Huge update turns Steam sandbox game into a mix of Roadcraft and State of Decay

Sandbox games live and die by how much stuff you can do. They can be lean or expansive, massive or tight, but each must offer multiple approaches to the open word and its challenges. Games like Roadcraft and State of Decay manage this well, though they represent opposite ends of the sandbox spectrum. A vehicle-based survival game called The Front just got a huge update, which allows players to customize vehicles, opening up almost endless possibilities.

Like some of the best sandbox games, The Front takes places in a post-apocalyptic world, where players will have to build sturdy bases to protect them and their resources, but also brave the wilderness to gather the tools they need. Now, you can customize and build your own vehicles with which to explore the hostile world. You can combine chassis, engines, armor, and other component parts in order to build your war machine. Restrictions like weight capacity force you to consider what difficulties you will face and what tools you will need to best them.

But new  toys also come with new challenges. The update introduces gigantic enemies, which you can only reasonably fight with your custom war machines. The update also adds "Black Sun Obelisk" dungeons, a late-game challenge with unique terrain layouts and brand new boss mechanics. The Front is still in early access. Developers Samar Studio have promised that flying vehicles, spider-claw wielding war machines, and a paint customization system will arrive in future updates.

You can pick up The Front for $15.99 on Steam until July 27.

If the Front has you yearning for more hostile worlds and base-building, check out our list of the best survival games. If you want to explore more wide open spaces, take a gander at the best open world games.

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