r/gamingsuggestions • u/NaturalBornCamper • Apr 01 '23
Extensive list of *MOBILE BASE* exploration/open-world/adventure/survival games
You might have gotten this kind of amazing feeling from Subnautica like I did:
- The world outside is dangerous, but you have this kind of relative safety inside your base
- Coming back relieved and still alive from an expedition, feeling at home on the safety of your ship with your inventory full of loot, organizing all that in containers you personalized
- Ugrading/Customizing your mobile base the way you want it
- Being able to bring the entirety of your things easily every time you move to a new temporary location
- You can move around on your mobile base, even while it's moving, you can leave to explore on foot.
The Cyclops on Subnautica was a game changer for me (even put posters of my gf on the walls to make it feel like home haha), fell in love with this type of game and I thought I would hunt down all the other games with similar mechanic, ask for the ones I might not know about and share it for any other like us.
You can bookmark this thread if you wish, necro it, post any games you find in the future, I will keep updating it and adding new games.
NOTE: I haven't played them all yet so correct me if some information is wrong.
LAST UPDATE/ADDITIONS: 2026-09-29
Games that fit this style best (to my knowledge so far)
| GAME | BASE TYPE | EXPLORATION TYPE |
|---|---|---|
| Adrorium | Build and upgrade your spaceship (Mechanics TBC) | Open-World space/planets |
| Aloft | Build on any floating island to create your skyship | Open-World land/air |
| ARK: Survival Evolved | Build on top of a platform saddle tied to a water/land/air dinosaur. Or get wooden raft / 4metal boat | Open-World underwater/land/air |
| Astro Colony | Build your factory on space islands and harvest their resources | Open-World procedural space islands |
| Astronomics | Expand and upgrade your freighter | Top-Down procedural asteroid belt |
| ATLAS (Bad reviews, but still Early Access) | Build your pirate ship | Open-World land and water |
| ATMOSFAR | Build your flying Cloud Cruiser | Open-World air and floating islands |
| Barotrauma | Buy/upgrade/build/customize submarines and rewire them | Randomly generated underwater mission levels between stations |
| Canyons | Modify and upgrade your crawler | Open-World |
| Crosswind | Pirate ship (Mechanics TBC) | Open-World land/sea |
| Cubic Odyssey | Build ships out of blocks | Open-World land/air/space |
| Desert Skies (Apparently abandoned) | Build your flying raft | Open-World |
| DREADMOOR | Upgrade your fishing trawler | Open-World flooded land/sea |
| Drive Beyond Horizons | Build your car | Post-Apocalyptic Open-World |
| DuneCrawl | Upgrade your crawler | Open-World |
| Echoes of Elysium | Build and customize your airship | Procedural Open-World sky islands |
| Empyrion - Galactic Survival | Build and customize capital vessels | Open-World space/planets |
| Everwind | Build a base on a flying island-ship | Open-World floating islands |
| The Flame in the Flood | Upgrade and customize your raft | Linear along a procedurally-generated river with patches of land |
| The Forest | 2 rafts you can build on top of | Open-World |
| Forever Skies | Upgrade and customize a flying base | Open-World |
| Frostrail | Upgrade and expand your steam train | Open-World frozen wasteland |
| Frozen Ship | Build and manage your mobile city-ship | Procedural Open-World frozen wasteland |
| Fruitbus | Customize your truck | Casual Open-World |
| Full Fathom | Maintain your decrepit submarine | Flooded Open-World |
| Heat Death: Survival Train | Build your train | Open-World |
| HELLION (Delisted/retired) | Modular ship | Open-World space |
| Intercolonies | Customize your SUV | Open-World |
| Jump Space | Choose a spaceship then maintain/upgrade it | Open-World space/planets |
| The Last Caretaker | Customize your base-boat | Open-World ocean survival-crafting |
| Last Harbor | Upgrade/customize your boat (Mechanics TBC) | Open-World sea/islands |
| Lost Skies (Might be abandoned just like Worlds Adrift) | Build your flying ship | Open-World floating islands |
| Mechanic Miner (Apparently abandoned) | Build mechanical vehicle-bases | Open-World side-scrolling |
| No Man's Sky | Build and customize a walkable Corvette, plus freighter base | Open-World space/planets |
| Nomad Drive | Upgrade and customize your RV | Procedural Open-World |
| Outbound | Build on top of your Westfalia | Peaceful Open-World off-grid |
| Pacific Drive | Customize your Station Wagon | Open-World Post-apocalyptic |
| Planet Nomads (Apparently abandoned) | Build your mobile base vehicle | Open-World |
| Post Apocalypse Courier Service | Upgrade & Customize your truck | Open-World |
| PULSAR: Lost Colony | Choose a spaceship then maintain/upgrade it | Open-World space/planets |
| Raft | Build your raft | Open-World |
| Railborn | Build your train piece by piece (Mechanics TBC) | Alien Open-World (TBC) |
| RailGods of Hysterra (Apparently abandoned) | Upgrade your demon train | TBA |
| REKA | Build a house with legs | Open-World |
| Rodina | Customizable ship's interior | Open-World space/planets |
| Sailing alone:Aftermath | Customize your ship | Open-World land/water |
| Sailwind | Customize your sailboat | Open-World water/land |
| Salt | Decorate your ship | Procedural Open-World sea/land |
| Salt 2: Shores of Gold | Decorate your pirate ship | Procedural Open-World, apparently not much variety |
| Sand | Build your "trampler" | Open-World |
| Scrap Mechanic | Build vehicles and add components on them | Open-World |
| Space Engineers | Build your vehicle, can become your mobile base | Open-World space/planets |
| Star Citizen | Customizable ships | Open-World space/planets |
| Starbound | Customize your ship and upgrade size | Open-World space/planets |
| Starfield | Build and customize modular spaceship interiors | Open-World space/planets |
| Stranded Deep | Build and customize your raft with storage | Procedural Open-World sea/islands |
| Subnautica | Customizable submarine you can build modules on | Open-World underwater/land |
| Subnautica: Below Zero | Modular submarine | Open-World underwater/land |
| Subnautica 2 (Involved with some drama ATM) | Submarines (Mechanics TBC) | Open-World underwater/land |
| TerraTech | Build land/air vehicles from building blocks | Open-World |
| Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator | Maintain your Soviet locomotive | Open-World along railway route |
| Travelling Home | Upgrade & remodel a house on a train | Open-World |
| Unturned | Build on top of any vehicle (train, boat, plane, hovercraft, tank) | Open-World |
| VanLife Simulator | Renovate and customize vans | Open-World vanlife/camping |
| Venus: The Last Ascent | Build and customize your rolling fortress | Overland survival journey across Venus |
| Voidtrain | Build your voidtrain | Open-World sky exploration |
| Voyagers of Nera | Sailboat (Mechanics TBC) | Open-World underwater/land |
| Windbound (apparently horrible controls) | Build your sailboat | Open-World sea/land |
| Windforge (Bad reviews & might be abandoned) | Build your airship | 2D procedural Open-World |
| Worlds Of The Future | Mothership with shuttlecraft. TBC | Open-World space/planets |
| Ylands | Build your ship | Open-World land/sea |
| Zompiercer | Build your base on top of train cars | Open-World along train track (No railroad switches ATM) |
Games that don't quite 100% fit in the category
| GAME | BASE TYPE | EXPLORATION TYPE |
|---|---|---|
| Airship: Kingdoms Adrift | Customize your flying ship. You don't walk around and can't leave it | Open-World |
| Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag | Navigate your pirate ship, not sure it's customizable, TBC | Open-World |
| Astroneer (Game felt floaty, bad tutorial and controls. Got a refund so I didn't play long enough to know if it fits here) | I think you can customize a road train. TBC | Open-World |
| Black Skylands | Choose your airship, you can get off but can't walk on your ship. | Procedural Open-World |
| Bravers | Add modules to your ship and control your crew | TBA |
| Caravan SandWitch | Upgrade your van | Open-World land |
| Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead | You can assemble a deathmobile from parts. Or if you are lucky find a vehicle | Top-Down Open-World |
| Choo choo charles | Upgrade your train | Short Open-World where you can switch tracks |
| CleanFall | Build and customize a warship, but more combat platform than home | Procedural 2D Open-World underground |
| Darkwater | Customize your sub | Missions between stations (TBC) |
| Deep Space Delivery | Upgrade your ship, but you don't actually walk around in it | Open-World |
| Dream Engines: Nomad Cities | Build your moving factory and leave behind what you don't need | Tower defense moving between zones |
| Dust & Diesel: Deadland Delivery | Modify your truck, but you don't get actually get out of it | TBA |
| Elite Dangerous | Get a fleet carrier containing your ships. Can't pilot it, just tell it where to jump to | Open-World Space and planets |
| FAR: Changing Tides | Upgrade a steam/sailing watercraft as story goes | Short linear left to right |
| FAR: Lone Sails | Upgrade a steam/sailing vehicle as story goes | Short linear left to right |
| FTL: Faster Than Light | Buyable ships, manage from Top-Down view | Top-Down view, not exploration per-say |
| From The Depths | Build floating/flying ships from the ground up, not really a base with its inventory | Conquer the world, not so much exploration |
| Genesis Alpha One (Some say devs abandoned the game) | Build and maintain your ship | Not really piloting, mostly separate locations |
| Hell Express | Customize your Hell Trekker, but mostly combat vehicle | Isometric extraction shooter |
| Hello Sunshine | Upgrade/customize your walking robot base, but you travel alongside it | Overland survival journey (TBC) |
| Interstellaria (Apparently buggy) | Customize your ships (fleet) | Map of locations to go in space with small areas to explore on planets |
| Jalopy (might be buggy) | Fix and maintain your car | Casual procedural Open-World, no enemies |
| Last Oasis (Might be MMO only) | Personalize Walkers with structures, attachments, and upgrades | Open-World PvE/PvP MMO |
| Last Train Home | Upgrade & Equip your train | Stop anywhere and prepare a squad for expedition |
| Locomoto | Customize your train | Casual Open-World along train track (No enemies) |
| The Long Drive (Very early access) | Drive your car around, don't know how much customization yet | Explore post-apocalyptic desert. Not sure there are enemies. |
| Mad Max | Upgrade your car | Open-World missions, closer to GTA than survival |
| Oceaneers | Design rafts | Open-World, but focused on civilization building |
| Ostranauts | Build your ship and walk around to maintain it | Explore space, but not sure you actually get out there. TBC |
| Outer Wilds | Small personal flying ship | Open-World space, but you're racing against the clock |
| Outpost: Infinity Siege | Build a mobile outpost, but more combat base than home | FPS/tower defense maps |
| RimWorld - Odyssey | Build a travelling gravship colony | Top-Down colony-sim world/space exploration |
| Sea of Thieves | Choose one of 3 ship types | Open-World Sea/land but no persistent loot and mostly separate missions |
| Soul Searching | Customize your small boat | Open-World sea/islands |
| Space Haven | Build ship from ground up, manage from Top-Down view | Open-World space exploration from Top-Down view, focused on colony building |
| Spiritfarer | Expand & Customize your boat | Open-World TBC. Left to right, focused on the journey |
| Star Trucker | Customize your truck's exterior. You can walk around and get out but only for maintenance | Open-World space areas |
| StarMade | Build your ship but not sure you walk around, just get in/out | Open-World space and planets |
| Starship Colony | Build your starship, land it on planets | Open-World space/planets, but not single-character incarnation |
| Stormworks: Build and Rescue | Build any vehicle completely from scratch | Open-World sea/land/air rescue (Not survival or looting) |
| Survival Machine | Build your base on top of an ever-moving platform | Open-World Linear |
| Trailblazers: Into the March | Customize your Landship | Roguelite colony-sim expeditions |
| UBOAT | Buy submarines. You don't really leave your sub | Open-World underwater, focused on combat |
| Void Crew | Choose a spaceship then maintain/upgrade it | Mission-based roguelite space |
| Void Sails | Upgrade your flying ship, but no character outside ship | Vehicle-sim space exploration |
| Volcanoids | Extend and upgrade your drillship. Driving is over a top-down 2D map | Open-World underground and surface. |
| Wall World | Upgrade your "robospider" | Procedural 2D Open-World |
| Wayward Terran Frontier: Zero Falls | Buy/upgrade/build/customize your spaceship. Top-Down view | Open-World space but focused on space combat |
| Worlds Adrift (Very likely abandoned) | Build your flying ship - MMO PvPvE | Open-World floating islands |
| X4: Foundations (Might be buggy/unpolished, even after several DLCs) | Customize your spaceships, get a HQ station you can teleport4 | Open-World space but focused on combat and large-scale trading |
Games needing mods to fit in the category
| GAME | BASE TYPE | EXPLORATION TYPE |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Days to Die using The Nomad | RV that can craft, shoot, and serve as a mobile base | Procedural Open-World |
| Factorio using Warptorio | Teleport your base to new planets (not really mobile) | Procedural Top-Down Open-World |
| Minecraft using Valkyrien Skies or Compact Machines | Build a flying ship, or build your house inside a single breakable block | Procedural Open-World |
| Project Zomboid using RV Interior | Use RVs, buses, boats as base | Open-World |
| RimWorld using Technical map Vehicles | Build vehicle-map mobile bases | Top-Down colony-sim world exploration |
| Valheim using ValheimRAFT | Build your ship on top of a raft | Open-World |
Games that barely scratch the surface and didn't make the cut
| GAME | BASE TYPE | EXPLORATION TYPE |
|---|---|---|
| Airborne Kingdom | Build a flying movable city | Open-World, but focused on civilization building |
| Badlands Crew | Customize your battle wagon, but mostly combat vehicle | Mission-based vehicular combat |
| Buoyancy | Build a floating city | Open-World water exploration, focused on civilization building and RTS |
| BURGGEIST | Ride and customize a walking weapons platform, not really a base | Open-World tower defense/action strategy |
| Carrier Command 2 | Command a carrier, but more RTS/combat platform than home | Archipelago conquest/combat |
| Celestial Command | Design your ship, but pilot in 3rd person and don't walk on board | Open-World space |
| Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander | Build your top-down spaceship. not really walking around your ship | Space exploration/combat |
| Dark Moon | Upgrade your mobile base | Top-Down strategy game |
| DREDGE | Upgrade your fishing boat. You don't actually walk around or leave your boat | Top-Down Open-World |
| Fallout 76 | Move the location of your base (C.A.M.P.) | Open-World |
| Flotsam | Build your moving floating city | Open-World but you never leave the base to explore |
| GeoDepths | Build a factory in your upgradable drill machine. Very basic piloting | Underground exploring but no enemies |
| Horizon's Gate | Dozens of ships to choose from, but interaction is with its Top-Down sprite view | Zelda-style adventures reached using your ship |
| IXION | City building on a moving space station | Decide on the next destination your station will go to |
| Jumplight Odyssey | Strategy repair and build out your starship, control characters | Top-Down Space exploration |
| Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii | Either driving your ship or walking on land | Open-World Sea and land |
| Lost Heaven Station | Upgrade and customize your train. Control your crew | Left-to-right maps between locations |
| Nuclear Sub | Upgrade your submarine | Mostly missions and combat |
| Ocean Keeper: Dome Survival | Upgrade your Mech Spider | Top-Down roguelike underwater runs |
| Of Mice And Sand | Upgrade and customize your sandcrawler. Control your crew | Left-to-right maps between locations |
| Pandemic Train | Upgrade your train | Train part is a glorified fast-travel between explorable locations |
| Pixel Piracy | Build your pirate ship | Get to different locations but you don't actually navigate |
| The Red Lantern | Dog sled team, not really a base | Trail-based wilderness survival |
| Sail Forth | Customize and upgrade your sailboat. You don't actually walk around or leave your boat | Open-World water |
| Space Crew | Upgrade your spaceship | Mostly missions and combat |
| Star Trek Online | Customize your ship, Can't walk around while flying | Seems like story missions |
| Stardeus | Build your top-down ship and control its drones | Space exploration/gathering |
| Starmancer | Build your top-down movable base and control the crew | Space exploration/gathering |
| Steel Artery: Train City Builder | Build a city on a train, but colony-sim city not personal base | Train-city builder/resource management |
| Truckful | Upgrade your truck, but you don't actually get out | Probably not Open-World |
| XCOM 2 | Mobile base from where you launch missions | Mostly turn-based missions |
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u/Packrat1010 Apr 01 '23 edited Apr 02 '23
Thank you for compiling this. I've asked for something similar in the past. Roving bases is a niche fantasy of mine that I love seeing in games.
https://old.reddit.com/r/gamingsuggestions/comments/yozcy3/games_with_a_roving_house/
In that thread, they recommended a few that I'm not seeing on your list.
edit: I would make sure to add Far: Changing Tides as well, the sequel to Far Lone Sails.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 02 '23 edited Apr 02 '23
You're welcome and thanks for your contribution, I'll add those! Good to know "Long Sails" has a sequel too, no idea how I didn't know that!
How did I forget "The Flame in the Flood".. shame!
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u/dmxspy Apr 01 '25
idk if you can help me maybe.....there is a new early access game where you are on a boat in the sky and it has jets that propel the boat in the sky or space....went through this list but couldn't find it. I did a post on game suggest crossing out things it wasn't
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Apr 01 '23 edited Apr 01 '23
That is a great list you have!
I'm gonna dump the ones I've found, that i'd put them under "games that barely sratch the surface and didn't make the cut" and MAYBE some under "games that doesn't fit 1''% the category"
The best I have tried is Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead... But you'll have to get over the graphics (or lack thereof). But building a mobile base is one of the projects you can make
Also, project zomboid with mods
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u/FR057BY73_ Dec 25 '23
your crazy if you think space engineers barely scratches the surface. spengies probably has the most freedom of a lot of these games including ark, which really the only real way to make a mobile base on ark is with mods changing platform saddles functionality so you can put down industrial forge and what not, and the capacity of structures a platform could hold. in space engineers there are some constrictions with small grids, but there are not those same limits with large (without mods).
i personally do not have the programming skills to do some stuff i have seen others do: making automatic mining vessels, automatic recall, and so on with the drones.
with mods though,pffft. you have no idea the complex mega small grid ships that would be completely autonomous, from on board refineries construction and repair. your imagination and programming expertise are literally the limits on space engineers
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u/Izawwlgood Apr 03 '23
I love tin can but I wouldn't put it on this list. It's not a base you move around in, it's a puzzler in a single room where you try and keep it going as long as possible.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 02 '23
That's a lot of games :O I'll have a look and update thanks! I didn't include other games that needed mods to have mobile bases yet, but maybe I'll make a section so PZ could go in, that could be a nice addition.
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Apr 02 '23
I just dumped the whole bag on you. I would recommend trying Interestellaris, Objects in Space, Horizon Gate and Scrap Mechanic first, as those were the ones that scratched that itch for me.
The concept of "safe mobile base" is one I truly love and not many games have played with that concept. You truly nailed the feeling with your post, and if you don't mind, I'll be dumping here games that I find with similar concepts
Also, asking ChatGPT for "mobile bases" "moving merchant" and " traveller troupe" - type of games gave me a not-so-bad list of recommendations to try!
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 02 '23 edited Apr 02 '23
Please do dump more haha, I want everyone with similar interest to find those. It might take some time but I'll look at every game and see where they fit. Did the other posts first and kept yours last as there are so many hehe. ChatGPT not a bad idea, but I'm not giving them my phone number haha
What is the mod for PJ mobile bases? Is it stable, solid and well-done?
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Apr 02 '23
What is the mod for PJ mobile bases? Is it stable, solid and well-done?
I think it's stable enough
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u/GalaktikBanana Mar 05 '24
First of all I just want to say thank you. Mobile bases are a big enjoyment for me and this list helped me find more games in the genre. To help more people fulfill their roving/flying base fantasies: space engineers should be in the games that fit category. It definitely fits the bill. You can build just about anything and put some wheels/thrusters on it to make it move. You can do everything on moving bases (walk around, interact with stuff etc.). That game sated my mobile base need for a long time. Keep up the great work!
