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
Check out Star Citizen’s new ‘environmental AI bounty hunting’ in action
It's still not really ready for primetime after some much-deserved delays, but Star Citizen's 3.5 alpha features a big chunk of content aimed squarely...
Hyperspace Beacon: I can’t believe I forgot these things about Star Wars Galaxies
For the last couple of weeks, I've been able to re-experience Star Wars Galaxies. After eight years, I noticed that I might have forgotten...
Desert Oasis: Understanding and critiquing Black Desert’s RNG systems
One of the main critiques readers made about my first Desert Oasis column last month was that I did not mention Black Desert's random...
Black Desert deletes Shadow Arena, compensates players, and opens the Egg Hunt
The day has come, folks: Shadow Arena is officially patched out of Black Desert today, after hackers and banwaves and what had to be...
Albion Online is officially free-to-play today – and already ‘under heavy load’
Fancy getting your peekay on in an actual PvP sandbox? Albion Online is officially free-to-play today, meaning you can swarm the game without paying...
Wurm Online’s massive update brings six months of adjustments online
If you read a claim that an MMORPG update has been six months in the making, it's a pretty safe bet that there are...
EVE Online dials back repairs and rebalances capital and subcapital ships with its newest patch
The most recent patch to EVE Online is all about balance, and part of that balance is about reducing the effectiveness of repairs. Players...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 215: Anthem exposed
Justin and Bree discuss Anthem and BioWare, Guild Wars 2, DCUO, RIFT, Albion, DDO, Dragon Quest X, and Black Desert, plus a mailbag topic on event fatigue in MMOs.
Choose My Adventure: The married couple team arrives to RuneScape
I really should have done this sooner. This round of Choose My Adventure is starring my husband, and almost immediately the difference in having...
Black Desert has 18M registered players as Pearl Abyss counts $1B gross sales
If you're still reeling over the news that Black Desert is unceremoniously deleting its battle royale mode, Shadow Arena, from the game tomorrow, take...
Outlaws of the Old West’s barbershop offers a cut and a shave for two bits
Not everyone is expertly skilled at the fine arts of character creation, a sad fact that results in more heartbreak every year than the...
EVE Online has banned a CSM member (and real-world politician) over an NDA breach and insider trading
Who wants some EVE Online political drama to cap off the afternoon? CCP Games announced today that it has removed a member of the...
Kakao is permanently killing off Black Desert’s battle royale mode, Shadow Arena, this week
Dang, this was not the outcome we were expecting here: Kakao has announced it is outright sunsetting Black Desert's Shadow Arena mode. On Wednesday,...
Roblox grows to 90 million players, does a crossover with WWE for some reason
Sporting a player population that Fortnite and League of Legends could only dream of attaining, global game platform Roblox announced that it has reached...
EVE Evolved: Big things are happening in EVE Online this spring
There's a lot going on in EVE Online right now, from the insane storyline playing out right now in-game and new Triglavian ships on...
The MOP Up: Hearthstone’s pre-Rise of Shadows patch arrives
The next major expansion for Hearthstone is almost upon us (and will, in fact, be here Tuesday), but for now you can get ready...
MapleStory 2 outlines the major Gemstone changes arriving with its New Leaf update
The developers behind MapleStory 2 know that nobody likes having things removed, which is why the big rundown on Gemstone changes arriving with the next...
One Shots: Beauty in profile
Let me be clear on this: You guys always post absolutely amazing pictures. One of the toughest tasks I have every week is picking...
Novaquark’s JC Baillie talks about Dual Universe’s vision of the metaverse
Those who play online titles that act like a separate world like Second Life or VRChat are likely familiar with the concept of a...
Global Chat: Do you think you could design a better game than World of Warcraft?
Let's be honest: We all are so egotistical and opinionated that we totally think we could design a better MMO than World of Warcraft....
