84
Fun with physics, if you're happy to dig to find your treasures, Universe Sandbox has them in spades. [Dec 2011, p.112]
87
This is where universe sandbox succeeds brilliantly: players experience godly power to create or destroy, while almost unavoidably learning something about the physical properties or our universe. [Sept 2011, p.69]
80
Universe Sandbox isn't a game per se; there are no bosses, aims or levels, merely an accurate model of astronomical bodies for you to fiddle with. It's really more of a toy – the virtual equivalent of a configurable orrery, except hugely more complex than any mechanical system.
7
Sometimes it isn't the best optimized game for all hardwares even with low settings. I think the devs could optimize it more.
9
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
5
Though it does work on small scales, when doing larger simulations the game gets inaccurate no matter the speed. For example any star supernovas even when they literally cant like brown dwarfs. It also causes extreme lag issues even on low settings and with a high quality computer. If you want to just do regular tiny things thats all good but doing large things like terraforming or making a mini star group is a pain.
Universe Sandbox
Released On:
Apr 29, 2011
Metascore
Generally Favorable
83
User score
Mixed or Average
7.4
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
100% Positive
4 Reviews
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Jul 14, 2011
87
This is where universe sandbox succeeds brilliantly: players experience godly power to create or destroy, while almost unavoidably learning something about the physical properties or our universe. [Sept 2011, p.69]
Nov 13, 2011
84
Fun with physics, if you're happy to dig to find your treasures, Universe Sandbox has them in spades. [Dec 2011, p.112]
User score
Mixed or Average
57% Positive
83 Ratings
83 Ratings
34% Mixed
50 Ratings
50 Ratings
9% Negative
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
Jan 23, 2025
10
Universe Sandbox is a great game/simulator for physics and science enthusiasts alike. It contains easy-to-learn, easy-to-use concepts of astronomical concepts that would otherwise be difficult to visualize. This game truly puts into perspective the true beauty of the universe, as it captures it in a unique way that has rarely ever been done before.
Oct 14, 2016
10
A sublime educational experience, Universe Sandbox brings the wonders of space on your computer. Arguably, it requires some thinking on the part of its users as they would otherwise not know what to do with this powerful tool that presents itself in the form of this "game". In this way, it may not be a piece of software that is easily accessible by everyone but people who can actually appreciate the science behind this project will have the time of their lives while exploring the different scenarios laid out by the simulation and maybe create some of their own. Want to see what happens when a star is swallowed by a black hole? What if Jupiter wouldn't exist in our solar system? Of course there are also numerous ways in which you can destroy all life on earth. Ice age or asteroids, the choice is yours. This game will never cease to surprise me with its phenomenal simulations.
May 18, 2011
80
Universe Sandbox isn't a game per se; there are no bosses, aims or levels, merely an accurate model of astronomical bodies for you to fiddle with. It's really more of a toy – the virtual equivalent of a configurable orrery, except hugely more complex than any mechanical system.
May 16, 2011
75
After a helpful (though light) tutorial, Universe Sandbox offers little guidance for aspiring unmoved movers. A more robust set of tutorials, a manual, or even the use of Steam Achievements to encourage varied behavior would go a long way toward helping players make their own music of the spheres.
Apr 3, 2015
10
Needless to say, the ultimate game for anyone who loves space and has wanted to mess with space. Too good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!d
Aug 26, 2025
7
Sometimes it isn't the best optimized game for all hardwares even with low settings. I think the devs could optimize it more.
Mar 7, 2024
7
good execution, but weak concept as a game simulator, you can probably do a few interesting things until it starts to become repetitive, it's more of a software tool for schools to teach about astronomy.
Jun 17, 2013
4
The application crashed the first five (5) times I tried to run it. Eventually I got the simulator to run but since I'm neither one of the developers nor an astrophysics I couldn't understand how to get things to run. There are dozens of buttons an you're not sure which does what. I tried to understand the logic behind the interface but then the app crashed again and so I dropped it for good. Good idea, bad execution.
Sep 3, 2013
3
Lewis Brown thinks this is a very bad game. You cant do much and stuff and he doesn't really like it. Get a game like Call of Duty where you can shoot guys. Stuff doesn't blow up very nice on this game he says and also you can't knife anybody. ;( Lewis Brown says DONT Buy
SummaryCreate and destroy on a scale youve never imagined with the ultimate space simulator. Harness the power to create black holes, collide galaxies, and manipulate gravity with just a few clicks. Inspired by the software astronomers use to unlock the mysteries of our universe, never before has astronomy been so interactive or so much fun.... Read More
