My Time at Sandrock is developer Pathea's second title, following up after My Time at Portia. Both games are life simulators in which you play as a builder who has come to the respective game's town to help restore it. But with both games being similar, you may be wondering if you need to play My Time at Portia before My Time at Sandrock.
The answer is no—you do not need to play My Time at Portia before playing My Time at Sandrock. Both titles are stand-alone and can be played without having knowledge of the other game. That being said, you will have a richer experience if you play the first game before My Time at Sandrock. My Time at Sandrock will make references to the first game you wouldn't understand without having played it.
Related: What genre is My Time at Sandrock?
Is My Time at Sandrock a sequel to My Time at Portia?
My Time at Sandrock is technically a prequel and a sequel to My Time at Portia. It begins before the story of My Time at Portia and continues after it. Both games take place in different cities/areas and feature different settings. But they do share a similar story in which a builder arrives in town and helps the village.
While My Time at Sandrock will primarily feature new characters, some characters from My Time at Portia make an appearance. This includes Mason, the builder in Sandrock, Mint, a marriage candidate in Portia, and Ginger, a marriage candidate in Portia. Most of these characters will only have a minor role, though.
For more information on My Time at Sandrock, check out Does My Time at Sandrock have controller support? and Is My Time at Sandrock playable on Windows 7/8? on Pro Game Guides.