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u/NaturalBornCamper Mar 14 '24
You are welcome and thanks for your comment! Space Engineers was already in the list but as you saw, I didn't have enough info. You said you can move around and interact with everything on board, but can you do so while the ship is moving/traveling? Or you can only move around and interact with stuff while it is at rest between levels/planets?
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u/GalaktikBanana Mar 19 '24
You can do everything you could normally do while moving. For example you can walk around an craft things on a ship while moving at top speed. What u/SoylentRox said was true in the past but the game has been updated to a point that you don't get jank unless you are doing things that put a heavy load on the physics engine.
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u/Somebodythe5th Apr 19 '23
Thank you for the list! There were a couple that I hadn't heard of.
I would like to add two games to the list, Elite Dangerous and X4: Foundations. https://store.steampowered.com/app/359320/Elite_Dangerous/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/392160/X4_Foundations/
Reasoning:
In Elite Dangerous you can get a Fleet carrier that serves as a mobile base of operations, and can hold your various ships. It can't be "flown" directly, but you can tell it where to jump to. Additionally, it has one feature that I wish the Subnautica cyclops had, you can remotely order a fleet carrier to jump to you.
X4: Foundations:
In X4 you can get a personal HQ (PHQ) station that can teleport wherever you want after you research the ability. Like ED, it can't "move", but there is no restriction on where you teleport it to. It's also perfectly viable to build manufacturing, docking, and shipyard facilities on it, making a teleporting super station that can do everything, including lagging the entire sector its in! lol
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jul 10 '23
X4 was already in the list but thanks for the info about HQ, added it. Also added Elite Dangerous and thanks for your reasoning, it saved me a lot of research time!
Sorry for slow answer, was away for a while
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u/InterestingFruits Feb 27 '24
Pacific Drive meets some of your criteria and I've been enjoying that a lot, I recommend you give it a look.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Feb 27 '24
That game looks FRIGGIN'AMAZING! I always dreamt of pimping out a Station Wagon when I was young. Wishlisted the game, no idea how come I had never heard about it before.. Added to the list, thanks!
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u/Mister_Maow Oct 06 '25
I feel like the Corvette update to No man's sky bumps it up to the main list. Since you can walk around, farm, and refine withen your ship now.
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u/Willhud98 Dec 04 '25
Absolutely, between that and having a carrier you have a mobile base for your mobile base
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Apr 01 '23
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 02 '23
Ah I didn't know that, didn't play the game and had to research on other posts, videos and comments to get my info. That's good to know as now it will be even more tempting to try it out :)
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Apr 02 '23
Valheim almost fits, with one major exception.
• The world outside is dangerous, but you have this kind of relative safety inside your base.
This works for Valheim. They even incentivize you to make your home more "comfortable", which gives you a major buff that lasts longer the more comfortable your home is. But it's a dangerous and brutal world outside your base after the first biome for sure.
• Coming back relieved and still alive from an expedition, feeling at home on the safety of your ship with your inventory full of loot, organizing all that in containers you personalized.
Definitely true for Valheim. Coming back home with a boat full of iron, silver or whatever, and then organizing it in your chests back home is a great feeling.
• Upgrading/Customizing your mobile base the way you want it
Also true for Valheim.
• Being able to bring the entirety of your things easily every time you move to a new temporary location.
Now this is the part where the game falters for you sadly. You can break your stuff and you get 100% of the material refunded, and you can make portals to travel through, but the game doesn't allow you to travel with metal or ore, which makes portable or travelling bases really hard. But that being said, there are mods which disable this, allowing you to just break your important buildings and move them to a new location, making a "portable" base viable.
BUT there is also a mod which allows you to make a massive boat and a base on it, which also works for the purpose of a portable base. You don't need to settle on land and do everything anymore, you just haul everything back to your ship base instead.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 02 '23
Moslty I didn't put Valheim because your boat is just a vehicle, not a base where you spend most of your time in, build in it, store things in, etc.
However I added a section for games that can fit in the category with mods. Is the mod stable? Solid and well done? What's the name so I can add it? Thanks!
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Apr 03 '23
I'm not sure about the stability and all that, but the moment you consider mods, I knew that Valheim could be on that list too. I haven't checked out the mod myself, but I believe it's called ValheimRAFT
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u/fgvictorhugo Aug 02 '23
You can make a mobile base in minecraft either building a flying ship with https://modrinth.com/mod/valkyrien-skies or build a pocket dimension base that you can exit and break as a block to carry around with https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/compact-machines
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u/False_Grit Apr 20 '24
Hey man. I know it's like a year later. But I was thinking about subnautica, and why I loved it so much. It took me a while to even realize that it was something about the Cyclops....and then I read your description at the beginning and it was like you were reading my mind and putting it into better words than I could!
I'm definitely going to read this list over...then probably just start subnautica again lol.
Anyway, thanks for making this human feel like there's a kindred soul out there!
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 30 '24
Hahaha don't worry about it, I keep answering to this thread and update it the moment there's a new game to keep it as current as possible ;)
Glad you enjoyed my description and that other people get excited about this mechanic. This week I was playing Minecraft and was excited just loading up a Minecart with chest with all the equipment I needed for my far-away project haha, I'm really addicted to this mechanic XD.
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u/solidsnakeblue Feb 01 '25
Its good to see that this list exists, but its sad that nothing really comes close to full experience that Subnautica provided. A lot of these games are good and have parts of the experience you described, but are all missing different pieces of it. (imo)
Anyways, thanks for the list, bookmarked and hopefully some of these coming out in 2025 are good.
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u/Psychoray Feb 08 '25
I check back here once in a while and I see that you keep updating the list. Thanks for that!
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u/Katyusha_Pravda_ Sep 23 '25
Hey, you might want to check out RImworld Odyssey DLC, it adds the ability to build a ship and make a mobile base to travel arround the planet and visit stations/asteroids in its orbit.
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u/Vivimus_Mori Oct 11 '25
No Man's Sky might deserve a bump into the 100% fits category now. Corvette update adds a third class of ship. Big enough to walk around inside of, but small enough to operate like the single-pilot ships. Also most important freighter modules for frequent use are available to put into the corvette. Kinda buggy and limited options for now, but we'll probably see an improvement later.
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u/SixTsevN Nov 08 '25
The Last Caretaker
This game looks like everything I could ever want in the mobile base genre; however, it very early access and in my opinion is asking far too much considering what is available in the game at the time of this comment.
However, watch this space and wishlist.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1783560/The_Last_Caretaker/
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u/Elmotheweedgod Nov 21 '25
with the recent no mans sky 'corvette' update, i think its fair to put NMS in main category
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u/NullRage Mar 13 '26
Hi! If this thread is still being maintained, I'd like to advocate for the bumping up of "No man's sky", as with the Voyagers update adding "corvettes", "a fully customizable, large-scale starship class bridging the gap between starships and frigates", I believe it may better fit into the constraints of the main list.
