There are a lot of games out there which claim to do something new. When you see the title ‘The Sandbox Evolution - Craft a 2D Pixel Universe’ you may well be dubious, but in fact it’s true! Okay, maybe not a universe, but it does let you craft worlds.

Akin to the 3D world shaper ‘From Dust’, this game lets you mould and craft the environment you play in, all with a fun and impressive pixel art style. For a change of pace and a game that truly feels different, this is ideal and it’s even free to play.

Evolution in pixel form

The idea behind The Sandbox Evolution - Craft a 2D Pixel Universe is that you get to shape the world that your characters are in. This is reminiscent of Scribblenauts, yet Sandbox Evolution focuses more on altering the environment than adding items. For example, you may have a level which is just a grassy field, but you can tap the screen to scoop out some earth and then fill it with water, making a pond.

The result is a mixture of puzzle game and art game, where you can draw all manner of things and characters. You also get the fun of trying to navigate the levels you make and shape using the characters you’ve customised.

Break the mould for mobile games

The big claim of The Sandbox Evolution - Craft a 2D Pixel Universe is overstating things a little, but you really can do a lot with your tools. You can effectively craft entire levels, then share them with other players.

This makes for a great dynamic of testing out the fiendish levels made by others, or trying your design skills against their platforming abilities. This system really makes the most of the mobile format. The art is excellent, matching HD quality and having visual effects like parallax scrolling.

Do not just assume that it will be ugly because it’s pixel based. You not only have creative control of over 170 elements, but you also have control over the music in game. As you can imagine, the sound is all chiptune music for that retro arcade feel. Once you’ve changed the world, fill it with electronic devices and technology like lights, or simply stuff it with TNT and blow it all up! You really do get a lot to play with for free, though of course you can make in-app purchases for game items to speed things along.

Crafting a cool game

The Sandbox Evolution - Craft a 2D Pixel Universe is perfect for those who are tired of standard platformers or have an interest in game design, as they will get a kick out of this opportunity to mould the world to their whims.

The game progresses with campaigns and daily quests, which challenge you to complete small storylines or improve your drawing skills. This is truly a refreshing change of pace, though it isn’t for impatient players.