Ymir is a free, node-based procedural terrain generator for Linux and Windows. Its graph combines generators, modifiers, selectors, masks and export nodes, with a single data type passed along each connection. Available operations include noise and shape generation, terrain sculpting and filters, plus thermal, hydraulic and stream erosion. Erosion nodes can take a mask and produce flow, wear and deposition layers for later shaping or texturing. Heightmaps export as 16-bit grayscale PNG, raw 16-bit R16 or 32-bit float EXR. The headless ymir-cli can build saved projects and export results; erosion runs on the GPU when available and otherwise falls back to the CPU. Projects are readable JSON files with a .ymir extension, and reusable node networks can be saved as .ymirsub subgraphs. The editor requires a GPU with working Vulkan drivers on Linux, or Vulkan or DX12 drivers on Windows. Windows binaries are unsigned and prompt a first-run SmartScreen warning. Ymir is GPL-3.0 free software; the maker says a guided start-to-finish tutorial and task-focused guides are planned as workflows settle.
Who it is for
Ymir may suit terrain artists and technical users who want a node-based workflow and exportable heightmaps. Its command-line tool and project format may also fit users who want to build or reuse saved terrain graphs.
What is good
- Exports PNG, R16 and OpenEXR heightmaps.
- Erosion can produce flow, wear and deposition layers.
- CLI can build projects and export results.
- Reusable node networks can be saved as subgraphs.
What to know first
- Editor requires a working Vulkan-capable GPU on Linux.
- Windows requires Vulkan or DX12 drivers.
- Windows binaries trigger a first-run SmartScreen warning.
- Guided tutorial and how-to guides are still forthcoming.
Verdict
Ymir brings procedural terrain generation, erosion tools and command-line exports into a node-based workflow. Check the GPU requirements and Windows warning before installing, and note that the maker describes more tutorial material as forthcoming.
Ymir plans and pricing
All plansCompared on game map generators
- Free plan
- Yes
- Generation method
- procedural
- Map dimension
- both
- Custom assets
- Yes
- Seed control
- Yes
- Engine export
- Unreal Engine
- Export formats
- PNG, R16, OpenEXR