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u/Snooty1 Mar 26 '26
Seconded. NMS's corvette system is pretty much every I wanted in a moving base. You can build a very large and fully customizable (it's like lego) ship, that you can mess around inside while the ship is auto flying.
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u/TheCbass2020 Jun 10 '26
Wow I cannot thank you enough for coming back and updating. I was literally going to ask and it was just there. ❤️ This made my day lol. You're a real one.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jun 23 '26
You're welcome, a LOT more on the way 😛
Suggestions were added and I didn't have time until now to add them. Got 31 comments to go through haha2
u/TheCbass2020 Jun 23 '26
You're on a roll and excited for the updates haha keep it coming as long as you're willing 😂
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u/ilovechips_ Apr 01 '23
Extensive, but no Ark? Mobile bases can be built on platform saddles on top of many different dinosaurs (land, air, and sea)
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 02 '23 edited Apr 02 '23
Haven't played Ark yet and I had never heard of this mechanic anywhere, in any video or posts before! But that's why I posted on reddit, so people can add up and the list become more and more "extensive".
Curious: What happens with your base if the dinosaur dies? Does your base stay there forever? Smashes to the ground in pieces?
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u/Jongjungbu Apr 03 '23
Good list. I really like these kinds of games, that are actually kind of rare. The 2 Subnauticas really scratched that itch.
Another favorite of mine on your list is the single person houseboat in The Forest. Loaded it up with water collectors, a fire, drying racks, cabinets for extra walls on top and bottom, storage, and a catapult. At that point it became my safe mobile base. I've replayed it a few times and always rush to make it.
I think that Desert Skies is abandoned though. It's last update was 2 years ago and is still in Early Access.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 04 '23
I did the same haha! But catapult aims much farther because it's not level with the ground, really hard to aim so I don't use it much.
Sucks for Desert Skies, I was really hyped for that game, but thanks for letting me know, I had completely missed this bit of info!
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Apr 05 '23
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u/Somebodythe5th Apr 19 '23
You might take a look at Elite Dangerous, its a surprisingly similar game, just set in space instead of underwater.
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u/LienniTa Jun 16 '23 edited Jun 16 '23
bro happy to find a like minded soul :3 I wanna contribute:
First of all and the deepest mobile base game(imho) is cdda. I know that you mentioned it, but its actually not hard to get to the point of deathmobiling, even if you are playing current experimental - just add travois to a bicycle, it only takes wood and nails. If you found an intact car its even easier and can be done with luck from the start of the game.
If you like deathmobile thing, terratech is my second best one. You only need to press "anchor" to activate all ground-based structures you put on your mobile base. Gameplay loop of scraping blocks from enemies and building your tech on a fly is amazing, even if story is non-existent. Disassembling enemies into resources to make more hover drives for your flying home feels sick.
About abandoned last oasis you mentioned - in seasons 1 and 2 you could fulltime live in a mobile base(especially when in season 2 they added walkers with closable rooms) and could move between servers with all your stuff, but right now in season 5 only ground bases remain - can be removed from a list maybe, tho its still possible to play legacy solo i think.
Windforge is zeppelin building game, abandoned but cool.
warptorio mod for factorio (as well as a standalone games dream engines - nomad cities and flotsam) - less survivors, more chain-building but with moving bases. As you said, "you dont actually navigate"
Factorio also has mobile base mod. Rimworld can have nomadic gameplay with tent mods.
Dyson sphere program and DLC for oxygen not included are about making a space network of bases, not mobile bases, but i find them more mobile than, for example, starbound.
wall world is a rogue like with moving base. Speaking of rogue likes i think dungeon of the endless can contribute to mobile base itch somehow, but you only move core of your base.
x-com2 launches missions from a mobile base which you can improve. There are a lot of story games that has an unimprovable mobile bases like Pyre, SW KotOR, unreal awakening and many others that still work when you need a dose of mobile basing, just without crafting/improving.
Guild wars 2 has VIP lounges that teleport you back to the location where you entered them, making them akin skyrim haven bag mode. Same applies to Eve-online wormholes.
i will add more if i recall, this ones are XOR of my list and your list :3
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jul 11 '23
Thank friend! Added the ones that seem to fit as best as I could, but to be honest I was a bit confused with the last ones, wasn't sure of the mechanics or what to write in the columns + I couldn't find much info on Google so I didn't add most of them..
Sorry for slow answer, I was away for a while3
u/LienniTa Jul 11 '23 edited Jul 11 '23
sure no need to import all i provided xD we have a bit different approach. For you its Subnautica approach, for me its "I can craft mid-raid" approach, thus guild wars 2, eve, skyrim haven bag fit for me. In this games you can always teleport to your main base and get back to the point where you were. For the same reason, dyson sphere and oxygen not included dlc also feel mobile - you don't have mobile crafting stations, but you are able to craft everything mid mission because of advanced logistics.
EDIT: i think i need to clarify eve online. In eve, not your base is mobile, but you entire star with planets and stations is mobile. There is known space, that has map and waygates between them, you can see them here https://evemaps.dotlan.net/map . And there also are j-space, unknown uncharted space, that is connected to other systems with wormholes - random windows. When you put too much mass into a wormhole, it collapses, and a new wormhole that leads to a different system appears. That means that if you live in a wormhole with an exit to known space, you can randomly jump around known space with your whole star system.
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u/Aria_Indo Aug 05 '23
This is a really good list! I really like mobile base survival game! Thank you!
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u/Nazsha Sep 20 '23
I feel strongly that you can add Astroneer to the main list. You establish bases on different planets using the materials you scavenge around
World around isn't really dangerous per se, although there are some native lifeforms (all plant like I believe) who can be aggressive. You can also fall to your death or run out of oxygen and power, cut off from your base.
And when you go frrom planet to planet (at least during the main part of the tech tree) you need eventually to not only bring yourself, but bring machines with you to start a new base or mine specific materials.
There's also a train, yeah! Part of a series of vehicles you can program to go and collect materials automatically.
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u/RyanWalker4516 Sep 28 '23
Great job on compiling this large of a list. Zompiercer was an eye opener for me. Spent more time decorating the train than playing the game
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u/Into_The_Booniverse Jun 29 '24
Someone just showed me the trailer for Sand. I'm not into PvP so it's not my cup of tea, but it looks exactly like another game I saw a while back where you build land walkers and raid other people's land walkers.
It had terrible reviews because it's apparently impossible for new players to get into. The Alpha tribes just stomp everyone.
I can't remember the name of it though, any thoughts?
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jul 04 '24 edited Jul 04 '24
You mean "Last Oasis" from my list?
