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SimEarth is a life simulation video game developed by Maxis and released in 1990 for the Sega CD Mega-CD. It is the sequel to the popular SimCity, and was designed by Will Wright. The game simulates the evolution of an entire planet, from its beginnings as a lifeless, barren rock to a thriving ecosystem teeming with life.

The player starts off with a blank canvas of land, sea, and air on which to build their world. The player can adjust various parameters such as temperature, rain fall, wind speed and direction, volcanism, ocean currents and more to create a unique environment. There are also various tools available to shape the landscape such as sea level adjustment, climate zones and plate tectonics. This allows players to experiment with different conditions that could lead to different outcomes.

The main goal of the game is to nurture life on the planet from its primitive beginnings up to an advanced civilization capable of space travel. To achieve this goal the player must balance several elements such as population growth, resource management and environmental protection. As populations grow they will require food and shelter leading to deforestation or desertification if not managed properly. Resources need to be monitored carefully so that they are not depleted or polluted beyond sustainability levels. If pollution or overpopulation threaten the environment then players may need to intervene with measures like mass evacuations or nuclear weapons in order to restore balance before it’s too late.

Players are rewarded for successful management of their planet with points which can be used towards unlocking new species or technologies that can help further progress their civilization into space exploration and beyond. Players can also challenge themselves by playing multiple scenarios with varying difficulty levels ranging from easy “beginner” settings right up through “expert” mode where only experienced players will stand any chance of success.

SimEarth was well received upon release due its innovative gameplay mechanics and detailed simulations which paved the way for future games in this genre such as SimLife (1992) and Spore (2008). It remains one of Maxis' most successful titles and has been re-released for digital download on modern platforms such as Steam making it accessible for generations of gamers old and new alike