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- Devolver Digital
- Devolver Digital
- Devolver Digital
- Devolver Digital
Terra Nil
Released On: Mar 28, 2023
79
6.5
Where to Buy
Where to Buy
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 49 Critic Reviews
79
82% Positive
40 Reviews
40 Reviews
10% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 49 Critic Reviews
79
82% Positive
40 Reviews
40 Reviews
10% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Terra Nil is a masterclass in everything that it attempts to be. A resource management sim that can be as difficult or relaxing as you want, that successfully provides an alternative to classic city-building games by completely flipping the core pillars of the genre on its head, and showing that a game about fostering nature can be just as engaging as one about destroying it. The game does an amazing job of evoking emotion in the player with just its environment alone and even allows you a moment to relish in the majesty of each region you have restored before heading on to the next. Terra Nil wants you to find love and beauty in nature, even if you have to leave it behind. Endlessly satisfying and elegant, any fans of city builders should give this outstanding take on the genre a try.
Instead of explosive power fantasies, you're invited to an ecosystem-saving hero story.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 29 User Ratings
6.5
52% Positive
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
24% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
24% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 29 User Ratings
6.5
52% Positive
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
24% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
24% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
User reviews seemed particularly harsh, so I felt I would chime in. This is an excellent game for a particular type of gamer. It is aesthetically beautiful with a minimalist approach to its gameplay and design that I really really enjoy. This also seems to be what some people don't enjoy, so it comes down to taste. It seems endlessly replayable and I'll probably be returning to it for years.
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PC
Terra Nil may initially seem like a city builder in reverse, but it’s more than that, it’s a challenging title that is, at its core, built on puzzle elements. Challenging and intrinsically rewarding, Terra Nil is the kind of game that ticks all the right boxes for having a fun time.
Even though it’s described as a reverse city-builder, I’m inclined to describe it as the anti-city builder, too. By its very nature, Terra Nil shows that games in the genre don’t need to be focused on rampant urban expansion to be engaging.
Even on the hardest of the three difficulty settings, Terra Nil is more forgiving than expected. Everything from its simple interface to an easily understood tutorial and a fantastically beautiful in-game guidebook makes environmental restoration go smoothly. The music and sound effects are very relaxing, and after every successfully restored map, there is a moment where you can just appreciate your handiwork. While a bit more friction wouldn’t have hurt, and the variation from map to map is modest, by keeping it simple, developer Free Lives spreads a clear message: saving the planet could be so easy if we wanted it to be. All that’s missing is a toxin scrubber.
More of an elaborated puzzle game than a strategy game, Terra Nil is an interesting experience that lasts a little too little.
In Terra Nil, the player must rescue and restore life in a desert scenario by creating biomes for the restoration of life on a desolate planet. With an incredible graphic style and relaxing music, the game presents addictive challenges and mechanics. It’s sad that such an enjoyable game to play has so little content - I wish it had more stages to play. Even so, I recommend that you spend hours and hours with this game.
This year I was recommended Terra Nil, a "reverse city builder" as the developer Free Lives call it in the store page. From screenshots and what gameplay I did see of it, my mind raced to games like SimCity 3000 and the potential of destroying a run down, or decaying city and returning it to nature.
What I played wasn't really that.
While yes, the last level involves cleaning up a Radioactive city that is flooded. This is less of a reverse SimCity, and more Zoo Tycoon or Jurassic World Evolution, where I am trying to get pens to fit an animal's preferred habitat. The scale is just a lot greater.
What would be a medium size SimCity 3000 map, is now a desolate waste land, where futuristic instant machines and tools clean up the land. Then give the habitat life.
There is also a bit of a Puzzle game element to it too, where you have "optional" objectives that involve changing the environment. Making it more, or less suitable for specific animals, and cataloguing them.
I feel that this is the main crux of the game, and it's fun. With gorgeous visuals, beautiful music, and a fun gameplay loop. I was left wishing there was more. With 4 unique maps, that have a alternative location, there is lots to do here. I picked this up during a Winter Sale, and while it's main asking price of $33 CAD is a bit for how short the game is, the ~$25 CAD I paid for it on sale is perfect for this bite sized adventure.
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PC
This game had so much potential. It's very pretty and the optimization puzzle is engaging, as the demo indicated it would be... but there are only 8 puzzles in the game total, and 4 of them are essentially reworks for the first 4. This game is woefully short and I feel like I was ripped off at full price. I would have loved to play this on game pass or something, but at $25, this is a rip off.
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PC
The idea behind Terra Nil is beautiful. A destroyed bioma that must be recovered. BUT there is nothing else apart from that. Very simple and not attractive gameplay and mechanics.
I really like the concept but this game it's just a concept with beautiful art. Don't expect much.
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PC
Summary Terra Nil, from eco-warriors Free Lives (Broforce) and recycled publisher Devolver Digital, presents players with the task of environmental rejuvenation. Begin with the water system, slowly purify the soil, and cultivate pioneer greenery. Embark on more ambitious tasks, restore biodiversity, fix the climate, introduce wildlife, and final...
Platforms:
- PC
- iOS (iPhone/iPad)
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date: Mar 28, 2023
Developer:
- Free Lives
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Genres:
