Skip to main content

TerraTech

At the core of TerraTech is an extensive mechanical construction kit that presents an interesting canvas for creative players. However, the Switch’s significant UI shortcomings, a cumbersome console control scheme, and a limited-feeling campaign will ensure that only persistent players stick around long enough to find the fun.
TerraTech Game Cover
82%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
93% User Score Based on 24,206 reviews
Critic Score 60%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneWindowsPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom $4.99
Buy NowGet on Steam €6.24Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store
TerraTech Game Cover

About

TerraTech is a single player and multiplayer open world strategy game. It was developed by Payload Studios and was released on August 10, 2018. It received neutral reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

TerraTech is an open-world sandbox adventure where you design and build vehicles from various blocks to explore, scavenge, and battle across diverse environments. Featuring co-op and PvP multiplayer modes, stunning graphics, and a captivating soundtrack, it offers both creative freedom and intense combat challenges. Despite some bugs and grinding, its humor and replayability make for a fun, engaging experience.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
TerraTech screenshot
+6
Skip User Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 24,206 reviews
story290 positive mentions
grinding324 negative mentions
  • story
    1,878 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of "Terratech" is generally perceived as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it primarily consists of repetitive missions that often feel like busywork rather than a cohesive narrative. While there are some entertaining quests and character interactions, the overall mission structure tends to be generic, focusing on tasks like gathering resources or defeating enemy techs without a compelling overarching plot. Players express a desire for more engaging story elements and varied mission types to enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “The missions are pretty fun with an enjoyable amount of memorable NPC characters, built from parts, that you get to interact with.”
    • “The missions are both good puzzles and funny stories that give you insight into how the game works!”
    • “With tons of blocks, loads of missions and an infinite world, it's hard to find yourself bored with this game.”
    • “The game falls short in its mission design.”
    • “Many missions are structured, and provide the same level of challenge as the kind of missions you'd expect to partake in the basic hand-holding tutorial sections of most games.”
    • “The main questline is somewhat boring and stale, while the random bounty missions are basically nothing different from killing a regularly spawned enemy.”
  • gameplay
    1,035 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of TerraTech is characterized by its engaging vehicle-building mechanics, allowing players to create unique machines and engage in combat while exploring a vibrant sandbox world. While many players appreciate the intuitive controls and the freedom to experiment, some criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the lack of direction, which can lead to a sense of monotony after extended play. Overall, the game offers a fun and creative experience, though it is marred by bugs and some unpolished mechanics that can detract from the enjoyment.

    • “With its charming voxel graphics, intuitive building mechanics, and vast array of parts, every creation feels unique and personal.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and there is no limit to what you can do and make, I would recommend.”
    • “The gameplay is amazingly fun in both the fighting and building, there are multiple modes and so many different types and styles of vehicles.”
    • “My only gripe is that the graphics are rather simplistic and the gameplay is very repetitive; however, that is a result of the core game mechanics, and without it, TerraTech wouldn't be the same.”
    • “The mechanics of building your tech and fighting other things is good, but there's too much to do with almost zero direction.”
    • “The gameplay is boring and the progression is too fast.”
  • graphics
    432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, cartoonish style that complements its gameplay, making it feel lighthearted and fun. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and find the visuals appealing, some note that the graphics can be simplistic and occasionally outdated, leading to performance issues on lower-end systems. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, with a consensus that they effectively support the game's creative and sandbox elements, despite some optimization concerns.

    • “The cartoon-y graphics really work well with this game, as it makes your antics feel silly which helps with the absurd ways to build and play.”
    • “With its charming voxel graphics, intuitive building mechanics, and vast array of parts, every creation feels unique and personal.”
    • “The wonderful music, and the great graphics, make this game definitely worth it.”
    • “The engine's poorly optimized, and while disabling 95% of your graphical settings such as FreeSync can make it run somewhat decently, you'll be hard pressed to get more than 40fps even with modern equipment.”
    • “My only gripe is that the graphics are rather simplistic and the gameplay is very repetitive; however, that is a result of the core game mechanics, and without it, Terra Tech wouldn't be the same.”
    • “Because of the constant bugs and bad performance (30/40 fps on top of the line rig is pathetic, PUBG solid +120, ROE 120 full graphics), the game can't be recommended.”
  • grinding
    364 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the early game can be quite grindy and tedious, it becomes more enjoyable as they progress. Some players appreciate the balance between grinding for resources and the satisfaction of building and customizing their tech, while others find the repetitive nature of missions and resource collection frustrating. Overall, the game is seen as fun and rewarding for those who enjoy grinding, but it may not appeal to players looking for a more streamlined experience.

