Under the Sand
- September 25, 2020
- IndieMax
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Under the Sand" is a post-apocalyptic adventure game set in an endless desert caused by global warming. The player embarks on a journey in an old pickup truck, fulfilling their late father's last request. The game features a generated road and car customization, allowing players to assemble, repair, refuel, and tune their vehicle. This version is completely redone and now supports Windows 11.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a relaxing atmosphere and is enjoyable for casual play.
- There is potential for future updates to expand content and gameplay.
- The low-poly graphics and art style are appealing and create a unique aesthetic.
- The game currently lacks content, with repetitive locations and limited gameplay mechanics.
- There are numerous bugs, including issues with item spawning and disappearing.
- The driving mechanics feel floaty and unengaging, making the gameplay less satisfying.
- gameplay107 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and repetitive, focusing on driving and basic car maintenance in a post-apocalyptic setting. While some players find it relaxing and enjoyable for short sessions, many express a desire for more depth, variety, and content to prevent the experience from becoming monotonous. Overall, the game shows promise with ongoing updates, but it currently lacks sufficient mechanics and exploration options to sustain long-term engagement.
“This is an immensely relaxing game with some very simple, satisfying mechanics that allow you to sit back and chill out for a bit while you explore, loot, and eventually upgrade your rigs.”
“The actual gameplay is enjoyable, particularly with the recent updates that give you the ability to more extensively customize your vehicles with different paints, light bars, and bumpers (in addition to several wheel/tire options and a few other addon parts like grille ornaments and dashboard toys).”
“The primary gameplay loop of driving and maintaining the truck is pleasant and pretty relaxing, and while it would do with some more depth I think what the game really needs to become something that has some length to it is the secondary loop.”
“There are just two biomes, and after an hour or so of gameplay, you start to see repeating structures, and as far as I know, there are no other vehicles you can find besides the starting three.”
“Gameplay consists of driving until you find a repetitive spot of interest, getting out of the vehicle and collecting the few items that you probably already have a ton of, waiting until you get to a shop, and selling unwanted items for upgrades to vehicles that don't really do much.”
“If the road was endless with stops for upgrading along the way (which is what I thought I bought), then it'd be fun, but 1.1 hours of really boring gameplay later, and I have experienced everything that this extremely unfinished and unpolished game has to offer.”
- graphics63 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the low-poly art style and its relaxing aesthetic, particularly during sunsets and sunrises. While some find the visuals beautiful and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others feel that the graphics could benefit from more realism and detail. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, though there are mixed opinions on their execution and the game's content.
“The low-poly, faded color graphics are haunting and beautiful at the same time.”
“Graphics are nice.”
“Graphics also breathtaking and it's comfortable to play with it, especially sunsets and sunrises!”
“The graphics are criminally bad.”
“This issue might be because of the low-poly graphics, and the lack of visual reference points.”
“Its about 40% CPU usage, 0-20% GPU usage = a massive 21 FPS, changing graphics does nothing.”
- story56 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's current narrative is largely absent, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a structured story or quests, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the potential for exploration in a barren landscape, they feel that the absence of engaging content and a coherent storyline leaves the game feeling repetitive and lacking depth. Players are hopeful for future updates that will introduce a more developed story mode and additional gameplay elements to enhance their experience.
“Under the sand, on the other hand, as it stands with the latest full rebuilt version at the time of writing, offers a story-lite experience that encourages the players to weave their own experiences on a lonesome desert road.”
“Yes, it's not much of a backstory, but surely motivation enough with the post-apocalyptic barren sands all around you.”
“Of course, there isn't much more than that there yet, so I'm waiting for the story/quest mode that is promised to come in one of the next updates.”
“Honestly, as it stands, it's a good time waster, but sadly from what I've seen, the game went from a game with a story to a vehicle-based endless runner.”
“This game has a really good concept going for it, but that's about it: no story, very little content, and it runs like garbage.”
“A story would definitely serve this game well and offer some motivation to the player.”
- music52 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the stock soundtrack and its atmospheric qualities, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety. Many recommend using personal playlists or streaming services like Spotify for a more enjoyable experience during long drives. Overall, the music serves as a backdrop for a chill gaming experience, but it may not satisfy those looking for a more engaging or diverse auditory experience.
“Driving for many miles while listening to good music has been nothing short of a gift.”
“When I discovered how to turn the radio, this game becomes even more atmospheric - the soundtrack is pretty good and done in some country-ambient style.”
“As we all know, music is essential for a successful road trip, even in a 1980’s apocalyptic world destroyed by global warming.”
“If you like to waste time driving endlessly then, yeah sure, I highly recommend having Spotify playing in the background because the game music (cassettes) sucks.”
“There's no story, no voice overs, very little music, but what is there has that magical quality to it that's hard to describe.”
“The game doesn't even have an option to change the music or sound volume.”
- atmosphere27 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its calm, meditative quality, allowing players to immerse themselves in a desolate yet charming environment. The ability to interact with various elements, such as turning on the radio, enhances the overall experience, contributing to a unique and engaging ambiance. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a slow-paced, atmospheric game with a low-poly aesthetic.
“Right now in its current state, this game will only appeal to you if you're looking for something exactly like this: a slow, atmospheric, meditative game where you can just turn off your brain and lose yourself in the endless desert road.”
“The calm atmosphere is enjoyable, and the environment has an odd charm to it.”
“When I discovered how to turn the radio, this game became even more atmospheric - the soundtrack is pretty good and done in some country-ambient style.”
