Hytale World Generation

Create custom biomes and procedural terrain using Hytale’s world generation system.

Overview

Hytale uses the V2 Orbis Generator – a powerful visual node-based system for world generation. You can create entire biomes and terrain without writing code!

World Structure

Hierarchy

World (Orbis)
└── Zones (large regions)
    └── Biomes (environment types)
        └── Features (terrain, props, structures)

Zones

Zones are large regions with themed biomes:

Visual Node Editor

What It Does

The node editor lets you create world generation rules by connecting visual nodes – no coding required!

[Noise Node] → [Threshold] → [Material Provider] → [Terrain Output]

Node Types

Example: Simple Hills

[Perlin Noise]
    │
    ▼
[Scale: 0.02]     ← Controls frequency
    │
    ▼
[Multiply: 20]    ← Controls height
    │
    ▼
[Add: 64]         ← Base height
    │
    ▼
[Heightmap Output]

Biome Creation

Biome Components

Each biome defines:

• Terrain shape (heightmap)
• Surface materials (grass, sand, stone)
• Subsurface layers (dirt depth, rock)
• Covers (vegetation, debris)
• Props (trees, rocks, flowers)
• Structures (buildings, ruins)
• Creatures (spawn lists)

Biome Definition (JSON)

{
  "biomeId": "mymod:enchanted_forest",
  "displayName": "Enchanted Forest",
  "temperature": 0.7,
  "humidity": 0.8,
  "terrain": "mymod:enchanted_forest_terrain",
  "surfaceMaterial": "hytale:grass_block",
  "covers": [
    {
      "type": "hytale:tall_grass",
      "density": 0.3
    },
    {
      "type": "mymod:glowing_mushroom",
      "density": 0.05
    }
  ],
  "props": [
    {
      "prefab": "mymod:enchanted_tree",
      "frequency": 0.1,
      "minSpacing": 5
    }
  ]
}

Terrain Layers

Layer System

Surface    ─────────────  (grass, sand)
    │
    ▼
Topsoil    ─────────────  (dirt, 3-5 blocks deep)
    │
    ▼
Subsoil    ─────────────  (stone variants)
    │
    ▼
Bedrock    ─────────────  (unbreakable base)

Layer Definition

{
  "layers": [
    {
      "material": "hytale:grass_block",
      "depth": 1,
      "condition": "surface_exposed"
    },
    {
      "material": "hytale:dirt",
      "depth": { "min": 3, "max": 5 }
    },
    {
      "material": "hytale:stone",
      "depth": "remaining"
    }
  ]
}

Props and Structures

Prop Placement

{
  "propPlacements": [
    {
      "prefab": "hytale:oak_tree",
      "frequency": 0.08,
      "conditions": {
        "surface": "grass",
        "slope": { "max": 0.3 },
        "minNeighborDistance": 4
      }
    }
  ]
}

Pattern Scanning

Place props based on terrain patterns:

{
  "pattern": "near_water",
  "searchRadius": 5,
  "prefab": "hytale:willow_tree",
  "frequency": 0.2
}

Caves and Underground

Cave Generation

{
  "caveSystem": {
    "type": "worm",
    "frequency": 0.02,
    "minRadius": 2,
    "maxRadius": 6,
    "branchChance": 0.3,
    "features": [
      {
        "type": "stalactite",
        "frequency": 0.1
      },
      {
        "type": "ore_vein",
        "ores": ["iron", "gold"],
        "frequency": 0.05
      }
    ]
  }
}

Ore Distribution

Ore Veins

{
  "oreGeneration": [
    {
      "ore": "hytale:iron_ore",
      "minHeight": 0,
      "maxHeight": 64,
      "veinSize": { "min": 4, "max": 8 },
      "frequency": 0.01
    },
    {
      "ore": "hytale:diamond_ore",
      "minHeight": 0,
      "maxHeight": 16,
      "veinSize": { "min": 1, "max": 4 },
      "frequency": 0.002
    }
  ]
}

Water and Rivers

Water Bodies

{
  "waterGeneration": {
    "seaLevel": 62,
    "riverFrequency": 0.05,
    "lakeFrequency": 0.02,
    "riverWidth": { "min": 3, "max": 10 }
  }
}

Creative Mode Tools

Scripted Brushes

Use in-game for rapid terrain editing:

• Raise/Lower terrain
• Smooth rough areas
• Paint biome transitions
• Stamp prefabs

Live Preview

Changes in the node editor show immediately in-game!

Best Practices

Do

Don’t

Quick Reference

Resources

• Prefabs: See hytale-prefab-builder skill
• Pack Creation: See hytale-pack-creator skill