"IGN" REVIEWS
Sandbox Corp. Review
An action-roguelike that delivers a fascinating new spin to Plato's cave allegory.
REVIEW
SANDBOX CORP.
BY ANTONIO NERI
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UPDATED: SEP 15, 2025 5:00PM
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POSTED: SEP 15, 2025 5:00PM
Sandbox Corp. entices with action and mysteries, and surprises with the tale of a teenager desperate to remember who he really is. The game hides a nutritious journey about breaking free in a Strawberry Cheesecake gameplay loop. Ever wondered what would happen if Severance, Persona, and Hades had a lost indie-child? This narrative-driven Action-RPG meets Thriller builds a compelling character journey within a warped tech-dystopia that might feel all too familiar.
You play as Lucas, a 17-year-old Scottish edgelord who rage-quitted his family and signed up for “game testing” in Lithuania. Except this isn't QA testing as we know it. NPCs were getting too predictable, so Sandbox Corp. erased your memory and now your day job is to puppeteer one of the boss NPCs in an online action-RPG called The Star Valley. A psychological experiment to boost the sales.
As you enter the game volume with your mocap suit, you are transformed into a horned blue monster.
Tasked with defending the sacred valley from a horde of invaders, you smack knights in a narcissistic crusade to become the top company employee, blissfully unaware of the real world. On paper, it’s a gig. In practice, it’s a prison.
Sandbox Corp. stands out for its imaginative structure. Each mission layers narrative and fresh game mechanics, with clever meta-games that reflect Lucas's emotional development. In a surreal blend of corporate HR and RPG stat management, conversations and mini-games in the cafeteria boost stats depending on who you hang out with and what you do. Build a card castle? +DEX. Win a staring contest? +CON. Talk about your purpose in the company? +FAITH.
The characters are pitch-perfect. There’s Susan, the curious NPC with the memory of a goldfish and the heart of a conspiracy theorist. There’s Basil, the old company devotee with a mysterious Hells Angels Tattoo. And of course, there's Mildred, the deadpan robot-server who’s way too friendly and might be getting too good at her job. And most importantly, there’s Leno, the wizard player who spends more time trolling you in the form of a bush than actually fighting, and becomes your window to the real world.
Plot-wise, Sandbox Corp. goes from an action rogue-like where you must fend off hordes of barbarians - who are actually just players - to a full-on escape thriller. Hidden cameras. Blacklight puzzles. Psychological evaluations. Bagels with dark secrets… The writing is sharp and the arc of Lucas, from brooding loner to brave rebel leader, is paced with care towards a satisfying conclusion.
Verdict
Sandbox Corp. is an inventive, emotionally resonant sci-fi tale that challenges what an RPG can be. With clever twists, unique side-characters, and a strong thematic core, it’s a concept worth following - especially if you're into narrative design that dares to be weird and meaningful.
Amazing
Antonio Neri
Narrative Designer
Although I might be biased, and development hell hasn't even started...
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Sandbox Corp. Review