Terraformental combines survival and mystery with incremental mechanics, asking you to scavenge and automate systems across a derelict facility while uncovering what happened to its previous inhabitants. Unlike typical idle games that reward doing everything at once, this narrative-driven experience requires you to make meaningful choices about resource allocation and exploration, with story progression tied to understanding the world rather than just grinding through areas. It appeals to players seeking substance beneath the idle framework, where reading and decision-making matter as much as
About this game
Waking up alone in a derelict terraforming facility on an unknown (and distinctly not terraformed) planet, it's up to you to find a way to survive, learn what happened to the people who lived here and why you were abandoned in this narrative-driven incremental game.
What players are saying
▲ Recommended16 hrs
Fell in love with the game immediately. It's a lot like Increlution, but unlike in that game, you simply cannot do *everything* each time. You have to choose. You actually have to read what's going on to understand where to go, it's not just "do everything there is in an area, proceed to next area, repeat". The solution isn't always straight-forward (though it's also not that complex either), but more intuitive.
I dunno, I completely recommend this game to whoever is into text-based idlers.
Though I have to say, it's not exactly an idler like "leave the game open for a day" or something. It's more like a text-based adventure with idler elements. I dunno, it's awesome, don't wanna give too much away cause spoilers.
OH and the setting? I've always wondered why so many people go into the over-saturated "magical" style, and none of them made something sci-fi. Well, here it is. You literally start on another planet.
I got it fullprice, and I personally don't feel like I wasted my money. But remember, it's text-based, don't expect any graphics apart from like 10 icons or something.
Edit: I should preface by saying I disagree with the negative critiques conclusion, but I understand their frustration. This is an issue of balancing effort to reward, and making sure repetitive actions don't become too repetitive - or further ways to simplify them.
I actually disagree with the negative review about time-wasting, and I'd like to give the developer an alternative perspective. I personally hate time-wasting in games. It annoys me to ♥♥♥♥ that developers pad a 20 hour experience with 20 hours of worthless content for a 40 hour slog. Worse are the games that intentionally make mechanics worse to make you spend more time on them. I absoltely hate getting my time wasted and have left scathing reviews for that before. That said, I separate time-wasting as meaningless time spent. Something that adds nothing to the experience, or takes away from it. Games like this that use part-idle mechanics have an important reason to waste your time. It gives weight to your success. Progress is meant to be taken step by step, and the time spent is part of the meaningful progression. This is why some people love Runescape, and others absolutely hate it. When you remove the time component of the game it begins to fall apart, because it was central to its experience. This is why people hate modern Runescape. Hell, the devs have done a complete 180 to try and recover their game.
Some people won't like the time element to the game, but I do think it's integral to the experience. Especially for a game like this where the story is centered around learning, adapting, and struggling to overcome obstacles. Each loop things are a bit easier, you're a bit more knowledgeable, you can go a bit farther. The game reacts to your progress and re-orientates your actions. The struggle part of that is directly tied to the feeling of progress. The time invested makes the outcomes meaningful. If it took 1 second to do every action none of it would feel meaningful. It would minimise the accomplishment of making it to the next facility, or discovering another piece of the puzzle. The only thing left to enjoy would be the story.
So that's my take. Though I don't see anything wrong with offering options to relatively speed up the game like Magic Research etc. does. Loving the game so far, and looking forward to more.
