Player Two Co

The Best Games Like Minecraft to Gift

They have had Minecraft for years and you need the next thing. Five games sorted by which half of Minecraft they actually like — the building or the surviving.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

Start here: Minecraft is really two games, and which one they play decides what to buy next. Mojang describes Creative mode as the one where “you have unlimited resources, immortality, the ability to fly” and mobs “won’t attack you”, and Survival as the one where “you explore the world, collect resources, craft, fight monsters”. A child who spends four hours building a castle in Creative and a teenager who spends four hours mining for diamonds in Survival are doing almost nothing in common, and the right present for one is the wrong present for the other.

So before you buy: watch them play for two minutes, or just ask whether they build things or go on expeditions. If it is building, you want a game with no failure state and a big empty space — the Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing end of this list. If it is expeditions and inventory management, you want something with systems to master, which is the Cities: Skylines and Farming Simulator end.

One thing none of these five do is replace Minecraft, and you should not try. A Minecraft player with 400 hours in one world is not looking for a better Minecraft, and a game sold to them as one will lose. These are sideways moves: the same satisfying loop, a different setting, a reason to start something fresh. The top pick is Stardew Valley, because it is the one that works for the widest range of ages and both halves of the Minecraft audience at once.

How this is funded: Player Two Co earns a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked for who they suit and how safe a gift they are. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#GiftBest forPrice
1
ConcernedApe Stardew Valley

ConcernedApe Stardew Valley

A cozy little farming-and-friendship game with a massive, devoted following. Cheap, charming, and hard to stop playing — a brilliant low-risk gift for almost anyone.

Best overall next step — and it works for any age
$33.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 18, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A gentle, no-pressure island-life game with no way to lose. It's the game non-gamers fall in love with — creative, calming, and endlessly relaxing rather than stressful.

Best for a builder with no interest in fighting
$59.88 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 18, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Paradox Interactive Cities: Skylines (PC code)

Paradox Interactive Cities: Skylines (PC code)

Build a city, run its buses, watch it grow. Nothing chases you and there is no way to lose, which makes it one of the easiest PC games to give somebody who insists they don't really play games — and one of the hardest to put down once they start.

Best for the one who plans before they build
$29.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 18, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
GIANTS Software Farming Simulator 25 (Steam PC code)

GIANTS Software Farming Simulator 25 (Steam PC code)

A gift that lands beautifully for one very specific person: somebody who likes tractors, machinery, or the idea of a quiet job done properly. It is rated E, there is nothing to shoot, and plenty of people who'd never call themselves gamers play it for years.

Best for a machines-and-systems player
$49.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 18, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
LEGO Minecraft Building Set

LEGO Minecraft Building Set

LEGO plus Minecraft is a double win for a kid who loves both. It's a proper build with recognizable characters — a screen-free gift that still connects to the game they adore.

Best gift that is not a game at all
$23.99 · See it on Amazon

$29.9920% off

Price as of October 18, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

Every pick, explained

#1Best overall next step — and it works for any age

ConcernedApe Stardew Valley

A cozy little farming-and-friendship game with a massive, devoted following. Cheap, charming, and hard to stop playing — a brilliant low-risk gift for almost anyone.

Great because

  • Deeply relaxing and endlessly playable
  • Very affordable for how much game you get
  • Beloved by gamers and non-gamers alike

Keep in mind

  • The retro pixel art isn't for everyone at a glance
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Also on PlayStation, Xbox, PC & mobile
Good for
Ages 10 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip if they only like big-budget, cinematic games.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#2Best for a builder with no interest in fighting

Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A gentle, no-pressure island-life game with no way to lose. It's the game non-gamers fall in love with — creative, calming, and endlessly relaxing rather than stressful.

Great because

  • Completely relaxing — there's no failing or losing
  • Wildly popular with people who don't consider themselves gamers
  • Hundreds of hours of gentle, creative play

Keep in mind

  • Slow-paced by design — not for someone who wants action
  • It's a code, not a box — there's nothing physical to wrap unless you print it
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED (the code redeems on their Nintendo Account)
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they specifically want a fast, competitive or action game.

Details read from the product listing on September 15, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#3Best for the one who plans before they build

Paradox Interactive Cities: Skylines (PC code)

Build a city, run its buses, watch it grow. Nothing chases you and there is no way to lose, which makes it one of the easiest PC games to give somebody who insists they don't really play games — and one of the hardest to put down once they start.

