Sandustry Custom Maps

Vanilla Sandustry seeds teach the refinery loop — Sand, Water, Shakers, Slag — but community custom maps stress logistics in deserts, ice caves, cramped ruins, and puzzle gauntlets you will never see in the demo alone. Custom Map Loader by Electric131 (used alongside Fluxloader) imports player-made maps into the game. This guide covers setup, finding maps, safety, and how custom terrain interacts with wiki advice on Guides and Tier List.

Prerequisites

1. Working Fluxloader install (Fluxloader Install).
2. Custom Map Loader mod package compatible with your game version.
3. Backed-up saves — map experiments should not overwrite your main vanilla factory.
4. Comfort with vanilla controls (Keyboard Shortcuts) — maps rarely change bindings.

Modded underground Sandustry map factory

Installing Custom Map Loader

Follow Electric131’s readme bundled with the release:

• Place the loader mod in your Fluxloader Mods folder.
• Launch Sandustry; open the mod menu or hotkey indicated in readme.
• Confirm the loader version matches current Steam demo or EA build — mismatch causes silent load failures.

Update the loader after every Sandustry patch summarized on Demo Patches.

Loading a custom map

Typical workflow (exact UI labels vary by version):

1. Download a .map or packaged file from a trusted thread (official Discord map channel, curated GitHub repos).
2. Place the file in the folder path specified by Custom Map Loader docs — often under Maps in the game directory.
3. Open the in-game map picker from the mod menu.
4. Select the map; allow the world to regenerate.
5. Start a new save for that map — do not assume vanilla research carries over unless the map author says so.

Some maps ship with preset research or locked tech for puzzle purposes; read the map description before expecting Research Priority order to apply unchanged.

Finding community maps

Discord — The Sandustry community shares WIP and release maps in dedicated channels. Search pinned messages for loader-compatible versions.

Forum threads — Authors post screenshots, hazard lists, and required mods.

Map jams — Timed events produce experimental layouts good for practicing Automation Basics under weird constraints.

Never download maps from unverified file hosts; scan archives and prefer sources linked from community moderators.

Design goals for map players

Custom maps are sandboxes to learn — not replacements for campaign progression:

• Test diagonal shakers on slopes (How to Get Gold).
• Practice launcher towers with Shift skip (Build Modes).
• Stress water routing in arid or flooded seeds (Water Management).
• Rank tools differently — ice-heavy maps boost Flamethrower tier (Tools Priority).

Compatibility and multiplayer

Sandustry is single-player only (Release Date and Platforms). Maps are solo experiences. Shared-session map hubs do not apply.

Mods stacked with maps (extra items, cheat tools) may desync from vanilla wiki numbers on Production Ratio Helper — treat ratios as approximate.

Troubleshooting

Map not listed — Wrong folder, wrong extension, or loader outdated.

Instant crash on load — Map built for older game physics; check author comments for patch version.

Missing research — Intentional puzzle restriction; read map readme.

Performance collapse — Huge sand simulations exceed minimum 4 GB RAM spec; close background apps or simplify contraptions.

Returning to vanilla

Disable Custom Map Loader or start a new vanilla save from main menu. Keep modded saves separate. Verify achievements and progression on a clean slot before Early Access launch 2026-08-13. Share map recommendations in Discord threads rather than expecting this wiki to host every download link — authors retire maps when physics updates break old files.

Map categories worth trying

Compact puzzle maps stress launcher Shift skip and diagonal shakers in tight footprints—good for Build Modes practice. Vertical gauntlets force grappling and pipe planning before large drone networks. Resource-scarce deserts test Water Management ratios under stress. Hazard tours spike Flamethrower and Cryoblaster priority on Tools Priority. Pick maps whose readme matches your current skill—jumping to endgame terrain teaches little about the core wet-sand loop.

Related

• Mods Hub — Overview.
• Fluxloader Install — Base loader setup.
• Review — Vanilla demo scope vs modded sandboxes.
• Buildings — Machine reference when maps allow full tech.