My Time at Sandrock

My Time at Sandrock is incredibly difficult to put down, and is an absolute must-have for any fan of the genre.

But… if you are looking for a reasonably easy going, not overly violent (hey there are chickens that fire rockets at you… it’s not totally peaceful), life/building sim, then My Time At Sandrock is a decent option… you can certainly sink a number of hours into it if you get into it.

I loved my time in Sandrock, it genuinely feels innovative within the farming/cozy games that have come out lately. As I said it My Time at Sandrock offers a ton of content for players to tackle, even though it can be overwhelming at times. The PC version also allows players to play the game co-op, at the time of this writing its not planned to come to the other platforms but that may change. The colorful art style, desert setting and memorable characters make for a fantastic adventure that players of the genre shouldn’t skip.

After playing Portia, and then seeing My Time at Sandrock announced, I was skeptical. How can Pathea make this work again? And in a desert of all places? Well, I have to say I was surprised and impressed. Pathea has a very creative team behind this world of theirs. On top of the quality of life improvements, and the new multiplayer component, My Time at Sandrock recaptures the feeling of “I’ll do one more day” at the end of every day. Not only that, but now I’m excited for the prospect of My Time at Highwind or My Time at Atara, just to see what can be done with a new part of this world.

A good sequel that improves in meaningful ways an already nice game. If you like social activities games such Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon you can't go wrong with this.

My Time at Sandrock is the perfect follow-up to My Time at Portia - building upon every solid idea from that first title, while also doing so much to give this new one a unique world and unique mechanics that set it apart from any other farm sim.

It’s a game I could easily see myself winding down with during the evenings, ticking off my to-do list of tasks while wrapped up cosily. The music, the style, the brief thrill of finding rare components or clearing dungeons; it gives me the same feelings that Harvest Moon once did, but God damn, there’s a lot to be cracking on with at any given moment. With that in mind, I think it’s about time I return to Sandrock.

Whether collecting resources, building items, or passing the day away playing minigames with townies, My Time at Sandrock is a joy. It's clear the team behind Sandrock took lessons from My Time at Portia to build significant quality-of-life improvements to boost almost every main feature, though dungeon design is still a little too basic to be consistently fun. Even though it doesn't nail everything it attempts and it's got a few odd visual bugs, it's hard to linger on those when the townspeople's golden personalities and Sandrock's general unrelenting dedication to goofiness outshine any minor stumbles. The new multiplayer mode is also another fun way to take on building up this desert town, with different challenges that make playing both it and the campaign a great time.

My Time at Sandrock is a cosy yet action-packed farming simulator that has you not only building up a dying town, but uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the quaint lives of the inhabitants. With every new update, the game has been getting stronger and stronger. And while admittedly there are some shortcomings with accessibility and glitches, My Time at Sandrock still manages to be a title fans of the farming sim will absolutely love.

In this post-apocalyptic world filled with charm, My Time at Sandrock offers a delightful blend of social simulation, farming management, and crafting, though its intricate crafting systems may deter some players. Despite its humble visuals and somewhat outdated design, it presents a vast and enjoyable adventure, making it one of the genre's finest offerings.

For those who like Portia or slow-moving, production-oriented games, a rich and full game awaits. But if you don't like the genre, you might get bored quickly.

Despite those rough edges, My Time At Sandrock is ultimately a wonderful and heartfelt game. There is an incredible story here about human nature, the environment, and the desire to right the wrongs of the past. Sandrock’s residents were charming, and I cared deeply about their lives, joys, and struggles. In that sense, I think my time in the desert was time well spent. With just a little polish, I think this one could become a masterpiece.

Pretty and full of interesting people, My Time At Sandrock is a jack of all trades, master of none. It has a lot to do but is quite thinly spread. Still, it won't fail to put a smile on your face.