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Most Roblox games are roleplay or action, but there’s a thriving community of players who love to build. There are wide-open sandboxes, PvP building challenges, survival, and house-decorating games. The best Roblox building games allow dedicated players to make some truly impressive creations. While some of these games have microtransactions, the core gameplay and most of the content are entirely free.
Updated September 15, 2021 by Erik Petrovich: Roblox is one of those games that never seems to quite fade into obscurity. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the game saw a massive surge in players, making it one of the most popular online games out there even in 2021. There are a lot of different building games in Roblox (probably thanks to its typically blocky art style) but there is another route fans can take – the Roblox Studio. While the Roblox Studio is a tool used for creating worlds and games, not a game in itself, it’s one of the best ways someone can create something for others to enjoy, and it’s surprisingly engaging and easy-to-use, too.
12 The Roblox Studio (Make Your Own Game)
Roblox is a unique game for a variety of reasons. It’s got an art style entirely its own, it can run on just about any system, and it is home to one of the most prolific creative communities of any video game. The main tool developers for Roblox use is called the Roblox Studio.
It’s a game coding engine that’s incredibly friendly for newcomers, and with the potential for customization that the most experienced creators will be able to capitalize on. However, there are a few things newcomers should keep in mind before jumping into the Roblox Studio.
The Roblox Studio Is Easy To Use, But Not For Younger Players
One of the most limiting factors for newcomers to game development is the complexity of programs needed to get a good product out there. The Roblox Studio makes the entire process easy, though games are limited to the Roblox game ecosystem. It’s not something that should be approached by younger players, though, as it’s far more complex than meets the eye.
For those who wish to try their hands at making a game in Roblox, consider taking free tutorials online in HTML and follow-along beginner Roblox Studio guides on YouTube.
It Has Its Own Custom Backend (But It Can Be Altered)
The Roblox Studio is intuitive and surprisingly complex for such a low-processing-requirement game. One of the few limitations of the engine, though, is that games have to be played within Roblox, and it’s difficult to break away from its basic art style and mechanics. However, with a little bit of coding knowledge and working knowledge of the Roblox Studio’s capabilities, many of these limitations break away. It’s surprising how detailed games can get in the Roblox engine, but people have to know what they’re doing to get the most out of it.
It’s The Ultimate Roblox Building Experience, But It’s Not A Game
Ultimately, the Roblox Studio is not itself a game. It’s not something users can “play”, as it’s a tool used to create the experiences players get to see in the Roblox ecosystem. Making projects large or small in the Roblox Studio is a lengthy task, and it might be weeks or even months before a creator’s finished product emerges. Remember to be patient and keep to the plan throughout development, and be sure to look into the well-updated Developer Hub for the Roblox Studio – it’s a fantastic place to learn new tips, talk to other game makers, and get better at using the development tool.
11 Welcome to Bloxburg
Welcome to Bloxburg is a game within Roblox that lets a player control the activities of their virtual avatar in a way very similar to the Sims series. The game is centered around the player at home, but there are lots of ways to customize and create an experience all your own.
In addition to home management and doing chores, players can get a job, explore the city of Bloxburg, drive around, and even explore extraneous zones. The main focus of Welcome to Bloxburg is its home customization system, though, as well as its role-playing potential with friends.
10 Adopt Me!
If you know anything about Roblox, you’re aware of Adopt Me!. It’s among the most popular building games in Roblox. The main draw is hatching and caring for a variety of cute pets, but there’s a surprisingly robust interior design system.
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Every Adopt Me! player gets their own house when they sign in. There’s a wide selection of furniture, wallpaper, and flooring to purchase. The majority of this costs in-game money, not Robux. However, it takes time to earn money, so players will have to put in a few hours to really gussy up their house. Still, if you like games like Animal Crossing for their room design elements, this is worth a peek.
9 Islands
Islands is a popular sandbox game heavily inspired by Minecraft. Players start on a small island floating in the sky and a few basic tools. Like Minecraft, the game gives you free rein once the tutorial ends. The main gameplay loop is to go to other islands, collect resources, use them to expand your base, and unlock new things.
