- Sandustry Steam: A physics-based factory builder focused on moving sand and extracting gold.
- Core Mechanic: Dig terrain, wash sand in water, and use gravity to move resources.
- Gold Extraction: Use Shakers to separate gold from wet sand and residue.
- Logistics: Build conveyor belts and launchers to automate transport.
- Advanced Tech: Burn residue with flamethrowers and utilize fluxite upgrades.
Game Overview & Core Mechanics
Sandustry is a unique factory automation game available on Steam that distinguishes itself with heavy physics simulation. Unlike traditional grid-based builders, resources here exist as physical pixels that react to gravity, density, and terrain. Your primary objective is to prospect for gold on planet PX47, managing the logistics of sand extraction and refinement.
Video Highlights:
- Introduction to the physics-based digging and terrain deformation.
- Basic tutorial covering the grabber, shaker, and conveyor belts.
- Demonstration of gold extraction and residue management.
- Exploration of the tech tree and hover mode upgrades.
The game begins with a drop pod landing. You are equipped with a basic grabber to mine soft materials like dirt and sand. The immediate goal is to establish a supply chain: dig sand, wash it in water to create "wet sand," and then process this wet sand to extract gold. The environment is fully destructible, allowing you to carve out massive pits or redirect water flows to suit your factory's needs.
You can dig through soft dirt and sand, but harder materials require upgraded tools. Water is a finite resource in specific locations, so managing your water supply is crucial for continuous wet sand production.
| Resource Type | Source | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Dirt/Sand | Surface Mining | Base material for processing |
| Water | Lakes/Caves | Converts sand to wet sand |
| Wet Sand | Sand + Water | Input for Shakers |
| Gold | Shaker Output | Currency for Tech Tree |
| Residue | Shaker Byproduct | Burnt for extra gold or disposal |
Early Game: Gold Extraction
Your first priority is generating gold to unlock the tech tree. The process relies on the physical interaction between sand, water, and machinery.
Mining and Washing
Use your grabber (Left Mouse) to mine sand. Drop this sand into a body of water. The sand physically changes state, becoming heavy "wet sand." You must then collect this wet sand with your grabber to prepare it for processing.
The Shaker
Build a Shaker from the build menu (Q key). Drop wet sand onto the Shaker. The machine vibrates, separating dense gold nuggets from lighter residue. Gold typically falls through or collects nearby, while residue piles up on top.
Collection and Research
Use the Collector beam to gather gold nuggets. Once you have enough gold, open the tech tree to research "Logistics." This unlocks Conveyor Belts and Launchers, essential for automating your factory.
Residue is a physical byproduct that accumulates rapidly. If not managed, it will clog your shakers and clutter your factory floor. Plan a designated dumping zone or burn it later.
| Structure | Cost (Gold) | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Shaker | Free (Initial) | Separates gold from wet sand |
| Foundation | Free | Provides flat building surface |
| Conveyor Belt | Unlocked via Tech | Auto-transports items |
| Launcher | Unlocked via Tech | Throws items over gaps |
Logistics and Automation
Once Logistics is researched, you can move from manual labor to automation. Sandustry's physics engine means conveyors don't just magically transport items; they physically push them.
Conveyor Belts: These move items physically. Placing them strategically allows you to transport wet sand from your water source to shakers, and gold to collectors. Launchers: These devices toss items in a specific direction. They are useful for moving resources up slopes or over gaps where conveyors might fail. Filters: Essential for sorting. You can configure filters to allow only specific materials (e.g., Gold) to pass while directing others (Residue) off the line.
- Gravity: Items fall off edges. Use launchers to bridge gaps.
- Piling: Large piles of sand move slower on conveyors. Keep piles small or use multiple belts.
- Phasing: While hovering, you can phase through blocks, but dirt and sand still physically obstruct movement.
Conveyor Belts
- Best for: Continuous transport
- Directional: One-way flow
- Limit: Struggles with massive piles
Launchers
- Best for: Vertical transport
- Physics: Arc trajectory
- Use: Crossing gaps/walls
Filters
- Best for: Sorting
- Config: Select material type
- Critical: Separates gold from residue
Mid-Game: Residue & Advanced Tech
As your factory scales, residue management becomes the primary challenge. Burning residue is the most efficient way to handle it and generate extra gold.
The Flamethrower: Unlocked in Tier 2, this tool allows you to set residue piles on fire. Burning residue is destroyed or converted, preventing it from overflowing your factory. The Kinetic Press: This advanced machine refines burnt residue into gold. The mechanic requires dropping burnt residue from a great height onto the press. Cryoblaster: Produces infinite snow. This can freeze water or be melted into rain, offering complex water management solutions for late-game factories.
Ancient boiler runes found in caves can be used to create steam. By boiling water and directing steam with blocks, you can create rain catchers to replenish your water supply automatically.
| Tech Upgrade | Benefit | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint Boost | Faster movement | Medium |
| Hover Mode | Flight/Phasing | High |
| Flamethrower | Burn residue | High |
| Kinetic Press | Refine residue | Medium |
| Map | Navigation | Low |
Progression Checklist
To efficiently expand your operation in Sandustry, follow these progression milestones.
Factory Milestones:
- Establish a water source and sand pit
- Build 5+ Shakers for parallel processing
- Unlock and build Conveyor Belts for automation
- Construct a Residue burning zone with Flamethrower
- Locate and mine Fluxite for tool upgrades
- Unlock Hover Mode for easier building
- Build a rain catcher for infinite water
Combat and Exploration
While primarily a factory builder, the world of PX47 holds dangers. Scans indicate "colossal entities" roaming the dunes. Although they may not attack immediately, exploration into deeper caves for Fluxite and upgrades is necessary.
Fluxite: A rare resource required for tool upgrades (e.g., increasing grabber size from 5x5 to 33x33). This is typically found deep underground or in specific biomes. Upgrades: Use Fluxite to permanently enhance your movement speed, mining capabilities, or factory efficiency.
Exploring deep caves for Fluxite can be dangerous. Ensure you have a Flare Gun or Wall Lights to see in the dark, and keep an escape route open.
| Hazard | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Darkness | Flare Gun, Wall Lights |
| Falls | Hover Mode, Fall damage mitigation |
| Colossi | Keep distance, avoid wake |
| Resource Depletion | Expand to new caves/rain systems |
FAQ
Q: How do I get more water in Sandustry?
Water is initially found in surface lakes. For a sustainable supply, you must eventually find ancient boiler runes in caves. Use a flamethrower to boil water into steam, build structures to direct the steam upwards, and let it condense into rain, which you can collect.
Q: What is the best way to deal with Residue?
Early on, dump it away from your factory. Once you unlock the Flamethrower (Tier 2), burn it. For maximum efficiency, use a Kinetic Press to drop burnt residue onto it for extra gold production.
Q: Is Sandustry on Steam multiplayer?
As of the latest footage, the focus is on single-player automation. However, the publisher (Hooded Horse) and community interest suggest potential for multiplayer features in future updates, similar to other factory sims.
Q: How do Conveyor Portals work?
Conveyor Portals allow you to cross production lines without mixing materials. They are essential for complex factories where lines intersect, ensuring that sand on one belt doesn't physically fall onto another perpendicular belt.