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.

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"Terratech is an open-world, sandbox adventure game with a good story, excellent mechanics, and sensational music. Create and customize your own vehicles in a mix of crafting, combat, and discovery, and play solo, co-op, or PvP. With a variety of blocks, guns, wheels, and wings from different mining corporations, design and build your own combat vehicles for survival and glory."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 12,103 reviews

story145 positive mentions

grinding162 negative mentions

story
939 mentions
15 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal or lacking depth, with many players noting that it primarily consists of repetitive missions that serve more as tutorials than a cohesive narrative. While some missions provide a sense of progression and unlock new parts, they tend to become monotonous over time, leading to a desire for more engaging and varied content. Overall, players appreciate the sandbox elements and vehicle-building mechanics but express a wish for a more substantial storyline and greater mission diversity.
- “The missions are both good puzzles and funny stories that give you insight into how the game works!”
- “The game has a campaign that has you running all over the place doing missions or a crafting mode that gives you all the parts so you can experiment.”
- “The story mode is actually good but I can dupe in it so it's trash.”
- “The game lacks a story despite having a campaign; there is no endgame, your only objective is to get more weapons and build as many techs as your computer can handle before the game crashes.”
- “The missions are mundane and unchallenging, often boiling down to 'go kill this thing' or 'gather these resources' with little variation.”
- “The main questline is somewhat boring and stale, while the random bounty missions are basically nothing different from killing a regularly spawned enemy.”
gameplay
517 mentions
36 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its engaging vehicle-building mechanics, allowing for a high degree of creativity and customization. Players enjoy the mix of combat, resource gathering, and exploration, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks direction over time. While the core mechanics are generally well-received, issues such as simplistic graphics, bugs, and a need for more varied content have been noted as drawbacks.
- “The gameplay is fun and there is no limit to what you can do and make, I would recommend.”
- “With its charming voxel graphics, intuitive building mechanics, and vast array of parts, every creation feels unique and personal.”
- “The gameplay is addictively simple.”
- “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.”
- “I wouldn't get this if I were you. This game is interesting and fun to play for the first 10 minutes, but the gameplay is just clunky and bad. I have no doubt that the devs want to make this a good game, but getting caught on every inch of the terrain and having to realign the build mid-combat is frustrating.”
graphics
216 mentions
44 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, cartoonish style that complements its gameplay, making it visually appealing despite being somewhat simplistic and occasionally outdated. While many players appreciate the vibrant aesthetics and the unique art style, some have noted performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware, leading to frame rate drops even at lower settings. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received for their creativity and fit within the game's sandbox mechanics, though they may not satisfy those seeking cutting-edge visuals.
- “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.”
- “I have a very good gaming computer (desktop) and even on the lowest graphic settings, the game is laggy to the point of being unplayable when I get into the game.”
grinding
182 mentions
2 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game receives mixed feedback from players. While some find the early game grind tedious and frustrating, others appreciate the balance between grinding and progression, noting that it becomes less burdensome as they unlock more content. Overall, many players enjoy the crafting and building mechanics, but agree that the game can feel repetitive and time-consuming, especially when rebuilding after defeats or managing resource collection.
- “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. 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!”
- “The real downfall is that the game gets grindy.”
- “Rebuilding after a fight is very time consuming and quickly becomes extremely tedious.”
- “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.”
stability
177 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs and glitches that affect both single-player and multiplayer experiences. Common issues include freezing, crashes, and problems with crafting and AI behavior, leading to frustration during gameplay. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these flaws, many recommend waiting for further updates and fixes before fully committing to it.
- “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 game that's nearing version 1.0, this game is staggeringly buggy.”
- “Game is horribly buggy now; it crashed three times in a row on starting a new campaign.”
- “The downside is that the game is still very buggy; the crafting system breaks down a lot, especially with multi-level recipe items, and if you try to fix the error, the game crashes.”
optimization
161 mentions
19 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly when building large structures or engaging in multiplayer. Despite some users experiencing smooth gameplay on high-end systems, the overall consensus is that the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, often dropping to unplayable levels during intense scenarios. Many reviewers express a strong desire for optimization updates to address these persistent performance problems.
- “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 I haven't fallen through the ground or jittered into non-existence. 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, which makes the game basically unplayable.”
music
124 mentions
44 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many players enjoying the soundtrack's calming and immersive qualities. However, several reviews note that the limited number of tracks leads to repetitiveness, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some players appreciate the thematic fit of the music, others find it off-putting or annoying, suggesting a need for more variety in the soundtrack.
- “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 music is cool too :3”
- “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
73 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-3 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying its lighthearted and silly moments, such as funny missions, quirky character designs, and amusing item descriptions. Many reviews highlight the creativity involved in building humorous machines and the entertaining chaos that ensues during gameplay. Overall, the game is described as a fun and funny experience, perfect for those who enjoy imaginative and comedic elements in gaming.
- “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 like being imaginative and designing ridiculously funny machines, this is a must-try.”
- “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 isn't funny.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
replayability
56 mentions
52 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
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 frequent updates that introduce new content. However, some users express frustration with repetitive gameplay and a lack of depth in certain modes, leading to diminished replayability over time. Overall, while many find the game endlessly enjoyable and worth revisiting, others feel it lacks sufficient content to sustain long-term engagement.
- “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.”
- “The environment is good to explore and in campaign mode you get to go around it all, but it reaches a point that it just seems repetitive and boring in endgame, not adding to replayability.”
monetization
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
57 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its focus on purely cosmetic microtransactions, contrasting it with other games that rely heavily on pay-to-win mechanics. However, there are significant criticisms regarding the presence of pop-up advertisements and the perception that the game has shifted towards a cash grab mentality, especially after the introduction of a microtransaction store for skins. Overall, while some players value the cosmetic-only approach, others feel that the monetization strategy detracts from the overall experience.
- “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!”
- “- 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 QoL 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
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often returning to it after long breaks due to its engaging and nostalgic gameplay. The experience can be bittersweet, as the loss of hard-earned creations can evoke feelings of heartbreak, yet the joy of experimentation and creativity keeps players invested. Despite some frustrations with multiplayer bugs, the overall emotional impact remains significant.
- “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.”
- “Challenge factor: 7 (fights can be challenging but once you learn the nuances of certain techs and the corporations that they are using you can adapt relatively easily. 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).”
atmosphere
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its uniqueness and the evident passion of the developers, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the satisfying automation mechanics, complemented by amazing music and a creative environment that allows for large-scale interactions, such as building vehicles that can consume entire forests. Overall, the game's atmosphere contributes significantly to its originality and engaging gameplay.
- “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 is 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 lifeless, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to engage the player.”
- “The game tries to create a unique atmosphere, but it ultimately falls flat and feels uninspired.”