Mechanics & Systems
The game allows you to sculpt terrain (raise/lower land, shape mountains, valleys) and then apply natural‑forces simulations like weather, erosion, ecosystem growth.
You can alter tectonic activity: the game supports simulating plate tectonics (convergent boundaries creating mountains, divergent creating rifts, etc).
Climate control is a key system: you can tweak rainfall, temperature, snow‑melt, water levels etc, and these shape biomes (desert, forest, tundra, etc) based on elevation/moisture/temperature conditions.
Ecosystems emerge: plants and animals respond to the conditions you set, so rather than purely decorative, the world evolves dynamically.
The world size is very large: up to ~16,000 km² maps in early access, simulating large scale natural evolution though still in development.
It’s currently in Early Access: so while many of the systems are in place, they indicate many features (e.g., more animals, more realistic tectonics) are planned but not yet final.
Users have reported some quirks/bugs: for example, issues with the plate tectonics menu not responding after first use, and HDR/display settings not resetting correctly.
Graphics & Visuals
The game leverages “modern GPUs” for large‑scale simulation and visualization of terrain/erosion/climate.
The visuals emphasise realistic terrain: mountains, rivers, erosion features, biomes growing based on climate/terrain.
Because it simulates large maps and heavy terrain/erosion systems, performance may vary depending on hardware (some user reports mention “poor performance for larger maps”).
As a user comment:
“Pretty landscapes … very active and transparent developer.”
Settings & Tips
When starting a new world, you’ll likely access settings for: map size, tectonic activity, climate parameters (rain/temperature), initial terrain shaping.
Adjust your hardware/graphics settings depending on your machine: large maps + high detail = more GPU/CPU load.
If you run into issues (e.g., tectonic menu not working), check that the game is updated and your graphics drivers are recent.
Because this is early access, expect feature additions and possibly some instability; saving your work often is advisable.
If you have a weaker system, consider smaller map sizes / lower detail settings for smoother performance.
How it Works: Step‑by‑Step (simplified)
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Choose or create a map / world size.
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Sculpt basic terrain: raise mountains, dig valleys, set initial shape.
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Set tectonic behaviour: decide how plates should move/interact to influence mountains/rifts.
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Define climate: rainfall, temperature, snow/ice levels, water levels.
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Let simulation run: erosion begins, rivers form, soil develops, biomes emerge, plants/animals spawn/respond.
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Zoom in/out: From large‑scale to local detail, observe how the world evolves over time.
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Adjust settings mid‑game if needed (e.g., increase rainfall, change temperature) to see different biome outcomes.
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Export or save your world if you want to use it elsewhere (some features exist for exporting heightmaps or to voxel games).
The setting of this game is a vast, dynamic virtual world centered on the forces that shape our planet’s landscape and ecosystems across geological time scales. Historically, the ability to manipulate terrain and simulate natural systems has roots in both scientific modeling and creative sandbox gaming, aiming to reflect nature’s complexity without getting lost in minor details.
Terrain manipulation began as a niche simulation domain in scientific contexts, where researchers used terrain modeling to study erosion, tectonics, and climate impact on ecosystems. This technology evolved to enable users to sculpt vast landscapes, simulate plate tectonics — including convergent boundaries that raise mountain ranges like the Himalayas, or divergent boundaries that form rift valleys such as the East African Rift — and watch biomes emerge naturally from climate conditions.
Early access to this game signals an important moment: many mechanics exist but remain under refinement, encouraging players to explore planetary evolution while contributing feedback. This approach reflects a long tradition of landscape simulators gradually incorporating realistic climate control, dynamic ecosystems, and responsive animal-plant relationships, now powered by the modern GPUs capable of handling 16,000 km² of map data — a scale reminiscent of continental-sized ecosystems.
Historically, the merging of geology, climate science, and ecology in interactive software represents a milestone in educational and creative gaming, highlighting how humans conceptualize and influence planetary systems in a sandbox environment.
Visuals to reflect historical context:
- A sprawling mountain range dynamically rising from convergent tectonic plates, with rivers snaking through valleys carved by erosion.
- A broad view of a divergent plate zone forming a rift valley, gradually filling with water and surrounded by emerging biomes adapting to climate conditions.
- The evolving landscape showing varied ecosystems from desert to tundra, highlighting the diversity enabled by tweaking rainfall and temperature across the terrain.
Begin sculpting a mountain range by creating convergent tectonic plate boundaries.
Rising Giants: Sculpting the Mountain Range
You begin by defining convergent tectonic boundaries, where plates collide to form powerful mountain ranges. The land heaves upward, shaking the terrain’s balance. Clouds gather as altitude creates cooler temperatures. Your initial sculpting sets the stage for dynamic ecosystems. However, you must carefully balance tectonic intensity to avoid creating unstable faults that could lead to devastating early erosion.
How aggressive will you make the plate collision?
Create a mild collision to form gentle hills rather than sharp mountains.
Rising Horizons
Your decision to initiate a mild convergent boundary softens the collision, creating rolling hills instead of towering peaks. This reduces immediate geological stress, tempering erosion and slowing river formation. The climate adjusts gently, favoring gradual biome shifts: grasslands and sparse forests bloom. However, subtle instability flickers beneath the surface—tectonic plates grind, hinting that future upheavals may still occur. A calm before potential storms.
Lower temperature slightly to test how cooler climate affects the emerging ecosystems.
Chill of Change
You lower the temperature slightly, nudging the climate towards cooler conditions. The rolling hills begin to host patches of hardy tundra and coniferous forests, replacing some grasslands. This shift slows biome growth but fosters biodiversity resilience. However, cooler air traps moisture unevenly, causing sporadic frost risks in lower valleys. Tectonic stresses subtly respond, as soil moisture fluctuates, hinting at future erosion pattern shifts.
