| Developer | Pathea |
| Platforms | PC Nintendo Switch Playstation 5 Xbox Series |
| Genres | Exploration, Crafting RPG, Slice of Life |
| Difficulty | Experienced |
| Language | English, Simplified Chinese Traditional Chinese and more… |
My Time at Sandrock is the second instalment of the My Time series, created by an independent studio in China, Pathea Games.
The My Time series games are high-quality, with over 70 hours of storyline, many cutscenes, and most of the dialogue is voiced in both Mandarin Chinese and English.
The two games, My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock, are huge favourites of the cosy gaming community. After many years of putting it off, I finally played My Time at Sandrock.
About My Time at Sandrock
My Time at Sandrock is a story-driven life sim where you arrive in a struggling desert town as its newest builder. You help the town rebuild one project at a time.
It’s a blend of exploration, resource gathering, crafting, relationship building, world building and RPG-style story advancement. Beneath its relaxed, slice-of-life vibe lies a deep and enriching story.
Why My Time at Sandrock Completely Took Me by Surprise
I put off playing My Time at Sandrock for a long time for two reasons. Firstly, I couldn’t get into My Time at Portia and thought I might struggle with My Time at Sandrock as well. Secondly, I’m not a huge fan of the dessert theme.
But, after spending over 70+ hrs on My Time at Sandrock, my views have completely changed, and it honestly took me by surprise.
I expected the typical, farm, craft, befriend the villagers loop — you know the typical slice of life, farming game, but how wrong I was.
My Time at Sandrock is not just a slice of life game; it’s a blend of RPG and slice of life. It has slice-of-life elements like resource gathering, crafting, and relationship-building, but where it shines is in its storytelling! My Time at Sandrock’s storyline is amazing!
The player matters in the world of My Time at Sandrock
In many slice-of-life games, especially farming ones, the player simply exists in that world. They are there to experience the villagers’ lives and discover their story. Often, they give the impression that their world would have advanced in the same direction regardless of the player’s involvement.
But, in My Time at Sandrock, I don’t just exist; I matter!
I’m not there to discover the 15+ NPCs ’ life stories; I’m there to help the village evolve. I’m part of the redevelopment of the village, part of the NPC’s lives and decisions. I’m there to shape their world and be a part of it. I’m important!
This is the best way I could describe how amazing My Time at Sandrock is!
The gameplay loop isn’t what I thought
The gameplay loop is a part that took me a while to figure out. Many promotional materials show players watering crops, but it’s not a farming game at all, and it’s not about earning money!
Yes, there is farming, but quests, daily commissions, relationship-building, gathering resources, and crafting are the primary methods of advancement.
When I first started My Time at Sandrock, I was so overwhelmed that I had no idea how to progress in the game. It took me a while to realise what the gameplay loop is. I had not played My Time at Portia, and there’s no other game like this, so it was all completely new to me.
After I figured everything out, it was smooth sailing.
If you haven’t played My Time at Sandrock yet, and you plan to, then remember this: do daily commissions from the guild (it’s your primary income), do side & main quests and build relationships!
It’s not the perfect game
No game is perfect, and My Time at Sandrock is no different.
The desert setting can be off-putting for many people because the areas are barren and unattractive. I’m one of those who aren’t a super fan of the setting; I prefer fields, forests, and meadows. But don’t let this put you off, it’s all worth it in the end. I am glad their next game, My Time at Evershine, is set in a very green place!
My Time at Sandrock does a better job at introducing players to the game and its mechanics, but it could be better. The earlier quests are a little too fast and jump to the next advancement too quickly. I feel they could be a little slower with a bit more hand-holding.
Although I’ve praised the storytelling a few times in this review, I do feel that the pacing could be a little faster. On average, it takes around 100-150 hours to complete the game. That is a lot of hours for not a lot of money. Really worth it, but it is quite long. A 20% reduction would be perfect!
As a Chinese learning material
My Time at Sandrock is another game I wish I could tell you is the best for learning Chinese, but sadly, it’s a difficult one. The storyline is quite complex and technical, covering a wide range of topics. The NPCs often discuss niche topics, including mechanics, architectures, infrastructure, and business.
It’s not the most approachable game to play with Chinese audio, UI, or subtitles unless you’re advanced and have experience playing games in Chinese. It is a great game to take your Chinese to the next level.
At the very least, I recommend playing My Time at Sandrock with Chinese audio. Any form of listening practice is always good for you!
My Final Thoughts
If you’re asking me whether Sandrock is worth your time, I’d say yes, especially if you care about characters, story and world-building as much as mechanics and gameplay.
What stayed with me wasn’t just the workshop upgrades or the crafted items. It was the people and the story. The feeling that what I did in that barren, dusty desert town mattered.
My Time at Sandrock didn’t just give me tasks to complete. It gave me a place to belong.
And I look forward to belonging in Evershine!
