RimWorld vs Stonehearth
RimWorld
RimWorld is a sci-fi-themed colony simulation game where you need to build a livable and possibly self-sustaining base by making full use of all the skills your survivors have. Your survivors have their own sets of personalities as well and hence, they will react to the events that are happening around them, form relationships with other survivors, and even refuse to do work that they don't want to do. It's also nice to note that the game emphasizes on parts of the body so if your survivor lost a leg in an accident, he or she can still hobble around on the other provided that some form of replacement, like a peg leg, is given.Although most worlds have multiple biomes, the world you play in is randomly generated, so basically, you will never get the same world twice. The most interesting part about this game though is its AI storyteller. It is the "god of luck" who will throw challenges at you, be it disasterous weather or a pirate raid. There are a few types you can choose from as well, ranging from Randy Random who likes to randomly give you events to deal with to Phoebe Chillax who favors more neutral or positive events and takes it easy with the more negative ones.
RimWorld is perhaps the ultimate story-driven sandbox game that not only lets you build your own colonies and manage them; you'll also get to experience a story that is written as you play along. Sounds just like a game you'd like to play? Well, be sure to check this game out!
Stonehearth
Stonehearth is the game you'll want to play if you enjoy playing Minecraft because you can build your very own city. Although the game is basically a sandbox game like Minecraft, it has a building aspect that's much more similar to Craft the World... except that in Stonehearth, everything's in glorious 3D. In this game, you play as the leader of a small handful of adorable-looking pioneers who are looking for a new place to settle down. There isn't a lot of digging involved in Stonehearth though you still need to get your pioneers to collect resources from the environment or to plant and harvest their own.Like in Craft the World, you'll need to provide shelter for your people and equip them with the necessary equipment so they can fend off attacks during the night. However, when it comes to crafting, Stonehearth has a much more diverse and in-depth crafting system. The building system in this game is also pretty unique though it can be rather restrictive when compared to Minecraft since the most "building" you'll be doing is mainly houses for your villagers. Of course, let's not forget about the game's much better-looking graphics!
In some way, Stonehearth is more of a survival/town-building game than a pure sandbox game like Minecraft. However, it is perfect for players who enjoy having an entire town of minions to order around, and the satisfaction of leading and developing a tribe. For a price tag of $24.99 (on Steam), Stonehearth can be a bit on the costly side, but if this is the sort of game you're into, the game will always be worth the price. You can show your support to the indie developers behind this game as well... so there's that!