My Time at Sandrock

Genuinely extremely good game. If you like Rune Factory play this game. Also stan Miguel and Heidi <3

Loved this game despite a few lags and glitches. I'm really looking forward to the next chapter from My Time.

Great sequel to Portia, they improved a lot of things that I didn't care for in the first one, (ie. you can save at any time of day, relationships are easier to build, etc.) and made it different enough that it didn't just feel like a clone of mechanics (the pick-ax, not being able to cut down trees, recycling).
There were some... questionable decisions made about some of the characters (the one Native American coded woman being in charge of a 'casino', sorry 'game center', for example) that made the game not a perfect game for me personally.

All in all a good play, can sink a decent chunk of time into, and the achievements were easier to obtain
8/10

This has been one of the most fun games I've ever played! The world building is awesome, the tasks are plentiful and, for the most part, intuitive to complete, and there's just so much to do (not in an overwhelming way)! I really love the fighting aspect of this game - never played a game like it and it's enjoyable rather than super scary and stressful. Looking forward to what more the game has to offer!

This game is amazing, I played the first one, on both Steam and Switch, and had to get this one! Now there is a third one coming out! It's always better than the precious, so I cannot wait. They keep the good and remove the bad, what else can you hope for from a game developer. I am nearing the end of the game, I think, and don't want it to end.

This game has helped me build new skills around being able to engage with other people, and that's really big for me. I had been recovering from really toxic dynamics and DV abuse, so trusting people felt too hard to do. I really appreciate the variety of ways to interact with the citizens and how to feel like I'm making a difference. This game provides so much variety, sometimes the plot line scenes feel like a whole other game. There is so much to do, to customize, to explore, it is worth starting off slowing down the day, repeating the tutorials, and enjoying the experience of being in Sandrock!

My Time games have taken a special place in my heart. Character design is downright silly I'm ngl, but Sandrock and Portia are doing what other games could only dream of doing. Mining, combat, romance, building, etc... It has it all. It is also one of the few RPGs out there where you can have kids and they grow up. That alone makes it stand out from other RPGs. The storyline is so good as well, and it has so much content to it, to the point that others have complained that it can be a bit arduous to finish. Replay-ability is there, which is important. All in all, it is just a really great game that stands above other cozy games.

I've really enjoyed this game so much. I appreciate the amount of depth the characters have. There are lots of different dialogues, so nothing feels redundant. The city of Sandrock feels so real at times. My friend and I both bought this game and have been comparing our play-throughs. There are so many different outcomes that can happen based on the choices you make. Every relationship you form has its own perks and cutscenes. There's always plenty to do - and if you get overwhelmed - there are ways to change the time progression in the game settings. You can pick how casual or grindy the game becomes for you, without needing to mod it!

This is a well polished game with a decent UI. The mixture of building, gathering, befriending, quests, battling, farming, fishing, and exploration supply you with a robust amount of gameplay. I highly recommend it, and thoroughly look forward to the sequel coming out next year!

10/10 i love the game my fav person is logan the game is open world so fun

Great game so far, played most of yesterday and starting it up today. Easy for beginners and I recommend just taking it slow

My Time at Sandrock is quite fun. There's a lot to do, even expanding on what one could do in the first My Time game.

Personally, I find the whole relationship thing a bit overwhelming, but perhaps after I've gotten through a bit more of the construction missions, I'll have time to focus on the friendships in town.

Do I recommend this game? Absolutely.

Fantastic game...great mechanics, engaging and fun

Upgrade over portia, way better voice actors aswell.

I've put well over 1000 hours into this game, including Steam and XBox, and it remains one of my all-time favorites that I keep coming back to. For me, it is the perfect balance of a compelling story, layered characters, interesting and funny dialogue, and relationships, paired with the perfect resource gathering, mining, fun combat, and construction elements. Pathea is an amazing studio that truly cares about their players and puts so much love into all of their games. I can't wait for My Time at Evershine!

Great game with amazing story line and characters, I have four different saves because of all the various romance content available. 10/10 recommend.

