Universe Sandbox 2for Windows

This neat space simulator lets you relive the entire history of the universe. It offers a surprising amount of details which you can freely adjust. Create, progress, or destroy is all up to you.

Build a galaxy

Learn about space and play with planets in Universe Sandbox 2 (US2). Create your own galaxies and defy the laws of physics.

For how smooth this game runs, its graphics are highly fine-tuned and detail. You can clearly see if there’s water or lava on the surface of a planet from far away. The memory required is also low, so you can run it on most computers. You may run into glitches that would either freeze your game or reset it.

There is virtually no limit to what you can do in this game. Create any type of planet or modify the Earth to your liking. You also get to manipulate what goes on in the universe, such as meteors and black holes colliding. Everything you do produces an instant reaction to your planets and its surroundings. This results in hours of physics defying fun. The possibilities are endless.

At a glance, US2 can seem mindless and silly, since all you do is create massive explosions and giant black holes. In reality, though, it contains vast information about the cosmos and how they behave. Creating a well-functioning galaxy requires substantial knowledge in astronomy. This is a challenge that the game forces you to face.

The simulator offers a wide range of modifications that where you can customize your own space and time. A small number of them don’t work or function as intended. These errors are by no means an entire game-breaker, but they can get quite annoying.

Where can you run this program?

You can run this game on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1

Is there a better alternative?

No. The level of control and amount of details in US2 is one-of-a-kind. Similar games, like Space Mechanic Simulator and Occupy Mars, offer some similar gameplay.

Our take

Universe Sandbox 2 gives players as much education as fun. Astronomy fans will want to play this game.

Should you download it?

Yes. If you want to learn more about space while having a blast, you must give this game a try.