Is My Time at Sandrock Any Good?

Every now and then, you’ll look at a game store page and see that it’s got pretty good reviews, and wonder if it’s actually any good. Well, I decided to play 2023’s My Time at Sandrock and see if it lives up to the Very Positive user reviews on Steam.

What is My Time at Sandrock?

My Time at Sandrock is a life simulator that puts you in the role of the town of Sandrock’s newest builder. Your life in this quiet little town may start off relatively simple, getting your workshop up and running, taking on smaller tasks, and getting to know some of the townsfolk, but things pick up quickly!

You’ll soon be spinning multiple plates as you start constructing things around town and take on side missions for the friends you start to make (or just hang out with them!) Of course, you could always go and explore the wilderness or start turning your small, one-roomed home into something beautiful. There is plenty to see and do in Sandrock and the surrounding areas, and it quickly becomes apparent that this is a big game. For those feeling more adventurous, you could tackle hazardous ruins, where you take on enemies in order to collect rare items, or maybe just go mining for ore in one of the many safer ruins, if you need to stock up on materials for your workshop.

Not to delve into spoiler territory, but by the game’s conclusion, you’ll have done things like stopped an invasion of mutant lizards, delved into the deepest depths of ancient ruins, foiled an international conspiracy, and so much more! As I said, there’s a lot to do, although sometimes doing nothing at all and just spending the day in the arcade or the Blue Moon Saloon is also a valid option!

What are the people saying?

The game is sitting at a rather lofty 80 on Metacritic. Heck, our own review scored it at a 9.5! I know a game is probably something special if it gets my wife sitting and watching, and asking all sorts of questions about it!

There are several active communities for the franchise too, from subreddits to Facebook groups, with lots of various discussions going on. My in-game home was inspired by a variety of community screenshots sharing their layouts. I’m not the most imaginative sort, so simple things like building corridors between rooms or placing furniture to turn a room into a small library, for example, make your home a lot more… well, homelier!

Is it actually any good?

Well, I started the game over three months ago, and rolled the credits at almost 200 hours of playtime. I’ve played it nearly every day, whether that’s longer sessions completing quests and diving into ruins, or quick bursts of gameplay where I knocked out a few commissions and chatted to the townsfolk. So, yes, I would say it’s actually very good!

After playing through My Time at Portia last year, Sandrock feels like a genuine step up as a sequel, and I would easily recommend it to anyone who likes their cosy games with a bit more action. With My Time at Evershine set for release this year, I can’t wait to be drawn into this world all over again!