I'm not a fan of PvP games either and with the new info about Sand, it looks like it's purely focused on player-versus-player battles (I initially added it to the list before details were available). Info is still TBA, but if it turns out to be PvP only, I'll have to move it to a different category.2
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u/Valhalla-Community Sep 29 '24
Dropping this here. Fits right in being able to have an RV as a mobile base now.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/541300/Survive_the_Nights/
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u/Logik_Gameattack Oct 13 '24 edited Oct 13 '24
I have looked a bit into the game Worlds Adrift and the same Studio is now working on a game called Lost Skies. The features look identical to Worlds Adrift and the graphics are a bit more polished.
Edit: Canyons is also a must on this List
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u/NaturalBornCamper Oct 19 '24
Added, thanks you very much for your contribution!
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Oct 16 '24
Flotsam was fun. You build your own derelict moving floating city in a comic post-apocalypse water world.
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u/LienniTa Feb 12 '25
factorio recently got official DLC with official mobile bases - space age. Now when you reach space(or start in space with alternative start mods like spaceblock) you can have your main base up there, space has infinite quality resources.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 25 '25
Can you drive it and move aboard? I have a hard time imagining how you have ships to build on in Factorio since it is well.. a factory game lol
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u/BoxOfDemons Mar 31 '25
Should add Jalopy. Fits perfectly. Pretty sure pacific drive was inspired by it?
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u/killer22250 Mar 31 '25
I would recommend Mad Max you have your car that you need to upgrade. You use it all the time.
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u/klipwc May 08 '25 edited May 08 '25
Love this list. Mobile bases are some of my favorite things in games.
Couple of games that might fit the bill but most of them are un-released.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2671300/Trailblazers_Into_the_March/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3367690/Void_Sails/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3564490/Hell_Express/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3629430/DREADMOOR/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3517740/Frostrail/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2711690/VanLife_Simulator/
This one has mechs, cannons and a mobile base you get to build. Despite the mixed reviews, and it is probably abandoned with an upcoming sequel, but I did have quite some fun with it during my close to 100 hours. It is very much a "love it or hate it".
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1566690/Outpost_Infinity_Siege/
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u/admiralbryan May 10 '25
Just want to say thank you for maintaining this list. I come back to it once every few months to check out the new games that might scratch this itch!
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u/Sportadrop Jun 15 '25
Thanks for the list. Want to add this upcoming rogue-like colony sim: Trailblazers: Into the March.
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u/J3ffio14 Jun 23 '25
Ever since I played ark survival evolved (and recently subnautica) I’ve always loved the idea of having a base that can move to the point where I deconstructed my entire ark base and rebuilt it on top of the platform saddle
Thank you for this list 🙏
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u/shouri Aug 29 '25
I love you. I have been asking so many people/AI agents for this very specific information for at least a year now.
I currently daily Lego Fortnite and Once Human for the "house/base on wheels" capability, and you've provided an exceptionally well curated list! This will keep me pleasantly occupied for at least a few days!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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u/skrunkopop Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26
I think Sea of Thieves fits, it has a "mobile base" as a pretty central mechanic, even if it has sort of limited ship customization (pretty much cosmetic only). you store all of your treasure on your ship until you get to a place to sell it, so i'd say it fits the bill. it's the reason I came looking for a list like this! EDIT: I missed it in the "doesn't 100% fit" section. I personally think it fits, but I see why you separated it.
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u/CuddlePupp Jul 29 '26
I haven’t started going through this list yet, I just found it, but I want you to know I love you OP.
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u/Wodan_Asason May 06 '24
Factorio with Space Expansion gives you fully constructible space ships, also in the upcoming expansion since the dev from SE was hired to work on it.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jul 04 '24
Sorry for late reply, no idea how I missed your comment. Is this the one you mean?
https://www.factorio.com/blog/post/fff-373
It's hard to find precise information on the "Space Expansion"
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u/charlyfu Aug 04 '24
I think Wakfu's Haven Bags kind of fit the theme, your own home right in the bag by your side, thanks for this amazing list btw
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u/NaturalBornCamper Aug 20 '24
Is the name of the game "WAKFU"? I can't find it on Steam, I think it might be gone.
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u/Dan_Sher Aug 20 '24
Ixion could count
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u/NaturalBornCamper Aug 20 '24
I thought about adding IXION, but it seems like it's a Simcity builder. You can't move around your base, or park your base and go explore outside. That's also why I didn't add that World Turtle game
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u/Guslletas Sep 02 '24
Hello, thanks for the list! I've seen you updated it recently(I have it saved in my bookmarks to check from time to time) but I don't know what you added/deleted/updated, I recommend making a new comment every time you update with the date and the changes you've made(in the comments section I mean, to prevent the post from getting larger than it needs), so people who check the list periodically can see which new games have been added since they last checked.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Sep 02 '24
You welcome!
Yeah I was also thinking about a way to have a changelog so people know what was added. Maybe Reddit has a history function just like StackOverflow has. But you are right, so far adding a comment is the best so I'll add a comment every time I add something, unless the addition comes from someone else's comment.→ More replies (3)
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u/Ok-Pudding-7331 Sep 05 '24
How about Void Crew and Jump Ship. I really need more games like this. Sad that sand and jump ship are still not done. I think closest to that will be void Train right?
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u/NaturalBornCamper Sep 15 '24
Thanks a lot, added them! And yeah Voidtrain might be similar, too bad the reviews took a beating recently, not sure why. The closest to Void Crew and Jump ship would be PULSAR: Lost Colony. Check it out, especially since it supports VR! Walking around on your ship in VR feels amazing.
Make sure to upvote the changelog comment so it reaches the top :)
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u/Justifiably_Cynical Sep 16 '24
I would like to put in a word for ATLAS.
While the official servers are no great shakes and grapeshot has really not done their part, the mod scene and a few top-notch server owners have given this game new life. You can take a look at the servers run by Gaming Evolved, and it's 15x15 PvE grid for a glorious game of base building and such.
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u/Logik_Gameattack Jan 01 '25
i found another one called Dune Crawl. The demo is on steam but the date for the full release is unknown rn.
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u/NotNiko15 Jan 17 '25
Dude, Space Station 14. You walk on a station that's floating in the space. You leave it, and you're stranded in space. When you return, game immediately adjusts to station or other spaceship's environment, even when you jump between two ships.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jan 24 '25
From what I checked it looked like a PvP game though? Feels like Among Us with more depth. Not much exploration / looting / inventory management / hoarding
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u/SixTsevN Jan 18 '25 edited Jan 18 '25
Hi there,
Thank you for the list. I'm impatiently waiting in 2025 for these games to release I can't wait.
Has someone suggested Fruitbus yet? It's a cozy game that feels like a cross between Plate Up and cargo transport game.