Great because

  • Rated E for Everyone, with nothing to fight and nobody to lose to
  • Enormously deep for the money, and frequently discounted
  • Runs on modest computers, so it isn't a hardware gamble

Keep in mind

  • Slow and systems-heavy — the opposite of an action game
Platform
PC
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Windows PC (redeems as a digital code)
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they want something fast, loud or competitive.

Details read from the product listing on August 18, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#4Best for a machines-and-systems player

GIANTS Software Farming Simulator 25 (Steam PC code)

A gift that lands beautifully for one very specific person: somebody who likes tractors, machinery, or the idea of a quiet job done properly. It is rated E, there is nothing to shoot, and plenty of people who'd never call themselves gamers play it for years.

Great because

  • Rated E for Everyone — there is no combat anywhere in it
  • Real, licensed farm machinery, which is most of the appeal
  • Plays fine alone, with online co-op if they want company

Keep in mind

  • Deliberately slow — the appeal is the routine, not the excitement
Platform
PC
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Steam on Windows PC (the code redeems in the Steam client)
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they want action; this is a game about doing a job well.

Details read from the product listing on August 18, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#5Best gift that is not a game at all

LEGO Minecraft Building Set

LEGO plus Minecraft is a double win for a kid who loves both. It's a proper build with recognizable characters — a screen-free gift that still connects to the game they adore.

Great because

  • Combines two things kids love
  • Screen-free play that still ties to the game
  • Great quality and gift-ready

Keep in mind

  • Check the recommended age on the specific set
Platform
Any platform
Type
Collectible
Works with
Any Minecraft fan
Good for
Ages 8+

Skip it if: Skip if the child has outgrown building sets.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

Which part of Minecraft does each one replace?

Minecraft is rated E10+ by the ESRB — in the ESRB’s own words, “Minecraft is rated E10+ for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB with Fantasy Violence. Also includes Users Interact and In-Game Purchases”. That is the bar most of these sit at or below, which matters if this is for a child.

GameWhat it shares with MinecraftPlays onESRB
Minecraft (for reference)Creative mode: unlimited resources, flight, no attacks. Survival mode: explore, collect, craft, fightSwitch, Xbox, PS5, PC, mobileE10+
Stardew ValleyThe gather-build-improve loop, with no clock and no way to fail. Adds characters, seasons and a storySwitch (also PC and consoles)E10+
Animal Crossing: New HorizonsCreative mode's half: a space to decorate and rearrange forever, with nothing hostile in itNintendo SwitchE
Cities: Skylines (PC)Building at scale, from an empty map up. Swaps block-by-block for systems and trafficPC (Steam code)E
Farming Simulator 25 (PC)The resource loop and the slow upgrade path, for a player who likes machineryPC (Steam code)E
LEGO Minecraft setThe actual building, off-screen — the same characters, in a box you can wrapNo console neededNot a game

If they play Minecraft with friends, read this first

A lot of Minecraft is social, and that is the part a new single-player game quietly takes away. Mojang’s own page says Minecraft supports cross-play “with Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and mobile”, and adds that on consoles “online multiplayer requires subscription sold separately”. In other words, the reason they can play with the friend who owns a different console is that Minecraft specifically allows it.

None of the games above matches that. Stardew Valley has online play for 1-4 according to Nintendo’s own store page, but the developer notes that on Switch “split-screen co-op is limited to 2 players”. Animal Crossing is listed by Nintendo as 1-4 players on one system and 1-8 online. Both are good company games; neither is a drop-in replacement for a friend group that lives on one Minecraft server.

If the social part is the point, the better gift is often the subscription that unlocks their existing online play rather than a new game — our what is crossplay guide explains which games let different consoles play together, and gaming subscriptions explained covers what each console charges for the privilege.

Three mistakes to avoid

  • Buying Minecraft Dungeons thinking it is more Minecraft. It is a different kind of game wearing the same skin, and a child who wants to build will be baffled by it. If the autocomplete suggestion sent you here looking for that, the honest answer is that a building player wants a building game.
  • Buying a PC game for a console player. Two of the picks above are Steam codes for a computer. They are excellent gifts for someone who plays on a laptop and completely useless to someone who plays on a Switch. Check the machine first — our eight most common gaming gift mistakes puts this at the top of the list for a reason.
  • Assuming they do not already own it. Stardew Valley has been on sale for years and is frequently discounted, so there is a real chance it is already in their library. If you cannot check, a Nintendo eShop card or a Steam gift card removes the duplicate risk entirely.

Still deciding on age-appropriateness rather than on taste? Our what age Minecraft is for guide covers the rating and the chat settings behind it, and the best cozy games to gift is the wider list that two of these picks also appear on.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game like Minecraft?