GeneralOptimised saving/loading area meta flagsReduces save size slightlyImproves future compatibilityBalanceResource items are consumed more aggressively when that resource is "in danger"Micro fractures can be repaired at any location with a vehicle airlockAdded warning message to Depart for Glacier actions if you've not reached SantoBugfixesDis/Connect Solar Panel Mount is repeatableTimed event speed multipliers correctly reset on loop/loadFixes the Crop Harvest sometimes not starting until you turn it off and on againHuge thanks to my testers for tracking this one down!Corrected action tooltips when both similar actions and partial completion bonuses are activeTruck motor actions aren't visible until you examine the vehiclesCollecting closest crate discovers both dam routes (instead of just east)Cross River actions are visible but locked until the dam closesImproved handling of resolutions and fullscreenLoad Motors on Tram works properly at the quarryCorrected conditions:Move Motors through Portal doesn't require the propeller to be disassembledCan't Move Propeller to Aircraft from aircraftInstall Enhanced Motors in Truck doesn't hide as soon as you start itUpgrade Truck Motors hidden when you have enhanced motors to install directlyDeath message regarding issues at Astrape doesn't show if you got the artifactLoad Motors on Tram lock condition was inverted (you could only load them on the tram when it wasn't there)Typos
ContentNew Actions:Send Elevator Up/Down without youDisconnect Solar Panel MountCheck Weather at PneumaMove Motors Through PortalUpgrade Cargo Truck Motors (can also do a direct swap and back if you have enhanced motors)New CActions:Enter & Lift LockdownRepair Quarantine & ParkDisconnect Light/Rover & LeaveLight/Rover Park & ChargeGather Supplies at SummitClimb to HangarClimb to Hangar & GatherReturn to Rover from HangarReturn to Rover from Anchor with powerClimb to Plateau CompoundScavenge from VTOL Shaft, Smugglers Camp and Treatment PlantNew Logs:Drive Towards Santo from Astrape after Santo explodesAlt Logs:Enter plateau for 1st time via climbApproach monitoring station 3rd time post-artifactSearch for Pneuma at Laurion after finding elevatorRover power runs out with full power packTry Open Santo Vehicle Bay after visiting plateau/quarryDrive Around Plateau when you have climbing gearDrive to Old Treatment Plant before Inspect Machines at ReservoirAlt Desc:Climb down to Ladder after repairing elevatorAlt PDA Notes:Tasks > Tram regarding climbing the plateauTasks > Enhanced Motors after Explore Design Lab before Inspect Design ComputersReworded:Inspect Tram Systems at Plateau before learning about AstrapeEquip tab to state cell charger requires rover chargerInspect Elevator (in Pneuma) before Check Quarantine to suggest returning to adminClimb into Crater description to not state you have the gearUn/Load Propeller action descriptions no longer specify Astrape3 new Death Messages for making persistent progress in Pneuma without completing the artifactEquipment tab includes climbing gear unlocking some actionsFeaturesNew Option: Reset consumption priorities to X (replaces tickbox)UIEvents which force pause on start (storms) respect right click optionsProduce Metal Sheets/Propeller are locked until you've queued Refine MetalProduce Metal Sheet locks Produce PropellerCombined actions with only resource item actions sort into resources groupDrive to Plateau visible but...
ContentAlt PDA Notes:In Facilities => Talos on 1st loop before inspecting food synthAlt Desc:Drive Up Hill towards Santo before/after having driven up it and knowing Santo has explodedReassemble Aircraft after 1st timeCombined Action: Bring Rover Inside Astrape when power artifact has been removedClarified/Reworded:Load Water Recycler on Tram description to not exclusively mention AstrapeDrive Up Hill towards Santo with climbing gear after Santo explodes to say you can't see anything in the craterCorrected description of Bring Rover Inside at anchor stationRewrote description for taking empty power cell from grey crateDescriptions of Drive to Glacier no longer spoil the elevatorBalanceReduced glacier elevator time 60s -> 45sAdded Take Emergency Air actions to Climb Up/Down Elevator combined actionsSeeing Santo's destruction from the top of the glacier counts as having seen the craterUIAdded "Requires X to complete" to action with resource cost tooltipsSolar panels are now equipment areas (visible on map tooltips)Opening the Export menu automatically triggers an exportRe-enabled PDA Note copy text buttonsDrive to Dam & Collect Crates isn't available if they already washed awayUnload Water Recycler while on an elevator is hidden while moving instead of lockedMove Propeller Through Portal is visible but locked if it's assembledEquipment tab:Added climbing gear practice bonusAdded un/powered indicator to portal artifactsBugfixesDam closing event doesn't hide when you collect the crates (unless you already have the codes and know about Santo)Dual resource items will be consumed for their secondary resource if they are the only items you have for that resourceE.g. Algae is your only water source and ration packs are the same/higher priority than algae. It will wait until you have room for 1 algae + 1 ration before eating a ration pack, to ensure you eat algae without wasteMap no longer shows infinite enhanced motors in your locationFixed crash when reaching Astrape via tr...
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