Absolutely love this game. Bought it on a whim. Wanted an easy, fun, chill game after playing Elden Ring for too long. This is the type of game where I sit down to play after dinner, and I blink and suddenly it is 2 am and I am wholly considering calling out sick from work so I can just keep playing.

The NPCs have DEPTH. The story line is *Chefs kiss*. I wanted a game where I can see my work makes active changes to my surroundings, and this is it.

There was one moment where I CRIED. (To avoid this, don't read the books you pick up... lol) There was one journal I found and I ended up just... crying. It was so sad. The game itself is very upbeat (minus the one time I cried- seriously that journal was... gut wrenching) But back to the upbeat- everyone in town is surviving- not living- not thriving- but they're just so motivated. Its not over the top- this game hits on some hard themes- I mean, it takes place after an apocalypse, but the game approaches it in a way where the townsfolk almost take it with another day in sandrock.

This game gives you plot twists, traitors spies and a rancher who just does NOT STOP TALKING.
(Anyone else laugh out loud when they read the Summit Agenda "Yeah, I can take up time!" 0800-1900 LOL.

10/10
Will play again.
And am anxiously waiting for My Time in Evershine to come out.

This game has it all. Twink cowboys. Morally questionable yakboys. Pastor boyfriend. British people. I will never play Xenoblade Chronicles again when this masterpiece exists

Seriously speaking though this game is phenomenal, satisfying crafting system, great farming, pets, cute dates and romances, and an unforgettable and charming cast. it's a must play for anyone who enjoyed Portia or fans of similar games like Rune Factory.

My Time at Sandrock has quickly become one of my absolute favorite games, and let me tell you, it's a huge step up from its predecessor, My Time at Portia. If you’re a fan of life simulation games, building, crafting, and exploring, this game has it all and then some.

First off, the gameplay is *so much* smoother and more enjoyable than My Time at Portia. The added quality of life features make a huge difference. Inventory management, crafting, and building are all far more intuitive. No more frustrating menus or complicated mechanics – everything just works! The addition of faster movement, more flexible crafting, and easier access to tools has made it much more fun to dive in for hours at a time.

But what truly makes Sandrock stand out are the NPCs. In My Time at Portia, I always felt like the characters were a little... flat. Not the case here! The NPCs in Sandrock are so *alive*, with vibrant, engaging dialogues that make the world feel truly immersive. They’ve got their own personalities, and interacting with them is an absolute joy. From the quirky town mayor to the hardworking shopkeepers, everyone feels like they belong in this little desert town, and it makes everything feel so much more personal.

The game’s overall tone is super wholesome too. There’s a lightheartedness and charm to everything – whether it's helping out a friend with a random task, rebuilding the town after disaster, or just chatting with people around town. It’s a game that makes you smile.

I can’t emphasize enough how much fun I’m having. The mix of crafting, exploration, character interaction, and world-building has made My Time at Sandrock an unforgettable experience. If you loved My Time at Portia or are just looking for a warm and engaging life-sim game, this is a must-play. Every day in Sandrock is a new adventure, and I’m here for it!

What Makes this Game is the Details.

I have played an insane amount of farming/life sim games. I could argue it's my favorite genre. Town builders, farming, romancing villagers- Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, the 5000 other games since that are all lovely in their own way.

Nothing will EVER beat Sandrock.

Let's Talk Mechanics

The game loop is freaking AWESOME. It is a GRIND, and that is my thing, so therefore, I'm living my literal best life.

Your character is a builder. You will build. Constantly. You will take commissions, you will need materials, you will go out and scrounge for materials, you will meet your commissions, and then you will rinse repeat for the entire game.

It feels AMAZING.

I'm about 100~ hours in I think on my second run, and I am nowhere near done with gameplay content. I still have ores, fishing areas, combat locations, dungeons, and more that I have not yet discovered. Hell, I haven't even finished the story- HELL I haven't even gotten MARRIED, AND I haven't even met all of the bachelors.

