Sandmason

About

Sandmason is a single player and multiplayer action adventure game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by GoodVole and was released on May 4, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

You are a mine worker, stuck deep in an underground cave system. All you have is your hi-tech mining tools. In order to get out of the caves you have to shape the dynamic environment to your advantage. You can also create force fields for different purposes. Roast enemies with the laser field or jump higher with the bouncy field, for example.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

music4 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Unique and creative gameplay mechanic based around destructible terrain and mining, providing a puzzle and exploration experience likened to Portal and Red Faction.
Challenging puzzles that reward creative thinking, with a sandbox-style approach to solving problems using mining tools and force fields.
Multiplayer mode adds fun and replayability with team deathmatch gameplay that incorporates digging, building, and different weapon types.

Outdated graphics and lack of polish, making it feel old-fashioned and clunky compared to modern standards.
Some mechanics and puzzles are poorly explained or unintuitive, leading to player frustration and disorientation in levels without maps or clear guidance.
Resource management can feel tedious, with clunky building controls and a slow progression requiring a lot of grinding for materials.

gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The gameplay centers on a unique mining and destructible terrain mechanic combined with puzzle-solving in a first-person view, requiring players to use tools to gather resources and build structures to progress. Although the core mechanics are interesting and offer a fresh take on the puzzle genre similar to Portal, some puzzle elements can become obscure and unintuitive, with poor explanations hindering implementation. Despite a lackluster visual appeal, the gameplay system remains entertaining and engaging through its innovative approach and content.
- “The idea is that you're a space miner, and you use mining tools to destroy terrain and harvest material, which you can then use to build structures. This core element of gameplay is required to solve various puzzle levels, completing the game loop.”
- “It's a unique concept, leaning heavily on destructible terrain mechanics most popular in games like Deep Rock Galactic and Red Faction.”
- “Overall, a really entertaining puzzle game with a cool gameplay system.”
- “At its core, it’s a puzzle game, but puzzles and mechanics very soon become obscure and unintuitive.”
- “Puzzle mechanics are poorly described, and are even more difficult to implement.”
- “With getting from point A to point B being the core mechanic.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's music is generally praised, featuring a blend of old-school tracker style and unique acoustic elements that many find appealing. However, opinions vary slightly, with some tracks considered excellent while others feel somewhat out of place. Overall, the soundtrack adds positively to the gaming experience.
- “Interesting, fun gameplay and the soundtracks are great as well.”
- “A special mention goes to the music, which has an old-school tracker sensibility with some spacey acoustic guitar parts mixed in.”
- “Interesting and pretty good game where you have to use imagination and be creative for passing some levels... the soundtrack is also pretty good.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are generally seen as outdated and low-budget, reflecting a small development team, which may deter some players. However, despite the lack of visual polish, the game's engaging mechanics compensate for its modest graphical appeal.
- “Like other first-person puzzler games in the wake of Portal (Q.U.B.E, Polarity, etc.), it's obviously a low budget game by a small team and doesn't have the best visuals or polish.”
- “The game has some outdated graphics.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is straightforward and enjoyable, centered around a quest for freedom and a well-earned vacation. Treasure hunting enhances abilities, adding an engaging element to the narrative. Overall, it provides a simple but satisfying plot.
- “The plot is straightforward but enjoyable.”
- “By finding treasure you can boost your abilities, making your quest for freedom and a well-earned vacation slightly easier to achieve.”
- “And of course there's a story!”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is generally enjoyable but can become frustrating when players aim to progress in specific ways, such as collecting upgrades.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability due to its challenging puzzles and numerous hidden secrets, encouraging players to return multiple times to uncover everything.
- “This is one of those games where you play for a while, then get stumped and quit, come back a few weeks later, try again, and so on. The replayability is high as well since it's difficult to find all the secrets the first time around.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor is lighthearted and amusing, providing a fun and playful experience.