In Terra Mystica, 14 distinct peoples inhabit seven types of landscapes, each bound to their preferred environment. To expand and thrive, these groups must terraform neighboring terrains to suit their needs, all while fiercely competing with other factions. This is a game where luck is almost non-existent; strategic planning is paramount. Each player takes control of one of these peoples, aiming to dominate the largest possible area and enhance their group's specific skills. Additionally, there are four religious cults in which you can progress, adding another layer of strategy. Every people possesses unique skills and abilities. Players take turns performing actions with the resources at their disposal. Different buildings allow for the development of various resources: dwellings generate more workers, trading houses bring in money, strongholds unlock your people's special ability, and temples advance your religion, terraforming, and seafaring skills. Buildings can be upgraded: dwellings become trading houses, which in turn can become strongholds or temples. A temple can even be elevated to a sanctuary. It's also crucial to develop terraforming and boat skills to utilize rivers to your advantage. Proximity to other groups is a double-edged sword: it grants you extra power, but also makes expansion more challenging and competitive. The peoples and their respective homelands are: Desert (Fakirs, Nomads), Plains (Halflings, Cultists), Swamp (Alchemists, Darklings), Lake (Mermaids, Swarmlings), Forest (Witches, Auren), Mountain (Dwarves, Engineers), and Wasteland (Giants, Chaos Magicians).