TerraTech cover art
Pure Optimizationvehicle building sandbox

TerraTech

A vehicle-building sandbox where engineering a better tech matters far more than piloting it.

On Steam ↗
Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION4 /10READS1 /10VARIANCE3 /10OPTIMIZATION8 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    4/10

    Driving and aiming matter but turrets auto-fire generously.

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    1/10

    AI enemies follow simple mappable behaviours.

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    3/10

    Procedural terrain and block drops add mild randomness.

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    8/10

    Tech design, block synergy and economy dominate outcomes.

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Terraria cover art

Terraria

Pure Optimization · 2D sandbox

E
R
V
O
Terraria
No Man's Sky cover art

No Man's Sky

Pure Optimization · space exploration

E
R
V
O
No Man's Sky
Transistor cover art

Transistor

Pure Optimization · tactical action RPG

E
R
V
O
Transistor
Gothic II cover art

Gothic II

Pure Optimization · open-world RPG

E
R
V
O
Gothic II
Mount & Blade: Warband cover art

Mount & Blade: Warband

Pure Optimization · sandbox medieval RPG

E
R
V
O
Mount & Blade: Warband
7 Days to Die cover art

7 Days to Die

Pure Optimization · zombie survival crafter

E
R
V
O
7 Days to Die

Game details

Released
2018
Developer
Payload Studios
Platforms
PS4, Linux, PC, Mac, XONE, Switch
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
IGDB critics
60/100
IGDB users
70/100
SimulatorStrategyAdventureIndieActionSandbox