Welcome to FOV 90, an FPS column from staff writer Morgan Park. Every other week, I cover topics relevant to first-person shooter enjoyers, spanning everything from multiplayer and singleplayer to the old and the new.

It only took 90 minutes with S&box (pronounced "sandbox") to learn what many closed beta users have known for years: this Garry's Mod successor is, tragically, not Garry's Mod 2. While it features a map editor and the ability to weld strange vehicles in sandbox mode, those foundational Gmod features feel like minor bullet points here.

A Shift from Sandbox to Platform

Garry Newman's Facepunch calls S&box the "spiritual successor" to Gmod, but if that spirit is present, I've yet to encounter it. The qualities that made Gmod a lasting anomaly of PC gaming are missing; instead, Facepunch has essentially created a Roblox clone.

S&box functions primarily as an engine and platform. Its home page features a scrolling grid of squares with gaudy, often AI-generated thumbnails that resemble YouTube more than the classic Gmod interface. Much like Roblox or Fortnite, creators are paid by Facepunch for making popular games that drive long-term engagement.

This focus on profitability is already evident in the game's top performers:

  • Mow The Lawn: An incremental, creatively barren title that feels like the "slop" children consume on other platforms.
  • Paid Cosmetics: Avatar cosmetics are subject to Steam Marketplace pricing fluctuations, which feels decidedly uncool for a $20 game.

Technical Growing Pains and the Source 2 Identity Crisis

Despite these concerns, the breadth of genres possible with Facepunch's modified Source 2 toolset is impressive. I was able to sample several distinct experiences:

  • A third-person skateboarding game with believable Tony Hawk style grinding.
  • A top-down Vampire Survivors clone.
  • A fun PvP golfing game featuring Mario Kart powerups.

However, it is difficult to tell where the Source engine ends and Facepunch's modifications begin. Early FPS offerings like DEATH MATCH feel disconnected from their Valve roots; the gun models, sounds, feedback, and hit detection are terrible. Similarly, Strike Force, a Call of Duty clone, relies on "AI slop" profile cards and feels remarkably similar to the low-quality shooters found on Roblox.

The technical execution is currently lacking. While the ragdolls are a nice touch, the "sausage men" avatars are not an appealing replacement for iconic characters like Dr. Kleiner. It is hard to find the "Valve goodness" when firing a god-awful assault rifle in a map like Flatgrass.

Will S&box Lose the Gmod Spirit?

I am concerned that S&box's business model won't allow it to become a haven for grassroots creativity. The charm of Gmod came from its hobbyist community making maps and add-ons simply "for funsies." With an engagement-based payment scheme, developers may prioritize profit over innovation.

If the market follows Newman's libertarian perspective on AI, we may see a flood of low-effort content designed solely for profit. If you are curious about what Facepunch has been cooking, I recommend holding off for now.

The Garry's Mod successor is currently in a janky state; even joining multiplayer servers has roughly a 30% success rate. Since many popular games on the front page are just Gmod remakes like Prop Hunt, there is really no rush to jump in.