Universe Sandbox

• 75
  The A.V. Club

  trust 71May 16, 2011

  “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.”

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• 87
  PC Gamer

  trust 64Jul 14, 2011

  “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
  B

  Bit-Gamer

  trust 60May 18, 2011

  “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. ”

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1. Crashing Craters | Update 36.3

   Aug 19, 2026
2. Winds of Change | Update 36.2

   Jun 25, 2026
3. Back to the Moon! | Update 36.1

   Apr 29, 2026
4. Pale Blue DOTS | Update 36

   Mar 30, 2026significant · resets scoring window
5. Pale Blue DOTS Preview Now Available | Physics Simulation Overhaul

   Dec 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
6. Planet Nine’s New Nemesis | Update 35.4

   Oct 23, 2025
7. Another Interstellar Visitor | Update 35.3

   Aug 20, 2025
8. Blinded by the Light | Update 35.2

   Jun 17, 2025
9. Describing the Universe | Update 35.1

   Apr 28, 2025
10. Space in a New Light | Update 35

    Mar 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
11. Space in a New Light Preview Now Available | Major Graphics Update

    Nov 26, 2024significant · resets scoring window
12. Eclipsed Improvements | Update 34.1

    Mar 5, 2024significant · resets scoring window
13. Terraforming | Update 34

    Dec 15, 2023significant · resets scoring window
14. Universe Sandbox for Mobile | Update 2 | Challenges of Mobile Development

    Aug 23, 2023significant · resets scoring window
15. Gravity Simulation Upgrade | Update 33

    Aug 16, 2023significant · resets scoring window
16. Grand Collision Unification | Update 32.3

    Jun 29, 2023
17. A Comet, an Asteroid, and a Planet Walk into the Solar System | Update 32.2

    Mar 23, 2023
18. Skies of Blue, Red Collisions Too | Update 32.1

    Dec 14, 2022
19. Build-A-Planet | Update 32

    Nov 17, 2022
20. Space is Big | Update 31.4

    Oct 27, 2022significant · resets scoring window
21. Planetary Defense DART | Update 31.3

    Sep 22, 2022
22. Upgrading Our Engine | Update 31.2

    Aug 18, 2022
23. A Warmer Welcome | Update 31.1

    Jun 23, 2022
24. Constellations | Update 31

    Jun 9, 2022
25. Hit Hard, Spin Fast | Update 30

    Apr 14, 2022
26. Universe Sandbox 2021 Retrospective

    Feb 17, 2022significant · resets scoring window
27. Consistent Collisions, James Webb, & Planetscaping Tweaks | Update 29.1

    Jan 27, 2022
28. Planetscaping | Update 29

    Dec 22, 2021
29. Starlite Starbrite | Update 28.2

    Nov 23, 2021
30. My Eyes, the Space Goggles Do Nothing | Update 28.1

    Oct 28, 2021
31. Codename: Fire Ring | Update 28

    Sep 23, 2021
32. Atmospheric Adjustments | Update 27.2

    Aug 2, 2021
33. Clouds in Motion | Update 27.1

    Jun 21, 2021significant · resets scoring window
34. Universe Sandbox Roadmap: 2021.5 & Beyond

    Jun 16, 2021significant · resets scoring window
35. Fast & Flurrious | Update 27

    May 3, 2021significant · resets scoring window
36. Splish, Splash, Filling a Bath | Update 26.3

    Feb 25, 2021significant · resets scoring window
37. Ending 2020 with a Bang | Update 26.2

    Dec 23, 2020
38. Star Fusion & the Brown Dwarfs | Update 26.1

    Nov 21, 2020
39. Reimagined Experience - Unified VR & Desktop | Update 26

    Oct 29, 2020
40. Community Test of Update 26 Now Available

    Sep 17, 2020

…and 25 earlier patch announcements.