Terra Nil
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.
Terra Nil

Devolver Digital · Public domain
- Date
- 2023
- Publisher
- Devolver Digital
- Language
- English
- Genre
- simulation video game · city-building game · strategy video game
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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.
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wikidata · Q86497383 · wikipedia · Terra Nil
In this article
The object
The object
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.
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Terra Nil • Developer — Free Lives • Publisher — Devolver Digital • Composer — Meydän • Engine — Unity • Platforms — * Android • iOS • Windows • macOS • Linux • Nintendo Switch • Released — * Android, iOS, Windows • March 28, 2023 • Linux, macOS • October 5, 2023 • Nintendo Switch • December 18, 2023 • Genre — City-building • Modes — Single-player
Gameplay
Gameplay
• Illustration — Terra Nil is a "reverse city-builder", meaning that players must attempt to rewild a barren wasteland and rebuild its ecosystems. 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. For each tile which is converted from wasteland into lush ecosystem, the player is rewarded with points, which can be spent on further buildings and upgrades. In the second stage of the game, players can upgrade existing buildings to create biomes such as wetlands, wildflower meadows and dense forests. Restoring these biomes will cause herds of deer, flocks of birds, schools of fish and lone wandering bears to populate the map. In the third phase, once a sufficient amount of the ecosystem and weather has been restored – the player is tasked with recycling the buildings they have placed in order to create an airship on which they will leave the map. Doing so, they will leave no trace of their presence; just a rewilded paradise.
Development
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.
History of the object
Dated record
History of the object
The full dated record · 2 entries
2021
Terra Nil - Some early WIP mechanics from our new tropical region (2021) is digitised and catalogued by Internet Archive.
2023
Terra Nil published.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- South Africa
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 Shotguns reviewer felt that the game's later stages ruin its relaxing mood. In contrast, The Guardian found the gameplay to be "more forgiving than expected" and praised how the game's elements come together to make it relaxing. They also felt the game's simplicity and easiness reinforced its message that cleaning up the environment could be made simple.
Awards and nominations
• Year — Ceremony — Category — Result — Ref. References • 2023 — The Game Awards 2023 — Best Mobile Game • Games for Impact • 2024 — New York Game Awards — A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game • 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards — Mobile Game of the Year • 24th Game Developers Choice Awards — Social Impact Award • Audience Award • 20th British Academy Games Awards — Game Beyond Entertainment
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Ryan, Jackson. Terra Nil reengineers the city-building game for a planet in crisis. CNET. 2021-06-18.
- 2.Newhouse, Alex. Reverse City Builder Terra Nil Tasks You With Re-Wilding The Environment. GameSpot. 8 June 2021.
- 3.Hill, Mark. Indie city-building games finally reckon with climate change. Wired. 6 January 2022.
- 4.Switzer, Eric. The Terra Nil demo makes me feel hopeful in a hopeless world. TheGamer. 12 January 2022.
- 5.Bell, Larryn. Terra Nil review: Nature appreciation. Shacknews. March 27, 2023.
- 6.Gerblick, Jordan. Terra Nil subverts the city-builder genre with an eco-friendly demo next week. GamesRadar+. 7 June 2021.
- 7.Purchese, Robert. Steam Next Fest: BroForce dev's world-regrower Terra Nil is blooming marvellous. Eurogamer. 16 June 2021.
- 8.Zwiezen, Zack. Terra Nil Isn't A City-Builder, It's A Nature-Builder And It's Great. Kotaku. 19 June 2021.
- 9.Devore, Jordan. Terra Nil is a tranquil 'reverse city-builder' from Free Lives and Devolver Digital. Destructoid. 9 June 2021.
- 10.Livingston, Christopher. Transforming a barren wasteland into a leafy green paradise feels damn good in Terra Nil. PC Gamer. 16 June 2021.
- 11.Kratky, Otto. Terra Nil preview impressions: Less concrete and more topiary in this reverse city-builder. Digital Trends. 16 June 2021.
- 12.Terra Nil: A Game For Easing Climate Anxiety. IrishEVs. 23 June 2021.
- 13.Madsen, Hayes. Terra Nil Preview: Turning the World Green. Screen Rant. 16 June 2021.
- 14.Free Lives. Terra Nil Press Kit.
- 15.Terra Nil - Reclaim the Wasteland. Ludum Dare Database.
- 16.Terra Nil Prototype by vfqd, TheJunt, elyaradine. itch.io.
- 17.Hall, Charlie. Terra Nil is a beautiful 'reverse city-builder' from the developer behind Broforce. Polygon. 7 June 2021.
- 18.Shaw, Luke. Reverse city builder 'Terra Nil' gets a remake thanks to Devolver Digital. NME. 8 June 2021.
- 19.Williams, Leah J. Let's Check Out Unpacking, Terra Nil And Other Steam Next Fest Demos. Kotaku. 18 June 2021.
- 20.Peppiatt, Dom. Anyone with a Netflix account can play one of the most visionary games of the year – for free. VG247. 2023-03-29.
- 21.Better Performance and macOS/Linux. Steam Store. 5 October 2023.
- 22.Romano, Sal. Terra Nil coming to Switch on December 18. Gematsu. December 11, 2023.
- 23.Terra Nil for PC Reviews. Metacritic.
- 24.Terra Nil for iPhone/iPad Reviews. Metacritic.
- 25.Tarason, Dominic. Terra Nil review. PC Gamer. 2023-03-27.
- 26.LeClair, Kyle. Review: Terra Nil. Hardcore Gamer. 2023-03-28.
- 27.Hefford, Hayden. Terra Nil review: a pretty reverse citybuilder that struggles to find its identity. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2023-03-27.
- 28.Hetfeld, Malindy. Terra Nil review – restore nature, and with it your hope for the future. The Guardian. 2023-03-27.
- 29.Makuch, Eddie. All The Game Awards 2023 Winners Revealed. GameSpot. Fandom, Inc. December 7, 2023.
- 30.Kerr, Chris. Alan Wake II and Baldur's Gate 3 lead 2024 New York Game Awards nominees. Game Developer. 2024-01-04.
- 31.McEvoy, Sophie. Baldur's Gate 3 wins big at New York Game Awards 2024. Games Industry.biz. 2024-01-24.
- 32.Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists. interactive.org.
- 33.Bankhurst, Adam. DICE Awards 2023 Winners: The Full List. IGN. 15 February 2024.
- 34.Sinclair, Brendan. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3 top GDC Award nominations. GamesIndustry.biz. 2024-01-16.
- 35.Bankhurst, Adam. Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List. IGN. 20 March 2024.
- 36.BBC News. Bafta Games Awards 2024: Baldur's Gate 3 and Spider-Man lead nods. 7 March 2024.
- 37.BAFTA. 20th BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations. 7 March 2024.
References
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Its recorded subject is environmental reconstruction. It is placed in the genres simulation video game, city-building game and strategy video game.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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