s&box is both a game platform and a game-creation environment from Facepunch. You can use it to play experiences made by other users, or create your own with a Source 2-based runtime, an editor, C# and visual scripting tools. It also includes workflows for multiplayer playtesting, publishing and creator monetization. The editor and game come in the same Steam download.
Is s&box a game, an engine, or a platform?
It spans all three roles. Facepunch describes s&box as “everything” across the engine/platform distinction: it is a runtime for playing user-created experiences, an editor for making them, and a platform for sharing and discovering them. The official s&box overview presents it to both players and creators.
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That means s&box is not simply one finished game with a fixed set of levels. The experiences available to play are created by users, while the editor and engine provide the tools and environment those creators use.
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Projects are built from scenes, which contain GameObjects. Components can be added to those objects to provide behavior such as rendering or collision. Creators can configure scenes and write gameplay components in C#; Facepunch says its hotload system can apply code changes while the game is running, and its overview describes those updates as happening in milliseconds.
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Editor and scripting tools
The editor includes visual scene editing and asset management. Its tools include ActionGraph for visual scripting, Hammer-based map creation and ModelDoc-based model editing. ActionGraph can be used alongside C#, so creators can choose a visual or code-based workflow for game logic rather than treating one as a required replacement for the other. See the official documentation for the current toolset.
The asset system supports models, materials, sounds, textures and custom resources, as well as cloud assets and user-generated-content storage. These tools support a range of projects, but the existence of an editor feature does not mean every game will be simple to build: the design, programming and production work still depend on the project.
Rank #2
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Multiplayer playtesting
Networking is described as built into the engine, and Facepunch says code and content edits can hotload across clients during a multiplayer playtest. That can make testing changes with other players part of the creation workflow. It is not a guarantee that networking a particular game, or scaling it to many players, will be effortless.
How do you get s&box and start creating?
The editor and game are the same download, according to Facepunch’s learning page. The official learning flow is to install s&box, explore an existing scene, then create a project and try a small C# component.
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- 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.
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Install from Steam. Facepunch’s FAQ lists the Steam price as $10; that is the listed price as of 7 October 2026 and may change by date or region, so check the live listing before buying.
- Open an existing scene. The Testbed guide provides engine-feature scenes to explore, which can help you see how objects, components and editor tools fit together.
- Create a project and experiment. Follow the learning material to make a small C# component, then use the editor to expand the scene and test changes.
Creators are directed to Steam for installation and making games. Facepunch also documents the engine source as MIT-licensed and says it can optionally be built from the public repository. That route is for people who want to inspect or contribute to the engine; the documentation recommends Steam for making games. See the installation and development documentation.
How do playing and publishing work?
Creators can publish from the editor and upload a game with its assets so other people can play it. Facepunch’s FAQ says s&box does not use a conventional Workshop add-on installation process; it describes content as available through sbox.game without manually installing add-ons.
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For a creator, this makes publishing part of the platform rather than a separate distribution system that must be assembled from scratch. However, this describes the ordinary user-created-content route; releasing a standalone game on Steam is a separate process with additional requirements.
Standalone Steam release
Facepunch’s documentation describes standalone Steam distribution as being in preview. It requires Valve approval and a license from Facepunch, and the process or status may change. Facepunch says it takes no engine royalties or revenue share for this route; Steam’s standard terms and revenue share still apply. Check the current documentation before planning a release.
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?
Facepunch’s FAQ describes two routes: creators can sell cosmetics in-game, with a cut paid through Steam Workshop, and game creators can receive a share of the Play Fund. Facepunch says Play Fund payments are based on how much people play, but the available information does not establish an individual creator’s eligibility formula or predict what a particular project might earn.
The official overview displayed $926,885.19 paid to creators so far as of 7 October 2026. The page does not state the reporting period or individual eligibility formula. This is a cumulative platform figure, not an earnings estimate for a new project; the total can change.
Who is s&box for?
- Players who want to explore experiences created by other users. The Testbed is also presented as an engine demonstration for newcomers.
- Creators interested in making scenes and gameplay with C#, visual scripting, editor tools and integrated multiplayer testing.
- People evaluating a game engine who want a platform with built-in ways to share user-created games, while accepting that standalone release is a separate, gated route.
If you are comparing it with another engine or platform, compare concrete needs: supported operating systems, programming and visual-scripting workflows, scene and editor tools, multiplayer requirements, publishing options and monetization terms. The official material does not establish neutral performance benchmarks or prove that s&box is faster, easier or better than a competitor.
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What should you know before installing or running projects?
Facepunch’s overview lists Windows and Linux and says macOS is “soon,” without giving a release date. Verify operating-system support on the current official page before installing.
One security detail matters when exploring other people’s projects: Facepunch warns that editor projects are not sandboxed and can run arbitrary functions. Be cautious about running code or projects from sources you do not trust.
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