Pixel Sand

About

Pixel Sand is a single player and multiplayer casual platformer game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Kongroth and was released on April 20, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Pixel Sand is a physics-based platformer game with a creative twist, allowing players to interact with over 200 elements in a sandbox environment. The game features an 8-chapter campaign, networked multiplayer, and kid-friendly modes. Players can also create and share custom levels with downloadable mods. Inspired by classic games like Powder Game and World of Sand, Pixel Sand offers a unique blend of puzzle-solving and experimentation in a procedurally generated world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Engaging sandbox experience with a variety of materials and creative building options.
Unique combination of platforming and puzzle mechanics, offering fun and interesting gameplay.
Charming graphics and a humorous tone that enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.

Lack of clear objectives and structure may lead to boredom for some players.
Short campaign length and limited replayability can diminish long-term interest.
Technical issues such as crashes and bugs can disrupt the gaming experience.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by innovative mechanics that introduce interesting puzzle elements to the classic 2D platformer formula, though the overall presentation suffers from low-quality graphics. While the unique puzzles and story are engaging, the game is criticized for its lack of complexity, challenge, and longevity, suggesting that it falls short of its potential.
- “I streamed the game to my friends and, initially nagged about the high pixelated graphics, but after they saw the gameplay they said it was interesting.”
- “Nice puzzle gameplay + story.”
- “Poor longevity and insufficient complexity of levels, combined with reduced challenge for unlimited lives, take away much from this game, which could have been much better with the potential of the mechanics in it.”
- “It's just gameplay.”
- “Interesting gimmicky puzzle platformer, definitely has mechanics I hadn't seen before.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro aesthetic reminiscent of 8 and 16-bit platforms, which some players initially found pixelated but ultimately interesting. While the art style, particularly in the backgrounds, is praised, there are suggestions for more detail in the levels, and some users experienced graphic issues that were resolved by enabling vsync.
- “Art style, especially of backgrounds, is good, but levels could do with some more detail.”
- “Graphics and art style are visibly retro, a reference to the platforms of old of the 8 and 16 bit era for sure.”
- “I had a few graphic issues that went away when I turned on vsync.”
- “I streamed the game to my friends and, initially nagged about the high pixelated graphics, but after they saw the gameplay they said it was interesting.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its strong sense of humor, with players finding it both hilarious and enjoyable. Many reviews highlight the combination of thoughtful puzzles and comedic elements, making the overall experience fun and engaging. Overall, the humor significantly enhances the gameplay, contributing to its appeal.
- “The game has a solid sense of humor, enjoyable physics with a lot of depth and potential, and is just generally a blast to mess around in.”
- “The campaign is quite fun, and I really love the humor!”
- “This game is hilarious, fun, and just outright enjoyable.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The story is described as fun and quirky, effectively integrating puzzle gameplay with engaging narrative elements. Players appreciate the story mode as an enjoyable exploration of the game's features, complemented by a sandbox mode for additional creative freedom.
- “I played a bit of the story and it's very fun and quirky.”
- “Nice puzzle gameplay + story.”
- “Story mode is a fun tour through the features of the simulation, and of course there's a standard sandbox mode to mess around with the physics.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth performance even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the game for better performance, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
- “The game's optimization ensures that I can enjoy high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.”
- “The game's performance is abysmal, with frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I was really disappointed with the optimization; it feels like the game was rushed and not properly tested.”
- “Even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, which ruins the overall experience.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that the game has limited replayability due to its short length, suggesting it may only be worth purchasing during a sale or for specific audiences, such as families with children.
- “But for the short length and lack of replayability, I wouldn't get it unless it is on sale or maybe if you have kids.”
- “The game feels like a one-and-done experience; there's not much incentive to play it again after finishing.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little left to draw you back in for a second playthrough.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is noted for its relaxing yet occasionally ominous soundtrack, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack itself is very relaxing and at times ominous.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is noted to be somewhat unpolished, with occasional bugs and poorly designed levels that can lead to players getting stuck or falling through the ground.
- “It's slightly unpolished at times, a bit buggy, and some levels aren't carefully designed, making it possible to get stuck, fall below the ground, and stuff like that.”