I haven't burned out yet, either. As the game progresses, material collection will get easier and easier. If you get the Pet DLC, material collection will get a LOT easier almost right out the gate, because pets are overpowered and also somehow integral, lmao. I've ABUSED the pet system to get materials and still feel like I'm barely keeping up.

Combat is good, building is awesome, material collection and grind is so fulfilling. It's a fantastic gameplay loop.

The social system is PHENOMENAL. I'll be honest, I struggle with the social aspect of things in these sorts of games because sometimes, I just cannot be bothered to go around and befriend the random townies that aren't integral/marriage candidates. It's hard enough keeping track of that one special NPC's schedule, but everyone else?

Sandrock fixed that. Characters have a NETWORK of connections, so at times, you have a chance of not just increasing points with an NPC, but also with everyone in their network. I actually feel like the town as a whole is reacting to my presence in this way, not just the direct people I'm gifting the 18th shiny scorpion to this week.

Let's Talk Vibes.

I feel like my character actually matters to the town and to the other characters.

When you raise your relationship with characters, they begin waving at you, and little greetings pop up above their heads. They'll comment on the fact that you have pets with you, or just say really sweet things because they're happy to see you. All of the characters in this town feel like they actually MATTER, like they all exist within this town and care about it, versus just following a set path and saying one of three things.

They comment on every single interaction in the story, they react to the world around them. This makes the entire town feel alive in a way farming sims just has not felt. Story of Seasons games are lauded as well done, but frankly, the characters feel about as surface level as a sheet of paper.

Not Sandrock. I am INVESTED. The story is NUTS. I was fully in the belief that one particular character is secretly a sociopath, and now I'm questioning that, and only through spoilers do I know another character IS definitely a villain. Or something.

I worried about the game being set in a desert because frankly, I'm not a fan of desert aesthetics.

The game doesn't make you LOVE the desert, but you fall in love with everything that has to DO with Sandrock being in a desert, because IT IS LORE CENTRIC. There is an entire plot around the fact that you are in the desert, and that's incredible. The setting MATTERS. Everything MATTERS. Every character, the location- everything. It's incredible.

This game is so worth it.

I genuinely recommend. I recommend it above and beyond all other farming games. Yes, it's in the desert, but believe me, that's 100% part of the charm and the intensity and the awesomeness. It plays a part in the mechanics, the characters, their traits, and the world you're in.

This game is so well done. Sometimes buggy, but it's one of those games where the pros HEAVILY outweigh the cons. A bug is like a minor inconvenience haha.

The best game I've ever played and it's not even close. I want to be in Sandrock forever. It's so immersive, and the way the town heals with you is incredible. 11/10 recommend.

Highly recommend its very calm and relaxing. I should of tried the game way sooner but I'm glad I got into now.

Bruddahs, lissen. The game is GOOD, but the developper is a moron. Back in Portia (first game), they optimized the game so bad the GRASS made your PC burst, even if yer gamerig had twice the max requirement oompf. But it was easy to get out of it, just cancel grass effects and grass altogether.

Here I am with my gaming rig just one year old, and it's not a weakling, MBI B760 Tomahawk Wifi, 64GB of RAM, Intel iCore 9-14900K and MSI RTX4070 Super Ventus 2x OC 12GB GDDR6X HDMI 3xDP

I should be able to run that game at light speed. But the game is ruined bu THE LONGEST loading screen since the Commodore era.

It takes FIVE MINUTES for the game to let you access the menu screen. Then at some random points in game you have a looping green circle loading or mimicking loading for aeons anfd for no reason.

And when in the mining pit, each level is separated by a 5 minute long loading screen. A,d it's not like it takes all that time to fill the waiting bar, no. Waiting bar is completed to 95% after a few seconds. Then gets stuck for 5 minutes.

The game is good, but NOT THAT GOOD that you're willing to inflict yourselves 5 minutes loading screens, it's even worse than Warcraft II or Diablo on PSX!

Oh yeah, devs have delivered some platitudes "deactive auto Steam cloud saves", "deactive error feedbacks", "update your drivers", "reboot your PC", "reboot your game", "decrease overall graphics quality.