    • “Fun and not too grindy.”
    • “The crafting is fun if not tedious.”
    • “Now let's talk mechanics: they are fun, simple, and not grindy. This game doesn't limit you at anything really. Ok, they removed the infinite auto-miners on autominable materials such as erudite crystals and carbius, but let's be honest, that was kinda broken. Fighting in the game can be done in many ways: bulldoze enemies with god knows how many full charge shields and guns, hit and run!”
    • “It is a tedious, slow, frustrating exercise in trial-and-error that, when you finally get it working, takes ages to produce very little.”
    • “The only bonus you get from grinding out missions will be a random part that seems to be a duplicate in most cases, for example 3 plane wings in a row over 3 missions even if you have access to buy that part.”
    • “Now it's just way too grindy when you die, all of your tank parts fall onto the ground then you respawn as a tiny tank trying to get your stuff from a gigantic tank that guards it and it takes hours to kill it.”
  • stability
    354 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, particularly in missions and multiplayer modes. Many users experience frequent freezes, crashes, and issues with crafting and AI behavior, leading to frustration and a diminished gaming experience. While some acknowledge improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains too buggy for a fully released title, with many recommending it only for those willing to tolerate these issues.

    • “Runs great even on lower-end computers.”
    • “It runs great even on my cheap PC and I love the simple but fun combat.”
    • “The graphics do seem intensive for lower-end computers which can cause lag, but for mid-level to high-level machines, the game runs great.”
    • “For a fully released product, the amount of freezes and bugs is incredibly disappointing.”
    • “It can't even save the campaign: it freezes the screen every few minutes to tell you that it's unable to save and shows you a link to a 404 page... wtf!”
    • “Game is horribly buggy now, it crashed three times in a row on starting new campaign.”
  • optimization
    322 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly when building large structures or during intense gameplay scenarios. Despite some players experiencing smooth performance on high-end systems, the general consensus is that the game struggles to run efficiently even on modern hardware, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering. Overall, there is a strong call for developers to prioritize optimization improvements to enhance the gaming experience.

    • “It has a lot of creativity, and my best description of the game is that it's like Minecraft mixed with tanks, with a whole lot of optimization and automation to be done.”
    • “Performance-wise, this game behaves admirably at least from my experience so far; multiplayer is seamless and smooth, and means you can control crafts very nicely. The framerate is solid, the game doesn't bug out with physics, and it feels very polished at least at an initial level, more so than I'm used to with games of the genre.”
    • “Great gameplay, smooth performance, wonderful combat.”
    • “The engine's poorly optimized, and while disabling 95% of your graphical settings such as FreeSync can make it run somewhat decently, you'll be hard pressed to get more than 40fps even with modern equipment.”
    • “Horrendous optimization, how come a 3080 is not enough?”
    • “It's a good game but badly needs optimization; I have barely 10-15 fps when I build a big base and sometimes the fps gets even lower (below 5) when a huge death machine is shooting all its guns at once at me, which makes the game basically unplayable because those are pretty much the only enemies you encounter late-game.”
  • music
    248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its beautiful soundtrack and its ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during combat. However, several users noted that the limited number of tracks leads to repetitiveness, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some find the music calming and fitting for the game's aesthetic, others expressed a desire for more variety to avoid monotony.

    • “Terratech is amazing fun, looks great, has a beautiful soundtrack, and is endlessly replayable.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing - it does a good job of reflecting what you experience as a player, and gets you pumped for battle when the time comes.”
    • “The wonderful music, and the great graphics, make this game definitely worth it.”
    • “The music is horrendous, sort of like a combination of techno bluegrass with a side order of boy bands using tuning forks.”
    • “Everything feels kinda dead when you play it since the only music is the ambient western track and the battle western track, and I feel that if they added more music and sound effects it would make the game so much better.”
    • “The couple complaints I do have about this game: first of all the music is annoying, it is like 2-3 songs but they all sound the same.”
  • humor
    146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying its lighthearted and silly moments, particularly in the creative building mechanics and quirky missions. Many find the AI's antics and the absurdity of the machines they create to be particularly funny, contributing to an overall playful atmosphere. While some aspects of the humor may feel childish or repetitive, the game successfully delivers a fun and entertaining experience that can brighten a player's day.

    • “The love & care in the making of this game is everywhere, ranging from the fun to watch title screen/main menu to the lighthearted humor all over the game.”
    • “If you have a bit of patience for the downsides and you like silly humor, tinkering, creativity and the constant stream of small rewards, you'll be happy to spend some time with Terratech.”
    • “Terratech is a fun little indie game where you crash land on an alien planet with a funny little nubby car thing, and are then tasked with finding more bits and gubbins to add onto your little knobby car.”
    • “This game is so glitchy that it is not funny.”
  • replayability
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews for "replayability" in the game are mixed, with many players praising its high replay value due to creative building options, mod support, and constant updates that introduce new content. However, some users express frustration over repetitive gameplay and a lack of depth in certain modes, leading to diminished replayability for those seeking more variety. Overall, while many find the game endlessly enjoyable, others feel it can become stale after extended play.