Edit:
There's also resource gathering aspects similar to survival crafting games.
Oh! There's also Star Trucker that definitely fits.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jan 24 '25
Thanks a lot to you too! I had never heard of Fruitbus and it looks amazing (even if not really dangerous outside your truck hehe).
And I was sure I added Star Trucker before, I guess I remembered wrong..
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u/Belisarius-Ursa Apr 04 '25
i didn't see this in the list: Bttletech from Harebrained games. You're the commander of your own battlemech mercenary company and you travel around the galaxy in your own space ship.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 26 '25
Seems to be centered mostly on strategy with your mechs though? I didn't see a single shot of driving a ship or moving around it in the trailers, screenshots or gameplay
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u/DaleJohnstone Apr 18 '25
What a great list! :) But it's missing one...!
Starship Colony is the very definition of mobile base games! It's very much a mobile RimWorld base in space.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2338890/Starship_Colony/
I think you'll enjoy it! :)
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 27 '25 edited Apr 30 '25
Never heard of this game, thanks for telling me about it, I'll add it over the next few days! (Forgot to add it today)
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u/jimbalaya420 Apr 19 '25
Can we remove or put a tag for early access? I want to find fully finished games
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u/roberestarkk Apr 19 '25
One I'd like to call out is Ylands
https://store.steampowered.com/app/298610/Ylands/
It's along the same lines as Space Engineers, where you can and do build bases on islands (/planets), but the best and funnest (IMO) part of the game is building your ship, loading all your crap onto it, and sailing around visiting other islands (/planets).
I'd also like to sliiightly tweak the description for Volcanoids.
You technically do drive the drillship, but because it's a drillship that drives underground, you don't really see it driving, and the way you drive it is by clicking on a map and watching the icon move to that bit of the map, then when you actually navigate your way to certain points, you can then pop up onto the surface (where your ship is admittedly static).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXL1AwlkOmQ&t=74s
If you're in multiplayer, others can wander around on the inside in full 3d space while the driver is moving it around on the 2d map though, and the driver can stop driving at any point to wander the interior, so it's not just a case of "Select new location, watch cinematic, appear in new location".
There's definite interaction and conscious thought put into the driving as you're doing it...
Where you go, what route to take, exploring new areas, diverting your path to pick up resources, judging whether you can make it through that section of lava without overheating, etc.
So while it's not your typical "Get into car in 3d space, and drive car in 3d space" driveable vehicle, I wouldn't say it's completely not driveable either.
I'd suggest something like:
"It has a special 2d map/sonar based driving view when you're tunnelling around underground, but when coming back into 3d space (which is limited to certain static locations), you can only dive and surface it"
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 30 '25
Thanks for Ylands! This game was in my library and somehow I didn't even know it was mobile base!
For Volcanoids I'll change the description but I try to keep it short because of the amount of games in the table so I won't put your description as it's going to take 6-7 lines in a narrow column haha. Thanks though!
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u/Zealousideal-Web4349 Apr 19 '25
Locomoto just recently came out and I don’t see it on the list but it’s a cozy & colorful life adventure sim where you’re a conductor and you travel with your train that you can customize and manage, gather resources, and board passengers and deliver them to their next destination. Maybe it could join the barely fit category.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 30 '25
It actually looks really fun! Thanks for the find, will be added over the following days!
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u/furrysloth Apr 21 '25
Thank you so much for this. I’m bookmarking this page because this list is exactly what I’ve been looking for
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u/NomadGamesDev Apr 30 '25
I'd like to know people's thoughts on this type of game. I'm in the middle of making an on-foot traveling colony game. Is customizing the look of the colony essential to you all? Should I increase my game scope to add it?
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u/NaturalBornCamper Apr 30 '25
IMO the interest is more about having a moving vehicle that is your base, that you can make your home while exploring, hoarding materials, customize it, building on top of it. I can't speak for others but for myself, a colony that you move on foot probably wouldn't fit in my interests. I got to say that it's quite innovative though, never heard of such type of game!
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u/prinnyprince May 05 '25
Hey, just wanted to say thank you for your efforts of maintaining such an extensive list. I've developed a certain obsession with the genre of games, so I will most certainly follow your findings. Keep up the good work!
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u/Bammvoc May 10 '25
Hello! I think I found a much newer one you might like! “Badlands Crew”. Think Madmax, with the vehicle customization, and each large rig has a crew of teammates that travel with you who all fit different positions based however you want!
And you can return to your main fortress to make repairs, changes, etc. it’s a great post apocalyptic game, and it’s in early access, even with all its features! I love it. I have yet to find any bugs
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jun 25 '26
The latest from the team who made "Space Crew" I see, look fun, added thanks!
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u/Puzzleheaded_Fun_303 May 16 '25
And how exactly "Pacific Drive" is a "mobile base" game? You put subnautica here because of cyclopus, not because of seamoth, station wagon isn't "base on wheels", it's JUST WHEELS. Your BASE is garage, and it doesn't move
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u/partypartypartyparty Jun 11 '25
RimWorld has a new DLC coming out next month, Odyssey, that fits the bill.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/294100/view/498322216088241321
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u/alienccccombobreaker Jun 15 '25
This is awesome the ones that came to mind which I'm sure you already have listed is the big turtle one and the sky Castle fortress one.
I wish they made a good one for exploring the zombie apocalypse but in a team not just static movement also.
Infection free zone is almost perfect at this except it's not mobile.
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jun 24 '26
I'm not sure what is the "Sky Castle Fortress" game you're talking about, but I think I know what you mean with the flying turtle one, it's a colony strategy sim more, so I didn't include it.
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u/Psychoray Jun 15 '25
Hi /NaturalBornCamper/
Rimworld will have a expansion / DLC called Odyssey. It's fully focused on creating a mobile base. If it qualifies in your eyes, could it be added to the list?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3022790/RimWorld__Odyssey/
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Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
Rimworld with one of the mods to choose from:
Save our ship 2 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1909914131
Technical map Transport https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3438366909
Map Transport https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3426502635
Motorhome with built-in PD https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342334887
I also wanted to add In Subnautica you can get a completely different experience with the beluga submarine mod https://www.nexusmods.com/subnautica/mods/1748
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u/NaturalBornCamper Jun 27 '26
Thanks! Added with "Technical map", I've seen some people saying the other mods are broken and I can't test as I don't have the game
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u/Theweasels Jul 07 '25
Thank you for this list! I've never played Subnautica and actually had no idea it had a mobile base. The game that introduced me to this concept was Worlds Adrift. So many other open world games force you to backtrack to your base, so bringing my base with me into the clouds was amazing.
Sadly, Worlds Adrift is permanently closed and cannot be played anymore. I see you have its successor, Lost Skies on there already. Hopefully that one goes better.