Wall, you know what? Thi is ALL bullshit. Devs are clueless and useless, and couldn't optimize a game even if their lives depended on it.

Do not buy this game except if you got the patience of a buddhist monk. Oh, and did I mention that, sometimes, the loading actually doesn't stop? Or that the game freezes and crash?

The devs won't do jackshit for this game, they abandoned it already since they're working on the third installement. I guess all that's left for them is make sure the game runs absolutely horrifyingly on ALL platforms.

I could run this game on Deep Blue in minimum settings and I'd still have crashes and eternal loadings.

Charming and very enjoyable game. If you just wanna have a good, and chill time with light story that's easy to digest to spend your down time with, I recommend this game.

I bought my time at portia when it First launched into early access, and the only thing you could do was build the bridge, then it said sorry no more game, i wrote it off an intended to return it, but didnt for some reason, then like 2 days later it got a big update. Added a bunch of content and so on and so on. Ended out Loving it. Then bought sandrock and loved it too. i am Extremely positive on this dev. Their games are more than a little janky at times, but honestly, ive seen Much worse and its usually no even close to game breaking. Their stories are quirky and fun, though not what i enjoy about them. The game play and resource management is very simple to learn and the projects affect the world and continue to build upon one another. Its satisfying to enjoy the character development and the world progression but it has the simplicity of an easy to play game like stardew, but with alot of depth. A bit grindy at times but honestly a solid 8.5 out of 10 for a game to play with a podcast. Relaxing yet engaging.

It improves upon Portia in every way.

However what bugged me when I first started playing this game, until i settled in and accepted it was the clashing art styles between characters. Some retain the Portia style while some are a midpoint between Portia and Evershine, not quite cartoonish not quite "realistic". It feels weird if you romance someone like Logan, who has this not-quite-realistic style as your character can look like they belong in a different game or (by virtue of the style and design of the character creator) uncomfortably young in comparison.

Character creator is fine, the character you create looks young, the proportions do not help, the oversized head and how short they are when compared to others leaves me annoyed. A height and body slider would have been nice.

I will say its a MASSIVE improvement in regards to art and style since Portia. I love the entire vibe of this post-apocalyptic old western location, it definitely feels unique in a sea of grim post-apocalyptic games. It have a vibrant overall cosy and hopeful tone, it never feels overly bleak but it never dips too much into the comfortable cosy pools that have taken over this genre of game. I am not against comfortable and cosy, which this game is but when everything and everyone is nice and pleasant and without malice it can become boring.

I am not a fan of the late game content, everything post "Sandrock Strikes Back" starts to feel a little tacked on. Like the developers wanted to add things to game (Catori's mission especially feels like this) and didn't know where to put it so they just tacked it onto the end of the game which I have mixed feelings about.

But gripes aside loved this game, far more than Portia, especially loved the townsfolk in this game they felt much more developed and well rounded. Adore Cooper he is *chef's kiss* amazing, cannot complain.

I recommend this game but with a few reservations.

I will talk about the pros and what I liked about this game first which got me hooked despite its glaring flaws.

Things I liked:
1. the helmet light when ruin diving is a really cool and unique idea when it comes to targeting your next area to use your pickhammer. This helmet provides light and at the same time, is like a guide on where your pickhammer will hit.
2. The grinding on the ruins is so satisfying when looking for relics.
3. The use of 2 outfit/equipment slots. So basically, you get to look what you want to look like without sacrificing stats of other outfits which offers better stats. I really like this feature!
4. Upgrading equipments are also really efficient. You dont need to make a new one from scratch since you can already upgrade the ones you built.


