SAND: Raiders of Sophie Review

SAND: Raiders of Sophie is the new extraction shooter developed by two studios, Hologryph and TowerHaus, and published by tinyBuild. When tinyBuild initially revealed this project back in 2023, it showcased something unique to the extraction genre of the gaming industry. Giant mechs walking in a land of desert dunes- I’m all for it. After three years of development and multiple closed and open playtests, it is finally here. As the extraction shooter genre has grown so much in the past few years, uniqueness holds great value for a title. Apart from that, it should fulfill the core aspects of the genre to attract new players and keep them engaged. The following review is of the current state of SAND: Raiders of Sophie, explaining whether it is for you.

NOTE: The review copy of SAND: Raiders of Sophie was provided by the publisher.

Story and World

Honestly, there is no in-depth narrative for SAND: Raiders of Sophie, nor does the game provide a deep lore directly for the world and the raiders. The main overall plot for the game is that it takes place on Planet Sophie, which was once colonized by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in an alternate history in 1910. After an environmental disaster, the Empire left the planet, which became home to Upiors, hostile creatures. Planet Sophie is now covered in sand with desert dunes everywhere. It is home to deadly sandstorms and Upiors, requiring players to explore the ruins and structures to find any resources.

Gameplay

SAND: Raiders of Sophie is a first-person PVPVE extraction shooter with giant mechs. The walking giant mech is what makes this game unique from other extraction shooters. The giant mech is known as Trampler in the game, and every player gets one. Trampler is more than just a walking mech. It is your fortress and base that you control and manage throughout the raid. Players can customize their Trampler through the editor with numerous options. Moreover, better components for the Trampler can be unlocked from the Tech Tree. Acquiring these advanced parts requires Crowns and other resources you find in the raid.

Currently, SAND: Raiders of Sophie includes two game modes: Voyage Mode and Storm Dive. The Voyage Mode is the casual extraction experience with no time-limit. Players can freely join and extract as they please to gather crucial resources for upgrades. Storm Dive is where all the good stuff is, and it is more chaotic. It is more of a battle royale extraction game mode, where you have to survive the closing sandstorm while looking for loot and extract at the end of the match. This game mode can go on for like an hour and usually ends in a chaotic way, with survivors looking to gun down others.

Keeping your Trampler repaired throughout a match is crucial. Fixing the Trampler after every player or AI Trampler encounter is recommended for survival. Although there are gunfights at close range, it can be jarring with slow reload times. Moreover, limitations like carrying 2 weapons at a time can slow you down in a raid. Apart from the main game modes, there are no in-game merchants or quests to follow for lore or extra resources. A few of the crucial things that this game is missing are bosses and events.

Sound and Visuals

The sound quality of SAND: Raiders of Sophie is great, keeping the overall tension with eerie silence and blazing cannon shots. Moreover, the 1910s-designed firearms have great sound effects, which complement the overall environment and atmosphere. The overall visuals of SAND: Raiders of Sophie are great, highlighting the dangers of a deserted planet. The forts and ruins on planet Sophie also enhance the overall history. Other than that, the textures and combat animations are all great. However, during sandstorms and intense fights, it can cause stutters and performance issues, especially on low- and mid-tier PCs.

Verdict 7/10

SAND: Raiders of Sophie is a good and unique extraction shooter that grants a Trampler to each player. The ability to customize, control, and manage your Trampler while surviving the desert dunes on planet Sophie gives a unique taste to the whole extraction shooter genre. Although the game fulfills the overall generic rules of extraction shooters, there are still many crucial features missing at launch in Early Access. However, if you are in the mood for a unique extraction experience, SAND: Raiders of Sophie provides great value for $24.99.