Sandbox City: A Fun Idea That Falls a Bit Flat

I went into Sandbox City with an open mind. The screenshots promised chaos, freedom, and some light-hearted destruction—basically everything I love in a sandbox-style game. And while it does deliver on those promises in short bursts, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this game is more of a rough draft than a finished product.

Let’s start with the good. Sandbox City does give you a decent-sized world to explore, complete with drivable vehicles, NPCs, and some very loose physics. You can hop in a car, speed through intersections, flip over a few times, and keep going like nothing happened. That kind of lawless, arcade-style freedom can be a blast, especially if you just want something silly and low-stress.

But that fun is short-lived.

The problem isn’t so much what Sandbox City has, it’s what it lacks. After about 15 or 20 minutes, I found myself wondering what else there was to do. You can drive, crash, run around, maybe jump off a roof for laughs—but that’s about it. There are no missions, no progression system, and very little incentive to keep playing beyond the novelty.

Now, I get it: not every game needs objectives. But even games built purely for chaos—like Goat Simulator or Totally Accurate Battle Simulator—manage to keep things interesting with clever design and unexpected moments. Sandbox City just doesn’t have enough variety to hold attention for long.

And let’s talk about the controls. They’re… serviceable at best. Driving is floaty, movement can feel stiff, and the ragdoll physics—while occasionally hilarious—can also be frustrating when they interfere with basic actions. Sometimes you’ll fly off a ledge and land in a way that completely breaks the camera. Other times, a simple turn ends up flipping your vehicle into a building.

I also wish the environment was more interactive. Most buildings are just decorative, and the city feels more like a prop than a real space. It’s a missed opportunity, honestly. With a few more layers—interiors, mini-games, or even just more randomness—it could’ve been something special.

That said, I don’t regret playing it. It’s the kind of game that’s fun to mess with for a few minutes when you need a break from more serious titles. It just doesn’t have staying power, and that’s a shame.

There’s potential here. If the developers decide to expand on the idea, I’d be interested to revisit it. But as it stands now, Sandbox City feels more like a toy than a game—a digital playground that’s amusing for a short time, but easy to forget.