Sandustry Map Guide

Map unlock, minimap, objective arrows, exploration, and custom-map boundaries.

Updated 2026-08-16Community6 minCommunity route
Short answer

Research unlocks the Map early, the minimap helps read nearby terrain and objectives, and custom maps should be clearly separated from the default Early Access world.

Early Access noteDo not publish full default map or artifact positions without official/game verification.

Player checklist

  • You need map unlock, minimap, objective, or exploration guidance.
  • You are comparing vanilla exploration with community custom maps.
  • You want to avoid false default-world resource claims.

Avoid this

  • Merging Oasis/Asteroid custom-map resources into vanilla pages.
  • Spoiling artifact locations from one player route.
  • Forgetting that map content can change with mods and updates.

Map Content Split

Map unlock and minimap behavior are vanilla notes; Oasis/Asteroid-style maps are community content.

01Map unlock

Tier 1 research in notes

02Minimap

Shows nearby world

03Objectives

Yellow arrows in notes

04Ancient ruins

Return-later exploration

05Custom maps

Workshop/community boundary

Quick facts

UnlockMap appears in Tier 1.
Known costLocal notes list 100 Gold.
MinimapShows nearby world beyond the main screen.
ObjectivesYellow arrows can point to goals.
Custom mapsCommunity/modded content, not default.

Recommended route

  1. Unlock the Map early for navigation.
  2. Use minimap objective arrows to avoid wandering blindly.
  3. Mark ruins that require later tools.
  4. When covering custom maps, name the map and source clearly.
  5. Do not merge Oasis/Asteroid map resources into vanilla resource pages.

Unlocking the map

Research notes place Map unlock in early progression, making navigation and objective tracking a first-stage quality-of-life upgrade.

Minimap use

Beginner material says the minimap shows nearby world beyond the main screen and can point to objectives.

Exploration

The world is fully destructible and hides ancient-civilization content, but some puzzle areas are better revisited later.

Custom maps

Community maps such as Oasis or Asteroid-style videos are useful inspiration, but must be labeled as custom or modded content.

Why map pages need labels

Custom maps can change resource availability dramatically. A map built with infinite sand, water, or red-sand access is useful inspiration, but it should never be described as the default Early Access world.

The map guide should help players unlock navigation first, then teach them how to record exploration findings without spoiling or inventing full-world maps.

Do / Don't

Do

  • Separate default from custom maps.
  • Use map pages to route artifact readers.
  • Keep custom-map claims labeled.

Don't

  • Do not publish unverified full maps.
  • Do not treat modded infinite resources as vanilla.
  • Do not copy video route text.

FAQ

How do I unlock the map?

Map unlock appears in Tier 1 research at 100 Gold.

Are custom maps official?

No. Treat them as Steam Workshop/community content unless the developer labels them official.