Islands was once taken down due to copyright issues, but it’s back now and still extremely popular. The game’s strongest points are its farming and factory systems.
8 Theme Park Tycoon 2
If you’ve ever played the classic business sim RollerCoaster Tycoon, you’ll know exactly what to expect from Theme Park Tycoon 2. The goal is to build an exciting amusement park, sell tickets to visitors, and keep expanding your business - it’s one of the best Roblox sandbox games.
There are many types of rides to choose from, and it is possible to build custom track layouts. Each Theme Park Tycoon 2 server hosts up to six players. Players who share a server can visit each other’s parks. You can also grant building rights to a friend so you two can build a park together.
7 Build To Survive Simulator
Build To Survive is a sort of sub-genre. It seems the original game is not up anymore, but many spinoffs and variations of the same idea are active. Build to Survive Simulator is one of the most popular Roblox sandbox games.
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These games are simple - the player is given some time and materials to build a small home base. Eventually, zombies will spawn outside and try to attack the player. Different games offer different features, like co-op and super-strong enemies. Play multiple games to find out which one you like best.
6 Plane Crazy
Plane Crazy is a sandbox physics simulator that seems to take cues from Kerbal Space Program. Players can build their own planes, cars, rockets, and robots using a variety of parts.
Plane Crazy has a bit of a learning curve. Thankfully, there’s a wiki containing a bevy of tutorials along with more info on YouTube. The game features a PvP mode for players who want to test their creations in combat. Despite being nearly seven years old, the game receives updates on a semi-regular basis.
5 Lumber Tycoon 2
The sequel to a popular classic Roblox game, Lumber Tycoon. Owning and operating a lumbermill sounds boring, but Lumber Tycoon 2 is a really great base-building game. You start out just chopping down trees with a simple axe, but as you progress, you can optimize the process and make more money.
There are also various biomes home to different types of trees. Each tree’s wood has unique properties like density and thickness. You can purchase trucks and build a factory to process wood into planks. There’s also a lot of furniture items to make a cozy little home.
4 Build A Boat For Treasure
Build A Boat For Treasure is one of the most popular and considered by some to be among the best building games on Roblox. Players receive a variety of blocks with different properties to build their ship with.
They must build a boat and set sail through a course filled with hazards and obstacles. If the boat reaches the end without sinking, they win.
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This game offers a lot of variety. Not only are there many kinds of blocks, but there are weapons as well. There are quests to complete and even bosses to vanquish. Players can work solo or in teams.
3 Obby Creator
Obby, short for obstacle course, is one of the most popular genres on Roblox. They’re fun, light, and easy to pick up and play. Obbies are also easy to make, but sometimes you just want to mess around without opening Roblox Studio. That’s where Obby Creator comes in.
This game is a fun and streamlined way for players to make their own obbies. Parts cost money, but you can gain more money simply by spending time in the game. There is also a “Team Build” function for multiple players to work on the same project. You can also share your creations with others so they can play them.
2 Whatever Floats Your Boat
At first glance, this game seems like a copy of Build Your Boat For Treasure. In many ways, the two are similar. Each round starts off with players building their own boat with a variety of blocks and weapons. When the water rises, that’s when things get different. Instead of working together with other players, the boat captains have to take the other vessels down.
Combat periods are short, hectic, and a lot of fun. The game offers a nice balance between naval warfare and regular player-to-player brawls. It’s also possible to exploit the physics engine in fun ways, like making your boat fly.
1 RoVille
RoVille is an exceedingly ambitious game that sells itself like a massively multiplayer version of The Sims. There’s an open world, cars to drive, jobs to have, and even the option to start your own business. RoVille really shines above the rest and is arguably one of the best Roblox games where players can build their own houses.
Players can buy a premade house or build their own from the ground up. The building interface works exactly like Build Mode in The Sims. You can place walls, doors, and windows wherever you see fit, and the game supports multiple stories as well. Building can be a bit clunky and confusing due to the limitations of the platform. But for hardcore builders, you can’t go wrong with RoVille.
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