In order to study the mechanical behavior of tight sandstone under complex stress paths, the multi-function rock triaxial test system was used to carry out three-axis cyclic loading and unloading tests with confining pressures of 5 MPa, 15 MPa and 20 MPa, and then, energy evolution analysis was carried out. According to the results of the tests, the compressive strength of sandstone increases with the increase of confining pressure. The axial deviatoric stresses at the maximum compression point with confining pressures of 5 MPa, 15 MPa, and 20 MPa are 80. 68 MPa, 120. 72 MPa, and 152. 12 MPa, respectively. During the loading and unloading process, some of the damage is converted into the internal energy and other forms of energy, so the unloading curve is lower than the loading curve and hysteresis loops appear. As the load increases, the hysteresis effect is getting gradually obvious. The failure of sandstone is dominated by shear failure and produces axial and lateral sloping cracks. Energy evolution analysis shows that the energy dissipation is the cause of damage to the rock mass. The peak elastic energy before the failure of rock sample increases linearly with the confining pressure, and the effect of confining pressure on peak elastic energy is significant as well.