Guides
Complete Sandustry guides covering beginner tips, sand sifting, automation, production chains, materials and machines for the pixel factory sandbox by Lantto Games.
Introduction
Sandustry guides cover everything a new player needs to turn a freshly landed pixel world into a working factory. You begin by mining sand and sifting it for gold, then gradually add conveyors, pumps and drones to automate the flow of materials. Because the game launches into Early Access on August 13, 2026, guides also cover the free demo, first-factory layout advice, resource priorities and how to plan an expansion route before the full release expands the tech tree. Every guide is structured around a concrete milestone, from your first gold nugget to a fully automated production empire, so readers always know exactly what to do next.
Quick Start Guide Types
| Guide | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner Guide | Mining, sifting gold, first tools | Completely new players |
| Sand Sifting Guide | Gold extraction and early economy | Players stuck on progression |
| First Factory Guide | Layout, conveyors, early automation | Players building their first lines |
Guide Categories
Beginner Essentials
The must-read starting point for any new Sandustry player. It walks through mining your first sand, sifting it into gold, building your very first production line and setting up a furnace before the Early Access launch on August 13, 2026. Following this guide in order avoids the most common early mistakes, such as placing sifters far from your mine or skipping the furnace until your belt is already jammed. It is the fastest route from landing on the planet to running a small automated line.
First Factory
A practical walkthrough of building your first automated layout. Learn where to place conveyors, why belts beat manual carrying, and how to route sand and gold so your factory keeps running while you explore the surface. The guide covers input feeding, output splitting and how to leave expansion room, so your first factory does not need to be torn down when you reach the next tier of machines.
Demo to Launch
What carries between the free demo and the full Early Access release, what content is expected to expand at launch, and how to use the demo period to practice automation so you hit the ground running on day one. It also covers wishlist timing and pricing expectations, since the Early Access price may rise as content is added.
Core Mechanics
Sandustry's guide system mirrors the game's natural progression curve. In the first hour you learn mining and sifting, in the next few hours you build simple belts and filters, and by mid-game you coordinate drones, pumps and lifts across deep underground vaults. Guides are structured around milestones so that each one builds on the last. This milestone-based structure matters because Sandustry does not hold your hand: there is no built-in tutorial after the demo, and the pixel simulation means small early mistakes, such as placing a sifter too far from your mine, compound into large inefficiencies later. A good guide therefore teaches not only what to build but the order in which to build it, and why that order saves hours of rebuilding.
Advantages
The focused design of Sandustry makes guides unusually valuable. The pixel-simulation mechanics reward concrete, tested setups rather than vague theory, and the pre-release state of the game means accurate guides give players a real edge. Because the game is single-player with no competitive pressure, every guide can focus purely on efficiency, layout and fun rather than counters or tier chasing. The guide category also benefits from the game's clear progression curve: there are obvious next steps at every stage, so structured walkthroughs are genuinely useful rather than filler. This makes the wiki's guide section a practical tool you can follow start to finish.
Challenges
Guide content for Sandustry faces a few real constraints. The game has not fully released, so details about the complete tech tree, final machine recipes and the deeper vaults are still based on the store description and demo data and may change at launch. The lack of official documentation means the community is the primary source, and mechanics like exact production rates can shift between hotfixes. As a result some guides may become outdated quickly, and players should always check the patch notes after each update. Because the game is pre-release, the wiki also has to label demo-verified facts separately from store-description expectations, which adds a layer of nuance that readers need to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first in Sandustry?+
Is the Sandustry demo worth trying first?+
Do I need to worry about Early Access changes?+
Quick Tips
Sift sand as close to the source as possible — manual gold trips waste the most early-game time, and a short conveyor between your mine and sifter more than pays for itself within the first hour of play. Every minute saved carrying sand is a minute spent expanding your factory.
Always keep a small stockpile of sand before expanding, because sand absorbs water and fuels most starter chains. A reserve of a few stacks means you can keep production running while you explore or dig a new shaft, and it protects you from short-term supply interruptions. This small buffer removes most early supply interruptions and keeps your line running smoothly.
Check the patch notes after each hotfix; the developer frequently adjusts machine costs and mechanics during the demo period, and a balanced strategy can become outdated overnight. A quick review of the latest changes keeps your factory plans current. Keeping an eye on the update feed ensures your guides and layouts never go stale.
Featured
Sandustry Beginner Guide: Mine, Sift and Build Your Factory
This Sandustry beginner guide teaches you how to play from your first minute: mine and sift sand, collect gold, and build your first production line.
Sandustry First Hour: What to Do in Your Opening Minutes
Make your Sandustry first hour count with mining, sifting, gold collection and early belt priorities so your opening factory runs without wasted time.
Sandustry Guide for New Players: Basics You Need to Start
A Sandustry guide for new players covers mining, sifting, water, gold and automation basics, with solo tips and your first steps before Early Access.
All Articles
Sandustry Quickstart Guide: Your First Factory in Minutes
Get a Sandustry quickstart guide for your first factory: spawn priorities, sand sifting, early belts and the progression loop that unlocks automation fast.
Sandustry Starter Guide: Early Tools and First Factory
A Sandustry starter guide to early tools, gold sifting and your first conveyor belt, turning a bare sand world into a working factory step by step.
Sandustry Tutorial: Learn the Core Loop in Thirty Minutes
A hands-on Sandustry tutorial covers the core loop: mine sand, sift gold, move water and automate a first production chain within thirty minutes.
Sandustry Automation Guide for Beginners: Belts and Pumps
Learn Sandustry automation guide for beginners: conveyor belts, pumps and drones that turn manual mining into an automated production chain quickly.
Sandustry Demo Walkthrough: Finish the Free Demo Fast
Walk through the Sandustry demo walkthrough from first sift to automated factory, and learn what carries over to the Early Access launch on August 13.
Sandustry How to Progress: Goals and Factory Milestones
Learn Sandustry how to progress with clear goals and milestones: when to expand production chains and how to plan factory growth from early to late game.
Sandustry Deep Dive Guide: Advanced Mechanics and Systems
A Sandustry deep dive guide into advanced mechanics: pixel simulation, the water cycle, production chains and ancient vaults for experienced players.