    • “Terratech is amazing fun, looks great, has a beautiful soundtrack, and is endlessly replayable.”
    • “This game has great replayability with a lot of creative options, with full mod support. The modders have added some great content, thanks and keep up the good work.”
    • “Tons of content and replayability, delivers on all its promises - worthwhile if you're into the genre.”
    • “However, the vanilla game does have one major drawback: lack of replayability.”
    • “No replayability, unfinished aspects of the game and multiplayer, negative Discord community and dismissive devs. Meh, wasted money.”
    • “While I did have fun with this game initially, the replayability is bad. The dozens and dozens of small gripes are too tedious to work around, and when you die and have one missing block to rebuild your last vehicle, it does not present you with an option to build it without the block. It is simply impossible to rebuild until you design an entirely new vehicle to retrieve or fabricate a new one.”
  • monetization
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating that it is primarily cosmetic and avoids pay-to-win mechanics, while others criticize the introduction of microtransactions and pop-up advertisements in a game they paid for. Many users express frustration over the perception that the game is becoming a cash grab, especially given the lack of significant updates or quality-of-life improvements despite ongoing promotional efforts for skin packs. Overall, the sentiment leans towards disappointment with the monetization approach, viewing it as exploitative rather than supportive of the player community.

    • “This genre is filled with pay-to-win garbage and always-online stuff, so I'm really, really happy to point out that the monetization here is purely cosmetic!”
    • “Game added a microtransactions store for skins.”
    • “- no microtransactions”
    • “Game added microtransactions store for skins.”
    • “Years have passed, developer continuously sent email ads to buy skin packs, whilst not implementing a crucial quality of life feature, custom keyboard shortcuts for modules/module groups, despite answering almost 4 years ago that they're working on it.”
    • “The 1.0 release is an obvious cash grab in an attempt to pull the game off life support.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often returning to it after long breaks and investing significant hours in gameplay. The joy of building and experimenting is tempered by the frustration of losing hard-earned creations, which adds a layer of heartbreak to the experience, particularly when technical issues arise. Overall, the emotional engagement is marked by both affection for the game's charm and the pain of setbacks.

    • “I still find myself coming back to this game after months or years of not touching it, then find myself playing the game for another 15-20 hours.”
    • “It can be heartbreaking losing your tech that you've spent hours on building, especially if you didn't save it and is the reason I didn't rate this aspect of the game lower.”
    • “Cute little building game about the wholesome joys of quaint harvesting followed by obscene rampant experimentation.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its uniqueness and originality, reflecting the developers' passion and dedication. Players appreciate the satisfying automation mechanics, complemented by an impressive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The game's creative elements, such as building massive vehicles, contribute to a captivating and immersive environment.

    • “You can tell the developers of this game genuinely love what they do and what they've made; it shows in the atmosphere, in their updates themselves (despite infrequency), and in the game overall.”
    • “You can make a lot of automation in the game, which is super satisfying, and the music and atmosphere are amazing.”
    • “I wish I could talk to the Payload Studios directly about their game just because I love the originality and atmosphere of it (as well as the gameplay).”
    • “The atmosphere feels empty and lacks the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “The overall atmosphere is inconsistent, with some areas feeling lifeless and uninviting.”
Skip Critic Reviews

60%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy TerraTech

51h Median play time
137h Average play time
14-180h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 130 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like TerraTech

Games Like TerraTech

Scrap Mechanic Image
91%50.5kreviews

Scrap Mechanic

2016Open World Simulation
PCCloudNVIDIA GeForce NOW+1
Space Engineers Image
89%85.8kreviews

Space Engineers

2019Open World Shooter
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game Pass+9
Trailmakers Image
92%20.5kreviews

Trailmakers

2019Racing
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game Pass+7
Empyrion: Galactic Survival Image
79%17kreviews

Empyrion: Galactic Survival

2020Open World Shooter
PCCloudNVIDIA GeForce NOW+1
Besiege Image
93%25kreviews

Besiege

2020Simulation
Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|S+9
More games like TerraTech
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

TerraTech is a open world strategy game.

TerraTech is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 137 hours playing TerraTech.

TerraTech was released on August 10, 2018.

TerraTech was developed by Payload Studios.

TerraTech has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

TerraTech is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Scrap Mechanic, Space Engineers, Trailmakers, Empyrion: Galactic Survival, Besiege and others.