Terra Firma, a playable erosion simulation
It's free to play on steam, but you'll need a computer with a dedicated graphics card. I just released a new version after first releasing it 18 months ago. It's been a hard slog to scrounge time as it's not my day job but that's life. There's a ton of obvious improvements in the future (weather systems, temperature, varying rainfall, ice/snow, more biomes, more plate tectonics, lava, etc) but all suggestions/feedback is welcome.
Terra Firma, a playable erosion simulation launched on January 16, 2023 with 229 votes, #121 of 3,901 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 3 years on.
In plain words
Terra Firma is a free-to-play erosion simulation game available on Steam that models how geological processes shape landscapes over time. It requires a computer with a dedicated graphics card to run. The simulation features terrain formation, biomes, and plate tectonics, with planned additions including weather systems, temperature variations, rainfall patterns, ice and snow, and volcanic activity. The game is in active development by its solo creator.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Play god and create your own world in this complex simulation. Plate tectonics, wind and water erosion and plant life all develop and interact to produce a world that is viewable from a single tree to kilometres across.
Terra Firma gives you the power to play god in a simulated world where the forces of nature interact in complex ways. Currently in early access, right now you can Watch water flow through the landscape, eroding and depositing the land to form complex arrangements of tributary river systems, river deltas, lakes and oceans in an emergent fashion. Observe the ecosystem respond to the availability of water. Plants automatically gross across the lanscape with different plants thriving in different environments depending on the distribution of water, nutrients and the geometry of the land. Create your landscape using simulated plate tectonics, watching mountains form, grow and erode as millions…from store.steampowered.com
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