Sand:box

About

"Sand:box" is a relaxing sandbox game with pixel graphics, inspired by "falling sand" games. It allows players to create intricate designs and contraptions using various components, and even features digital circuits for harnessing automation and electronics. Players can collaborate with others through Steamworks integration and Discord, sharing designs and reusing parts for inspiration. The game offers a creative outlet for players to build impressive creations or simply blow everything up.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,314 reviews

monetization195 positive mentions

stability19 negative mentions

The game is incredibly fun and relaxing, allowing for endless experimentation with different elements.
There are no ads, which enhances the overall experience and enjoyment of the game.
The premium version is affordable and adds a significant amount of content, making it worth the purchase.

Some users have reported bugs, such as the game freezing or elements not functioning as intended.
The game can become repetitive after a while, with some players wishing for more content and updates.
Certain features, like the premium items, are locked behind a paywall, which some players find frustrating.

monetization
316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
5%
34%
The game features a highly praised monetization model, with no ads whatsoever, which users find refreshing and rare in mobile games. There is a single in-app purchase option, typically priced around $1.50, that unlocks additional content, but players appreciate that this is not necessary to enjoy the game fully. Overall, the absence of ads and minimal monetization strategy contribute to a positive gaming experience, allowing for uninterrupted gameplay.
- “I personally like making different liquids battle against each other, or making stuff blow up by putting gunpowder dispensers and fire dispensers right next to each other, or making contraptions where water flows through different places, overall amazing and it's great that there's no ads at all.”
- “The game is a true sandbox, one simple buy to get what you're offered and the best part, no ads. The other copies should be taken down from Google Play for shamelessly ad flooding their knock-offs.”
- “I love how the in-app purchases feel like you're supporting the creator, plus you get some cool new content, instead of the other way around.”
- “Although the lack of updates is annoying, I know there is no monetization (ads, microtransactions, etc.), but that doesn't mean you can just leave your game to rot and die; I haven't seen any changes for a year or even two years.”
- “I don't like that you have to buy premium for some things, but otherwise the lack of ads and the accuracy of the physics are just so perfect to me.”
- “They don't have ads because the creator of this game wants to make the world a better place, so he didn't put ads in his game. What a hero! But it's kind of frustrating that almost all of the cool stuff is not for free, like the firefly.”
graphics
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the simple, pixelated art style and nostalgic elements, while others express a desire for improved visuals and smoother performance. Some users highlight the game's unique aesthetic and fun physics, noting that the graphics enhance the overall experience, despite not being graphically superior. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, there are calls for updates and enhancements to elevate the visual quality further.
- “Amazing graphics.”
- “Graphics are stellar, controls are amazing, and gameplay is again, relaxing and stress relieving.”
- “The graphics are fun and extraordinarily realistic!”
- “The graphics are like 8 bit or pixelized.”
- “The game was much better with its old art style, but it now is dull looking, please bring it back, or an optional filter maybe.”
- “We love this game but it needs graphical improvements so it will be a better game!”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
The gameplay is widely praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, with many users highlighting the absence of ads and the relaxing nature of the experience. While some players noted minor bugs and physics issues, these did not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment. The game offers a variety of interactive elements, encouraging exploration and experimentation, though players expressed a desire for additional features and improvements in future updates.
- “This seemingly simple time-waster is loaded with features and 'emergent gameplay' as the different substances you can play around with interact in surprising ways.”
- “No ads and no interruption, something that the copies of this game do not have, and it has really cool gameplay mechanics and physics.”
- “The physics are not the best, and there are a couple of bugs, but it does not interrupt the gameplay whatsoever.”
- “Bugs, bad game mechanics and more.”
- “Waiting on the new update, because the gameplay is a bit clunky sometimes - it would be nice to add descriptions for buttons or things, so the player knows what to do :)”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many users report minimal glitches and a smooth experience, several players have encountered specific bugs, particularly related to the electrical section and saving files. Some glitches affect gameplay mechanics, such as freezing materials or causing unexpected behavior with items. Despite these issues, the game is generally praised for its lack of ads and light resource usage.
