Sandustry, a new 2D spelunking factory builder developed by Lantto Games and published by Hooded Horse, introduces a unique take on the simulation genre by applying individual physics to every pixel of material on screen.
In Sandustry, players control an alien prospector tasked with converting a planet's vast sand reserves into gold while exploring subterranean ruins. Unlike traditional factory management titles that represent surplus and pollution through interface meters or static storage blocks, Sandustry models waste as a dynamic physical entity. As automated networks of conveyors, elevators, and sifting machines extract gold, they generate voluminous sandy residue that falls, drifts, and accumulates according to realistic gravity and flow mechanics.
This physical simulation creates organic landscapes of debris that can overflow into underground tunnels and clog operational machinery. As players delve deeper into caverns to secure essential resources like water and upgrade crystals, managing the rising mounds of industrial byproduct becomes as critical as maintaining production lines.
However, waste in Sandustry is rarely permanent scrap. As players progress through the technology tree, previously discarded sand residue can be reprocessed—burned and compressed to yield secondary items such as seeds or additional gold. The game turns byproduct management into an ongoing cycle of sculpting, moving, and re-engineering physical waste back into raw materials.
About the Author
