Gods of Sand

About

"Gods of Sand" is a gladiator manager game with turn-based combat, inspired by the Swords and Sandals series in a darker setting. Run a ludus, manage gladiator economics, and fight in various arenas for money and prizes. Customize gladiator builds with any skill, armor, or weapon for multiple possibilities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 209 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and engaging gladiator management experience with a solid combat system reminiscent of classic titles like 'Swords and Sandals'.
Players appreciate the lack of bugs and the active communication from the developer, which enhances the overall experience.
The game has a charming pixel art style and allows for various builds and strategies, making it enjoyable for casual play.

The game currently lacks content and can feel repetitive, with many players expressing that it becomes boring after a few hours.
There are significant balance issues, particularly with combat mechanics and the effectiveness of certain skills, leading to frustration during gameplay.
The development process appears slow, with some players feeling the game is abandoned or not worth the current price due to its unfinished state.

gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive and simplistic mechanics, particularly in combat, which lacks depth and strategy. While some find enjoyment in the basic gameplay loop and the nostalgic elements reminiscent of "Sword and Sandals," others criticize the unskippable tutorial and the overall lack of content, suggesting that the game is still in need of significant development and refinement. Despite these issues, there are glimpses of potential, especially in the engaging championship bouts that introduce unique challenges.
- “Even though it's still in under final development and debugging process, it already has a handful of decent hours of fun gameplay.”
- “You basically train gladiators, but you get choices that can really decide what happens next. It has some really nice mechanics and a sound basic gameplay loop.”
- “Very cool gameplay loop, shows a lot of promise!”
- “The gameplay is extremely repetitive and rudimentary, especially the combat, and there's not much strategy to the combat so far.”
- “The gameplay is quite repetitive.”
- “That is the worst gameplay loop ever.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as tedious but still enjoyable, with players noting that it can feel excessive at times. Many suggest improvements, such as better rewards for side jobs and options to streamline the grinding process, as the current system often leads to frustration, especially when facing bosses. Overall, while the grind can be fun for character development, it requires significant time investment and could benefit from quality-of-life enhancements.
- “A good and fun game that needs more work to streamline some of the more tedious parts.”
- “I believe that even when completed, the game will be short, if not for being a little grindy.”
- “Until then, I can recommend to anyone that if you already know you're going to lose the fight to the boss, just alt-f4 the game before they kill you to try again, because grinding for 4 hours to get to the minotaur and then just losing because half your abilities don't work is not fun.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The story aspect of the game is considered underwhelming by users, with many feeling that quests lack substance and meaningful rewards compared to arena fights. While there are enjoyable mini-stories and character development opportunities, players express a desire for more impactful narrative elements and choices that resonate throughout the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary feature that needs further development to enhance the gaming experience.
- “I like the different combinations you can make with spells and items on your gladiator and the different mini story parts.”
- “Story time: I stuck with my first gladiator and kept training him, even purchasing him the best equipment I could afford; he was like a son to me.”
- “We would continue to live our days happily; I even adopted more gladiators who would complete missions and earn us much-needed money.”
- “There is no such unlock or story element to make you feel for the opponent (you know, like Rocky).”
- “- story is okay but needs more substance to be good.”
- “- quests aren't worth it at all right now.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The graphics are characterized by smooth animations and appealing pixel art, reminiscent of early 90s games, with a stylized, cartoony aesthetic that contrasts with the game's darker themes. While the visuals are generally well-received for their detail and charm, some players feel that the lack of visceral elements, such as gore, diminishes the overall impact. Upgrades in the shop enhance the experience, although certain recovery upgrades are seen as less valuable.
- “The graphics, even though heavily stylized to look like the game was made in the early 90s, look good and have nifty little details.”
- “This is similar, graphics are a bit more modern; I say more like a 32-bit compared to 16, I guess.”
- “First of all, anything pixelated with cartoony visuals will have a hard time presenting itself as 'dark and unforgiving', and Gods of Sand visually looks like a pleasant vacation being undertaken with a few sort of brutal fights every now and then.”
- “I'd love the game to be more visceral. One of the satisfying things about Domina and Swords and Sandals is the gore (maybe I've yet to see it or it's the pixel graphic style).”
- “This is similar; the graphics are a bit more modern. I would say they are more like 32-bit compared to 16-bit, I guess.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of nostalgic references and a dry wit, with some players finding it amusing yet lacking in depth compared to similar titles. While it has moments that evoke laughter, such as sound effects reminiscent of the original games, the overall comedic tone may not resonate with everyone. For a better sense of the game's humor, viewers are encouraged to check out a specific YouTube video that captures its ironic and funny elements.
- “The sound quality is there as well, even having some sound effects from the original S&S, as well as at least one portal reference, which made me laugh and reminisce.”
- “If you are considering this game but do not want to buy it yet, I recommend watching the DangerouslyFunny video on YouTube regarding this game.”
- “It is more hilarious and ironic than dark and unforgiving.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by significant stability issues, including numerous bugs, glitches, and unresponsive abilities, leading to a frustrating experience. Many players feel it is unfinished and not ready for release, with a strong need for polishing and improvements. Despite its potential, the current state is described as a "buggy mess."
- “It's buggy as hell; skills are useless, there is zero depth to the combat and events.”
- “Good intentions, but it's buggy and exploitable. The weapon given after the tutorial ends up being the best due to having twice the range, but the AI doesn't know that, so it does dumb things.”
- “Buggy mess at the moment. Great game, but desperately needs polishing. A lot of abilities don't work, and one time I had to use Alt+Control+Delete just to have all my gladiators wiped. It is unfinished and nowhere near ready for release. I'll give it a month to change my review.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's atmosphere is noted for its potential to capture the essence of gladiatorial combat, but it falls short in comparison to similar titles like Domina, particularly due to a lack of clarity about opponents and a diminished sense of brutality. While the premise is promising, players feel that the overall dark and unforgiving tone is not effectively conveyed.
- “The idea and premise is great, and the atmosphere of gladiatorial fights is captured perfectly.”
- “This game doesn't come close to Domina's atmosphere and brutal kills. Honestly, I was looking for an alternative when Domina's developer managed to get himself banned.”
- “It's hard to feel the dark and unforgiving atmosphere when the game doesn't even tell you who you're fighting.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is currently limited due to a lack of diverse and well-balanced builds, with some being significantly more powerful than others. Additionally, the restricted number of arenas (only six) further diminishes the variety of gameplay experiences available.
- “In its current state, several builds are playable, but not all of them feel fully thought out, and obviously some are significantly more powerful than others.”
- “The lack of content means that replayability isn't high at the moment, as the number of builds you can realistically try isn't very high or varied, and the arenas only go up to 6 at the moment.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game features repetitive tracks across multiple arenas, which some players feel limits the overall experience. While the existing music is not considered bad, there is a desire for more diverse compositions to enhance the gameplay atmosphere.
- “The music in several arenas is the same, which isn't bad; it's just an opportunity for more music if it gets composed.”
- “The music in several arenas is the same, which isn't bad, just an opportunity for more music if it gets composed.”