploration 4.9%

Navigate your scrappy ship through the boneyard in search of valuable parts in abandoned vessels. Use salvage to upgrade your ship, or sell it for cash to pay down your mounting debt, or restock fuel, air, or food. Fly and role-play aboard your dream spaceship in this hardcore noir space-sim.

Why similar: Space Sim 29.3%, Space 24.9%, Sandbox 17.2%, Simulation 8.2%, Building 6.5%

Make your dream cars a reality with Automation’s unparalleled car and engine design tools. Gain a competitive edge through smart engineering and business decisions to help you build an automotive empire. Will you become an industry leader, or just a footnote in automotive history?

Why similar: Science 19.5%, Sandbox 17.8%, Building 15.1%, Moddable 14.8%, Simulation 12.4%

Take Your Creature From Zero To Galactic HeroGet out of your starship and turn your Spore creatures into legendary Space Captains. For the first time, beam down with your allies to take on action-packed, planetside adventures. Complete quests, collect rewards, and even create your own missions.

Why similar: Space 38.4%, Sandbox 20.3%, Simulation 17%, Open World 8.9%, Exploration 4.6%

Use the Nimbatus Drone Creator to construct physically simulated drones and try them out in a virtual testing environment. Do you have what it takes to become a drone engineer?

Why similar: Science 18.7%, Space Sim 16.7%, Simulation 13.7%, Space 13.6%, Sandbox 11.9%

Be the architect of your own universe with Spore, an exciting single-player adventure. From Single Cell to Galactic God, evolve your creature in a universe of your own creations.

Why similar: Science 29.8%, Space 24.9%, Sandbox 17.8%, Simulation 8.2%, Open World 7.2%

My Summer Car is the ultimate car owning, building, fixing, tuning, maintenance AND permadeath life survival simulator. You start the game with hundreds of loose parts and assemble both car and engine.

Why similar: Sandbox 22.2%, Simulation 21.9%, Building 20.4%, Open World 18%, Difficult 5.3%

SimplePlanes is back! Build planes, cars, or anything else using powerful procedural parts! Explore detailed environments with friends in multiplayer, cause chaos, or download 1,000,000 community crafts for free.

Why similar: Sandbox 35.6%, Building 25.2%, Simulation 17.5%, Open World 13.8%, Exploration 6.2%

Become a Space Mechanic! Get your hands dirty, explore the depths of space and repair broken machinery. Diagnose problems using diagrams and tools, perform repairs, manage your resources and watch the simulated machinery come alive. Or just gaze upon the beauty of the Solar System.

Why similar: Space Sim 24.4%, Science 22.7%, Space 21.8%, Physics 8.6%, Building 8.2%

Developed by the creator of the original Kerbal Space Program, KitHack Model Club is a physics-based model building sandbox that offers limitless freedom for you and your friends. Design, build, battle, fly (and crash!) your very own RC vehicles, or experiment with over 2,400 ready-made vehicles!

Why similar: Moddable 24.4%, Sandbox 16.6%, Physics 13.7%, Education 12.9%, Building 11.7%

Kinetic Void is a 3D space adventure with a focus on customization and enjoyable space simulation. The shipyard allows players to construct their ship piece by piece. Ships can be as simplistic as a cockpit, a hull, a engine and a gun, or as complex as a player wants.

Why similar: Space 46.2%, Sandbox 16.8%, Simulation 11.9%, Space Sim 11.3%, Building 6.3%

Build, crash, rebuild! Explore new planets in co-op multiplayer with your fully modular spaceship made from whatever bolts together long enough to fly. Mount giant thrusters, annoying cables, and everything in between. Complete wild missions, face the dangers of space and argue with your crew!

Why similar: Space Sim 45.7%, Sandbox 25.9%, Simulation 11.8%, Funny 5%, Open World 4.8%

A spaceship building and universe-exploration game. Collect resources, expand and grow your fleet, and conquer your personal galaxy. Stellar ambience by Peaks.

Why similar: Space 39%, Sandbox 24.1%, Building 20.7%, Open World 3.8%, Physics 3.3%

Satellite Command is a realistic, relaxing astrophysics simulator. Complete contracts with real data, launch and take control of ever more powerful Satellites, research advanced technology and build your Space Agency!

Why similar: Science 21.5%, Space Sim 19.3%, Space 18.2%, Sandbox 12.7%, Education 9.6%

Build your spaceship from scratch, earn funds and invest them into building a bigger, better spaceship as you try and fly your way up to space!

Why similar: Space 31%, Sandbox 26%, Physics 23%, Simulation 13.2%, Strategy 2.7%

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.

Why similar: Space 47.1%, Space Sim 12.4%, Building 10.4%, Sandbox 9.6%, Simulation 8.4%

Embark on a space voyage with your ragtag crew of civilians in search of a new home. Build spaceships tile by tile, create optimal gas conditions, manage the needs and moods of their crew, encounter other space-faring groups, and explore the universe in this spaceship colony simulation.

Why similar: Space Sim 24.6%, Space 24.6%, Sandbox 16.2%, Building 11.5%, Simulation 7.6%

Gather resources, craft components, build vehicles, and code their logic in a physics-driven engineering sandbox and full scale space sim.

Why similar: Science 19.6%, Space Sim 17.4%, Space 15.5%, Sandbox 11.6%, Moddable 10.3%

Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.

Why similar: Sandbox 30.2%, Building 22.8%, Moddable 22.1%, Simulation 15.6%, Funny 3.7%