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This Is Sand

Pour coloured sand into layered dunes with the mouse, which is considerably more absorbing than it has any right to be.

Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.

How to get the most from it

This Is Sand sits in Oddly Satisfying under Unwind, filed as coffee break.

  • Set aside five to fifteen minutes and give it your proper attention.
  • It works on a phone or a desktop, so open it on whatever is nearest.
  • It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
  • No account needed — you can start without signing up.
  • Go in expecting something calming and beautiful.

About this category: Pop it, stretch it, watch it fall. Sites built around one physically pleasing interaction, repeated until you feel better.

Good for

  • Filling a coffee break properly
  • Winding down when your head is busy
  • Looking at something lovely
  • A quiet break at your desk
  • Killing time on your phone
  • Trying it with zero commitment

This Is Sand: quick answers

Is This Is Sand free?

Yes. This Is Sand is free to use and needs no account.

Do I need an account to use This Is Sand?

No. You can use This Is Sand without signing up for anything.

Does This Is Sand work on a phone?

Yes. This Is Sand works on phones as well as desktop browsers.

Is This Is Sand safe for work?

Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.

How long does This Is Sand take?

We file it as "Coffee break": Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention.

More in Oddly Satisfying

All 14 in Oddly Satisfying

Same mood: calming

All calming sites
  • Drag in PNGs and JPEGs and they come back far smaller with no visible difference. Nothing else to learn.

  • A quick whiteboard in the browser: sketch boxes, arrows and doodles, share a link and draw together in real time without making an account.

    • <1 min
    • Desktop
  • Tap any key in rhythm and it plays the next chunk of Clair de Lune, so timing is the only skill actually required.

    • 2 min
    • Sound on
  • Click to place a block and a small algorithm builds a plausible seaside town around it, with no goal of any kind.

Keep exploring

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