- “No glitches, no ads.”
- “No glitches, and it takes up so little space!”
- “The premium is cheap, no ads, and not very buggy.”
- “The electrical section seems very buggy.”
- “Other issue is the saving file option is buggy.”
- “I've always liked this game, but there have been glitches lately.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
69%
23%
The game is primarily a sandbox experience with no overarching narrative, focusing instead on experimentation and creativity. Players suggest incorporating quests and missions to enhance engagement, offering rewards like coins and materials for completing tasks, which could improve the overall game feel. However, the lack of a structured story or tutorial has led some users to feel that the game lacks depth and fun.
- “Tell a silly story, draw pictures to illustrate it.”
- “It's a sandbox game, meaning there's no story or point behind it, you just do you.”
- “-2 stars for very less game-like feel (no fun), no tutorial, and no missions, only for people who want to experiment and satisfy their curiosity (exactly a simulator).”
- “It's a good game but when you want to put something it can get a bit laggy and I don't like that you have to pay for some of them. It may be a small price but still, I think instead of having to buy it, you should do quests to earn them.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the overall experience, with players enjoying how it complements their creative activities, such as gardening and experimenting with game mechanics. However, some users express a desire for more customization options, like the ability to add their own music or backgrounds, to further enrich the gameplay. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the fun and immersive aspects, there is room for improvement in terms of personalization.
- “But with sounds and background music, it is much better.”
- “I haven't quite explored yet, but it's really good. Can you add more music?”
- “It was fun at first and relaxing, but soon it got a bit more boring. I wish they added some cool stuff like custom backgrounds or music.”
- “The sounds and background music are much better.”
- “The music is a bit confusing at first, but after experimenting, it gets really fun. I like making gardens and burning them to the ground, and when I listen to the music, I just go with it and make it look like a music video.”
- “The music is a bit confusing at first, but after experimenting, it gets really fun. I like making gardens and burning them to the ground, and when I listen to the music, I just go with it and make it look like a music video.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the game to be humorous and entertaining, particularly appreciating its funny elements like chemical reactions. However, some users express disappointment over the removal of quirky features in the latest update, which they felt added to the game's charm. Despite this, the game is still regarded as enjoyable and relaxing.
- “But 10/10 game is very good and funny.. overall great game and fantastic game!”
- “Wow, it's such a relaxing and funny game because of the chemical reactions!”
- “Very funny and entertaining.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of creativity and frustration, as players express joy in experimenting with game mechanics while also feeling challenged by certain limitations and bugs. The absence of ads and loot boxes contributes positively to the overall experience, allowing players to feel more invested in their creations. However, technical issues and gameplay inconsistencies can lead to disappointment, highlighting a need for improvements.
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game is well-optimized, providing a smooth experience under normal conditions, though performance may drop when zoomed out and using large brush sizes. Recent updates have further enhanced performance and addressed heat issues, adding new content without requiring additional payments.
- “Absolutely wonderful game, it's incredibly optimized and has plenty to play with, without needing to pay anything.”
- “Edit: The latest update improved performance and heat issues and added a ton of new stuff.”
- “It's actually pretty optimized until, of course, you zoom all the way out, set the brush size to max, and fill half the screen with fire.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users overwhelmingly praise the game's replayability, with many considering it to be the most replayable game they've ever encountered, highlighting its infinite replay value.
- “Honestly, this is just the most replayable game ever!”
- “It's infinitely replayable.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players feel that the grinding aspect of farming in the game lacks engagement and could benefit from more dynamic and interesting mechanics to enhance the overall experience.
- “Farming should be made more interesting.”
- “The grinding feels repetitive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I wish there were more variety in the grinding mechanics to keep it fresh.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate the game's ability to allow them to create a planet with a dynamic atmosphere, complete with clouds and rain, enhancing the immersive experience.
- “I've been able to create a planet with an atmosphere that generates clouds and rain.”