Where to get it

2023 · City-building · Indie

Terra Nil

Nintendo console exclusive

Terra Nil is an intricate environmental strategy game about transforming a barren wasteland into a thriving, balanced ecosystem. Bring life back to a lifeless world by purifying soil, cleaning oceans, planting trees, and reintroducing wildlife, then leave without a trace.

Released: 28 March 2023
Platforms: Android Linux Nintendo Switch Windows iOS macOS
Genres: City-building Indie Puzzle Simulation Strategy
Developers: —
Publishers: Devolver Digital
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Science fiction Sandbox Educational
Country: South Africa
Age ratings: ACB G USK 0 PEGI 3 ESRB E GRAC ALL
Languages: Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian and 4 more
Time to beat: 5.5hmain story13hcompletionist

About

Terra Nil is a strategy video game developed by Free Lives and published by Devolver Digital. The game was released for Android, iOS, and Windows on March 28, 2023; the mobile ports were published through Netflix Games. Ports for macOS, Linux, and the Nintendo Switch were released later in 2023.

While the gameplay focuses on placing buildings, as is common in city-building games, Terra Nil is the reverse – focusing instead on ecosystem reconstruction. Rather than promoting the consumption of resources to expand, the game is inspired by the rewilding movement and the climate crisis, and seeks to restore nature rather than exploit it.

›Story

Terra Nil is a game about transforming a barren, lifeless landscape into a thriving, vibrant ecosystem. Turn dead soil into fertile grassland, clean polluted oceans, plant sprawling forests, and create the ideal habitat for animals to call home. Then recycle your buildings and leave no trace that you were there. Reclaim the wasteland.

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Players are tasked with turning a barren wasteland into an ecological paradise with a variety of flora and fauna.

This is achieved by placing a number of buildings on the landscape which allow you to terraform. Wind turbines provide power, but can only be placed on stone tiles. These are used to power toxin scrubbers, which prepare the soil for irrigation. Water pumps are used to refill dried river beds, while additional tools allow the player to create new rivers anywhere on the map and new stone tiles on select river beds.

Development

Terra Nil was developed by a three-person team (Sam Alfred, Jonathan Hau-Yoon, and Jarred Lunt) at the South African studio Free Lives using the Unity game engine. It was announced on June 7, 2021. The game was originally developed by Sam Alfred, Jonathan Hau-Yoon, and Jarred Lunt for Ludum Dare 45 in October 2019 and released on Itch.io. However, in October 2020, the developers formed a partnership with Free Lives to produce a more in-depth version with more levels and upgraded graphics.

A free demo was made available to download on 16 June 2021 as part of the Steam Next Fest. The game was released for Windows, Android, and iOS on March 28, 2023. The mobile versions are part of the Netflix Games subscription service. The PC release was updated to support Linux and macOS on October 5, 2023. A Nintendo Switch version was released on December 18, 2023.

Reception

Terra Nil received "generally positive" reviews on Metacritic.

PC Gamer said that the game is "a consistently relaxing, satisfying experience" that does not aim to supplant established, complex games like Civilization or Anno. Hardcore Gamer praised its "simple yet incredibly fun gameplay, striking and gorgeous visuals, and a nice level of challenge". Rock Paper Shotgun found the reverse city-builder puzzle elements to be "an unavoidable punishment", though Hardcore Gamer singled them out as the game's "most clever and unique hook". Criticizing the game's focus on "chasing numbers", Rock Paper Shotgun's reviewer felt that the game's later stages ruin its relaxing mood.

Awards

The Game Awards − Games for Impact2023nominee
The Game Awards – Best Mobile/Handheld Game2023nominee
D.I.C.E. Award for Mobile Game of the Year2024nominee
British Academy Games Award for Game Beyond Entertainment2024nominee
Game Developers Choice Award - Social Impact Award2024nominee

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

Platform	Released	Regions
macOS	28 March 2023	Worldwide
Android	28 March 2023	Worldwide
iOS	28 March 2023	Worldwide
Linux	28 March 2023	Worldwide
Windows	28 March 2023	Worldwide
Nintendo Switch	18 December 2023	Worldwide