Terrain3D is currently one of the top choices for terrain creation in Godot Engine. Released by Cory Petkovsek in July 2023, the tool has steadily expanded its feature set, making it one of the most comprehensive options available for this purpose. It is also developed as a GDExtension in C++, leveraging native code to deliver high performance.
The author has recently announced the addition of dynamic collision as a new standout feature. This feature enables developers to generate collision data exclusively around the camera, with adjustable block size and range. As a result, it significantly improves performance, especially for terrains larger than 8K, saving multiple gigabytes of memory and dramatically reducing load times.
Additionally, its high-performance implementation updates collision at 60 FPS or higher, enabling real-time terrain modification with responsive collision updates. This feature has not yet been included in an official GitHub release, meaning that, for now, you'll need to download the latest "nightly build" instead.
Since the first beta release, which already expanded its feature set beyond the initial version, Terrain3D has received numerous highly requested features and improvements. These include a foliage instancer, paintable rotation and scale, and artifact fixes. The tool has also undergone countless enhancements, such as performance optimizations, better compatibility with different Godot renderers, and improved usability.
For those who have yet to try Terrain3D, the author has released two video tutorials to make it easier to get started with the tool. These tutorials cover the basics, with the first part focusing on installation, setting up textures, importing, sculpting, and other essential operations. The second part covers more advanced topics, such as blended texturing, auto-shading, holes, navigation, and more.
The latest version of Terrain3D supports Godot 4.2.2 to 4.3, with 4.3 being the recommended version.
For more information, be sure to check the Terrain3D documentation. To access the latest release, visit the releases page on GitHub. If you want to use the new dynamic collision feature, you'll need to download the latest "nightly build," available on the Nightly Builds page in the documentation.
