When it comes to gaming, a sandbox is more than a concept. It's a promise. Sandbox games tap into that spirit of unbridled play buried deep in all of us. Unfortunately, the sandbox isn’t what it used to be. Decades of AAA influence have turned it into a homogenized arena stuffed with action fantasy RPGs, chaotic first-person shooters, and little else in between. Isn’t there space for a sillier sandbox? One that lets us feel the goofy joy of doing more with our imaginations than rehash a hero’s journey? How about one, perhaps, with goats?
Dropping on PlayStation Plus this month, Goat Simulator 3 is the second game by Coffee Stain Studios to bring barnyard mayhem to our living rooms. The cheekiness of it all is immediately conveyed in the title. After Goat Simulator 1, there is no Goat Simulator 2, a deliberate choice by the developers to create the kinds of weird internet buzz indie titles thrive on. Although they may not abide by the laws of counting, they do follow the laws of game sequels. This is a title that delivers everything you loved about the previous games, but with lots more of it.
