Sands of Aura makes its console debut, landing on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, bringing its sand-swept, Soulslike adventure to a new audience.
Published by indie.io and developed by Chashu Entertainment, this open-world action RPG drops players into a world buried beneath endless dunes, where survival depends as much on preparation as it does precision.
Set in the broken realm of Talamhel, Sands of Aura blends deliberate combat, freeform exploration and deep crafting systems into a journey that asks players to carve their own path across a sea of shifting sand.
At A Glance
- Game: Sands of Aura
- Developer: Chashu Entertainment
- Publisher: indie.io
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Action RPG / Soulslike
A World Swallowed By Sand
Talamhel was not always a wasteland. Long ago, a catastrophic event shattered time itself, flooding the world with sand and plunging it into perpetual night. What remains are scattered mountaintops rising like islands from an endless desert; fragile pockets of humanity surrounded by corruption.
You step into this world as a newly inducted member of the Order of the Remnant Knights, the last defenders of mankind. A mutated strain of the Night Plague now threatens what little stability remains, and it falls to you to uncover its source.
Traversal is handled aboard a nimble vessel known as a grainwake. Rather than following rigid quest markers, players chart their own course across the sandseas. The landscape shifts, secrets surface and danger waits beyond the horizon. Exploration feels intentional – sometimes isolating – and very much driven by player choice.
Combat That Demands Commitment
Sands of Aura leans into its Soulslike inspirations with an unforgiving combat system built around timing, stamina management and positional awareness.
Seven distinct fighting styles allow for varied approaches. Some favour speed and finesse, others reward heavier, deliberate strikes. The enemies you face, the corrupted humans, fallen kings, cultists, the metallic Ferrum and the hive-minded Hashara, are relentless and rarely forgiving.
Weapon crafting is central to progression. Hundreds of components can be recovered from the ruins of civilisation, combining into thousands of potential weapon variations. Finding a hilt that suits your preferred rhythm or forging a blade tailored to your build becomes part of the journey.
Armour sets provide unique defensive traits, while magical augments further personalise combat effectiveness. Success is rarely accidental – it comes from preparation and adaptation.
Exploration, Leadership And Survival
While combat sits at the heart of the experience, Sands of Aura also gives space for quieter progression.
Each island rising from the sand offers its own encounters, lore fragments and optional challenges. Difficulty tiers encourage players to return to previously visited locations once stronger, uncovering new paths and rewards.
The adventure is anchored by the Starspire, a sanctuary where players can rebuild and strengthen a community. Leadership choices unlock perks, services and deeper understanding of Talamhel’s fractured history.
Console players benefit from tailored improvements over the previously released Steam edition, including a purpose-built targeting assist system, interface refinements for island exploration and balancing tweaks to combat and the in-game economy. This release represents the most refined version of the game to date.
A Journey Without A Guiding Hand
Sands of Aura does not overwhelm with hand-holding. There is no constant arrow pointing the way forward. Instead, it trusts players to explore, experiment and learn through failure.
On Xbox Series X|S (through the Xbox Store, £20.99), PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, that experience now feels more accessible than ever. Whether you are drawn by its bleak world-building, demanding combat or deep crafting systems, Sands of Aura offers a methodical, player-driven adventure across a dying world.
For those ready to take the oath and brave the sandseas, Talamhel awaits.
