I need more time! More time at the beautiful world of My Time At... franchise.

I remember years and years ago, a friend telling me to try out this open beta(?) thing called "Planet Explorers". I don't remember much, but I remember how you could fell trees, modify terrain etc. It had no actual "gameplay" I can remember, but it was definitely interesting.

Years have passed and I've either gotten My Time At Portia in a bundle or some sale or so, for it to age in my library. Finally, after getting bored with Stardew Valley and looking for "more" I played it, and I was shocked how engaged I was with the story, the NPCs, how great it felt to join a community, work together and together make the world a better place.

I have bought My Time At Sandrock when it came out on EA, basically insta-buy - which for me is really unusual - I try to avoid most Early Access, I like getting games long after release to get it for cheap. But I loved Portia so much, that I wanted to support the devs whatever they are doing.

I waited and waited, first for Sandrock come out of Early Access, then for the planets to align (i.e. for me to remember about it). I wasn't, truth be told, all that into the idea of Sandrock - I really don't like the Western setting in general. But yet again, the game made me completely forget anything else and made me deeply involved in the town of Sandrock, its troubles, its people, its history. And seeing Sandrock return from the bring of doom, hearing the praises from NPCs, seeing how they change the way they react to you in time... I became a Sandrocker through and through.

It took me probably about 130-140h to complete the main story, which in itself is respectable, and I have to note that it hasn't been "idle" time. There is just so much to do: gathering resources in the overworld, improving relations with NPCs, mining through various levels of ruins, fighting through levels of enemies in the "hazardous ruins" places, and even a wave-rush mode for the end game, that scales way, way above what your character will be like after just finishing main story.

I have spent at the time of writing 150+h in this game, and I'm definitely not done. I still have to rebuild my home, I want to catch more creatures (DLC), choose the bride out of my 3 girlfriends, complete museum display etc. Now, would I want even more content? Sure. But what is already here is utterly massive.

The game has some annoying aspects, for me mostly to do with targeting when mining, you can get completely stuck in at least one place (as in unable to move, must wait till the day is gone and you fall asleep), pathing is visibly weird often, the skill points (especially social ones) are horribly slow to earn, and there are some comissions you cannot fulfil because plot has not progressed enough. But nothing is "just junk", those are all just "scratches" on otherwise great product.

Overall, a BIG recommendation for anyone who enjoys this kind of building/farming/slice of life thingies (though play Portia first, it's not mandatory but it's more fun that way!)

PS Forgot to mention English translation: not all the time, but you do get a feeling that there are errors, mistranslations or other such bits, that just are... "off". Not a big issue, not really an issue at all, but I think it's worth being aware of it :)