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TerraGenesis - Space Settlers Game Cover

About

TerraGenesis - Space Settlers is a scientifically-based idle planet building simulator that allows you to cultivate life on desolate planets. Using real data from NASA, dynamically animate entire planets with changing biospheres and settle worlds in our solar system or alien planets. Join one of four factions, build habitats and terraform planets to create thriving colonies.

TerraGenesis - Space Settlers screenshot
TerraGenesis - Space Settlers screenshot
TerraGenesis - Space Settlers screenshot
TerraGenesis - Space Settlers screenshot
TerraGenesis - Space Settlers screenshot

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,000 reviews
graphics560 positive mentions
monetization1.4k negative mentions

  • Engaging gameplay that combines strategy and resource management.
  • Beautiful graphics and a satisfying visual transformation of planets.
  • Optional ads that provide rewards without interrupting gameplay.
  • Frequent lag and unresponsiveness, especially when navigating menus.
  • Random events can lead to catastrophic failures, frustrating progress.
  • Lack of detailed instructions and clarity in gameplay mechanics.
  • monetization
    1,601 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game primarily revolves around optional ads that players can choose to watch for in-game rewards, such as boosts and currency. While many players appreciate the non-intrusive nature of these ads and the benefits they provide, there is a significant concern regarding the frequency and length of the ads, which can disrupt gameplay and create a sense of being overwhelmed. Additionally, some players express frustration over the reliance on ads for progression, suggesting that the game may feel more like an ad platform than a fully engaging experience. Overall, while the optional ad system is generally well-received, the sheer volume and necessity of watching ads to advance can detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “There are no ads unless you choose to watch one, and if you do, you get some prizes.”
    • “The in-game purchases are fairly priced and not necessary to play if that is not your thing.”
    • “This game is non-invasive; there are no ads except for the ones that you choose to watch, and it's a fun and engaging way to blow whole hours taking care of your settlements.”
    • “The only downside is, and I'm not exaggerating, the ads pop up every 15-25 seconds.”
    • “You can't earn all that much in-game currency without watching the ads and you'll definitely feel the sharp drop in your income without ads.”
    • “The only thing standing between this app and a fine star review is that watching ads is absolutely mandatory for progress, and additionally, I'm so sick of watching ads and after 28/30 seconds having the ads crash, and now I've watched commercials for free.”
  • graphics
    834 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beauty and detail, particularly in how they evolve as players terraform planets. Many users appreciate the stunning visuals and calming music, although some have noted issues with lag and occasional pixelation. While the graphics are generally considered excellent for a mobile game, there are requests for further enhancements, particularly in the depiction of cities and more interactive elements.

    • “The graphics are beautiful and the soundtrack very relaxing.”
    • “Beautiful graphics that actually evolve the look of the planet depending on the things you do to change it.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, for a mobile game, and the science behind the game is uplifting to say the least.”
    • “Graphics not pretty and there's barely any detail.”
    • “The graphics are terrible to be honest, the planet is so jagged it's like PS1 (bad).”
    • “Game freezes, data files get absurd, unrealistic scenarios prevent enjoyment of any simulation of terraforming, graphics are simple but it freezes up so much it can't be used.”
  • gameplay
    788 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its strategic depth and immersive mechanics, allowing players to engage in terraforming and resource management. While many users appreciate the realistic graphics and educational aspects, they also note that the gameplay can be slow-paced and heavily reliant on waiting times, often leading to frustration with the frequency of ads and microtransactions. Overall, the game offers a unique experience for those who enjoy casual, thought-provoking gameplay, but it may not appeal to players seeking fast-paced action or immediate gratification.

    • “The gameplay is unique and engaging, and while there are a few bugs, it's not game breaking.”
    • “The gameplay is interesting, but I just can't get past the pay-to-win feeling of ads/store.”
    • “The gameplay is broad and gives you access to a lot of factors and encourages you to think strategically.”
    • “But I just don't have time for this grindy type of gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay is the worst boring way to introduce a game with so many classical mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is very boring and consists of 5% strategy, 35% ad-watching, and 60% waiting for hours for your tasks to complete.”
  • music
    329 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and calming qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the atmospheric soundtrack, which complements the game's visuals and provides a relaxing backdrop for strategic planning. However, a common complaint is that the game interrupts any background music from other apps, which detracts from the experience for some users.

    • “The soundtrack is amazing and there is no intrusive advertising.”
    • “The music is beautiful and calming, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the music is soothing, making for a relaxing gameplay experience.”
    • “When I'm listening to music (Spotify or another) and enter the game - the music stops, which is a bummer!”
    • “The music is annoying and I couldn't figure out how to turn it off, not that I had much of a chance to even explore the app because that person in the corner kept talking and would change scenes way too quickly.”
    • “Features loud, obnoxious music with no way to disable before beginning play.”
  • stability
    282 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience significant lag, particularly during interactions and transitions between menus, leading to frustration and loss of progress. While some updates have aimed to address these issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains buggy and unstable, detracting from an otherwise enjoyable experience.

    • “The game is stable and bug-free (so far).”
    • “No glitches so far and the ads are skippable!”
    • “Well designed, beautiful GUI, no glitches, complex yet simple.”
    • “The game freezes whenever I open the governor page once.”
    • “Game constantly freezes and crashes and support is unresponsive.”
    • “I can't even play the game, constantly freezes every time I try to start a game.”
  • story
    171 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally praised for its immersive and engaging narrative, with players appreciating the sci-fi themes and the strategic elements of terraforming different planets. However, some users express frustration with bugs, unclear mission objectives, and a desire for more dynamic storytelling and interactive elements. While the storyline is considered interesting, many players feel it could benefit from additional depth and variety to enhance the overall experience.