Things that discouraged me and almost made me quit several times:
1. Fix the door bug!!!! I always get stuck on my door and it wastes around 30-45 in game time just for me to unstuck myself.
2. WHERE IS THE KEY ITEM STORAGE? The only items that dont occupy your inventory are the currencies. You need gols for you to expand your inventory slots which is okay in mid-late game but cmon.
3. The last save feature... It's 2025 and your game doesn't autosave or at least have some checkpoints. I went breach diving and I had to restart the day because I died there ONLY because I wasn't able to save before entering the Breach. I don't know what's the logical reason behind this. Seriously, it just frustrates your players to have to restart their day just because they didn't save.
4. The community this game has has a LOT of talented and artistic gamers but only for the game to offer a half baked showroom sharing of files for house design. WHERE IS YOUR MEGATHREAD FOR SHOWROOMS? I think this feature was aimed for more community engagement and interaction but it was offered to us with mediocrity.
5. A lot of the items are not explained well where to gather them. For example, graphite is only gathered through "quarry" but there is not such place as a quarry in this game. I needed to search what that meant and it meant using your pickhammer on normal stones as per reddit. (The reddit community is full of fun people and helpful). In addition, in proceeding with main quest lines, like unlocking the paradise lost, the game only tells you where to go and not how to unlock that specific place. Again, you need to search online. I think 10-15% of my time while playing this game was just searching online for answers after I spent more or less 30 minutes figuring out how to go and where to get items.

Overall, this game this fun. It really is. However, I think the devs are already focusing too much on their new My Time game and don't really pay much attention to this game anymore except offering paid DLCs which is a bit sad.

amazing game very fun for all ages keeps you busy and exploring

This game is truly great... I love that it had so many quests, the building is great the farming is okay. When you play you really don't need a huge house or a farm for the animals they are basically useless, unless you like having them around but to play and finish the game i didn't have to farm at all and i didn't need any animals, i did end up getting the stable for the horse so i could travel faster which was very useful... The relationships are so hard to level up, but if you choose a person to marry its easy to focus on one person, i played in multiplayer you cant romance each other but you can romance the NPC's, but in multiplayer you cant have babies its not a option which stinks... i did finish the whole game, wish there was more stuff to do after you finish the story line but after that all there is to do is walk around and talk to people or mine and farm which has no end goals... I'm extremely excited for the new game they are building and putting out i love that they also have multiplayer not a lot of games anymore has good multiplayer... lets hope the new game lets you marry and have kids in multiplayer, also the storage situation was horrible there was not enough space for everything you collect. all the artifacts took up all the space and it took forever to level up to get a bigger storage, there was personal storage but other players couldn't get into the personal storage boxes and it hindered the game for us a lot, especially when the stuff you carry or the stuff in personal storage cant be mass shared for crafting, the building in the game is a little iffy but wasn't to bad could be better but it was doable. The characters could also have more because they all said the same things over and over again, the dates got so boring so it was like each date you did to make the relationship grow you clicked right through Because they say the same things over and over again.. The monsters and the fighting is good. i wish there was more but i guess ill wait for the new game to come out.. All in all this game is worth it and definitely was very fun to play!

This game is by far my favorite. If you want a game that you can sink hundreds of hours into, this is the one. The story is long but captivating, and yet you can play the game at your own pace.

The crafting in this game versus their previous title, My Time at Portia, is great. The system is set up well and once you get the hang of it, crafting is a breeze.

I love the diversity of the characters and the romance is great. It does stink that my favorite romance-able character is locked behind about 120 hours of the game though. There are a few characters that you can't romance until late game.

Cannot recommend this game enough. It's easy to play again, too, and I find myself discovering new things in my additional gameplays. I'm excited for their next title!

This game is very cozy vibes no matter what you do, I find all its features enjoyable as well as the storyline.

love this game love the multiplayer. so cozy and fun

This game has set a very high precedent for what I expect out of games. I loved My Time at Portia but this game is honestly leagues ahead of even its predecessor.

Super fun game for people who like a more laid back play style. All the residents of Sandrock and very unique personalities and fun side quests. The building in the game is pretty straight forward and easy to learn! 10/10 would recommend <3

I have played all the farming and cozy games out there and this is now one of my favorites. It is so kitchy and strange and unique. Devs have learned so much since Portia and it shows. Looking forward to their next game as well, truly a winning formula. <3

I have played the My Time At Portia and loved it, since it has all the elements i need in a game. The Farming, fighting, romance and building is something you like in a game this is it for you. Chill and no pressure, lets you play just casually and the plus side of getting to play with others. :)

Great game with amazing voiceacting and writing. Excited for my time at evershine!

