Giving players the option

Game of the Week Review: Terraria

Welcome to the spring 2023 semester developers! It is almost time for the Game Developer’s Association to start meeting again.

For our first week, we will be discussing the hit sandbox game, Terraria. Join our meeting on January 31st at 6:00 pm in Gaylord Central Lecture Space 2030 to learn about how the game was developed.

This semester, we’ll be doing short reviews of some of our games of the week so that you can get to know the game a little better and see if it is for you. Plus, hear thoughts about the games from some of our officers.

“I think that’s what’s important. Giving players the option. No two gamers are alike, and we know that very well as gamers ourselves.”

Andrew “Redigit” Spinks, Designer and Programer of Terraria

Depending on who you ask, Terraria can sound like a completely different game. Some say it is a game about designing cool houses, others a deadly gauntlet of bosses, another player might just spend the whole time mining.

What made the game a hit is that it is all three and more. Terraria is a 2D sandbox where the goal is to do whatever you want in your little world. Sure, there is a final boss to fight, but players can make their own goals as well.

The game starts the player off with very little, just the tools necessary to mine, chop trees, and defend themselves from enemies. As you continue to explore the world, you’ll run into different biomes and gather more loot to make yourself more powerful.

You’ll also encounter characters on your journey who will join you if you build them a house. They will provide tips, shops, and items that will help you on your adventures.

All the gameplay ties nicely into a good loop of fighting, exploring, decorating, mining, and building. I had a ton of fun in this loop, especially since I played through with a friend. 

We started out frantically mining and fighting for our lives. Playing on the hardest difficulty is challenging.

Once my friend and I gathered enough loot, we decided to take on our first boss, the Eye of Cthulhu. This monstrosity is a giant flying eye with a mouth that will eat you alive if you are not ready, which we definitely were not.

But the next time we fought it, we had gathered more loot from underground caves and killed monsters. By giving players the decision of doing what they want to do, when they want to do gives the player a great sense of choice. 

This choice makes the world feel like your own. You decide when to progress, fight, build, and more.

While you are exploring and fighting, you’ll never grow tired of the phenomenal chiptune soundtrack. The catchy melodies and unique electronic sounds makes it one of the most iconic video game soundtracks.

Also special props have to be given to the art department and content designers. The 16-bit style art is always a joy to look at. The art is consistent but also varied, from creepy bosses to adorable pets and decorations. The game just looks fun and is fun to play. Plus, there is so much content in the game that you’ll be finding new things even a hundred hours in.

But don’t just take it from me! Our officers had some great thoughts to share:

Malorie Riggle, GDA outreach director, said,

10/10 game. Love it wholeheartedly, even though the bosses stress me out it is still very enjoyable.

My husband, Skyler, introduced me to the game to bounce off my excitement from Minecraft. I’m the type who likes the building, exploration, and decorating aspects of a game. Hence why I love games like Minecraft and Animal Crossing.

Skyler on the other hand likes the excitement and fun of building up your character, so he would spearhead the boss fights. With this combination, we’ve played many hours and on many worlds.

I also played for many hours with my friend. The multiplayer is top notch.

Jerrod M.B., GDA president, said,

I appreciate that Terraria’s progression is measured in bosses. When you spawn in for the first time, you’re not given a backstory or concrete instructions, you just meander around your world until the big eyeball kills you, the mega worm/brain eats you, or you get shrekt by the skeleton. Once you figure out how to beat them, the primary game loop revolves around continuously finding the next large thing to kill until you run out of large things to kill. After that you start a new world/character and do it again. 10/10 game.

Fully agree! This has to be one of the most fun games ever created.

You can learn more about the game on Tuesday, January 31 at 6 p.m. in Gaylord Central Lecture Space 2030.

Terraria is available on both Windows and macOS, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android.