Developer ILCA Publisher Bandai Namco Format PC, PS4, PS5 (tested), Xbox Series Release Out now

As dry, barren places that can stretch for miles with little variation in the landscape, deserts hardly seem the ideal choice for an open-world game. Based on the manga of the same name, from the pen of the late-lamented Akira Toriyama, ILCA’s adaptation captures the atmosphere of a desert perfectly. Not surprisingly, the game suffers for it.

Part action adventure, part Mad Max road trip, Sand Land follows demon prince Beelzebub, sheriff Rao, and old trickster Thief as they travel across the country in search of a legendary spring to bring water to the citizens. Along the way they meet mechanic Ann and uncover the real reason for the absence of water, while also helping to rebuild the town of Spino. As tales go, it’s solidly told, with a few good twists – but while the location might make for an engaging story, as a literal sandbox its shortcomings soon become apparent.

The country of Sand Land is, as you would imagine, full of sand. It’s also huge. There are a few towns dotted about the place, with caves and mountains making up most of the landscape, but otherwise it’s predictably bare. That might well be what the setting and story call for, but it doesn’t make it any more enjoyable to exist in. Things get greener – again, as you would probably anticipate – when you reach Forest Land. But while this environment might appear more vibrant, it only offers more of the same. Amid all those vast empty spaces, though, Toriyama’s distinctive designs stand out. The demons strike the right blend of peculiar and cheeky, while the vehicle design feels pleasingly retro – such that it really feels as if you’re playing within the manga.