Stardew Valley, for most people. It keeps the part of Minecraft that holds people for years — gather, build, improve, with no clock and no way to lose — and adds characters and a village to care about. Nintendo's store page lists online play for 1-4, and the developer's own announcement notes split-screen co-op on Switch is limited to two players. It is also usually the cheapest game on this list.

What game is like Minecraft but for younger children?

Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It is rated E by the ESRB rather than E10+, there is nothing hostile in it at all, and it is almost pure Creative mode: a space to decorate and rearrange indefinitely. Nintendo lists it as 1-4 players on one system and 1-8 online, so a parent can join in. For a child who only ever plays Minecraft in Creative, it is a closer match than any survival game.

Is there a game like Minecraft on the Nintendo Switch?

Yes — both of the top two picks here are Switch games, and Minecraft itself is on Switch too. Stardew Valley is the closest in feel; Animal Crossing is the closest for a pure builder. If they play on Switch, stay on Switch: the two PC picks on this page are Steam codes and will not run on a console.

Are there games like Minecraft that are multiplayer?

Yes, but with smaller numbers. Minecraft is unusual in supporting cross-play across Windows, Xbox, Switch, PS5 and mobile, with a console subscription sold separately. Stardew Valley lists 1-4 online with two-player split-screen on Switch; Animal Crossing lists 1-4 on one system and 1-8 online. If playing with a specific friend on a specific different console is the whole point, check that game's own cross-play support before you buy.

What should I buy for a Minecraft fan who already owns everything?

Something off-screen. A LEGO Minecraft set gives them the same characters and the same building instinct in a box you can actually wrap, needs no console and no account, and does not risk duplicating a game they own. Our gifts for Minecraft fans list runs through the rest — plushes, lights and the torch lamp that gets bought more than anything else.

Is Cities: Skylines too complicated for a Minecraft player?

For a young child, yes. For a teenager or an adult who plays Minecraft in Survival and enjoys optimising things, it is the natural step up: the same build-from-nothing satisfaction, with traffic and budgets instead of blocks. It is rated E by the ESRB, so the limit is patience rather than content. It is a PC game, so confirm they play on a computer.

Will a game like Minecraft actually get played?

It depends entirely on whether you matched the half. A Creative-mode builder given a survival game tends to bounce off it in an afternoon; the same person given Animal Crossing can disappear for a month. This is why the two-minute question — do they build things or go on expeditions — is worth more than any review score, including ours.

Do any of these games have in-app purchases like Minecraft?

The ESRB lists In-Game Purchases on Minecraft's rating alongside Users Interact. The games above are bought once and played; the thing to check if you are buying for a child is the console's own spending controls rather than the game, which is covered in our Minecraft age guide. A physical LEGO set has no spending attached to it at all, which is part of its appeal as a present.

Sources

  • Minecraft — What is Minecraft? — Mojang's own explainer: in Creative mode “you have unlimited resources, immortality, the ability to fly”; in Survival “you explore the world, collect resources, craft, fight monsters”; both have four difficulty settings — Peaceful, Easy, Normal and Hard — and in Creative “mobs won't attack you” (accessed September 18, 2026)
  • Minecraft — About Minecraft — Mojang's own page: cross-play “with Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and mobile”, and on consoles “online multiplayer requires subscription sold separately” (accessed September 18, 2026)
  • ESRB — Minecraft — The ESRB's own rating page: “Minecraft is rated E10+ for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB with Fantasy Violence. Also includes Users Interact and In-Game Purchases”; its summary notes players “are occasionally prompted to defend against enemies (e.g., zombies, skeletons, wizards/mages) by striking them repeatedly until they collapse” (accessed September 18, 2026)
  • Nintendo — Stardew Valley for Nintendo Switch — Nintendo's own store page: released on Switch October 5, 2017, published by ConcernedApe, online play for 1-4; ESRB content descriptors Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Use of Tobacco, with Users Interact (accessed September 18, 2026)
  • Stardew Valley — 1.5 out now on consoles — The developer's own announcement (February 12, 2021) of local split-screen co-op on consoles, noting that “on Nintendo Switch, split-screen co-op is limited to 2 players” (accessed September 18, 2026)
  • Nintendo — Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Nintendo's own store page: released March 20, 2020; 1-4 players on one system, 1-8 by local wireless and 1-8 online; ESRB content descriptors Comic Mischief and Mild Fantasy Violence, with Users Interact and In-Game Purchases (accessed September 18, 2026)
  • ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • ESRB — Ratings Search — ESRB's official database for looking up any game's age rating and content descriptors before you buy (accessed July 22, 2026)

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