Review: My Time at Sandrock builds a charming game to get lost in

I never got to play My Time at Portia, so I can’t really compare My Time at Sandrock to its predecessor. I know that there are some Easter eggs scattered throughout from My Time at Portia, but how directly connected they are isn’t something I’ll be able to speak on. So, for that reason, I won’t be using My Time at Portia as any frame of reference in this review.

When I was offered a code to review this game, I didn’t realize how large My Time at Sandrock was really going to be. I’ve sunk hours into Sandrock and I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. There may be bigger aspects of gameplay later in the game that I miss talking about because My Time at Sandrock lets me run around as I please.

Anytime a game lets me run in any given direction, I will find a way to waste every single moment of my day looking for hidden items. 

My Time at Sandrock Story/Gameplay

My Time at Sandrock puts you in the role of a fledgling builder who has been offered a job in the town of Sandrock. More story develops over time. But, as the game starts, all you know is that you’re here to replace Mason as a builder.

There is some talk of an “Old World” and “Day of Calamity” that lends this idea that My Time at Sandrock is a post-apocalyptic world that is slowly building back up. I’m sure as we unlock more of the story, that will be further explained. 

As a reviewer, I was given the opportunity to see the end game conclusion, but since I plan to keep playing this game after, I didn’t want to ruin it for myself.

There is a ton to do in Sandrock and I don’t mean that figuratively. There are so many elements in this game that offer the ability to play the game the way that you want to play it.

Obviously, you’re there as a builder and so the bulk of the main storyline relies on the building aspect. However, to get those builds done, you’ll have to do a bit of grinding to farm for stone, wood, and metals. 

The build system can feel a bit daunting at first because it’s a lot of information to take in and process, but as you make things, you get the feel for how things are supposed to work.

Along the way, you’ll meet a host of characters, all of which you can be friends with, but some of which you can romance. Whether you decide to woo anyone, you’ll want to cultivate these friendships because they offer benefits, such as increased stamina, to your builder.

It’s not just friendships that help your builder’s stats though! Furnishing your home will help with that too! Each item offers a different perk like health or stamina. So, making your home a cozy environment will greatly benefit your builder.

I’ve seen fishing on the map and some screenshots of what might be racing. But I’ll be honest, I’m several hours in and haven’t even made my way to those features!

This game is huge and boasts 50-70 hours for just the main story. So, when you jump into the game, you’ll be able to play it the way you want. Just be sure not to cut down any cactus trees and remember to conserve water!

Art/Music

I can’t say enough good things about the design of this game.

I knew the art was charming from promotional images, but I didn’t realize just how detailed everything was going to be. Each character has been given their own look and personality, making the cast of Sandrock feel diverse and welcoming.

Not only that, the voice acting for each character is unique and helps breathe life into each character.

From the set dressing to the FX sounds, everything feels like a lot of thought went into it to bring a cozy experience to the player.

Most notably, the character creator should get massive props. You won’t have to worry about not being able to connect with your builder. Mine is pictured above, so she gives you some idea of just how varied you can make your own builder.

You can customize basically everything. Your skin color not only gets a main shade but an undertone shade as well. Your features can be larger, smaller, or even moved to different heights on your face!

The hair offers so many ways to customize your look, too! Not only do you choose two shades, but you have three sections that you can customize. Main, bangs, and ponytails are individual options meaning that you can mix and match styles to your heart’s content. Not only that, you can choose the length of each section!

Initially, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a non-binary option since you could choose voice types and weren’t locked out between “feminine” and “masculine”. I was concerned that there might be gendered language in the game, but you’re only ever referred to by your chosen name. 

So, you will have to pick between male and female, but that seems to only affect the body type. It doesn’t lock you out of features and you’re never directly called a gendered term. At least, not at this stage of the game. These details should make the experience a friendly one for Sandrock’s Non-Binary builders.

Coziness

The coziness level for My Time at Sandrock is high, but I feel like it also comes with a bit of a learning curve. The tutorials are great at trying to let you know what’s going on, but it can feel a bit like an infodump that you have to wade through.

The building aspects of the game can feel a bit intimidating. It has the spirit of Disney’s Dreamlight Valley, but shifts a bit more into the meticulousness of Runescape. For instance, let’s say that you need brick. But, to get brick you have to mine stone scrap, then you put the stone scrap in the recycler, and by doing so, you have a chance of being given brick.

Each ingredient has its own steps and that might help you thrive or it might bog you down. Honestly, I’ve had more fun meeting people and finding chests or paintings in buildings at this early stage in My Time at Sandrock.

Luckily, the cozy levels stay high because there are no time limits. The only instances that I’ve seen anything with time constraints mentioned are when I’ve needed to reply to mail in a prompt manner or if I want to pick up work from the commission boards.

Verdict

Overall, My Time at Sandrock seems like the next big game you’ll sink your life into. I know that there are some games that I wish I could go back and play for the first time just to capture that perfect feeling of getting lost in a fantastic game. Even before things really ramped up, I got the feeling that My Time at Sandrock would be one of those games.

If you love the way that you can build things in Disney’s Dreamlight Valley and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, then you’ll enjoy this one. It errs a bit on the side of Runescape with some bigger builds, but I know a lot of people resonate with that scrupulous playstyle.

Give My Time at Sandrock a try. It’s normally $39.99, but until November 9th, you can get it for 15% off at $33.99 on Steam starting today! Even at full price, I feel like this is a more than fair value for what you’re getting.