Sandboxes are a type of MMO that emphasize player freedom and expression. They frequently include mechanics for building, crafting, trading, character customization and development, roleplaying, destruction, and significant interaction with the world and other players. A sandbox that is dominated by an open-PvP or free-for-all ruleset is sometimes pejoratively called a gankbox. Contrast with the themepark.
sandbox
Old School RuneScape adds new areas, quests, and profession activities in Varlamore The Rising Darkness
Are you ready for Varla-more? Because that's what has arrived in Old School RuneScape this week with Varlamore: The Rising Darkness, which adds some...
Perfect Ten: The MMO races that nobody ever seems to choose
Just because an MMORPG offers a wide array of character options doesn't mean that player interest will be equally divided among them. We've long...
XLGames rebrands ArcheAge 2 as ‘online action RPG’ ArcheAge Chronicles, but it still sounds like an MMO
If you thought endless delays and the unceremonious sunset of ArcheAge were the worst things that could happen to ArcheAge 2, think again because...
Ultima Online has officially turns 27 years old today as it kicks off its final New Legacy stress test
So listen, an MMORPGs 27th birthday is not a big deal, except in the sense that I can count on less than one hand...
Vitae Aeternum: What new and returning players need to know about New World Aeternum
The long wait is almost over. In just a few weeks, New World's soft relaunch as New World: Aeternum will be live. With so...
Dual Universe marks its second anniversary with a guided tour of player-built locations
Friday, September 27th, will mark two years of operation for the sci-fi building and PvP sandbox Dual Universe, which is obviously cause for developer...
PlanetSide 2 studio Toadman was hit with some nasty layoffs and studio closures this month
A few weeks back, Daybreak's Enad Global 7 announced that it was laying off a chunk of its subsidiary Toadman Interactive and closing down...
Albion Online invites players to ‘make an impact’ on the game with an ‘ultimate’ survey
Got five minutes and a desire to mold the direction of Albion Online's development? There's an ultimate survey for that!
"It’s time, your voice matters,"...
RuneScape introduces the Gate of Elidinis, its newest non-combat boss encounter
Usually when an MMORPG adds a boss fight, that means player characters are preparing weapons and fireballs to hurl at a gigantic monster's ankles...
Ultima Online will run one more New Legacy stress test starting tomorrow, its 27th birthday
Last week, we noted that Ultima Online had counted eight beta tests for its New Legacy server already and was running out of time...
Embers Adrift counts off two years of updates ahead of its second anniversary
Embers Adrift is about to celebrate two years of operation, and while there are likely going to be in-game celebrations or other events to...
Star Citizen discusses plans for engineering gameplay in alpha 4.0’s launch and beyond
The spaceships in Star Citizen already have a huge amount of detail, but when alpha 4.0 comes along, that detail is going to get...
Albion Online’s Q&A vid talks PvE vs PvP balance, passives, anti-cheat, and accessibility
If you have a spare 42 minutes and 26 seconds to watch Albion Online game director Robin Henkys answer player questions from the warm...
Pax Dei’s next early access patch is a major revision for movement and combat
Mainframe Industries has not been shy about its development plans for Pax Dei: Thus far, it's been emphasizing that the MMO sandbox is a...
Palia’s Autumn Awakening update drops next week with fall trees and minigames
Palia is continuing to truck along in beta post-Daybreak buyout with plans for another update next week. The Autumn Awakening patch brings the fall...
Sea of Thieves nerfs the blunderbuss, improves throwing knives, and enhances player reporting
It's time for another bit of knob-turning and adjustment in Sea of Thieves as the latest patch to the FFA PvP sandbox is live...
One of Elite Dangerous’ most important star systems is currently under Thargoid attack
Followers of the Thargoid War in Elite: Dangerous likely already assumed some form of counterattack from the alien force was coming, particularly in the...
Global Chat: The War Within continues WoW’s upward trend
We'll kick off this week's tour of MMO blogs with a diverse first impressions piece of The War Within by Kaylriene, who praises the...
EVE Online tweaks sovereignty costs and refines capital ship production to further fuel territory fights
The Equinox expansion for EVE Online has always been about making battling for territory a central focus, but now CCP Games is looking to...
Cozy survival sandbox Ylands preps Fleet Friends patch with improved multiplayer setup
Back in June, after first hearing about Ylands and diving into it myself years after its actual launch, I lamented that it didn't have...
