What is a sandbox video game?

30 January 2025
6 minutos
Blog

The video game industry has evolved enormously since its beginnings, offering a wide variety of genres and styles of gameplay to suit different types of players, one of the most popular and revolutionary of which is the sandbox genre, which is characterised by offering the player great freedom of action within an open virtual environment. Among them, one of the most popular and revolutionary is the sandbox genre , which is characterised by offering the player great freedom of action within an open virtual environment. Do you want to know more about what a sandbox video game is, its main characteristics and some iconic examples, read on and find out everything you need to know about this fascinating type of games.

The term sandbox refers to a "sandbox", a place where children can play and build freely with sand. In the context of video games, a sandbox isa virtual environment that offers ample freedom to explore, build and modify the game world without following a strict storyline or set of predefined objectives.

Rather than imposing a linear narrative or mandatory quests, sandbox games allow players to decide how they want to play and what they want to achieve within the virtual world. This encourages creativity, exploration and experimentation, as the player has almost total control over their gaming experience.

5 characteristics of sandbox games

Sandbox games share a number of characteristics that make them unique and highly attractive to players. Here are the main ones:

Open world

One of the most distinctive features of sandbox games is the open world. This means that players can freely explore the environment without restrictions, be it a city, a forest, a desert or even an entire universe. Exploration is not limited by invisible barriers or a fixed sequence of events, offering a sense of total freedom.

Freedom of action

In a sandbox game, players have the freedom to choose how they interact with the world and its elements. They can follow optional quests, build structures, collect resources, fight enemies or simply explore and enjoy the environment. There is no "right" way to play, which encourages creativity and customisation of the experience.

Building and modification elements

Many sandbox games offer tools to build, modify or destroy the game environment. This may include constructing buildings, creating objects or altering the terrain. These elements allow players to let their imagination run wild and create their own in-game worlds.

Absence of a strict linear narrative

While some sandbox games may have a main storyline, this is often optional or non-linear. Players can choose whether they want to follow the plot or ignore it completely and focus on other activities. This is in contrast to other game genres where the narrative is the central focus of the experience.

High replayability

Thanks to the freedom they offer, sandbox games have a high replayability. Players can experience different play styles, create new strategies or simply explore parts of the world they have not visited before. Each game can be a unique and different experience.

6 examples of sandbox games

There are numerous sandbox games that have left an indelible mark on the gaming industry. Check out some of the most outstanding ones:

1. Minecraft

Minecraft is undoubtedly one of the most popular and iconic sandbox games of all time. Released in 2011 by Mojang, this game allows players to explore a world built and generated with blocks, which they obtain by collecting resources.

Minecraft offers several game modes, from survival mode, where players must face dangers and manage resources, to creative mode, where they have unlimited access to materials and can build without restrictions. The combination of exploration, building and total freedom has made Minecraft a cultural and educational phenomenon.

2. Grand Theft Auto V

The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, developed by Rockstar Games, is known for its huge open worlds and sandbox gameplay. In particular, GTA V, released in 2013, offers players the possibility to explore the fictional city of Los Santos and its surroundings, participate in missions, perform side activities or simply cause chaos in the game world.

GTA V's online mode, known as GTA Online, further expands the sandbox possibilities by allowing players to interact with each other in a persistent multiplayer environment.

3. The Sims

The Sims, created by Maxis and first released in 2000, is a life simulation sandbox game. Players can create and control virtual characters, design their homes and manage their daily lives. The absence of an end goal and the great freedom to customise the environment and characters' stories make it an excellent example of a sandbox game.

4. No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky, developed by Hello Games, is a sandbox space exploration game that offers a procedurally generated universe with billions of planets to discover. Players can explore planets, collect resources, build bases and trade with other species.

5. Terraria

Terraria is a 2D action-adventure sandbox game released in 2011 by Re-Logic. Players can explore a randomly generated world, collect resources, fight enemies and build structures. Like Minecraft, Terraria combines elements of survival and creativity, offering a rich and varied experience.

6. Ark: Survival Evolved

In Ark: Survival Evolved, players find themselves on an island inhabited by dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. They must collect resources, build shelters, tame dinosaurs and survive the dangers of the environment. The combination of survival, exploration and building makes it a highly addictive sandbox game.

Although each focuses on a different theme, we identify the characteristics discussed above, in particular the fact that they are all open worlds with no linear narrative and where the basis is the tools to build, modify or destroy the game environment.

Sandbox games offer a unique gaming experience, based on freedom, creativity and exploration. By allowing players to decide how they want to play and what they want to achieve, these games encourage imagination and offer infinite replayability.

👇 Do you want to learn how to design and develop such games?

If you are passionate about video game design and want to learn how to create open worlds and sandbox experiences, at UDIT we offer the Official Degree in Design and Development of Video Games and Virtual Environments, the first university to offer this degree in Spain. We have been training professionals in the video game sector for more than 15 years. Find out more and take the first step towards a career in the video game industry!