Best Terraria Alternatives in 2025

Looking for alternatives to Terraria? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Terraria alongside similar software solutions including Terraria, ARK: Survival Evolved, Stardew Valley, 7 Days to Die, Left to Survive, MineCraft, Plants vs. Zombies, The Forest, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Terraria, ARK: Survival Evolved, Stardew Valley, 7 Days to Die, Left to Survive, MineCraft, Plants vs. Zombies, The Forest, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.

	Game Genre and Setting	Multiplayer and Modding Support	Key Gameplay Features
Terraria	2D sandbox adventure game with a procedurally generated world and diverse biomes.	Supports local and online multiplayer with an active modding community.	Features extensive crafting, bosses, diverse biomes, loose storyline, creation, and multiplayer gameplay.
ARK: Survival Evolved	Survival game set in a prehistoric world with dinosaurs and other creatures.	Includes multiplayer modes and has a large active modding community.	Includes taming creatures, complex mechanics, building shelters, combat, survival elements, and multiple DLC expansions.
Stardew Valley	Farming simulator game with an engaging story and pixel art graphics.	Offers both local and online co-op play with extensive modding support.	Focus on farming, fishing, character interactions, quests, relaxing gameplay, and long play sessions.
7 Days to Die	Open-world post-apocalyptic sandbox survival game with realistic survival mechanics.	Co-op multiplayer supported with both official and user-created mods.	Realistic survival mechanics including hunger, thirst, temperature management; dynamic day-night cycle; zombie threats.
Left to Survive	Action shooter game set in a post-apocalyptic world from a third-person perspective.	Multiplayer mode available; no mention of modding support.	Intense action shooter gameplay featuring base building, tower defense elements, realistic violence, resources management.
MineCraft	Popular sandbox game focused on building and exploration in a blocky world.	Supports online servers, LAN play, split-screen play, and has a large modding community.	Creative mode alongside survival mode; allows building, exploration, custom content creation including official servers.
Plants vs. Zombies	Lighthearted strategy game involving plants defending against zombie attacks.	Includes multiplayer features; no significant modding support mentioned.	Strategic plant placement defense gameplay through multiple levels with unique plant types and zombie abilities.
The Forest	Survival-horror video game set in an open-world forest environment with a day-night cycle.	Supports cooperative and competitive multiplayer; active updates but limited storyline.	Survival-horror elements with building shelters, hunting, dynamic AI enemies, four difficulty levels, immersive visuals.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky	First-person shooter video game set in a post-apocalyptic environment around Chernobyl.	Has multiplayer modes and an active modding community with frequent patches.	FPS gameplay with realistic AI behavior, anomalies, artifacts collection; multiple endings based on player choices.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	Open-world RPG with dragons, factions, and extensive character customization.	Supports mods extensively; available on various consoles with multiplayer modes not emphasized.	Open-world RPG allowing character customization, dynamic combat system, rich lore with dragons and factions, various quests and DLC content.

Game Genre and Setting

Terraria	2D sandbox adventure game with a procedurally generated world and diverse biomes.
ARK: Survival Evolved	Survival game set in a prehistoric world with dinosaurs and other creatures.
Stardew Valley	Farming simulator game with an engaging story and pixel art graphics.
7 Days to Die	Open-world post-apocalyptic sandbox survival game with realistic survival mechanics.
Left to Survive	Action shooter game set in a post-apocalyptic world from a third-person perspective.
MineCraft	Popular sandbox game focused on building and exploration in a blocky world.
Plants vs. Zombies	Lighthearted strategy game involving plants defending against zombie attacks.
The Forest	Survival-horror video game set in an open-world forest environment with a day-night cycle.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky	First-person shooter video game set in a post-apocalyptic environment around Chernobyl.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	Open-world RPG with dragons, factions, and extensive character customization.

Multiplayer and Modding Support

Terraria	Supports local and online multiplayer with an active modding community.
ARK: Survival Evolved	Includes multiplayer modes and has a large active modding community.
Stardew Valley	Offers both local and online co-op play with extensive modding support.
7 Days to Die	Co-op multiplayer supported with both official and user-created mods.
Left to Survive	Multiplayer mode available; no mention of modding support.
MineCraft	Supports online servers, LAN play, split-screen play, and has a large modding community.
Plants vs. Zombies	Includes multiplayer features; no significant modding support mentioned.
The Forest	Supports cooperative and competitive multiplayer; active updates but limited storyline.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky	Has multiplayer modes and an active modding community with frequent patches.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	Supports mods extensively; available on various consoles with multiplayer modes not emphasized.

Key Gameplay Features

Terraria	Features extensive crafting, bosses, diverse biomes, loose storyline, creation, and multiplayer gameplay.
ARK: Survival Evolved	Includes taming creatures, complex mechanics, building shelters, combat, survival elements, and multiple DLC expansions.
Stardew Valley	Focus on farming, fishing, character interactions, quests, relaxing gameplay, and long play sessions.
7 Days to Die	Realistic survival mechanics including hunger, thirst, temperature management; dynamic day-night cycle; zombie threats.
Left to Survive	Intense action shooter gameplay featuring base building, tower defense elements, realistic violence, resources management.
MineCraft	Creative mode alongside survival mode; allows building, exploration, custom content creation including official servers.
Plants vs. Zombies	Strategic plant placement defense gameplay through multiple levels with unique plant types and zombie abilities.
The Forest	Survival-horror elements with building shelters, hunting, dynamic AI enemies, four difficulty levels, immersive visuals.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky	FPS gameplay with realistic AI behavior, anomalies, artifacts collection; multiple endings based on player choices.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	Open-world RPG allowing character customization, dynamic combat system, rich lore with dragons and factions, various quests and DLC content.

Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.

This quick comparison shows how Terraria stacks up against Terraria, ARK: Survival Evolved, Stardew Valley, 7 Days to Die, Left to Survive, MineCraft, Plants vs. Zombies, The Forest, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.

	Size	License	Popularity
Terraria		Freeware	29%
ARK: Survival Evolved		Freeware	11%
Stardew Valley		Freeware	25%
7 Days to Die		Freeware	5%
Left to Survive		Freeware	0%
MineCraft	56.6MB	Commercial	100%
Plants vs. Zombies		Freeware	6%
The Forest		Freeware	19%
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky		Commercial	2%
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim		Commercial	1%

Size

Terraria
ARK: Survival Evolved
Stardew Valley
7 Days to Die
Left to Survive
MineCraft	56.6MB
Plants vs. Zombies
The Forest
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

License

Terraria	Freeware
ARK: Survival Evolved	Freeware
Stardew Valley	Freeware
7 Days to Die	Freeware
Left to Survive	Freeware
MineCraft	Commercial
Plants vs. Zombies	Freeware
The Forest	Freeware
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky	Commercial
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	Commercial

Rating

Terraria
ARK: Survival Evolved
Stardew Valley
7 Days to Die
Left to Survive
MineCraft
Plants vs. Zombies
The Forest
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Popularity

Terraria	29%
ARK: Survival Evolved	11%
Stardew Valley	25%
7 Days to Die	5%
Left to Survive	0%
MineCraft	100%
Plants vs. Zombies	6%
The Forest	19%
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky	2%
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	1%