Game Jargon Definition: “Sandbox Game”

Sandbox Game (noun) - sand · box game / ˈsan(d)ˌbäks gām/

This term comes from the concept of the playground sandbox, where one can just sit down in the middle and start to play in seemingly almost any way one can think of. You figure out what you like, what works, and just where the boundaries of the game space are and what happens if you try to push beyond them. Sandbox games are those in which the rules, mechanics, and components are designed to maximize player freedom, autonomy, and their ability to try new things and be creative within the possibility space.

Most successful sandbox games actually do have a number of fairly rigid rules and boundaries, but all elements of the game are designed to make players perceive that they have as much freedom and autonomy as possible, often incorporating high levels of player interaction, social negotiation, and multiple paths to victory in order to maximize replayability.

While sandbox games can be wonderful, they are generally not recommended for players new to hobby gaming, as these players often find sandbox games to be too nonlinear to be easily understood or engaged with. Inexperienced (and experienced players alike) can suffer from paradox of choice and have difficulty determining if what they are doing has any impact on the game or their personal path towards victory. However, this is entirely based on player preference and some players new to hobby gaming may find that they enjoy this style of game right out of the gate.

Examples of sandbox games include: Merchants and Marauders (2010); Mage Knight (2011); Firefly: The Game (2013); Xia: Legends of a Drift System (2014); Western Legends (2018); and Star Wars: Outer Rim (2019).