Tag: sandbox
Open World, sci-fi sandbox heads to Xbox Game Pass in May ahead of Starfield
A rather interesting open world 2D sandbox game with a sci-fi setting titled Farworld Pioneers is headed to Xbox Game Pass next month.
The game appears to be a hybrid of genres such as managerial, RTS, exploration, and a slight bit of RPG thrown in for good measure.
In the game, you will build a planet base for AI residents to live in, and it is up to you to keep them fed, happy, and safe. This is where your base design comes into play. If it is of poor design, the residents will be unhappy and leave the base.
Introducing Farworld Pioneers: an Open World, Sci-fi Sandbox
Engineering sandbox Plasma launches in early access, bound to make your brain hurt
Engineering sandbox game Plasma has launched on Steam Early Access, giving players a chance to flex their programming skills and creativity. If you don’t have any… it should give you ample opportunity to get some training done.
The game, which is the first game from indie developer Dry Licorice, has released to positive reviews from users who praise it as a toybox for the technically minded. It’s a tad more complex than your typical sandbox game, so prepare to bounce off if you’ve not got a taste for that particular style of problem solving.
According to Plasma’s Steam page: “Plasma is a creative engineering playground where you can build any device you can imagine. Bring to life your own amazing robots, factories, arcade machines, giant rampaging spiders, whole game worlds, and things that don’t even have a name yet, then share them with the community.”
Kerbal Space Program creator is relaunching his physics sandbox followup with a new name
Balsa Model Flight Simulator launched into Steam Early Access last year, to positive reviews and few sales. It is, like its developer’s previous game Kerbal Space Program, about building a machine designed to fly, crashing it back to earth, then constructing something better.
Now its developer has announced they’re doing something similar with the game itself. Balsa Model Flight Sim will relaunch later this year with a new name, Kitbash Model Club, a more ambitious physics construction sandbox, and a plan to release as a complete game rather than into early access. Existing owners of Balsa Model Flight Simulator will get Kitbash Model Club for free.
Saints Row is still a thing, as Volition revives sandbox with new DLC
Don’t call it a comeback, but Saints Row, the Volition sandbox game that struggled for sales and plaudits in 2022, is set for a sweeping overhaul courtesy of a sizeable lineup of DLC, including additional maps, modes, missions, and cosmetics, all set to be drip fed throughout 2023. Will it be enough to draw people back? Is the goodwill for Saints Row 2 and Saints Row The Third still strong enough? Volition is certainly going all out, so let’s hope so.
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Saints Row release date, Best action-adventure games, Upcoming PC games
Garden Galaxy is a relaxing idle sandbox filled with pots and plants
In Garden Galaxy, you arrange randomly delivered pots, plants, furniture and ornaments into your own happy little scene. I spent a contented evening with it a few weeks ago, fussing over the shape of my water feature and the angle of my gnome.
If you like tinkering and tidying, I think you’d like it too, and this week it has received a major new update with lots more items to play with.
Lil Gator Game Developer Interview: Make Your Own Fun With Adorable Sandbox Exploration
Lil Gator Game is a charming sandbox adventure from MegaWobble. It’s available for $19.99 on Steam, but it’s this month’s IGN Plus game and Plus members can get a Steam key as an IGN Reward and jump in right now.
Plus members – get your key for Lil Gator Game here on its IGN Rewards page. Not a Plus member? Learn more here. You can also follow the devs on Twitter.
Lil Gator Game Developer Interview
I sat down with Lil Gator Game devs Scott Slucher (Lead Developer) and Connor Quothe (Lead Writer) to talk about their inspiration, as well as what players can expect when they jump into this fun, lighthearted game.
The titular Lil Gator has a recognizable hat, tunic, and left-handed sword swing that will immediately look familiar to any Zelda fans, and Lil Gator Game wastes no time before making its love for that series explicit. When I asked why the main character was an alligator, Scott laughed and said, “because alligator is green and Link is green,” and although that isn’t the whole story, Scott was inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, a fantastic duo from the Game Boy Color generation.
With such classic inspiration, it would be easy to mistake Lil Gator Game for a one-trick pony, but that’s far from the truth. Filling out the world and giving it life are myriad characters, each with fun personalities that make meeting and talking to them breezy and delightful.
The writing was inspired by Frog Detective’s conversational tone, as well as cartoons like Spongebob Squarepants, Fairly Odd Parents, and Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends. Connor’s own theater and Dungeon Master background meant he had experience giving substance and personality to multiple characters, which Lil Gator Game’s broad cast of characters greatly benefits from.
Fueling the lighthearted and comedic side of the game (and leaning into the strength of the side characters) the side quests are inspired by the Yakuza series. “[They are] just weird little things you stumble into,” Scott said, “with a joke or moral message at the end, and then you move on.” Side quests are also incredibly short. There are tons of them, and they can generally be completed in under a minute, creating refreshing gameplay loops of exploration and levity.
The warm, welcoming tone of the game reminds me of A Short Hike, and Scott confirmed some other inspiration for Lil Gator Game was drawn from Kirby’s Air Ride and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, which is reflected in Lil Gator’s focus on discovery and undirected play.
When asked about the team’s favorite elements, Connor said his were some Easter Egg items the player will find, and Robin (who was primarily responsible for creating the music) loves the game’s humor. Scott, who was inspired by long hikes near his Kentucky home, is most attached to the trees (which he reworked four times during development).
Scott had one final note to players. “I encourage people to look for ways to find their own fun… I have the concept of a “toy box” with this game. I tried to put in as many toys as I could, in the hopes that they’d be inspired by one of them and would play with it.”
What Is IGN Plus?
IGN Plus is the paid membership program for IGN, and right now you can grab an annual membership for just $29.99, or just $4.99 a month, if you prefer to go that route. You can also try it for just $1 for 30 days.
What you get as an IGN Plus member:
- Monthly Game keys (Like Lil Gator Game, & more)
- Removes all ads from IGN
- Grants 15% off most items at the IGN Store
- Gives you a MapGenie Pro membership (for tons of game maps & collectible locations)
- Unlimited access to IGN maps and checkpoints
- & more.
Brian Barnett writes reviews, guides, features, & more for IGN & GameSpot. You can get your fix of his antics on Twitter (@Ribnax) and Twitch (Ribnax) or check out his fantastic video game talk show, The Platformers, on Twitch & Apple Podcasts.
Privacy Sandbox beta is rolling out now to select phones: Here’s what to expect
Become god of a toy town in this cute upcoming sandbox game
Childhood delusions of godhood will come to life with Wood & Weather, an upcoming sandbox god game about manipulating weather as you oversee a small wooden toy town occupied by Notplaymobil figures. Someone wants coffee? Fetch them a coffee. Oh it’s too hot for coffee? Turn on the rain. Oh, and after all you do, they throw the empty cup on the floor? Great, thanks, lovely, pick it up and bin it for them. Check out the cute trailer below!