All Games > Early Access Games > Critterra
Community Hub
Critterra
Lead 7 distinct animal civilizations in this bio-historical city builder. Master the "Serendipitous Overlap" of biology and history—from Otterman canals to Bearvarian brewing. With a roadmap of 42 species, manage metabolism, sensory warfare, and dynastic politics in a world that fights back.

Sign in to add this item to your wishlist, follow it, or mark it as ignored

Features
Languages:
Interface Full Audio Subtitles
English ✔
French ✔
German ✔
Portuguese - Brazil ✔
Russian ✔
Simplified Chinese ✔
See all 6 supported languages

Coming Soon To Early Access

The developers of this game intend to release as a work in progress, developing with the feedback of players.

Note: Games in Early Access are not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“Critterra is a game about biological evolution, and the game itself is evolving. I have a robust, high-performance 'Low Poly' foundation that allows for simulations of hundreds of citizens. However, my design bible contains 42 distinct civilizations. I have the high-fidelity prototypes for these species, but even as a SOLO DEVELOPER WITH A MASTERS DEGREE IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING it will take time to optimize (retopologize) these assets into the game's efficient style. Early Access allows us to continue this artistic pipeline (Me Learning and developing my 3D art skills) while players help me balance the complex metabolic engines of the new species. ”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access? We are targeting a 12-18 month window. This schedule allows for the rollout of my 5 planned Content Expansions (The 'Phylogeny Roadmap'), delivering batches of 7 new civilizations roughly every 3 months.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version? Critterra launches with the Core 7 (Mink, Mongrel, Nor-Steed, Catztec, Bearvarian, Otterman, Babylion), the plan for 1.0 release is that it will feature the complete biological spectrum, including the 'Systemic Warfare' and 'Environmental Control' expansions. Visually, I aim to bridge the gap between the current functional low-poly art and the higher-fidelity 'Dream' renders shown in our roadmap. The system is backed by a highly decoupled architecture that allows for rapid prototyping and will be supported by a suite of custom unity editors designed to allow this Team of One to take on this multi-disciplinary challenge. ”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The game is fully playable with the 'Foundational Seven' civilizations. All core systems—Metabolism, Construction, Thermodynamics, and the Legacy system—are active. Players can build Tier 1-3 settlements, manage complex supply chains, and reach a 'Retirement' state to earn Legacy Points. The current asset quality is 'Functional Low Poly' (as seen in screenshots), prioritizing frame rate and simulation depth over texture density.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Yes. The price will increase incrementally as we release major Content Expansions and approach the 1.0 launch to reflect the added value of the new civilizations and mechanics.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“I view our players as "Evolutionary Biologists." I need your feedback to tune the metabolic rates and balance the unique mechanics of each species. I will be hosting regular "Species Votes" to determine which Civilizations from the Roadmap are prioritized for the next update. From Day 1 of early access I will have a discord set up with rounds of voting for specific features and updates. One vote might be for the next industry, another might be on how mechanics work with each other. ”
Read more
This game is not yet available on Steam

Coming soon

Interested?
Add to your wishlist and get notified when it becomes available.
 
See all discussions

Report bugs and leave feedback for this game on the discussion boards

About This Game

BUILD THE BIOLOGICAL DYNASTY Critterra is a Bio-Historical City Builder where civilization is defined by the collision of human history and animal biology. (Biology defines economy) You don't just build a city; you manage the metabolic and evolutionary imperatives of your species.

THE FOUNDATIONAL SEVEN Launch into Early Access with 7 distinct civilizations, each with unique biomes and mechanics:

  • The Otterman Empire: Master hydraulic engineering and coffee trade in the wetlands.

  • The Bearvarians: Deep forest brewers who rely on fermentation and hibernation cycles.

  • The Catztec Empire: Vertical jungle architects fueled by solar tribute.

  • The Mongrel Khanate: Nomadic logistics experts who move their cities with the seasons.

  • The Mink Dynasty: Masters of rice paddies and water management.

  • The Nor-Steeds: Coastal raiders who leverage fjord economies.

  • The Babylions: Builders of hanging gardens and complex law codes.

[/p]

EVOLUTIONARY GAMEPLAY

Serendipitous Overlap: Mechanics are derived from biological reality. A "Spaniel" faction isn't just a dog in a helmet—it utilizes the "Flushing Instinct" for stealth detection.

Metabolic Economics: Your citizens are not static units. They are homeostatic organisms that require thermal regulation, hydration, and specific sensory inputs to survive.

The Infinite Roadmap: Critterra is built to scale. Our design bible includes 35 additional civilizations arriving in 5 planned expansions, introducing mechanics like Systemic Warfare (Croco-nile) and Dynastic Genetics (Habs-badgers).

🗺️ THE INFINITE ROADMAP

Critterra is built to scale. We are launching with the Foundational Seven, but our design bible contains 35 additional civilizations, each bringing new mechanics, biomes, and biological imperatives.

  • 📦 EXPANSION 1: Resource Efficiency Theme: The Economic Engine (Trade, Bureaucracy, Logistics)

Includes: Ram-an (Rome), Bee-zantine (Byzantium), Fin-ician (Phoenicia), Gnu-lu (Zulu), Moo-ghal (Mughal), Chin-ca (Inca), Yak-sum (Aksum).

  • ⚔️ EXPANSION 2: Systemic Warfare Theme: State & Psychological Manipulation

Includes: Croco-nile (Egypt), Gree-se (Greece), Webb-asid (Abbasid), Ma-caw-ya (Maya), Beav-king (Vikings), Seal-tic (Celts), Boa-hemian (Bohemia).

  • 🧪 EXPANSION 3: Environmental Control Theme: The Sensory War (Toxicity, Vibration, Heat)

Includes: Mole-i (Mali), Hare-appan (Indus), Frog-mer (Khmer), E-doe (Edo Japan), H-owl-y (HRE), Crow-seon (Joseon), Porcu-persian (Persia).

  • 👑 EXPANSION 4: The Rise of the Individual Theme: Dynastic Management & Lineage

Includes: Aquila-sian (Assyria), Rat-public (Venice), Spider-lite (Sparta), Lion-age (Plantagenet), Tuskan (Mauryan), Habs-badger (Habsburg), Meer-ovingian (Merovingian).

  • 🔊 EXPANSION 5: Phonetic Resonance Theme: Complex Logistical Loops & Risk Management

Includes: Spaniel Inquisition (Spain), Hamseatic League (Hanseatic), Prawnssian Confederation (Prussia), Macedonkey (Macedonia), Batican City (Vatican), Squiden Empire (Sweden), Visigoats (Visigoths).


Visual Roadmap: Early Access vs. 1.0

Like what you see? Add Critterra to your Wishlist to get notified when the Otters arrive!

System Requirements

    Minimum:
    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
    • Processor: Intel Core i3-6100 / AMD FX-8350 or equivalent
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (4GB) / AMD Radeon R9 380 (4GB)
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 6 GB available space
    • Additional Notes: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system. Performance may decrease in large cities with high simulation speeds.
    Recommended:
    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
There are no reviews for this product

You can write your own review for this product to share your experience with the community. Use the area above the purchase buttons on this page to write your review.