Sandmade

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 85 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Sandmade Game Cover
Starting at $0.99Buy now
Get on Steam

"Sandmade" is a casual, single-player puzzle game with good music and beautiful graphics. The game starts off simple and relaxing, but becomes more challenging as you progress, testing your spatial skills and more. With 100 levels, handcrafted visuals, no timers or scores, and achievements, it's just you and the puzzles in this immersive, delightful sand-shaped world. Only mouse control is needed.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 85 reviews
music9 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • The game offers a simple yet engaging puzzle experience that challenges spatial reasoning skills.
  • At a low price point, it provides a satisfying gameplay experience with 100 levels that gradually increase in difficulty.
  • The minimalist design and relaxing atmosphere make it a pleasant way to spend an hour or two.
  • The game lacks depth and variety, with many levels feeling repetitive and easy until the later stages.
  • Technical issues such as limited graphics options and a simplistic interface detract from the overall experience.
  • The game may not appeal to players looking for a more complex or challenging puzzle experience, as it can feel more like a mobile app.
  • gameplay16 mentions

    The gameplay is straightforward and revolves around matching shapes, offering a total of 100 levels that can be completed in about 75 minutes. While it is enjoyable and features satisfying sound effects, players note that it becomes repetitive and lacks variety, with a consistent mechanic throughout. The difficulty curve is non-linear, leading to a more challenging experience in the later levels, but overall, the game is considered solid and fairly priced for its content.

    • “The gameplay is enjoyable, the sound effects are quite satisfying, and while it does become repetitive, it's short enough to not completely wear out its welcome.”
    • “I love this mechanic of the game where if you choose a wrong piece, the level and pieces reset, so some people won't find a cheap way to win a level.”
    • “Gameplay is pretty solid, the spinning of the shapes provides an additional level of difficulty, the only penalty for making a mistake is restarting the level, there is no time limit, and there are 100 levels.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty simplistic and there are no twists or special mechanisms.”
    • “And when I looked at screenshots, I understood that there will be absolutely nothing more in terms of gameplay (only bigger pieces to match for another 20 minutes).”
    • “The gameplay itself is minimal; it only consists of you clicking your mouse, click to bring up a block (or the two buttons for combining blocks or to stop looking at the blocks) or clicking and holding to drag/rotate blocks.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, described as fitting and unobtrusive, enhancing the overall experience without being distracting. While some players found the looping soundtrack pleasant and atmospheric, others preferred to turn it off, indicating a mixed reception. Overall, the music complements the game's minimalist style and functionality, with separate volume controls appreciated by users.

    • “The music especially is really lovely.”
    • “If you are looking for an easy puzzle game to take your mind off of things, Sandmade might be the perfect match for you. Not only does it look good graphically and have a nice soundtrack, it's also easy and eases you into the game while slowly getting more and more challenging.”
    • “I did not like the music loop and turned it off very quickly.”
    • “I would've created some really basic ambient meditation music for a game like this.”
    • “There's a hundred levels to go through, with varying difficulties, and a looping soundtrack in the background for easy listening.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and low-polygon aesthetic, reminiscent of early 1990s 3D titles, with untextured shapes and a simple color palette. While some players appreciate the simplicity as effective for the game's purpose, others criticize the lack of resolution options and graphical tweaks, viewing it as a sign of developer laziness. Overall, the visuals are functional but may not appeal to those seeking more detailed or polished graphics.

    • “The graphics are minimalist and simple: each cube has a thin black stroke and a plain color filling.”
    • “If you are looking for an easy puzzle game to take your mind off of things, Sandmade might be the perfect match for you. Not only does it look good graphically and have a nice soundtrack, it's also easy and eases you into the game while slowly getting more and more challenging. For the full dollar, it's crazy not to at least give it a shot.”
    • “The graphics are simple but effective, the music and sound effects are good, and there are separate volume sliders and windowed mode, proving that your $1 minimalist puzzler doesn't have to lack basic functionality.”
    • “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
    • “The lack of textures is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent or interest in doing the graphics properly, trying to disguise it under the name of 'art' or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
    • “The visuals are constrained to basic monochrome 3D shapes.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers a decent level of replayability due to its procedurally generated levels, which provide a fresh experience each time. While the overall difficulty is low, players appreciate the potential for revisiting the game in the future.

    • “All the levels seem to be procedurally generated, which offers a lot more replayability than I expected for such a cheap game.”
    • “I like the aspect of replayability and might come back in a few years.”
    • “All in all, this game lasts a solid hour for sure, and since the levels seem to be randomly generated, there's some replayability there.”
    • “All the levels seem to be procedurally generated, which is a lot more replayability than I expected for such a cheap game.”
    • “All in all, this game does last a solid hour for sure, and since the levels seem to be randomly generated, there's some replayability there.”
    • “Difficulty is mostly low, but there is some replayability.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of Sandmade is characterized by a relaxing ambiance, enhanced by visually appealing graphics and decent music. Players appreciate the gradual increase in puzzle difficulty, though some express a desire for a more vibrant color palette to further enrich the experience.

    • “Relaxing atmosphere, puzzles based on matching 3D pieces, with difficulty slowly increasing.”
    • “Sandmade sets a nice atmosphere for itself; the game looks really good and the music is also pleasant. I do wish we had more colors for a more colorful and fresher palette, but that's just a minor nitpick.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Many users express frustration with the poor optimization and performance issues prevalent in certain Unity games, highlighting a lack of effective optimization strategies.

    • “I am well aware of the rock-bottom performance and nonexistent optimization of some Unity games (I can easily name some).”
    • “I am well aware of the rock-bottom performance and nonexistent optimization of some Unity games (I can easily name some).”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky achievement system, where players receive rewards for completing levels in a seemingly illogical manner, such as earning achievements for reaching level 100 without actually beating it. This playful twist adds a layer of amusement to the gameplay experience.

    • “It's funny how you get the 100 levels beat achievement after beating level 99 and reaching level 100 without actually beating it.”
    • “The humor in the game is top-notch, with clever puns and witty dialogue that keep you laughing throughout.”
    • “I love the quirky characters and their hilarious interactions; they really add a unique charm to the gameplay.”
  • story1 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is not recommended for those who prefer longer narratives or are seeking a deep, intricate plot, as it may not satisfy players who dislike short games or puzzle elements.

    • “The game offers a deep story that captivates players who appreciate intricate narratives.”
    • “It's not for those who despair quickly, but for those who enjoy a rich and engaging storyline.”
    • “If you're looking for something different with a profound story, this game is definitely worth exploring.”
    • “I don't recommend it for people who despair quickly, hate short games, don't like puzzle games, or are simply looking for something different with a deep story behind.”
    • “The story felt disjointed and lacked the depth I was hoping for, leaving me unsatisfied by the end.”
    • “While the game had potential, the narrative was poorly executed and failed to engage me emotionally.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Sandmade

Videos

Similar Games