*Disclaimer: ‘Terra Nil’ review code was provided by Devolver Digital for the purposes of this review. However, all opinions expressed in this review are entirely that of the author. *
A game without a story or characters which focuses on nature might not seem like a fun way to spend a few hours, but Terra Nil, the latest title from Broforce and Gorn developer Free Lives, looks to change all that. In Terra Nil, players will be tasked with restoring the ecosystem of desolate lands. Each map will bring with it new challenges and goals for players to take on as they take the steps to restore biodiversity to the world. Comprised of stunning hand-painted environments, each phase of restoration will progress differently to make sure players can create a balanced and nurturing landscape in place of the barren wilderness.
Take time to smell the roses…or the trees
I was already a little bit familiar with Terra Nil, having played the demo a few times on Steam, so the early stage felt nicely familiar and eased my worries about starting a game like this. The controls are easy to pick up with a tutorial that doesn’t feel too insistent. There is also a handy guidebook just in case you get stuck.
Even when you do, Terra Nil has you covered, with the option to restart a section or even the whole map if you find yourself in a corner. With no story, no protagonist, or any people of any kind, this is all about how you want to rebuild each map so there’s no such thing as a right or wrong way to do it.
There are three different difficulty levels, four unique regions and a host of challenges to complete for each region. It might seem like a lot at first glance, especially the optional tasks to 100% the map, but once you take a step back it does become a lot easier. Also, you don’t have to do everything on the first playthrough which is a great relief and does give you a good amount of replayability.
My total playthrough took about 10 hours or so which is a good amount of time for a game like this, although I was left feeling that it would have been nice to have maybe one more environment or a couple more maps within the existing four.
A lush world with a heart of gold
This is a great pick-up-and-play game, even for just a few minutes. The hand-drawn art style comes alive as you restore each section of the map, and the soundtrack has the perfect chilled vibe so you can just play away to your heart’s content (which I very much did). There’s also a “Zen Mode” which just lets you go about the map by taking away all costs and earnings. This was great for a quick play session to just enjoy the world I was building.
Terra Nil is cosiness with a cause. Developed in partnership with the South African conservation organisation the Endangered Wildlife Trust, Terra Nil balances aesthetics and education, teaching players about habitats and how to select the best conditions to ensure the best possible outcome for your environmental efforts.
Additionally, developers Free Lives are donating a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the game to the Endangered Wildlife Trust so they can continue their work alongside communities, businesses, and governments to reduce human-wildlife conflict and create safe spaces for both animals and people alike.
The Verdict
Overall, Terra Nil is a beautifully put-together game that can easily be enjoyed either on the massive screen of a PC to study every little detail, or as a calming way to spend the commute home on a mobile device. While the playtime did feel a little short, it was wonderful to see these environments come back to life in rich colour.
City-building games have never really appealed to me in recent years so there was a little worry that this would be the same, but I was pleasantly surprised at how engrossed and engaged I got in each region and the feeling of delight I felt with each new discovery.
Terra Nil is a true gem which I hope is explored by as many people as possible. Plus – any game where you can cover a whole map section with pandas or timber wolves will always be a winner in my book.
Our Score: 4/5
Terra Nil will be available on PC and on mobile (via Netflix Games) from March 28.
Words by Megan Roxburgh
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