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.
Terra Nil is definitely a puzzle game and not a reverse city-builder. As a puzzle game, I think it succeeds.
I just wish that’s how the devs advertised it. The idea of a reverse city builder sounds good, but if they’re going to sell an environmentalism themed puzzle game then just call it that.
If you have Netflix it is included in the games section.
You can play it with your Netflix subscription for ‘free’.
On Android?
Yes
“your device isn’t compatible with this version”
Yes
Yeah there’s some oddities in how they mark devices compatible or not. For example my Lenovo Tablet seens Oxenfree I but not II.
Thanks for the deets
Absolutely agree.
I was actually disappointed at Terra Nil, as I was expecting to build a natural world empire.
I wish they did a better job branding it to be a puzzler.
I remember playing the demo and being disappointed it was just a puzzle game, albeit a good looking one.
The game is sitting at 1.7 stars on Google play. What’s with the disconnect between the reviews and the comments here?
Mobile vs PC.
Looking at those low reviews from the Play Store the most common complaint is poor controls and difficulty selecting exactly what you want with the touch screen.
This. I didn’t even know there was an Android port
Well, it’s available on lots of platforms. Maybe the Android version isn’t working so well for people…?
the reviews used for the star rating is picked based on similarity to “you”, so looking at the same app from different locations or from different devices will produce different scores. Still, 1.7 is extremely low
Yeah, when I realized it was just a puzzle I leaves out, no wonder it’s out on mobile too.
Thank for the review
