Since 2015 Paradox Games’Cities: Skylineshas successfully stepped in to fill the city-building simulator void left by an absence of a new entry in the long-runningSim Cityfranchise. And whileCities: Skylinesis about to receive a major update and a sequel later in 2023, there is still plenty of room for the city management sim genre to grow, innovating and evolving along the way. EnterTerra Nil, the self-described “city un-building simulator.”
With a unique hybrid of puzzle and strategy gameplay along with the mechanics players have come to expect from a city management sim,Terra Nilpresents itself as a different sort of simulation game that is diametrically opposed to the urban sprawl that players create in titles likeCities: Skylines.Terra Nilis a game about ecological restorationand rebirth instead of building a continually expanding population center and managing it. Players are placed into a once-thriving industrialized world that is now a wasteland and tasked with the restoration of the natural ecosystem, turning Barren and arid landscapes into lush green spaces full of natural splendor in the process.
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Each Level of Terra Nil is an Intricate Puzzle
Most city-management sims involve players leaving the indelible footprint of human progress on the environment and being an ever-present controlling force behind the scenes. Conversely,Terra Nilwants players to restorethe natural beauty of the world and then leave without a trace of influence. Each playthrough ofTerra Nilis procedurally generated and tasks players with restoring 4 different biomes. The biomes represent the game’s “levels,” and this structure to the gameplay helps to emphasize the puzzle and strategy elements present.
Restoring the ecosystemin each level ofTerra Nilpresents itself as a mini-puzzle for players to solve. How can one restore the area to its natural splendor and then leave without a trace? While the beginning phases of each level have players placing wind turbines for power and cleansing the soil and water, eventually it becomes necessary to affect the biome’s climate through the generation of different landscapes such as forests, wetlands, and fields (each with their own requirements to thrive). The final step is then reintroducing fauna to the ecosystem and leaving no trace of human intervention behind. Some of the biggest head-scratching moments in each level come from figuring out how to recycle all the buildings one has built during their restoration, with the player “winning” once there’s no remaining evidence of their work.
Terra Nil’s Tranquil Presentation Helps Establish Its Message
Players are greeted by a serene soundtrack and a brief walkthrough using a leather-bound notebook filled with graph paper upon booting upTerra Nilfor the first time. As levels are completed and new features are tutorialized and unlocked, the notebook gradually fills up with beautifully-rendered pencil drawings of each building and tool’s blueprints. Every facet of the game works in tandem to establish the tranquility of nature. Thebustling streets and crowded highways ofCities: Skylinesare nowhere to be found here, only gentle breezes, the sounds of waterfalls, and the occasional soothing rainstorm.
Most city-building sims have their narrative built through the experiences and agency of the player, with each campaign representing its own tale of progress and expansion. Opting for a more direct approach to its storytelling,Terra Nilplaces players into a wasteland - one that was once occupied by humanity and now needs to be restored to its natural state. Both the gameplay and the presentation of the game world work together to establish strong thematic elements; namely, the conservation of nature and the reversal of industrialization and human progress. With addictive gameplay and a topical theme,Terra Nilproves that building natural spacesis just as fun as constructing massive metropolitan centers.
Terra Nilis out now for PC and Netflix.
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