    • “Immersive, intelligent, riveting storyline about what's happening on my planet every time I open the game.”
    • “The storyline is engrossing, engaging, and there are enough variables to make it endlessly new.”
    • “The art is beautiful and there's an underlying story that has been fun to tease out.”
    • “Moon and Mars unfortunately had very little story apart from the randomly generated one!”
    • “The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 is because I feel like the game is missing a story or more content or more variations on the theme.”
    • “The gameplay is okay, but no storyline/campaign.”
  • atmosphere
    164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its engaging visual transformations as players terraform planets, with graphics that effectively depict changes in water levels, greenery, and atmospheric conditions. While the atmospheric modeling is noted to be somewhat simplified and occasionally unrealistic, the overall experience is enhanced by a calming soundtrack and the satisfaction of watching a barren world evolve. However, players express frustration with unexpected events that can drastically alter their carefully managed atmospheres, leading to a sense of unpredictability in gameplay.

    • “The first time I noticed the atmosphere starting to appear, when water began to cover the surface, and when greenery started to engulf the once barren planet, I got goosebumps.”
    • “It's fun to watch each planet transform - to watch the atmosphere thicken, and the seas slowly rise.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous and there's nothing quite like being in your first game, and realizing you just gave Mars a visible atmosphere.”
    • “About 30 minutes later, the game 'randomly' decided to send in an asteroid that destroyed every single thing I had built on Venus and screwed up the atmosphere I'd spent weeks fixing.”
    • “Honestly going in, I thought this game would be too simple, but it's quite challenging and keeps you engaged or your entire planet can flood or the atmosphere will become too thick and crush the colonies.”
    • “I played this game for an entire week and nothing changed; all I added was an atmosphere and only a bit of water formed on Mars.”
  • grinding
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling that it detracts from the enjoyment. Many reviews highlight the slow progression and the necessity of watching ads for boosts, which can become repetitive and frustrating. While some appreciate the challenge and depth, the consensus leans towards the gameplay becoming overly grindy, especially in the later stages.

    • “It is micromanagement but not tedious.”
    • “It used to be possible to play this game without grinding ads, but now that's basically what this game has become.”
    • “The only thing I don't really like is how slow money income is... like I understand they are trying to simulate 'real life' to an extent but it turns an amazing game into a grindy slow one which ruins the game in my opinion.”
    • “Sadly, the pace is glacial and the gameplay tedious - incremental tasks take hours or days to complete and as far as I can tell there's little opportunity to make meaningful strategic decisions.”
  • optimization
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting slow performance, lag, and freezing issues, especially when managing multiple buildings or colonies. While some updates have improved the user interface and performance, players still express a strong desire for further optimization, particularly for lower-end devices and smoother gameplay. Despite its engaging concept and design, the game's performance shortcomings hinder the overall experience, leading to lower ratings from users.

    • “The performance of the UI is getting better with updates, but it still takes a long time to switch games.”
    • “I would love to see this game optimized for tablets and even given the option to allow you to see the changes that are happening on the surface of the planet.”
    • “A bug here and there, but since the performance patch, it's not only playable, it's very enjoyable.”
    • “Original, fun, pretty and engaging idle game ruined by poor UI and god awful optimization.”
    • “After years still awful optimization, after building a few dozens of buildings game starting to lag, even on Galaxy S8 Note (6GB RAM) as well as on old Lenovo with 1GB of RAM.”
    • “Overall performance is terrible and buggy.”
  • replayability
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. Many players appreciate the variety of factions, modes, and planets, which contribute to a high replay value, while others feel that once certain objectives are achieved, the excitement diminishes. Continuous updates and expansions are noted as potential enhancements to replayability, but some users express concerns about the game's long-term engagement after initial playthroughs.

    • “The base game has hours of full content and features, and the DLC is for new planets to colonize (although there's plenty of replayability for the free planets).”
    • “Each planet has its own challenges, with factions to choose from to personalize your gameplay style and add challenges to planets you have already beaten, giving each planet great replayability.”
    • “Super addicting, crazy replayability; it's not greedy at all, and you don't have to pay a cent to beat the game.”
    • “But no replay value since I played it last.”
    • “Lacks replay value; however, once you've created a stable biome, there isn't anything to do except see how high the population gets.”
    • “Fun experience building a world, but little to no replay value.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often described as quirky and situational, with players finding amusement in unexpected scenarios, such as the "time traveler" bit and the absurdity of managing a flooded plant. Many users appreciate the inclusion of humorous messages that enhance the overall experience, while others note the game's blend of science fiction and comedy, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the complex gameplay, despite some technical issues that can detract from the experience.

    • “The 'time traveler' bit made me laugh.”
    • “Many humorous messages in the game add to the enjoyment.”
    • “It has funny little real life scenarios that give minor boosts.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, with events that evoke feelings of heartbreak and nostalgia as they manage the delicate balance of creating a habitable world. The experience is described as an emotional roller coaster, where simple mechanics lead to profound reflections on loss and progress, often leaving players surprised by the depth of their emotional engagement.

    • “But the events are heartbreaking.”
    • “What an emotional roller coaster.”
    • “Makes you almost feel their thoughts; it doesn't look like it will make you feel emotional, but you'd be surprised.”

Buy TerraGenesis - Space Settlers

24h Median play time
24h Average play time
24-24h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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