Terraria is no brand-new name in the world of gaming, the game has been out for over 14 years now. With the release of the new “Bigger and Boulder” update, there’s no better time to pick it up for the first time, or start playing again! After years of dormancy in my Steam library, Terraria has finally gotten its time to shine, and I never realized how addicting it can be.
Terraria is a monster of a game all in one small, graphics-friendly, side-scrolling package! I’m confident in saying that most laptops and computers should be able to run this game smoothly, and it comes with hours of content the second you jump in. It also comes at a certified college-budget friendly price, being sold for only 9.99 with the price commonly being lowered to 4.99 during Steam sales.
You spawn in the center of the world, in the middle of a forest, with basic tools and a friendly guide NPC at your side. From there, you’re free to explore, but you’ll soon find there are goals to keep in mind. You’ll need to explore your world from end-to-end to gather materials, find and craft gear and build your home base. As you progress, NPCs will move in with you, and you will be able to build their houses to expand your town.
My history with this game began much longer ago than I can remember, but I almost exclusively played with friends, often carried through boss fights and gear progression without truly knowing what was going on. Games with combat as a main feature have never been my cup of tea, as I am utterly awful at them most of the time, but I found that with the right preparation, Terraria’s combat is quite satisfying. Furthermore, I can’t say my teeth didn’t chatter a little as the first boss appeared, but I’m proud and relieved to say two things; I survived, and it’s not as bad as you’d think. Since then, I’ve spent a plethora of hours exploring the world from top to bottom, building homes for my NPCs and building my little town.
Small disclaimer: the title does come with a LOT of content, and a lot of this content can sometimes be confusing. You can go the discovery route of figuring everything out yourself, or be like me and pull up the wiki every five minutes. I’d recommend this game to those who want a satisfying and rewarding adventure, and aren’t afraid of a little challenge. Difficulties range from classic to master, depending on how excruciating of an experience you want to give yourself.
Price: 9.99
DLC: Terraria Official Soundtrack + Otherworld Official Soundtrack, 4.99 each
Steam Overall Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive (1,492,685)
Multiplayer: Yes! Online multiplayer capabilities, but no couch co-op
Platforms: Windows, IOS, Android, Mac, Linux, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch
Cross-platform: Not currently available
Genre: Survival, Sandbox, Side-scroller, Open-world survival/craft
Steam page excerpt: “Dig, Fight, Explore, Build: The very world is at your fingertips as you fight for survival, fortune, and glory. Will you delve deep into cavernous expanses in search of treasure and raw materials with which to craft ever-evolving gear, machinery, and aesthetics?”
My rating on this title: 9/10
