The Sand Man

About

In "The Sandman," players navigate surreal, ever-changing dreamscapes to regain lost memories. As Evelunn, a young woman trapped in an enigmatic realm, she must solve puzzles, avoid nightmarish creatures, and unlock secrets to escape. With its distinctive art style and atmospheric soundtrack, this first-person puzzle adventure delivers a hauntingly beautiful experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 160 reviews

story39 positive mentions

The game features a charming and engaging story that explores themes of insomnia, bullying, and personal growth, making it relatable and heartfelt.
The character design and art style are vibrant and appealing, contributing to the whimsical atmosphere of the game.
The inclusion of multiple endings and a bonus chapter adds depth and replayability, allowing players to explore different perspectives and outcomes.

The game lacks clear guidance on objectives, leading to frustrating moments of aimless wandering and reliance on walkthroughs to progress.
Many puzzles are overly vague or illogical, making it difficult for players to figure out solutions without external help.
The game is not as scary as its predecessor, The Crooked Man, which may disappoint players expecting a horror experience.

story
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The story of "The Sandman" is a whimsical and charming narrative that follows Sophie, a sleepless high school girl navigating her struggles with bullying and family issues, set against a fantastical backdrop filled with fairies and magical elements. While some players found the story engaging and relatable, others noted that it lacks the depth and horror of its predecessor, "The Crooked Man," with certain character backstories feeling underdeveloped. Overall, the game is praised for its unique storytelling approach and bonus content that offers different perspectives, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking a lighter, more fantasy-oriented narrative.
- “The story is fascinating and deep.”
- “The story flows very nicely and was a great length.”
- “The sand man tells a story of a young teenage girl who has insomnia who deals with her everyday problems in school and at home.”
- “This is not a horror game; it's like a bedtime story with soldiers, a dragon, a dwarf, fairies, and so on.”
- “Some characters have interesting backstories that are not explained, leaving potential storylines underdeveloped.”
- “The story and the puzzles are the main two aspects of the game, and though it definitely has its good moments, The Sandman overall fails at both of these aspects.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the exploration and puzzle-solving elements typical of RPG Maker games, while others find it frustrating and repetitive, particularly due to a lack of guidance. The narrative is praised for its charm and depth, often overshadowing the gameplay mechanics, which can range from engaging to tedious. Overall, while the story captivates many, the gameplay experience varies significantly among players, with some appreciating its fresh twists and others criticizing its execution.
- “The first half of this game is fun - love the concept, love the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is good; it's generally the same as other RPG Maker games like walking around, exploring, and solving puzzles, but there's also a stealth section, chaser sections, and a pretty good boss fight at the end.”
- “It has a wonderful storyline and interesting gameplay, with a well-balanced difficulty level.”
- “To conclude, the sand man has its strengths, but the core gameplay is way too frustrating to make it worthwhile.”
- “The gameplay involves wandering around Sophie’s surprisingly somnolent town in search of any other soul who might not have been impacted by an apparent outbreak of narcolepsy.”
- “Decent and wholesome story, horrible gameplay.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics in the game have received positive feedback, with users appreciating the pixel art style and improvements over the previous title, "The Crooked Man." The environments and character designs are noted for their quality, contributing to an engaging visual experience, although the pixel style may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong aspect of the game, enhancing its RPG Maker fantasy aesthetic.
- “I personally loved the art style in this title.”
- “The pixel graphics are still really good, like the previous game, with plenty of things to see, and the cutscene art is just as good as the previous game.”
- “The graphics are nice, at least in my opinion, but one has to like the pixel style.”
- “The music quality has improved; there are additional graphics added, as well as some rooms being completely redesigned for the better.”
- “Aesthetically, the school in the early part of the game is Catholic, but in practice it behaves more like a Protestant school.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the quality and improvements, others feel it lacks memorability and appropriateness for certain scenes. There are notable references to a Metallica song, which some found well-executed, but others expressed disappointment over the limited and sometimes mismatched musical choices throughout the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a mixed bag, with room for improvement.
- “The music quality has improved; there are additional graphics added, as well as, some rooms being completely redesigned for the better.”
- “It feels like a game somewhat based on a certain Metallica song (the references are hard to miss) and I think it's pretty well done.”
- “Very well done story, great art, and good music as well.”
- “I find the game to be lacking in music; you just walk silently from room to room.”
- “The very few pieces of music present in the game are nothing memorable and not really fitting.”
- “Although sometimes the music in the game isn't something I would have picked (like in the happy ending, for example).”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is unexpectedly prominent, with players finding it funnier than anticipated, especially compared to similar titles. The inclusion of well-timed comedic elements, such as the fairies, adds a lighthearted touch that complements the main narrative, making the overall experience enjoyable. Many reviewers highlight that the game's blend of horror and humor creates a unique and entertaining atmosphere.
- “To be completely honest, I didn't expect this game to be this humorous; I thought it would be more similar to TCM.”
- “Though the fairies are interesting and provide well-timed humor, insight, and intrigue, they never distract us from the main thrust of this story: figuring out why our girl can’t get any sleep!”
- “This game is more humorous than it is supposedly 'horror'.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The game's atmosphere is described as a mix of interesting elements, with some players finding it lacking in spookiness and foreboding tension. While it offers personal stories and emotional depth reminiscent of its predecessor, the overall tone shifts towards fantasy rather than horror, which may disappoint those seeking a thrilling experience. The silence throughout the game also detracts from the atmospheric impact, leaving it feeling incomplete for some players.
- “It definitely took me aback at first with how different it was, but I quickly learned that while it doesn't have the same atmosphere (and arguably genre), it still has the personal stories and heartstrings that made the first game so special.”
- “Almost atmospheric, more fantasy than horror, but still with certain spooky elements.”
- “It is intended that every 'strange man' brings a different kind of atmosphere to the series.”
- “The absence of a foreboding atmosphere may disappoint those seeking a thrilling experience.”
- “What mainly disappointed me was the shift in atmosphere, story, and overall game tone.”
- “It gives some atmosphere, but it would have been better if the silence didn't last the whole game.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a heartfelt and emotional narrative that evolves from initial expectations of horror to a wholesome experience, particularly rewarding for those pursuing the good ending. While the gameplay has its flaws, the story's depth and the range of endings—from heartwarming to sad—leave a lasting impression, making it a worthwhile experience despite some frustrating moments.
- “This was quite wholesome.”
- “Playing through the game, I first expected it to be horror and questioned the puzzles involved, but the story became more heartfelt as I went (especially if you aim for the good ending) and left me with a pleasant feeling.”
- “It's an emotional narrative.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The character development in the game is praised for its depth, particularly highlighting the character Sophie, alongside enjoyable character design and artwork. While the storyline is considered strong, the game is not recommended for those seeking a horror experience.
- “I also liked the scenery, the environment of the 2-3 lands to explore, and I also liked the artwork and character development of many characters, but mainly one: Sophie.”
- “I think this is a great game with a good storyline, character development, and has depth to it.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game offers strong replayability due to multiple endings, with players noting 4 to 6 different outcomes that encourage them to replay the game to explore all possibilities.
- “There are 4 endings, so the replay value is definitely there.”
- “There are many endings (5 or 6 different endings, if I recall), giving the game significant replayability.”
- “There are 4 endings, so the replay value is there.”
- “There are many endings (5 or 6 different endings, if I recall), giving the game replayability value.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be engaging, with puzzles providing a fun challenge and variety that prevents the experience from becoming tedious. Timed and chase sequences further enhance this enjoyment, contributing to a balanced gameplay experience.
- “The timed and chase sequences, as well as the puzzles, aren't tedious and offer variety throughout.”