- Sandustry demo focuses on automating sand collection and refining it into gold.
- Logistics milestone unlocks conveyors and launchers for vertical transport.
- Slag management is critical; use filters to separate waste from wet sand.
- Water scarcity limits early production; pump systems or ice melting are required.
- Advanced tech like the kinetic slag press requires burnt slag and flamethrowers.
Core Gameplay Loop
The Sandustry demo places you in a 2D world where the primary objective is to automate the extraction and processing of sand. You start with basic tools—a shovel and a grabber—but the real power lies in building logistical networks. The gameplay loop involves digging up sand, dumping it into water to create wet sand, and then refining that resource.
Video Highlights:
- Establishing a basic sand collection point using shovels and water.
- Using Shakers to refine wet sand into gold and slag.
- Building vertical transport systems with Launchers.
- Managing the byproduct slag effectively to prevent factory jams.
Water is a finite resource in the starting area. Once you exhaust the initial pools, you must explore deeper caverns or unlock pumps and pipes to transport water from ice deposits or distant lakes.
Essential Starter Builds
Success in the Sandustry demo relies on understanding the interaction between your buildings. Below is a comparison of the primary structures you will use in the early game.
| Building | Function | Input | Output | Placement Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaker | Refines raw material | Wet Sand | Gold (Main) / Slag (Waste) | Place near water sources to minimize transport distance. |
| Conveyor | Horizontal transport | Any item | Same item | Use for moving gold to collectors or slag to piles. |
| Launcher | Vertical/Diagonal transport | Any item | Same item (Arced path) | Essential for moving sand from deep mines to the surface. |
| Gold Collector | Stores liquid value | Gold | Money (Bank) | Connect directly to Shaker output for immediate cash flow. |
Launchers can shoot through walls if there is a valid trajectory. Use this to move resources vertically without needing to dig complex shafts immediately.
Manual Start
- Shovel sand into water.
- Grab wet sand manually.
- Feed Shakers by hand.
Basic Automation
- Use Launchers to move sand up.
- Feed Shakers automatically.
- Collect gold manually.
Advanced Factory
- Conveyors move gold to storage.
- Filters separate slag.
- Presses recycle waste.
Progression & Research Guide
Advancing through the Sandustry demo requires money (Gold) to unlock specific milestones. The progression tree splits between logistical improvements and combat/utility tools.
Logistics Milestone
Prioritize this first. It unlocks Conveyors and Launchers. Without these, you are limited to manual movement, which is slow and inefficient. Aim to automate the transport of wet sand from water sources to Shakers.
Guns & Tools
Cost: 500 Gold. Unlocks the basic Gun and Flamethrower. The Gun acts as a long-range mining tool, while the Flamethrower is essential for melting ice (creating water) and burning slag.
Refining Tech
Cost: 1,000 Gold. Unlocks the Kinetic Slag Press. This machine drops burnt slag from a height to crush it, yielding extra Gold and Spores. This is crucial for mid-game wealth generation.
Fluid Management
Cost: 1,000+ Gold. Unlocks Pipes, Pumps, and Vents. This allows you to move water from ice caverns or deep lakes back to your factory, solving the water scarcity issue.
Some research options like "Drones" or "Filters 2" are visible in the menu but may not be fully unlockable or functional within the current demo build limits.
Advanced Processing: Slag & Spores
As your factory scales, you will generate massive amounts of slag. If left unchecked, slag piles will clog your conveyors and halt production. You must implement a filtering system.
| Material Type | Source | Use Case | Disposal/Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slag | Shaker byproduct | Burnt for Slag Press | Burn with Flamethrower -> Kinetic Press |
| Burnt Slag | Flamethrower + Slag | Input for Kinetic Press | Dropped from height -> Crushed into Gold |
| Spores | Slag Press output | Unknown/Planter Boxes | Store or discard (Demo function limited) |
| Fluxsite | Underground veins | Tool Upgrades | Destroy with Gun/Shovel -> Auto-collect |
Spores and Slag can clutter your production lines. Use Filters on conveyors to ensure only Gold reaches your storage, while diverting Slag to a burning pit or processing area.
To optimize your factory layout:
- Separate Gold and Slag at the Shaker output using a Filter.
- Route Slag to a designated "Burning Zone" equipped with a Flamethrower.
- Feed Burnt Slag into the Kinetic Slag Press.
- Collect Gold from the press output using a dedicated conveyor line.
Exploration & Resources
The surface resources are limited. To sustain a massive factory in the Sandustry demo, you must explore underground. Here is a checklist of resources and how to access them.
Exploration Milestones:
- Find the second water cavern (requires digging through rock/soil)
- Locate the Ice Cave (melt with Flamethrower for infinite water)
- Mine Fluxite veins (upgrade weapon speed and movement)
- Discover the Artifacts (hidden behind cracked stone)
- Unlock the Rocket Launcher (clears Cracked Stone walls)
| Resource | Location | Access Method | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand | Surface/Underground | Shovel / Gun | Base material |
| Water | Surface Pools / Ice Caverns | Pump / Melt | Required for Wet Sand |
| Fluxite | Deep Underground | Gun / Shovel | Currency for Upgrades |
| Artifacts | Hidden Chambers | Rocket Launcher | Demo Completion Objectives |
Use the Rocket Launcher (unlocked via Guns 2 research) to blast through Cracked Stone walls. This often leads to hidden caverns filled with Fluxite or Artifacts.
Combat & Tools
While Sandustry demo is primarily a factory builder, combat tools serve as utility functions for mining and exploration.
| Tool | Unlock Cost | Primary Function | Secondary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shovel | Starter | Digging sand/soil | Close-range combat |
| Gun | 500 Gold | Long-range mining | Destroying weak enemies |
| Flamethrower | 500 Gold (Tools) | Melting Ice / Burning Slag | Clearing vegetation |
| Rocket Launcher | 1,500+ Gold (Guns 2) | Destroying Cracked Stone | Heavy mining |
Invest Fluxite into weapon upgrades first. Increasing the fire rate and bullet count of your Gun allows you to mine sand and Fluxite significantly faster, accelerating your entire gameplay loop.
Demo Completion FAQ
Q: How do I get more water in the Sandustry demo?
Initial surface water is finite. You must unlock the **Flamethrower** to melt ice in underground caverns or research **Pumps and Pipes** to transport water from distant lakes to your factory.
Q: What is the Kinetic Slag Press used for?
The Press takes **Burnt Slag** (slag processed by a Flamethrower) and drops it from a height to crush it. This yields additional **Gold** and **Spores**, effectively recycling your factory waste.
Q: How do I open the Cracked Stone walls?
You cannot open Cracked Stone with basic tools. You must progress through the research tree to unlock **Guns 2**, which provides the **Rocket Launcher**. This is the only tool capable of destroying Cracked Stone.
Q: What do I do with Spores?
In the current **Sandustry demo**, Spores are a byproduct of the Slag Press. While 'Planter Boxes' are hinted at in the research menu, Spores currently function as a collectible item with limited utility, so focus on storing them or managing inventory space.