s&box is both a game platform and a game-making toolkit. Facepunch’s Source 2-based software lets people play user-created experiences and gives creators an editor, C# and visual scripting tools, multiplayer playtesting, and a way to publish games. You download the game and editor together through Steam; the exact price and supported operating systems can change, so check the current listing and official information before installing.
Is s&box a game engine or a platform?
It is both. Facepunch describes s&box as encompassing the engine and platform: creators use its tools to build games, while players can discover and play experiences made by other users. It is built on Source 2, the engine technology also associated with Valve games, but s&box is its own creator-oriented product and publishing ecosystem. Facepunch’s about page and its official FAQ explain that combined role.
That distinction matters when deciding whether it is for you. If you want a ready-made conventional game, s&box is not simply one fixed campaign or multiplayer title. If you want to make or explore user-created games, the platform is designed for both activities.
What can you do in s&box?
- Play: Browse and run creator-made experiences through s&box.
- Create: Build scenes, add gameplay logic, and work with models, materials, sounds, textures, and other resources.
- Test with others: Use the integrated multiplayer workflow to try changes with other players.
- Publish: Upload games and their assets for others to play through the platform.
Facepunch describes networking as built into the engine, but that does not mean every multiplayer game will be simple to build or automatically scale to any audience. The complexity depends on what a creator makes.
The Tool Desk
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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How does making a game work?
Scenes, GameObjects, and components
A project is built from scenes containing GameObjects. Components add behavior to those objects—for example, rendering or collision—so creators can assemble a world and then add the systems that make it interactive. Projects can mix scene setup with gameplay code written in C#. The official documentation describes the engine and its workflows.
C# and ActionGraph
C# is a core option for writing gameplay. Facepunch also provides ActionGraph, a visual-scripting workflow for game logic. It can be used alongside C#, rather than requiring creators to abandon code or choose one approach for an entire project. Which method suits you depends on the task and your familiarity with programming.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Editor tools and iteration
The editor brings together visual scene editing and asset management, as well as Hammer-based map creation and ModelDoc-based model editing. Facepunch says its hotload system applies code changes while a game is running; its about page describes changes appearing in milliseconds. The same page describes hotloading edits across clients during multiplayer playtests. These features are intended to shorten the edit-and-test loop, not to guarantee that every change works without testing.
The asset system handles models, materials, sounds, textures, custom resources, cloud assets, and user-generated-content storage. See the official asset documentation for the supported system and workflows.
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Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
How do you get s&box and start creating?
Facepunch says the editor and game are the same download, so there is no separate editor setup. Its learning material recommends starting by exploring an existing scene, then creating a project and writing a small C# component.
- Install through Steam: Use the s&box listing on Steam. Facepunch’s FAQ listed the price as $10; that is a dated, changeable store price, not a guaranteed current price.
- Explore an existing scene: Open the Testbed and inspect its engine-feature scenes to see how parts of the editor and runtime behave. The official learning and documentation pages provide the starting material.
- Make a small project: Follow the learning flow by creating a project and trying a basic C# component before taking on a larger game.
Facepunch’s installation guidance recommends Steam for making games. The engine source is also MIT licensed and can be built from the public repository, but that is an optional route for inspecting or contributing to the engine—not a requirement for ordinary game creation. The official source repository and documentation describe those options.
Rank #4
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How are games and content published?
Creators can publish from the editor, uploading a game together with its assets so other people can play it. Facepunch’s FAQ says this is not a conventional Workshop add-on installation model: content is available through sbox.game without players manually installing add-ons. That describes the platform’s distribution approach; it should not be read as a guarantee that every piece of user-created content is safe or suitable for every player.
One practical security caveat is explicit in the documentation: editor projects are not sandboxed and can run arbitrary functions. Treat projects and code from untrusted sources with care. Facepunch’s documentation sets out this warning.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Can creators earn money, and can a game be released on Steam?
Creator income on s&box
Facepunch’s FAQ describes two possible income routes: selling cosmetics in-game, with creators receiving a cut through Steam Workshop, and receiving a share of the Play Fund. The Play Fund is described as paying creators based on how much people play. Facepunch’s about page displayed a cumulative total of $926,885.19 paid to creators so far when checked on 7 October 2026. The page did not state the reporting period or an individual eligibility formula; this platform-wide cumulative amount is not an earnings estimate for a new game.
Standalone Steam release
Standalone Steam distribution is documented as a preview feature requiring Valve approval and a license from Facepunch. Facepunch says it takes no engine royalties or revenue share for this route; Steam’s standard terms and revenue share still apply. Because the preview status and approval process may change, check the current publishing documentation before planning a release.
Who should try s&box?
For players, the main reason to try it is access to user-created experiences; the Testbed is also a way to explore what the engine can do. For creators, it may suit people interested in combining C# or visual scripting with scene-and-component building, multiplayer iteration, and publishing inside an established platform. It is less suitable as a choice made on unsupported assumptions that it is inherently easier, faster, or better than another engine.
When comparing it with another engine or game platform, look at the specific factors that affect your project: operating-system support, coding and visual-scripting options, editor features, multiplayer needs, publishing route, monetization terms, and standalone-release requirements. Facepunch’s materials explain s&box’s features and policies, but do not establish neutral performance benchmarks against competitors.
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Facepunch’s about page lists Windows and Linux and describes macOS as “soon,” without giving a release date. The FAQ’s $10 figure is likewise a listed Steam price that may change. Check the current Steam listing and official s&box pages for availability and pricing when you are ready to install; the editor and feature set are actively updated.
Quick Recap
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