Falling-sand game


A falling-sand game is a genre of video game and a sub-genre of sandbox games which typically utilize a two-dimensional particle or cellular automaton based game engine to simulate various materials interacting in a sandbox environment.
In falling-sand games, the user can interact with particles on a canvas which can interact with other particles in various ways, which can lead to complex emergent behaviour. As sandbox games, they generally have an emphasis on free-form gameplay, relaxed rules, and minimal goals.
Despite the name, falling-sand games typically contain a multitude of materials besides sand, often called "elements".

History

The first known popular example in the "falling-sand" genre was a web-based Java applet on the Japanese Dofi-Blog in 2005 which was later expanded and rehosted as the "Falling sand game", which kick-started the genre as a trend and gave it its name.
The genre is not limited to free play canvas-style games; games such as the Powder Game contain additional mechanics, such as pressure based fluid simulation allowing for example water equalisation, and RPG elements such as controllable characters.
Noita blends the traditional sandbox physics with Roguelike RPG mechanics, with sophisticated playable characters and enemies.

List of falling-sand games

TitleYearPlatformDetails
Down fall1993Atari ST2 player falling snow
Falling sand game2005JavaAlso called "Hell of Sand" or "World of sand"
wxSand2006WindowsThe first standalone version
Powder Game2007Java, HTML5, Android, iOSMulti-platform with liquid simulation
This is Sand2008FlashAdded changing the colour of the sand
The Powder Toy2010Windows, Linux, OS X, AndroidHas liquid simulation and Newtonian gravity
The Sandbox2012Flash, Windows, Android, iOSA series of games, including some 3D versions
sand:box2015Android, iOS, Linux, WindowsFalling sand game with advanced digital circuit simulation.
Noita2020WindowsA hybrid of "falling sand" style game with a Roguelike