My Time at Sandrock
My Time at Sandrock is a 2023 farm life sim role-playing video game developed by Chinese studio Pathea Games and published by PM Studios and Focus Entertainment. It is the sequel to the 2019 video game My Time at Portia and takes place in a desert 300 years after an event that destroyed modern technologies. The game was praised for its coziness, but was criticized for its technical issues at launch. A sequel, My Time at Evershine, is in development. The game was announced in October 2020 and funded via a Kickstarter campaign, and was initially due for early access release in March 2021. However, this was delayed due to it needing a local rating certification. The game was eventually released into early access on May 26, 2022 for Windows, before full release on November 2, 2023, for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, followed by a PlayStation 4 version on September 13, 2024. Gameplay Players build up the town, farm, mine, gather resources, craft items, accept side quests (known as commissions), and explore dungeons and the ruins of the old world cities.[2] Combat uses hack and slash mechanics. Players can also make aimed shots with gun sights. Due to the fact that Sandrock is set on a desert environment, players and residents are asked to conserve water. Most machines use up water, which is stored in a water tank.[3] This is needed so that the machines do not get too hot. They are also asked not to cut trees and doing so can cause penalties to the player. Players can also socialise and romance 21 non-player characters.[4] PlotThe setting, like My Time at Portia, takes place in a post-apocalyptic world 300 years after the Day of Calamity, an event that has destroyed previous civilizations and most modern technologies. This caused people to rebuild society and eventually form the Alliance of Free Cities and a military organization called the Civil Corps. The Alliance is at war against a tyrannical empire called Duvos, who seek to obtain ancient technology and conquer other regions for their own gain. Sandrock combines elements of farm life sims and role-playing video games. [2] DevelopmentThe sequel for My Time at Portia was announced in October 2020, funded through a Kickstarter campaign.[5] The campaign reached almost 10,000 backers from over 160 countries and pledged a total of $524,770.[5] The game was initially slated for release in early access in March 2021 followed by a full release in summer 2022.[6] However, after the announcement in March 2021, the early access plan was delayed because it needed to earn a "local rating certification" for online publishing.[7] After a long delay, the game released into early access on May 26, 2022, by PM Studios for Windows. During early access, the Knives Out Update was released in April 2023, which introduced minigames, new weather, a narrative, and weddings.[8] The game was fully released on November 2, 2023, for PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch. The original deadline was September 26, 2023, but was delayed to ensure the game's quality would meet the player's standards.[9] The game was later released for the PlayStation 4 on September 12, 2024.[10] The Windows version has co-operative multiplayer.[4] The developers released two downloadable content expansions in 2024.[11][12] Cross-platform play has been available since June 2024.[13][14] ReceptionReception
On Metacritic, My Time at Sandrock received positive reviews for Windows and PlayStation 5, and the Switch version received mixed reviews.[22] Various critics praised the game as entertaining. Some liked its cozy nature, while others praised how the game has a variety of things the player can do. An early access review from Rock Paper Shotgun described it as "a compelling and lusciously detailed life simulator" and praised the gameplay loop.[3] Various critics have reported technical issues with the game moments after release. Despite these issues, IGN called it "a joy" and is better in almost every way than My Time at Portia. They found the dungeons and combat a bit basic but said the rest of the game makes up for them, as well as the fact that they appreciated the extra challenge with managing water.[4] Nintendo Life called it "reasonably enjoyable" but criticized the graphics, performance issues on the Switch, software bugs, and what they felt was "a lack of a distinct identity".[18] Digitally Downloaded has also reported on the technical issue and that the game is so laggy that players "can make a coffee in the time that it takes to actually load the thing"[23] However, Nintendo Life said that the patches had fixed some of the technical issues since the launch.[18] Nintendo World Report also experienced performance issues on the Switch but recommended it on the strength of its gameplay loop and enjoyable world.[19] VG247 said it combines the best parts of Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, and felt like stepping "onto one of Animal Crossing: New Horizons dream islands' for a day". Although they felt the concept is not new, they praised the characters, story, and gameplay.[21] TouchArcade's review for the Nintendo Switch stated that the game felt "like one of the best sequels in the genre with how much it improves".[20] SequelIn September 2024, Pathea Games has announced another sequel for the My Time series entitled My Time at Evershine.[24] It has reported that the new game will feature better multiplayer after Sandrock "may have failed to deliver on its promises of a fully fleshed-out multiplayer mode".[25][24] See also
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