Aground is a Mining/Crafting RPG with a goal, story, and reason to craft and build. The gameplay is simple, but engaging with tons of features. In Aground, you can raise dragons and launch into space, fight enemies, discover magic, and explore secrets. If you're into crafting games with a lot of exploration, Aground is a thoroughly addictive game with plenty to discover.
What we like:
Story is interesting and allows for a lot of exploration
Crafting is solid and varied
Mod support and community are helpful
Gameplay is engaging and controls are good
Freedom to choose which islands to visit and play at your own pace.
What could be improved:
Item storage can be tedious and requiring a lot of trips
Low-resolution graphics may take some getting used to
Lack of personal relationships with NPCs
Basic tutorial and sometimes requires use of outside resources for guidance.
Abiotic Factor is a survival crafting experience for 1-6 players set in the depths of an underground research facility. Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade, and chaos from a dozen realms, the world’s greatest minds must survive against the universe’s biggest threats.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora⢠is a first-person, action-adventure game set in the never-before-seen Western Frontier of Pandora. Get the Aranahe Warrior Pack for free when you play on PlayStation®5.
Forager is a 2D open-world game inspired by many other farming, crafting and exploration games. You play as a little white unnamed humanoid thing and start on a single small island filled with rocks, trees, flowers and other resources. You use the starting tool to chop down trees or mine rocks to start crafting objects. As you progress, you earn experience points to unlock new skills and craft new tools as well as purchase more land to expand your area of exploration. There are also puzzles to solve that award special treasure chests or items.
What we like:
Fun gameplay
Earn experience points
Craft new tools
Expand land area
Solve puzzles for rewards
Extra content unlocked from feats in game
What could be improved:
No real story needed
Stamina must be monitored closely
Price tag for the game may seem high compared to content offered
Nintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2Playstation 4Mac OSXbox Series XXbox OnePlaystation 5PC WindowsAndroidIOS iPhone
Plunge into the icy depths of Subnautica: Below Zero! Unravel the mystery of your sister's disappearance while braving the alien arctic. Craft, explore, and survive in a world teeming with otherworldly wonders. Each discovery propels you through a story rich with adventure and intrigue. Are you ready to uncover the secrets beneath the ice?
What we like:
Stunning alien underwater environments
Engaging narrative with a personal quest
Diverse biomes filled with unique creatures
Streamlined survival mechanics
Inviting to both series veterans and newcomers
What could be improved:
Some resources can be challenging to locate
Exploration may be hindered by confusing terrain
underwater
survival
crafting
exploration
open-world
16
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned... (2025)
Nintendo SwitchXbox OnePlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox Series XPC Windows
"Atelier Yumia" is a story about “memory”. Explore the field to gather materials and synthesis items. The items you create can be key to advancing the story and can also be used in battles and exploration. Additionally, you can create your own base with “Building" in the field.
early accessLinuxXbox Series XXbox OnePC WindowsMac OS
Valheim is an epic, Viking-tinged survival-creation game with blocky graphics and a modern twist. You are dropped in a wild forest with runes to guide you on your mission to conjure and defeat supernatural beasts. Players must craft weapons and armor, puzzle out how to summon the beasts, and build structures for shelter along the way.
What we like:
Simple default building system
Instant rebuilding/repairing
Randomly generated 3D universe
Easy-to-read color highlights for structural integrity
Level up abilities by repeating actions
Robust physics engine underlies all actions
What could be improved:
Wonky battling system
Limited traversal over rivers and oceans at this point
PC WindowsIOS iPhoneXbox 360Mac OSXbox OneWindows Phone / Windows 10 MobileNintendo Switchwii uLinuxstadiaPlaystation 4Nintendo 3DSAndroidvitaPlaystation 3
Terraria is an addictive, systems-heavy, 2D sandbox-survival game that offers exploration, crafting, and combat, where you must defeat enemies and gather resources to build increasingly powerful weapons, armor and housing for NPCs. With pixelated visuals, great controls, and sound, Terraria provides hours of entertainment and is a must-have for Minecraft fans looking for something different in this genre.
What we like:
Addictive gameplay
Pixelated 2D sprites that are beautifully designed
Complex systems-heavy gameplay
The game has a purpose to serve with the housing of NPCs
Great and responsive controls
What could be improved:
The game has too many shortcuts and menus, which may overwhelm new players
Not a lot of screen space on small touch-screen devices
Xbox Series XPlaystation 5Playstation 4PC WindowsXbox One
A nuclear disaster has left an area of Britain in tatters. Atomfall, a new survival-action game, will see you explore, scavenge, craft, barter and fight your way through beautifully recreated scenery in search of answers.
"description": "Embark on an epic adventure in 9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil, a thrilling 2D open world RPG filled with dungeons, monsters, and secrets. Explore vast landscapes, discover hidden crypts and villages, and fight over 270 unique monsters to become the ultimate warrior. With over 1,400 items to collect, customize your gear, recruit monsters, and play the original card game Fyued. With an original orchestral soundtrack, side quests, and more, can you uncover the mysterious evil force threatening the lands?"
What we like:
Massive open-world
Unique space to flip movement mechanics
Deep nostalgic pull to older games
Simple and familiar RPG flavor
Impressive take on 2D Hack and Slash gameplay
What could be improved:
Repetitive gameplay
Weak gearing system
Difficulty understanding attributes, skills, and abilities impact on player stats
No modding tools and no way to split stacks or divide items in inventory