This game is absolutely fantastic! I truly enjoyed my 250+ hours before I made it to the last main mission (there's still a ton to be done afterwards). Awesome story line and turn of events, memorable characters, cool art style, and it offers me everything (or even more) that I am hoping for a game of its genre. The devs put a lot of heart making this masterpiece, thank you so much (there are still rooms for improvement). I love doing commissions and spending all my stamina every day. The one and only downside to me is the door animation of your home when you go outside (its just black, hehe), but everything else is fantastic!

9.9/10

I bought this game before it was full release, I had just finished "My time at Portia." I was tickled that they aligned the stories slightly leading into their next game. I played it through to the point where available content ended. They allowed me to keep doing commissions, but I think I spent the time taking screenshots around the oasis. I did uninstall it for a time.
When I returned I started a new save as I had no clue what was now happening. I was sad about a couple things, but that is the nature of an early release title. So my review...

My Time at Sandrock is the second installment of the series "My Time at..." but it is not a sequel. Both games are able to be played in their entirety without having experienced the other. I did smile when they referenced the "Builder of Portia" as that was also me / The player. Sandrock is a desert town besieged by a bandit and a water crisis. The game is LBGTQ+ friendly, the player may interact with any single NPC. I am not a big fan of the romance aspect of sim type games. I was here to build, destroy, solve the mystery and plant trees. Their "romance" updates did not appeal to me but I did marry Unsuur in both playthroughs. (A guy who can compare me to a "rock" and be very genuine about it without being over the top. ) There is references to religions, and different types of races. e.g. Mole People, rat people, robots etc.

I found the feature to make your own workshop "Room" to be clunky and annoying. IN Portia the setup for doing so was simpler and easier. I'm not a fan how previewing a memory changes that memories scenes to show your current outfit / look in the recording. Often when chopping or mining the player zooms into the skin of the tree / rock, model collision problems that can be annoying but doesn't break the game. I did think the game was broken because in my first play through I got a helper at a much earlier stage, had to check the internet to see if I had done something wrong. I do believe I encounter one true bug but was able to load an older save to fix the issue. ( As with most games always keep a couple saves going. Just in case.)

Overall I enjoyed "My Time at Sandrock". I enjoyed seeing the characters evolve, enjoyed destroying and building. seeing the bad guys get what was coming for them and the evolution of the town. I will miss playing this game even listening to Cooper's stories...

I do not think I will be playing the third game anytime soon, as it feels like the romance bit is pushed far more than any other feature. So Good luck with that, I know it'll sell.

Has actually entertaining dialogue and events. Most games of this type focus on gameplay and have overly cheesy or silly dialogue, while some is cheesy this is funny and has some actual life to it. Great game. 9/10

I like this game. Lots of time/task/resource management, which I find fun in this context. The game looks nice, the characters are fun, the plot is fun. I don't like the voices much, but have the option to turn them off (though Amirah's still are in some cutscenes).
I've definitely put some hours into it.

My Time at Sandrock and My Time at Portia are just good ol, low stress, FUN. The childlike characters, story lines and situations are suitable for all ages, but young and old alike will enjoy this game. I am a BIG fan of these games and will support anything these developers release...because you can tell they take pride in the little details and have a great sense of humor. You will have a fun time with this game!

