Thats why I ask if space sims can be considered sand box, because then elite would be prety much the only one (space sim) that is considered sand box, since its the only one that you can use everything in there, alto you cannot build like X universe
About the first, i was thinking Elder scrolls but we do have to find a definition of Sand Box, I remember playing Fallout but I didn't associate it with sandbox game
most of the times we have Sand box games associated with RPG or 3rd person Shooters, that we only remember them that way, i don't really remember how free was Fallout 1 ? In Elder Scrolls i do know we could enter any house (or most at least) in the landscape
And its not only the free to roam, i guess, how Sand Box can X3 be considered, you are free to roam, but with in those system, you never actually manage to get close to a planet on into it like Elite