My Time at Sandrock on Steam Deck

I recently had the pleasure of immersing myself in the enchanting world of "My Time at Sandrock," which was officially released on November 1st. Huge thanks to Focus Entertainment for providing me with a key that allowed me to embark on this captivating adventure on the Steam Deck.

I have to admit that I lost track of time while testing this one out. It's an incredibly enjoyable and chill gaming experience, especially if you're a fan of titles like Stardew Valley. In my book, "My Time at Sandrock" significantly improves that formula, offering a wealth of story quests and extra content.

Let's start with the technical side of things. I initially played the game on low settings, making only one adjustment by upping the anti-aliasing to TAA, which significantly smoothed out the visuals. While playing at low settings, you won't maintain a steady 60 frames per second throughout, but you'll get around an hour and a half of battery life, allowing for some extended playtime.

In "My Time at Sandrock," you'll find a myriad of activities from crafting to chopping, along with combat elements thrown into the mix. Water management is crucial as it's a precious resource that can significantly impact your progress. The game presents you with numerous quests and challenges, making it a content-rich experience. However, it's important to note that the grind is real, and you can expect to invest around 50 to 60 hours in the single-player campaign alone. There's also a multiplayer aspect, adding even more depth to the game.

When I dialed it up to medium settings, which I consider my recommended configuration: medium graphics settings, TAA enabled, VSync off, and a 60 frames per second cap on Steam Deck. You'll notice that the game runs at around 40 to 50 frames per second most of the time. However, don't be deterred by the frame rate; the game looks absolutely fantastic on the Steam Deck's screen, and you'll have a blast playing it.

The combat in "My Time at Sandrock" is quirky, with creatures exhibiting unusual abilities like firing rockets and throwing firebombs. This adds an element of surprise and humor to the game. Also, beware of those cactus trees – kicking them might yield some useful spikes, but it's always amusing to see them react.

One thing to keep in mind is that "My Time at Sandrock" can be overwhelming at the beginning as it throws a lot at you early on. Progression can feel frustrating if you can't accomplish certain tasks, and advancing to the next set of tools requires a substantial effort.

This game is a slow burn, so don't expect to breeze through it in just a few hours. The tech tree alone is a testament to the depth of content and gameplay.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in "My Time at Sandrock" and plan to dive back in whenever I have some free time. It's easy to lose yourself for hours in this immersive world.

If you're considering giving it a try or have already picked it up, let me know in the comments below.