Ymir
Ymir is a free, node-based procedural terrain generator for Linux and Windows.
What Ymir is
Ymir is a free, node-based procedural terrain generator for Linux and Windows. Its graph connects generators, modifiers, selectors, masks and export nodes, with a single data type flowing along each connection. Available terrain operations include noise and shape generation, sculpting, filters, and thermal, hydraulic and stream erosion. Erosion nodes can take a mask as input and produce flow, wear and deposition layers for later shaping or texturing. Heightmaps can be exported 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 uses the GPU when available and otherwise runs on the CPU. Project files are readable JSON with a .ymir extension, and reusable node networks can be saved as .ymirsub subgraphs. The editor requires a working Vulkan-capable GPU on Linux, or Vulkan or DX12 drivers on Windows. Windows binaries are unsigned and trigger a first-run SmartScreen warning. Ymir is GPL-3.0 free software.
Good
- Free software under GPL-3.0.
- Supports multiple erosion node types.
- Exports PNG, R16 and EXR heightmaps.
- Saved projects use readable JSON.
- CLI can build projects and export results.
Watch out
- Editor requires working Vulkan, or Vulkan or DX12 drivers.
- Windows binaries are unsigned and trigger SmartScreen.
- Guided tutorial and how-to guides are still forthcoming.
Who it suits
Ymir suits users who want to construct terrain generation workflows from connected nodes and export heightmaps. It may work for users comfortable with GPU driver requirements and unsigned Windows binaries.
Verdict
Ymir offers node-based terrain generation, erosion workflows and several heightmap export formats. Check the editor’s GPU requirements and Windows signing warning before choosing it.
Plans and prices
From Ymir's own pricing page, checked 30 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Ymir | Free | GPL-3.0 free software |
The facts
Each one read from Ymir's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Command line
- The headless ymir-cli can build saved projects and export results; erosion uses the GPU when available and otherwise falls back to the CPU.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Documentation status
- The maker says a guided start-to-finish tutorial is coming and task-focused how-to guides will be added as workflows settle.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Erosion
- Erosion nodes can read a mask and write flow, wear and deposition layers for later texturing or shaping.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Exports
- Ymir exports heightmaps as 16-bit grayscale PNG, raw 16-bit R16 or 32-bit float EXR.checked 30 Sep 2026
- GPU requirement
- The editor requires a GPU with working Vulkan drivers on Linux or Vulkan or DX12 drivers on Windows.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Integrity
- Linux releases include a SHA256SUMS file covering every release asset.checked 30 Sep 2026
- License
- Ymir is free software under the GPL-3.0.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Project files
- Projects use readable JSON in .ymir files, and reusable node networks can be saved as .ymirsub subgraphs.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Ymir is a node-based procedural terrain generator written in Rust.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- The maker directs users whose Linux builds fail on missing system libraries to open an issue with the error, distribution and Vulkan driver details.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Terrain features
- The node reference includes noise and shape generators, terrain sculpting and filters, and thermal, hydraulic and stream erosion nodes.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Workflow
- Its graph uses generators, modifiers, selectors, masks and export nodes, with one data type flowing along every edge.checked 30 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- Ymir runs on x86_64 Linux with Wayland or X11 and Windows 10 or later.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Windows signing
- The distributed Windows binaries are unsigned and trigger a first-run SmartScreen warning.checked 30 Sep 2026
Alternatives to Ymir
- 1
World Machine
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows7.6$119 one-time - 2
Heightmap Level Generator
Free planOpen sourceWebSelf-hostedWindows7.2Free plan - 3
Gaea
Free planWindows6.8$99 one-time - 4
Infinity Generation
Free planAPILinuxmacOSWindows6.8Free plan - 5
Voxel Plugin
Free planAndroidmacOSWindows6.8$349 one-time - 6
L3DT
Free planLinuxWindows6.7$34.95 one-time