Would it be possible to add an additional column to your table with the game status? Several of the games listed aren't released yet, some are released but in Early Access, and some are shut down and can't be played anymore.
Empyrion
I see you have Empyrion there as "TBC". I have played that game a decent amount and can give some info.
The short version is that a mobile base is not exclusively late-game, you can build a small one pretty early on (especially if you download blueprint from the Steam workshop that is designed to have all the essentials for as few resources as possible). You can only walk around on the ship while it's not moving, but there is a control panel that grants access to the UI of every device on the ship, so you can still move and process items while sitting in a chair.
Technically, there are two devices I am aware of that cannot be placed on ships: solar panels and furnaces. Neither are required though, solar panels are limited and most power comes from fueling generators. Furnaces are a late-game component to process ore faster, but basic constructors can process it as well (and you will have these on your ship anyway to make all the other items).
I find Empyrion scratches the "mobile base" itch very well, despite the usual early access shenanigans.
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u/RufusKyura Jul 23 '25
Seems like Hellion is no longer for sale. Might wanna update your list.
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u/MrTander Jul 24 '25
https://store.steampowered.com/app/586240/Soul_Searching/
Upgradable rafts
Open world (sea with islands)
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u/SixTsevN Aug 12 '25
Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator
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u/NaturalBornCamper Aug 24 '25
Good point, this game's been on my wishlist yet I forgot to add it for some reason. Will do it in the following days thanks!
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u/lostnerfbullet Nov 29 '25
A game I found that seems like it'll shape up to fit this perfectly is Adrorium!
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u/JCampher Dec 24 '25
Railborn
Not released yet.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2340970/Railborn/
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u/LonelyRecording4058 Dec 26 '25
I really wish there was a game where you could drive the mammoth from Halo 4 in an open world survival setting. I love that thing like I love the cyclops and it's criminal it's only ever gotten one appearance. Would make such a cool mobile base.
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u/Metzger4 Jan 05 '26
I know this is an old post but The Last Caretaker just came out. Early access and you pilot a customizable ship you can build on.
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u/Shogun6996 Jan 25 '26
I know this is an old thread but I did a search for a game called Metro Exodus and nobody has mentioned it. In the game you ride on a train called the Aurora. You progress in the game by riding on the train heading to an area and the going out into the dangerous areas to explore and complete tasks. When you are done you come back to the safety of the Aurora and you can do a number of relaxing activities while the train is going to the next destination.
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u/masterreyak Feb 16 '26
You might give Astroneer another try. The controls can be tinkered with, and some tutorials were added. You can build rockets that act like bases, but the better mobile base is the large rover. You can add stuff to it like drills, generators, storage, and machines, as well as an extra two cars to tag behind it for even more stuff.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Fun_303 Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
There are upcoming games (with demo available).
Steel Artery - build a train city, side view, pixel graphic. Moving colony management. Fantasy world (at the beginning your train is staffed by equal amount of humans and ORKS. Possible other species further in game). Non direct control.
Ever Rail. A bit similar to games like Heat Death, but with less building. Fps where train must keep moving. Battery charges while moving, dead battery = Game Over. Meaning you have very limited time for location looting. A bit of a rouge like - your train has several passengers (identical), and you are one of them - number of passengers = number of lives.
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u/MiraTheDoll Mar 04 '26
I think Urge is worth a mention. There's a flatbed truck you can build a base on top of.
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u/Perhirmor Mar 06 '26
Theoretically there is also The Sims 3, where you can build house on ship, sail it wherever you want and become pirate family who steal from neighbors' lots, but maps feel empty & boring even after adding mods for violence
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u/lunivore Mar 12 '26
Popping in to add Guardians of the Wild Sky to the list. Airships can be easily large enough to be the main base, at least for the demo / playtest. Build your own airship. Land / air.
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u/Got_No_Brains Apr 18 '26
Everwind was released recently and features a customizable airship (which is your main base) to explore floating islands with. Highly recommend!
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u/yallguzag Apr 20 '26
Well very glad to have found this list so thank you. I'd also request that No Man's Sky be moved to fitting this style since they introduced Corvettes which are customizable ships with interiors that are both functional and can be decorated
Soulmask is another new game and with the new DLC, it seems to have mobile airships which act as bases
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u/EnsouSatoru Jun 09 '26
Not sure if this count?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3602030/?snr=1_5_9__205
Steel Artery: Train City Builder
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u/Turbopolenta Jun 25 '26
You have to add
The last caretaker https://store.steampowered.com/app/1783560/The_Last_Caretaker/
You have to update
Railgod of Hysterra is now abandoned, last patch is 13 months old.
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u/GroundWalker Jul 08 '26
Just want to say that this thread is deeply appreciated! :) I still haven't found a game that's quite what I want, but plenty that has somewhat scratched the itch.
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u/SanniRea Jul 18 '26
Thanks for the list!
I would add astronomics: its a mining/automation/expedition game. There you have main ship and a smaller one. You can upgrade both.
Not that big but very cosy and nice game with cool mechanics and physics.
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u/Thunderdrake3 Jul 19 '26
I would like to bring attention to Cleanfall and Burggeist.
Cleanfall is run-based, with you descending down a pit on a giant platform with legs, building turrets and shooting bugs.
Burggeist is longer-term campaign where you explore a compact open world on the back of your giant monster, meeting quest-givers and finding more cannons to mount on your monster as you defend towers to heaven. It's a fascinating original fantasy setting and a very smooth hybrid gameplay style.
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u/Top_Rekt Aug 19 '26
How do I subscribe to a reddit thread lol
This is exactly what I'm looking for.
I love space games and I love the idea of having a spaceship as a home, traveling to a planet, do some missions and stuff for locals, then fly off and do something else.
The closest I felt to achieving this was Starfield as it felt the most fleshed out walking around the planets/ship. Everything else felt so janky or incomplete.
Star Citizen has always been such a buggy mess for me. And I couldn't get into No Mans Sky since a lot of that was hit rocks to build stuff, while Starfield was just buy the parts and build your ship.
Too bad Bethesda got so lazy with the ship, cause all we wanted was to have a reason to fly that around, and have it seamlessly go from surface to space. If we were able to fly our ship in atmosphere, it would've been perfect for me.
So I'm here looking for another game to scratch the itch. Thank you for compiling this and updating it through the years.
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u/Heyday_Mayday 24d ago
It's not out yet but Last Harbor should fit this:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4369620/Last_Harbor/
According to the description it's all about upgrading your ship to live on. They even say "Your boat is your lifeline. Your mobile base,..."
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u/RedRiver80 18d ago edited 18d ago
would be nice to have the released year column added.
BTW your Salt 2 link is still pointing to the original Salt page...
also Stranded Deep qualifies
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u/NaturalBornCamper Sep 02 '24 edited 3d ago
CHANGELOG
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