Sandship: Crafting Factory
- May 6, 2020
- Rockbite Games
- 3h median play time
Get on Play Store
Get on Apple Store"Sandship: Crafting Factory" is a Simulation game that invites you to step inside a sandship and engineer the future through delightful game mechanics and stunning graphics. The game boasts an intriguing story, hilarious moments, and awesome music, but be prepared for lots of grinding and some bugs. Immerse yourself in its dense atmosphere for a unique and immersive experience.
iPad
iPhone
Phone
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- story2,650 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its intriguing narrative and character development, which adds depth to the factory-building mechanics. However, several users report that the story progression can become stagnant, particularly after reaching certain levels, leading to frustration due to long wait times for missions and quests. Additionally, bugs and glitches often disrupt the storytelling experience, with some players encountering issues like "null" dialogue and uncompleted quests, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the narrative.
“I can tell that it has a well thought out story line with quirky characters and funny quips.”
“The story is captivating and somewhat reminds me of a well-known PC/console game.”
“The story is excellent as well, even though it takes a considerable backseat compared to the gameplay.”
“Alas, after a few levels the story stops; no reason, it just ends, there is nothing more.”
“The story is non-existent.”
“The storyline ends very quickly and then it is just a mindless collect game.”
- gameplay1,840 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging mechanics, graphics, and overall fun factor reminiscent of titles like Factorio. However, numerous complaints highlight issues such as slow progression due to time-gating, frequent bugs, and a reliance on microtransactions that can detract from the experience. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable and offers creative factory-building opportunities, the interruptions from timers and crashes significantly impact player satisfaction.
“Brilliant graphics, fantastic soundtrack, automation mechanics that make sense and a temperature mechanic that I haven't seen in another automation game at all.”
“The gameplay is progressive with a variety of goals to accomplish at any time, allowing you a lot of freedom in how you play even beyond the free customization of your factories.”
“The gameplay is fun and allows you to be really creative with your designs.”
“Gameplay is fast till you reach level 4, that's where it slows down and becomes an idle game of farming resources and contracts.”
“After you leave the town, all gameplay grinds to a halt as dozens of needless wait timers are dumped on you, and it tries to nudge you into the microtransaction store constantly.”
“The gameplay is all time-gated, making it feel less about solving the puzzle of factory efficiency and more about waiting or paying, undermining the gameplay entirely.”
- graphics1,665 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, charming art style, and overall polish, making it visually appealing and immersive. Many players appreciate the unique aesthetic and detailed animations, although some have noted performance issues on lower-end devices, suggesting the need for adjustable graphics settings. Despite occasional bugs and crashes, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's enjoyment and are often highlighted as a standout feature.
“The graphics are stunning.”
“The graphics are beautiful and the story is intriguing, but the UI is clunky and busy.”
“The graphics, overall presentation as well as the general idea are very good.”
“The graphics can be pretty simple at times; for example, at the end of chapter 1, the sandship breaks free from the ropes holding it, but the rope breaking is just them extending, then disappearing.”
“I really wanted to like this game (I like the concept, the gameplay, the graphics); unfortunately, the game is so buggy it's unplayable.”
“Couldn't tell if it was lag or just phone graphics, but I had more of it than actual gameplay in just a few minutes of playing.”
- stability1,316 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that hinder gameplay. Common issues include the game freezing during loading screens, particularly at 90%, and problems with resource collection and production not registering correctly. While some players acknowledge the game's potential and enjoy its concept, the overwhelming consensus is that the current state is too buggy for a satisfying experience, often rendering it unplayable.
“Fun, beautifully presented, bug-free and lightly challenging.”
“It just runs great too!”
“Might bump it up if it stays bug-free.”
“In 2 of 3 app launches, the game freezes at 90% loading.”
“There is a progress stopping bug where the game freezes when I go to open a reward.”
“The game is extremely buggy, so much so that during the main tutorial the game crashed several times.”
- monetization988 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of forced ads and intrusive microtransactions. While some users find the optional ads for bonuses acceptable, others criticize the reliance on time-gating and the pressure to spend money to progress, labeling it as a cash grab. Overall, the game is seen as relatively free-to-play friendly, but the presence of microtransactions and waiting times can detract from the experience for some players.
“No ads, no need for in-game purchases to progress, just a game that you can enjoy playing on your mobile device.”
“There are in-app purchases but they are not required in any way and there are no ads, which is really nice.”
“This game has a ton of potential to it and I'm happy to play as I enjoy this style of game as you can set it down and come back to it whenever, no ads and the game doesn't try to force any purchases down your gullet which is nice.”
“A generally decent game ruined by timegating, predatory monetization, poor optimization, and occasional game crashing bugs.”
“The game is no longer about resource management and is now a disappointing cash grab.”
“This could have been fun but instead it's a boring loot box cash grab.”
- music729 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its quality, atmosphere, and ability to enhance the overall gaming experience. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is beautifully composed, fitting well with the game's themes and graphics, creating a relaxing and immersive environment. However, some users mentioned occasional audio glitches and the desire for more control over sound settings, but overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“The music is beautiful, the game is fun, the story is actually good and the lore is incredible.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful and really makes the scene so much more lively.”
“The music and atmosphere of the entire game is so fitting I feel at peace.”
“Sound and music change volume when selecting menus as if it's skipping.”
