Terraforming is the technology which will determine the future of humanity. Thus, it’s very fascinating. So fascinating that it is one of the most popular video game genres of the last few years. Welcome to the ranking of best terraforming games of all times.
Terraforming / terraformation is the process of modifying a planet’s atmosphere, temperature, topography, and ecology. The purpose is to emulate the earth so that the terraformed planet can be habitable for human race.
Elon Musk said he has plans for terraforming the Mars. Will we see it on our lifetime? I hope so, because that’s the next step of human evolution. Becoming a multiplanetary species should be the main focus of humanity at this point. Because who knows when we’ll hit by an asteroid, or just another global disaster that’ll send us back to the stone age.
1. Plan B: Terraform
2. Stellaris
Stellaris one of the best space exploration games ever, if not the best. Obviously huge part of it is colonization and terraformation.
Stellaris is a sandbox sci-fi game starting in 1s January 2200. You can start as any custom-made empire or as united nations of earth. Starting at earth spawns real nearby stars like alpha centauri, Procyon, Sirius, and Barnard’s Star. You can colonize and terraform many planets in them. Including our very own Mars in Sol.
Even though it’s the year 2200, you’ll need to play and research a while before achieving terraformation technology. It happens around 2250-2275. Then the galaxy is your oyster!
3. The Planet Crafter
4. Per Aspera
5. Eden Crafters
6. Terraformers
7. Surviving Mars
Surviving Mars is a sci-fi city builder where you build the very first functioning human colonies on Red Planet.
You can build domes, infrastructure, research stations, food silos, mining stations, and drones. It’s very relaxing. Though keeping your colonists alive could be a challenge at the start.
Green Planet DLC introduces terraforming, green mars plants, special projects, climate calamities, and seven total terraforming buildings. It’s one of the best and must have DLCs of Surviving Mars. You can’t truly experience the Mars terraformation without it.
8. TerraGenesis – Space Settlers
You can terraform Mars, Mercury, Venus, Moon, and many more planetary bodies in TerraGenesis – Space Settlers. You can even build civilizations on terraformed planets. It’s a very fun game featuring real science from NASA.
It’s not available on Steam at the moment but you can get it for free from Microsoft store. Though there are some in-game purchases.
Can be played on mobile as well. Available on both google play and apple store.
9. Reshaping Mars
Let’s move on with another colony simulation game set on Mars called Reshaping Mars.
Mars is your playground! Fill the atmosphere, modify magnetic field, raise temperature, rebuild the oceans, and plant trees… Macro to micro, everything about planet Mars is in your direct control.
The best thing about this game is the fact that it’s using full real Mars terrain database including real geographical naming and altitude fields. Just make sure to choose a higher ground to avoid being flooded by the upcoming Martian Ocean.
10. Reus 2
11. One Lonely Outpost
One Lonely Outpost is a sci-fi colonization life sim with exploring, farming, building, and befriending elements. It’s basically Stardew Valley set on Mars.
Just like every other farming game, you can explore, plant, raise animals, craft, fish, mine, build, and make friends. Except it’s on mars with a cool twist of sci-fi.
Sci-fi farming RPG is very refreshing combination. I was getting bored of generic farming games.
12. Nuwa
13. Terraforming Mars
14. Cell to Singularity
15. Timberborn
16. Terra Nil
17. Skyformer
18. Farlanders
19. TerraTech
20. Universe Sandbox
This one is not exactly a game but a physics simulator on a galactic scale. Still, it’s one of the best ways of observing terraformation process.
You can create and destroy planetary bodies, asteroids, stars, blackholes, and galaxies in Universe Sandbox. It’s the best way of visualizing the space and its inhabitants. Can plug in VR too bu it’s not mandatory.
I think Universe Sandbox is the most realistic God simulation game ever.