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[Brotato]

Recently I've really been getting the munchies for a game that let start a colonization on a different world, and eventually change that world to support life.  Got any good suggestions?  Because I don't seem to be finding much using my less-than-impressive Google skills.  If there are any more specifics things you think I should mention, just tell me what's vague.

[Endymion]

The first thing that comes to mind is UFO:Afterlight -- the third in a series of Xcom inspired games. It takes place on Mars and has a rather 1-dimentional terraforming mechanic going on throughout the campaign. It is more or less of a background thing though, the core game is still the standard xcom recipe.

[Jetman123]

Aurora. Search for it on these forums. It's widely considered the Dwarf Fortress of 4X games. Terraforming is one of many, many, many complex gameplay elements, although it's more about the logistics of a jump point FTL empire than anything.

[Girlinhat]

Sim Earth?

Cleaning out my room and found my SNES cartridge.  Also my SNES.

[ScriptWolf]

Check out maia, the developer simon lives on the forums as well

[Imp]

Spore's space stage allows for colonization and terraforming, though the shallow mechanics leave me unsatisfied in that area.

Another recommendation for Aurora, though I've not touched terraforming there yet (the game is definately suitably complex).

Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri is nice; it is primarily a civilization-style game, the terraforming is a bit limited but there are researchable modifiers that affect how well both Earth and native organisms function in the world, and what good you can get from each; pollution is also an issue that causes an 'anti-terraforming' like effect, and the sun cycles of that star have huge environmental effects that cause changes you must deal with as well.

[Viken]

I'm not so sure it falls under 'terraforming', but Black & White 2 was a pretty good colony/RTS, where the more good-evil got you, the terrain changed to match.

[Kaje]

Aurora is borderline game-breakingly complex. I've tried to get into it, and have wanted to enjoy it so, so badly; but it's almost boring.

[ConscriptFive]

Waking Mars in the current Humble Indie Bundle will probably do you right.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/11/16/wot-i-think-waking-mars/

http://www.humblebundle.com/

[Girlinhat]

Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri is nice; it is primarily a civilization-style game, the terraforming is a bit limited but there are researchable modifiers that affect how well both Earth and native organisms function in the world, and what good you can get from each; pollution is also an issue that causes an 'anti-terraforming' like effect, and the sun cycles of that star have huge environmental effects that cause changes you must deal with as well.

Any idea if this has gone freeware or not, and where I might be able to get it?

[majikero]

I just got it the bad way because it's easier than hunting down an actual copy.

[martinuzz]

If you want to look at older games, look at Sierra's Outpost 2. Although the focus is more on space colony building that on terraforming, one way to 'win' the game is to terraform the planet.

Another somewhat old (but still widely popular) title that springs to mind is Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, as said before. Those formers can change terrain in whatever way you like, and the planet's ecosystem fights back even. You can also use nukes to make nice crater lakes

EDIT: I don't think SMAC is freeware yet

It's $5.99 on GOG (Good Old Games)
 

[Imp]

Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri is nice; it is primarily a civilization-style game, the terraforming is a bit limited but there are researchable modifiers that affect how well both Earth and native organisms function in the world, and what good you can get from each; pollution is also an issue that causes an 'anti-terraforming' like effect, and the sun cycles of that star have huge environmental effects that cause changes you must deal with as well.

Any idea if this has gone freeware or not, and where I might be able to get it?

I bought my copy (and its expansion) several years ago.  That I know if, it's not free.

[Robsoie]

OpenTTD despite being primarly a management game has some elements of terraformation, as you can manipulate the environment, digging, elevating terrain etc..

For the colonization part, it's more indirect, the towns and cities around the generated map will develop and spread by themselves without your direct control, but they will do so according to how you set up your roads/railroads/airports/boats etc... , how much you develop the industries etc... and how you have reworked the terrain around.

[Sonlirain]

Well Civilization 2 Test of time has a (among others) a sci fi setting that basically is a Alpha Centauri 0.5.