Getting Started with s&box

Before downloading s&box, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements. You will need at least a quad-core CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and a dedicated GPU with 4 GB VRAM. For the best experience, we recommend a modern 6-core CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and a GPU with 8 GB or more. s&box leverages the Source 2 engine, which scales well across hardware but benefits significantly from newer components.

Storage requirements depend on how many community games you install. The base platform requires roughly 15 GB, but popular games can add another 20-50 GB. We recommend keeping at least 100 GB free on an SSD for optimal load times.

Installing s&box is straightforward through Steam. Search for "s&box" in the Steam store, click Install, and wait for the download to complete. The initial setup will also install the .NET 8 runtime and any required Visual C++ redistributables automatically. If you encounter any issues during installation, try verifying the integrity of game files through Steam properties.

Once installed, launch the game for the first time to let it configure shaders and settings for your hardware. This initial compilation can take several minutes but only needs to happen once. After that, subsequent launches will be significantly faster.

The main menu is your gateway to everything s&box has to offer. The Server Browser shows all active community servers organized by game type, player count, and region. The Workshop tab lets you browse and install community-created games, maps, and assets. The Settings panel lets you configure graphics, audio, controls, and network preferences.

Pay special attention to the Favorites system. You can star servers and games you enjoy to quickly find them later. The Recent tab also tracks your play history so you can easily rejoin servers you have visited before.

For your first session, we recommend starting with one of the featured games on the front page. These are curated by the community and Facepunch to showcase the best experiences available. Click on any game card to see its description, player count, and available servers. Hit the Play button to auto-join an available server, or use the server list to pick one manually.

If you experience rubber-banding or high ping, try filtering servers by your region. Most popular games have servers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. A ping under 80ms generally provides a smooth experience.

Now that you are in the game, consider customizing your character in the Settings or Identity panel. Many games support custom player models, cosmetics, and emotes. Explore the Skin Market to find items that match your style, and check out the community Discord servers for each game to connect with other players.

If you are interested in creating your own games, check out our development guides. The s&box editor is integrated directly into the platform and provides a powerful set of tools for building everything from simple game modes to complex open-world experiences.