“My summer car was sort of similar, but too happy-go-lucky to be going for the 'desolate survival' atmosphere I had in mind.”
“The atmosphere is serviceable to a point; you can get what you want out of it.”
“Starting with the atmosphere it creates, it is overall pleasing on the eyes.”
- stability23 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report a smooth performance with consistent frame rates and no crashes, others highlight persistent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly with inventory management and item placement. Some users have noted improvements over time, but significant issues remain, leading to a chaotic experience that detracts from enjoyment. Despite these challenges, many still find the game entertaining, indicating potential for future updates.
“Runs great.”
“I'm not going to hate on it since the game is what it is, just like it says on the store page, and it runs great like it needs to.”
“When I first bought it, it was very buggy and the game seemed abandoned.”
“Placing items inside the truck cabin (where you'd expect to keep food and water) remains extremely buggy, and the lack of any meaningful sorting of your truck bed inventory makes the whole gameplay loop a thousand times more chaotic than it needs to be.”
“I want to like this game, but it is as buggy as it gets.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from amusing glitches and quirky physics, such as items behaving unexpectedly during truck flips, which adds a lighthearted touch without resorting to crude humor. Players appreciate the forgiving mechanics that prevent frustration, allowing for funny moments to emerge naturally from gameplay mishaps. Overall, while the humor may not be consistently charming, it provides entertaining scenarios that enhance the experience.
“Turning that item into a hilariously small, minuscule size is just too funny.”
“Once you drive for a bit, the physics will flip out, sending you and the truck into orbit where everything in the truck goes flying. It's funny seeing as you think the valuable stuff goes inside and the less important goes in the back, but overall just throw everything in the bed and don't worry about it falling out because I've flipped the truck a couple of times and the stuff stays glued to the bed.”
“Thanks to the dev apparently not wanting it to be a frustrating mess, the physics are solid but forgiving, the environment is easy to look at, and it doesn't have the toilet humor that seems to permeate other games.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many users expressing disappointment over its lack of content and repetitive gameplay. Despite initial promise, the game was abandoned by the developer, leading to a perception that it was not worth the investment, as it offers minimal replay value and limited enjoyment. Overall, players feel that the monetization strategy prioritizes profit over quality and player experience.
“This game was great when it started but then the developer abandoned it in October 2019, basically it was just a massive cash grab of what could've been a decent game had it been given even an ounce of effort in its updates.”
“It's basically every single non-name brand game on Steam, it's horrible and a cash grab. It has about 1-2 hours of fun in it, but it takes more than 2 (from my experience) to finish the game because of the slow car. I see the developer was trying to either make a clone or a game similar to Jalopy; either way, it's repetitive and has little to no replay value. You do only 2 things: drive and pick up items from the same building you've already visited, no other maps, no random chance events/parts, same exact song and dance every time.”
“This game is terrible, it's a cash grab.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics, noting that it can take an excessive amount of time—up to seven hours—to find a minimal number of items, which feels tedious and unproductive. While some mention that the game is less grind-heavy overall, the constant pressure to manage food resources adds to the grind experience. Overall, grinding is seen as a significant and often frustrating aspect of gameplay.
“Noting that grinding is the main focus of the game, 7 hours of playtime to find maybe a dozen items in three different new games is an asinine amount of time to 'grind' to virtually and literally waste time.”
“While I could be screwing it up to a large degree, at the rate I'm going, it would take a ridiculous amount of grinding just to repair the 3 vehicles available.”
“The game's a bit more rewarding and less grindy, the economy is fairly lax but there's constant pressure in regards to the foodstuff, since it's the only resource that can't be bought anymore.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game runs smoothly with appealing low-poly graphics that offer good value for the price. However, players have noted a lack of customization and performance tuning options, which diminishes strategic gameplay elements.
“Runs smoothly, graphics are a nice low poly, pretty good for the price too.”
“There's no customization or performance tuning, either, or at least I've never seen any of the mythical engine block upgrades spawn. With the lack of trading (though supposedly being added soon-ish), there's no elements of strategy or survival involved beyond driving east, eating beans, drinking cola, and occasionally refueling to do more of the same.”
“More options to customize cars, forced induction, paint, fenders, grilles, performance upgrades, etc.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, offering only 1-2 hours of initial enjoyment before becoming repetitive and monotonous. Players are limited to driving and collecting items from the same locations, with no additional maps or random events to enhance the experience, leading to a perception of it being a cash grab. Overall, it fails to provide meaningful incentives for players to return after completing it.
“It's basically every single non-name brand game on Steam; it's horrible and a cash grab. It has about 1-2 hours of fun in it, but it takes more than 2 (from my experience) to finish the game because of the slow car. I see the developer was trying to either make a clone or a game similar to Jalopy; either way, it's repetitive. It has little to no replay value; you do only 2 things: drive and pick up items from the same building you've already visited. No other maps, no random chance events/parts, same exact song and dance every time.”
“It's basically every single non-name brand game on Steam; it's horrible and a cash grab. It has about 1-2 hours of fun in it, but it takes more than 2 (from my experience) to finish the game because of the slow car. I see the developer was trying to either make a clone or a game similar to Jalopy; either way, it's repetitive. It has little to no replay value; you do only 2 things: drive and pick up items from the same building you've already visited. No other maps, no random chance events/parts, same exact song and dance every time.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a sense of emotional engagement with the game, highlighting its potential for exploration and enjoyment despite its early access status. The feedback-driven development approach fosters optimism for future improvements, enhancing the overall emotional connection to the game's evolving experience.
