Mostafa Salem
Head of Gaming Research
Updated:
06/09/2023
Posted:
15/10/2022
Introduction
One of the most popular and recognizable blockchain games thanks to its recognizable pixel graphics and its strategic partnerships with established NFT collections and other titles, it is none other than The Sandbox.
The Sandbox is a decentralised, community-driven gaming ecosystem where creators can share and monetise voxel assets and gaming experiences. This is the beauty of Sandbox, giving players a clean slave to let their imaginations run wild and create attractive destinations for players to enjoy.
Gameplay
The core component to become a contributing member to The Sandbox game and create your own experience is to own LAND. The game features over 150K pieces of land, each of which players can use to LAND to build digital experiences. This covers anything from hosting events and inviting friends over to enjoy it with everyone to building full fledged experiences using ASSETS.
ASSETS are either player-created in-game items or periodic drops from the team to celebrate partnerships or the beginning of a new season. These ASSETs are converted into non-fungible tokens (NFTs) when they are uploaded to The Sandbox’s marketplace, and purchased with SAND. They can be anything from NPCs and equipment to art and wearables.
Game Maker Fund
The team offers game creators direct support and incentivizes them to come over and build innovative experiences on The Sandbox through their Game Maker Fund. This has resulted in tons of incredible quests and storylines for everyone to enjoy, including the likes of Dethrone, Dystopia, Mushroom Mania, and many more.
These games are considered the bread and butter of The Sandbox and offers the game an endless pipeline of experiences to go through. You can create them all through their Alpha Game Maker, covering almost all genres, such as Steampunk, Cyberpunk, Dark and Medieval Fantasies, Puzzle, Adventure, Survival, Lifestyle, Simulation, and more.
The Sandbox has been very vocal with their support towards these developers, highlighting them at least once a week with a monthly recap giving the spotlight to their own editor’s picks.
Review
The Sandbox has established itself as one of the biggest metaverse players in blockchain gaming, and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Its open canvas nature and tremendous support towards indie developers and creators alike has paved the way for a continuous and almost neverending supply of experiences for players to go through. Pair that up with the team’s own efforts to implement innovative technology, accommodate NFT communities, and break down the barriers between traditional and crypto games.
The Sandbox Review
The Sandbox Game instantly draws many comparisons to Minecraft off its surface. Once you dive deeper, you realize it is nothing more than the similar pixelated characters. The Sandbox Game managed to build a reputation for itself that drew in countless brands to build customized experiences for their players, including Paris Hilton, Gordon Ramsay, FaZe Clan, and many others. The studio cleverly enabled original creators and renowned brands feel the need to become part of The Sandbox Game's metaverse. The only flaw at the moment is the extensive crypto knowledge you need to maneuver your way around the game and the barrier of entry to its land or other assets.
6.5
Pros
Countless international and blockchain-native IP integrations
Tons of content, quests, and community-created experiences
Game Maker Fund projects provide memorable journeys
Cons
Barrier of entry due to LAND and SAND
Onboarding process is directed towards crypto natives
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About The Sandbox
The Sandbox team is building a unique virtual world where players can build, own, and monetize their gaming experiences using SAND, the main utility token of the platform.
