Any "Sandbox" game suggestions?

[Rudheim]

My wife is into sandbox games, with realistic graphics. We are now playing The Forest, this game is great, but my wife is new to the gaming world, and she is not very experienced player yet, especially when it comes to combat so what I am looking for is basically minecraft with realisitic graphics, where PvE is not so forced, but still, this game must have PvE.
Rust - don't have PvE, as far as I know, so just buildng and looting won't be fun. PvP is not an option.
Mincraft - great game but graphic style making it not so atmospheric.
Ark - we are playing on our laptops. I have GTX 860m, and that's pretty much enough to run almost any game on medium settings at 40-60 fps, but Ark is unplayable even on Low.
Any more suggestions?

[Lux Tenebris]

How About Garrys mod?

[Ogami]

Well, "7 Days to Die" is great, its basically Minecraft with zombies. Voxel Engine so you can destroy and remodel the whole game world.
Can turn zombie spawns to low or turn off so you can concentrate on the building and crafting aspect.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/251570/7_Days_to_Die/

[Pigeon Pecking Keyboard]

Take a look at Don't Starve Together. I know, the graphics are not realistic, but it is artsy and appeals to mature audiences tgh. In time for halloween too, as some described it as horror.

Gameplay - You could craft a spear to stick at monsters or you could just build a bonfire to scare them off. Up to you.

Options - lots of options, when you first start the game such as switching off certain PvE. Not to mention mods.

[rincewind]

+1 to the 7 Days to Die suggestion.
Plenty of crafting, leveling, building and scavenging to do. And you can adjust options to make it suit your gameplay style. I always make the zombies walk only, because for me, the old classic zombies are the best.