Hytale Review: First Impressions of the Ambitious Sandbox RPG

Hytale, the long-awaited sandbox game from Hypixel Studios, has finally launched in early access, and this Hytale review finds a game with a solid foundation and immense potential, but also one with some significant shortcomings that need to be addressed. The game, which began development in 2015, is a voxel-based sandbox RPG set in a procedurally generated fantasy world, and it has been unofficially targeted at Minecraft players seeking a more robust experience with a focus on fantasy RPG elements. The game was developed by members of the team behind the popular Minecraft server Hypixel, with funding from Riot Games, which acquired the studio in 2020. After a cancellation in 2025, the game was revived by its original creator and recommenced development, leading to its early access release on January 13, 2026.

Recalling from our previous coverage, Hytale has deployed its first update, adding new content like dinosaurs to the underground jungle biome and a variety of other fixes. The patch comes after a highly successful launch that saw the game reach over 420,000 concurrent viewers on Twitch, with developer Hypixel Studios committing to a rapid update schedule to address issues and improve the game.

Early impressions of Hytale are largely positive, with many players praising the game's potential and its unique spin on the sandbox genre. Leana Hafer, via IGN review, described the game as "Minecraft 2", a "cover song rather than a subgenre" that feels like a wishlist of features for Mojang's classic. The gameplay will be familiar to Minecraft players, but with some streamlining, such as felling an entire tree by punching its root. Movement is said to be more fluid, and the game reportedly runs better than Minecraft. However, the building is described as "a little bit fiddly", and the early access version offers very little direction, leaving players to their own devices to build, explore, and gather resources.

Hytale's core gameplay loop blends the freedom of a sandbox with the depth of a role-playing game. Players can explore a procedurally generated world filled with dungeons, secrets, and a variety of creatures, and they can shape this world block by block. The early access release focuses on polished core systems like exploration, responsive combat, and robust building tools, alongside creator-first tools for making custom content, crafting minigames, and running community servers. The game features different "zones," which are collections of related biomes, as well as a story mode. It also boasts a robust set of creative tools, including model editors, in-game coding, and a cinema system. The developers have stated that Hytale is a step forward in multiplayer games, with a focus on both cooperative adventures and player-versus-player combat.

Despite the positive reception, some players have encountered bugs and have expressed concerns about certain aspects of the game. One player reported issues with mob visibility, where they could see creatures at a distance but not up close. Others have criticized the magic system as "lackluster" and the animal husbandry as "unintuitive". Another common complaint is that the game lacks impact, progression, and danger. Movement is described as "vague and unreliable," and both taking and dealing damage feel weak due to a lack of feedback. The inventory space also fills up quickly, forcing players into extreme playstyles. Some have also noted that the crafting system and item rarity feel artificial, with little incentive to grind for better gear.

The game's developers are aiming for a multi-platform release with cross-play, including mobile devices. A social system will allow players to have a friends list and easily join friends across different servers, a feature that is not available in Minecraft. The game will also have an official server browser, eliminating the need for external websites to find new servers. The developers have also said that the community will be able to monetize their creations, although the specifics of this have not yet been revealed. Hytale will also have official servers to showcase the engine's capabilities, with many of the minigames likely to resemble those found on the popular Hypixel Minecraft servers.

Hytale's journey to release has been a long and winding one. Development began in 2015, and the game was officially announced in 2018. The announcement trailer quickly went viral, and the game has been highly anticipated ever since. However, the development process has been fraught with delays. The game was originally scheduled to be released in 2021, but it was later delayed to 2023 and then to 2024. In June 2025, the game was canceled, much to the disappointment of its fans. However, just a few months later, in November 2025, the game was revived by its original creator, Simon Collins-Laflamme, who had repurchased it and recommenced development. This led to the game's early access release in January 2026.

The game's development was funded by Riot Games, the company behind the popular MOBA League of Legends. Riot acquired Hypixel Studios in 2020, and the studio has been operating as an independent subsidiary ever since. The game is built on a proprietary engine developed by Hypixel Studios, which is capable of powering the game's mix of block worlds, sandbox creativity, and minigames. The engine is designed to generate worlds with great smoothness, dynamism of the environment, and solid modding capabilities.

The community's reaction to the early access release has been a mix of excitement and caution. Many players are thrilled to finally get their hands on the game, but they are also aware that it is still in development and that there is still a lot of work to be done. Some players are concerned about the game's monetization model, as the developers have not yet revealed how they plan to make money from the game. Others are worried that the game will not be able to live up to the hype that has been building for years. Despite these concerns, there is a general sense of optimism in the community, and many players are hopeful that Hytale will eventually become the game that they have been waiting for.

In conclusion, Hytale's early access release is a promising start for a game with a lot of potential. The game has a solid foundation, and it offers a unique and engaging experience that is sure to appeal to fans of the sandbox genre. However, there are also some significant shortcomings that need to be addressed. The developers have a lot of work to do, but if they can address the community's concerns and continue to build on the game's strengths, then Hytale could have a bright future ahead of it.