+ Excellent, cartoon-like graphics
+ Funny, silly, lovable characters
+ Pays homage to My Time at Portia in really cool ways
+ The addition of showrooms, for people who want really cool buildings, but hate taking the time to do it (me)
+ The ability to change outfits for the NPC's
+ Player designed artwork and weapons was a REALLY cool feature

- Mining materials gets a bit tedious
- Not a fan of the outfits...they feel TOO silly and cartoonish
- Not a lot of reason to play much longer after the main story-line is completed

This is one of my favorite crafting, farming, RPG, & Life Sim series. It even has combat that isn't half bad. This game and My Time at Portia are definitely worth your time. I can't wait for My Time at Evershine. It is at the top of my wishlist. ♥️

---- Edited to add----
The only thing that I would suggest with the housing system for the future game, is to make it easier to place things however you want, for instance add angles as an option for furniture placement. Let items be closer to walls or eachotherr, etc.

This is a GREAT game for people wanting to practice foreign language reading skills because you can set the audio to English and the text to another language.

I have really enjoyed playing this game. I prefer the single player to multiplayer, but the multiplayer has some extra content that is fun to play through.

its loaded with all kinds of adventures for someone that needs differernt things to do. it flows well , graphice are good an fun to play. does not crash.

What a night and day difference from Portia. Improved on in almost every way, from far superior performance on the Steam Deck to better menus and interface and nicer artwork. I started with My Time at Portia and became frustrated with the gameplay. Items were too hard to find and the crafting seemed unnecessarily tedious. Choppy graphics even at low settings. I do prefer the aesthetic design of Portia to Sandrock, but the lack of tress probably helps with performance. The crafting is still somewhat of a grind, but it seems more intuitive. I've long searched for a farm/life sim (similar to ACNH, SV, Coral island) that has a first-person view and full 3D while matching the gameplay of those other titles, and so far, Sandrock has come the closest.

Utterly delightful storytelling and thoughtful game design. Loved.

The Short & Sweet: Wait for a sale on the game and the twin DLCs (Monster Whisperer & Love Chronicles), then mod it a bit.

Suffers from "Hurry up and wait" while also moving just a bit too quickly at the slowest time passage setting, but offers a surprisingly complex story and character writing. Writing is surprisingly grounded, often talking about death being a very real part of the world and characters not acting so childishly with one another. On the same hand; the dialogue can get a little memey, however, its also charming in its own way. Combat is a little bland but it still works well. The seasons affecting workshop mechanics is a nice touch.

Cutting two major chunks of gameplay features (Monster Taming and several Romance Interactions) leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.
Even breaking the continuity a tiny bit with mods, I still invested near 220 hours to reach the end of the game.
Overall; a great, cute game.

A vast improvement on My Time at Portia, I think. Mechanics are more compelling, fighting is less annoying, and there are a variety of well-developed characters in aggressively "Western" accents to befriend. I can tell there's a decently structured story behind it all. I bought this on sale, making it even easier to recommend, although I think $40 is acceptable as a price (I'd hesitated because I did not enjoy My Time at Portia).
Fight monsters, collect resources, deal with a unique water mechanic that requires you to manage water levels as your machinery uses it ... Complete commissions and make and spend money to develop and grow your home and Sandrock. This game has a lot going on, but I think it isn't as immediately overwhelming as other games, and it's introduced gradually. You can choose not to interact with most mechanics, if you wish.
My least favorite part of this game has to be the large amount of DLC, mostly the DLC that isn't just outfits and feels like it could have just been a mechanic or addition to the game ... instead it's charged for and also shows clear bias for particular characters. If I don't want to marry Nia, my choice of bachelor(ette) may simply have ... less content. Feels weird to play favorites like that.
Overall, worth the buy and I'll likely buy the next installation unless something drastically changes.

Obviously with the amount of time I've put into this game continuously, I absolutely love this game and the series as a whole. My Time at Sandrock brings more QOL to the My Time series after its predecessor, My Time at Portia. The story is interesting enough, the cheeky humor is great as always, and I can play for days, weeks, months and never get tired of it. There's always things to do and I can't wait to see what's next! Highly recommend this game if you enjoyed Portia, or even if you're new to the series you can start here and backtrack to Portia! If you enjoy a cozy Life Sim with a story, home customization, a bit of fighting (that's not really difficult), and material gathering for building, this game and series is perfect for you. Just remember, CONSERVE WATER!!! :P