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
Over 6400 players built 50 empires in BitCraft’s last sandbox playtest
The September letter from the producer for BitCraft has arrived just as the game's second closed alpha test comes to a close - a...
Star Citizen recounts August’s efforts on gameplay and enemy AI updates, showcases space cows in a video
It's time once more for CIG to show off its monthly progress for Star Citizen, and as followers of the alpha game might expect,...
The Daily Grind: Do you call your MMO characters toons, chars, alts, or something else?
A few weeks back, the MMORPG sub erupted in a heated discussion about what to call, well, our characters. And it's a legit question...
Massively Overthinking: Monetization dealbreakers in MMORPGs
A few weeks back, I overheard my kids complaining about some custom Minecraft server that was apparently trying to monetize survival mode, which seemed...
EVE Online prepares the process of selecting its 19th Council of Stellar Management
It's nearly election season in EVE Online, as in CCP Games is providing dates and details for the creation of the sandbox's next Council...
PvP sandbox MMO Profane says testing is ‘almost ready’ while showcasing several development updates
It's been quite some time since we peered in on the development of Profane, the PvP sandbox MMO from Insane Studios. Readers might recall...
Black Desert patches in Morning Light Seoul’s pre-quests on PC, launches collab with Berserk anime
Next week will be a big one for Black Desert on PC because that's when Land of the Morning Light's Seoul addition will launch....
Star Wars Outlaws took inspiration from Star Wars Galaxies for the Tatooine city of Bestine
If you can set aside the funky reviews and stock dips brought on by the launch of Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws, there's actually some...
The Stream Team: Going on a raid in Elite Dangerous
When you think "raid" in our corner of the gaming sphere, you usually think of large parties in an instanced dance battle. Not so...
Seven-year-old multiplayer sandbox Astroneer announces its first DLC, Glitchwalkers
Hey, we did not see this coming, and we're not even mad: Multiplayer space sandbox Astroneer is getting a full-fledged DLC.
"Over 7 years and...
MapleStory’s MapleStory Fest returns for its seventh consecutive year on October 26 in LA
Hey, west coast Maplers - and anyone else with the will and the way to travel - today's MapleStory announcement is for you. Nexon...
PSA: Dual Universe will once more make abandoned constructs salvagable starting September 4
Consider this a friendly reminder for any Dual Universe players who may have some constructs that have been ignored or forgotten: After Novaquark turned...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 483: Singing the Blues Protocol
Justin and Bree discuss the demise of Blue Protocol, WoW's War Within launch, RuneScape's sub fee hike, and Wizard101's console ambitions, with adventures in LOTRO, WoW, and Guild Wars 2, plus mailbag topics on MMO cosmetic gear, Ultima Online as a survival game, and sticking to a vision as MMOs age.
Choose My Adventure: Fractured Online offers a perfectly good PvE sandbox, so why am I not in love?
Here we are past the month of August (yes really) and I am left kind of conflicted about my feelings toward Fractured Online. On...
Old School RuneScape counts over 160K players online during the holiday weekend
This past Monday was the Labor Day holiday (and a long weekend) for those of us living in the US of A, and it...
Fractured Online upgrades its engine, applies quality-of-life updates, and extends its free play once again
Today marks a pretty significant update for the sandbox Fractured Online, as the latest patch has applied an engine upgrade and several quality-of-life features...
Massively Uplifting: Labors of love, generosity, and grief in Warhammer, Terraria, Conan Exiles, Albion, ARK, and more
Labor Day in the United States is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievement of the American workers. The official Department of...
The Daily Grind: Is there a place in an MMO that you’re sentimentally attached to?
The Psychology of Games podcast recently did an episode on forming attachments to places in video games.
"Have you ever become attached to a place...
The MOP Up: 2008’s Grand Fantasia relaunches with a classic Origin server
Anime MMO Grand Fantasia is relaunching on September 3rd with a classic edition called Origin that harkens back to the title's 2008 era:
"New engine,...
Dragon and Home adds the Void Isle, photo mode, pet system, and quality-of-life improvements
While exploring a location called the Void Isle might sound like a bad idea, sandbox MMORPG Dragon and Home would argue that it's a...
