Layer System
Dependency-ordered layers
Decompose generation into small, composable generators. Each layer declares its inputs and padding; the engine resolves the order and caches results.
Unity framework · v0.1.0 · early developmentProcedural worlds,
Procedural worlds,
engineered layer by layer.
World Engine is a Unity framework for generating and managing game worlds. Threaded chunk streaming, a dependency-ordered layer pipeline, blended biomes, rivers and decoration with a debugger that shows exactly how every chunk was built.
World Engine · Generation Debugger
Layer pipelinecached
- 1BiomeLayerpad 0
- 2TerrainLayerpad 4
- 3RiverLayerpad 4
- 4DecorationLayerpad 1
Chunk 017
42ms
Unity UPM packageThreaded generationDependency-ordered layersBlended biomesChunk streamingGeneration debuggerRiversDecorationUnity UPM packageThreaded generationDependency-ordered layersBlended biomesChunk streamingGeneration debuggerRiversDecoration
Showcase
See the world take shape
Biomes, rivers, decoration and streaming, generated at runtime. Drop your own clips and screenshots into public/media and they appear here.
TerrainHeightmap worlds
Flat heightmap worlds are the reference implementation, wiring biomes, layers, meshing and streaming into one pipeline.
BiomesBiome maps
Continent, temperature and humidity parameters are sampled and blended into a continuous biome field.
RiversRiver paths
Rivers walk across terrain data using padded neighbouring chunks, ready to be carved into the landscape.
DecorationDecoration
Prop placement driven by per-biome rules and spread patterns, blended across chunk boundaries.
StreamingChunk streaming
Tracked entities pull chunks in and out of memory as they move, with async generation and meshing.
Features
A complete world-generation toolkit
Everything is modular and built to be extended. Implement your own world type, generator, mesher, loading step, or use the reference heightmap world as-is.
Performance
Threaded generation & meshing
Worlds are built on dedicated generation and meshing worker pools, then committed to the main thread through a dispatcher. No frame hitches.
Biomes
Blended biomes
Classify the world along continent, temperature and humidity parameters, then blend neighbouring biomes for smooth, natural transitions.
Hydrology
Rivers that carve terrain
Trace river paths across the terrain from high ground to sea level, with the data ready to be carved into the heightmap.
Decoration
Rule-based decoration
Place trees, rocks and props with biome-aware rules and spread patterns, blended across chunk borders.
Streaming
Entity-driven streaming
Track any entity with an ITracker and let ChunkTrackerSystem load and unload chunks around it as it moves through the world.
Editor tooling
Generation debugger
An editor window that records the layer call tree, timings and cache hits so you can see exactly how each chunk was built.
Extensible
Built to be extended
Implement your own world type through generic TerrainManager, Generator, Mesher and LoadingStep contracts. The heightmap world is just one reference.
Architecture
How a chunk is built
Every chunk flows through the same pipeline: declared dependencies, cached layer generation on worker threads, then a safe commit on the main thread.
Generation is a dependency tree
Layers never generate more than they must. Each one declares its inputs and the padding it needs from neighbouring chunks; the engine resolves the order, checks the cache first, and only fills in what is missing.
// Initialise the static biome state once
Biome.Init();
BiomeSampler.Init();
// Describe how biomes are distributed
var biomeMap = new BiomeMap(seed: 0, biomeSize: 32, blendRadius: 48, BiomeSampler.DEFAULT);
// Create the terrain manager (the reference heightmap world)
var manager = new HeightMapTerrainManager(
chunkScale: 1, chunkResolution: 64, chunkHeight: 64,
samplingScale: 1f, biomeMap: biomeMap);
// Load chunks in a radius, generation and meshing are threaded
for (int x = -2; x <= 2; x++)
for (int y = -2; y <= 2; y++)
manager.LoadChunk(new Vector2Int(x, y));
Generation Debugger
An editor window records the layer call tree, timings and cache hits per chunk, and can draw each region's data back onto the scene.
Window → World Engine → Generation DebuggerLife of a chunk
generation → meshing → main thread- step 1
LoadChunkmain thread - step 2
Generator.Generategeneration pool - step 3
Mesher.GenerateMeshmeshing pool - step 4
Physics.BakeMeshmeshing pool - step 5
LoadChunkRepresentationmain thread
Generation pool
16 workers run pure data generation: layers, biomes, rivers and decoration with no Unity object access.
Meshing pool
8 workers build meshes, run threaded preload steps and bake colliders off the main thread.
Main thread
A dispatcher commits results: GameObjects, transforms, meshes, materials and colliders, all safely.
Roadmap
Early, but moving fast
World Engine is in active early development. Features are added, improved and reshaped continuously. Here is where things stand.
Implemented
6- Chunk managementload / unload, threaded generation & meshing
- Layer-based generationdependency ordering + caching
- 2D biomes & blending
- Heightmap worlds
- Entity-driven chunk streaming
- Generation debugger
In progress
3- Decoration placementheightmap only, main-thread spawn
- River generationpaths generated, not yet carved
- Terrain texturingmaterial system
Planned
6- 3D & voxel worlds
- Planet generation
- World editing toolssculpting, object placement
- Caves, structures, cities
- Multiplayer world sync
- Artist & designer GUI
Join the project
Help build World Engine
World Engine is in private development, and I am looking for one or two people to work with me. It is a passion project I build in my free time, not a professional venture, even if the goal is to make it a polished, professional-grade tool. If procedural worlds excite you, I would like to hear from you.
Looking for profiles such as
Engine / gameplay programmer
C# and Unity. Help build generators, layers and the chunk pipeline: decoration, rivers, and the move toward 3D and voxel worlds.
- C#
- Unity
- Procedural generation
Performance & tooling
Threading, memory and meshing costs, plus editor tooling such as the generation debugger and the future artist-facing GUI.
- Multithreading
- Profiling
- Unity Editor
Technical artist / designer
Terrain texturing and materials, biome and decoration rules. Shape how worlds look and how designers will drive them.
- Shaders
- Materials
- World design
How it works
- 01
Say hello
Send a short email: who you are, what you have built, and what interests you.
- 02
Quick chat
A call to talk about the project, your availability and what you would like to own.
- 03
Get access
You get access to the private repository and docs, then start on a scoped first task.
What to expect
- Looking for one or two people, not a big team
- The project is private for now and not open source
- A free-time project: no deadlines, no company behind it
- Real ownership of a system, not just tickets
Want to build worlds ?
You do not need to match a role exactly. Tell me what you have built and what you would like to work on, a portfolio or a few links is plenty.