“The music kinda has some buzzing sound... I wonder if it's my speaker, but after I use headphones it's still the same.”
“The music sometimes glitches and becomes choppy, not very often though.”
- optimization234 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including crashes, slowdowns, and lag, particularly during complex factory operations. While some users report smooth gameplay and good graphics, others highlight the need for better optimization options, especially for lower-end devices. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further improvements to enhance stability and performance.
“I love the setting and the story so far, it's very challenging to get a properly optimized production line.”
“Very fun, the factory setup and optimization portion of the game is well done.”
“Great factory optimization mini game surrounded by overarching research and story line mechanics.”
“A generally decent game ruined by timegating, predatory monetization, poor optimization, and occasional game crashing bugs.”
“Unfortunately, the performance is still so poor that the game is almost unplayable, even on a fairly new mid-range phone.”
“The game itself is rather nice, but it feels unfinished: - UI bugs (like suddenly getting a bright color scheme for part of the UI) - poor performance (among other things, the UI performance is degrading as I play and I need to restart the game) - drains battery way too fast.”
- grinding194 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, particularly after reaching level 4, where gameplay slows considerably due to timers and resource scarcity. Many players find the resource management and factory setup tedious, often leading to frustration and a sense of being forced to spend money to progress. While some appreciate the game's mechanics and visuals, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding aspect being overly burdensome, detracting from the enjoyment.
“It's very well done, with nice cutscenes, excellent engineering mechanics, and it's not too grindy.”
“Offline resources get collected and the game is at a moderate pace, not grindy, so you can come back to the game whenever you like.”
“Fun, amazing art (best in any mobile game by far and comparable to some top games on console/PC), not too grindy but some is there which I thoroughly enjoy.”
“Once you hit level 4, gameplay slows to a very tedious pace, mostly due to a timer system on several mechanics that can only be sped up with scarce resources.”
“I can't stress how much I really enjoyed this game to start with, but the progress quickly becomes so tedious that it's almost impossible to play.”
“The problems are how things get slower and slower (presumably eventually grinding to a halt at some point) unless you spend money on gems or boosters (both of which you can get in-game at a very slow pace).”
- atmosphere110 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, engaging music, and immersive design, creating a unique and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the thematic depth and storytelling elements that enhance the overall ambiance, making it feel like a high-quality indie title. Despite some bugs and gameplay challenges, the atmospheric qualities are consistently highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The atmosphere is awesome, the graphics are fabulous.”
“The music and atmosphere of the entire game is so fitting I feel at peace.”
“Amazing atmosphere, depth, controls, and music.”
“Dunno if it's my connection or corrupted data, but the app won't let me rotate it. It just says 'rotate modifier not enabled.' This is a great app with visuals and music; you can feel the atmosphere of a steampunk vibe. Such a waste if it's filled with bugs, please fix it.”
“This game has some solid atmosphere when you're not getting kicked to the title screen on every Wi-Fi hiccup.”
“So far, for a build-it-up game, the details to a small story and objects are bringing me peace and joy. The music playing keeps the atmosphere feeling out of this world.”
- humor31 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently praised for its quirky characters, clever dialogue, and amusing scenarios, making it both funny and engaging. Players enjoy the comedic elements tied to gameplay mechanics, such as factory optimization and the absurdity of in-game purchases. However, opinions vary, with some finding the humor lacking or comparing it unfavorably to other media, indicating a mixed reception overall.
“I can tell that it has a well thought out storyline with quirky characters and funny quips.”
“Amazingly detailed artwork and clever story dialogue make it funny and interesting.”
“The principle of this game is hilarious and very fun; cool graphics, controls could be a little better but it's acceptable.”
“This game is not funny; it reminds me of the South Park episode 'Canacoin' (Season 18, Episode 6), which is actually titled 'Freemium Isn't Free.' I don't recommend the game, but I do suggest watching the episode.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it fun with great potential for replayability, others criticize it for lacking depth and becoming boring after a short time. Many users express a desire for more content and offline play options, indicating that the current experience may feel incomplete. Despite some improvements through bug fixes, the consensus suggests that replayability is limited, with players able to complete the game relatively quickly.
“This game looks fun with great replayability potential.”
“One of the best, if not the best, mobile games I've ever played with plenty of replayability potential.”
“Raised the stars, much more playable and so much fun!”
“Not much depth or replayability.”
“Replayability is very low, you can reach the end of the game in about 2 weeks and it gets boring.”
“It seems somewhat incomplete though, I think I am through the game but was kind of expecting a few more stops and a more playable battle mode.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, describing it as addictive and challenging while also providing a calming experience that helps alleviate stress and depression. However, frustrations arise from technical issues, such as crashes and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall enjoyment and emotional connection to the game. Despite these setbacks, many appreciate its wholesome design and the positive impact it has on their mental well-being.
“Honestly, it's the best and it helps get your mind off stuff, but it's really heartbreaking when the game keeps crashing. When I reinstall it, it still crashes. Developers, please fix this because it says error something and then crashes.”
“It's just awesome and so wholesome.”
“Amazing design, calm gameplay, perfect for curing depression, really wholesome.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features strong character development, complemented by a well-crafted storyline that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the logical progression of characters, contributing to an engaging and enjoyable narrative.
“This game features excellent character development and a very advanced sense of logic.”
“The storyline is fun, and the character development is impressive; overall, it's an awesome game.”
