Evolution

Evolution (2016)

Alex Williams · June 6, 2016 · Indie, Simulation, Free to Play

Evolution is free to play — no purchase needed. We track it so you know if that ever changes.

PC
Mixed49% · 1101playing now
This game is free to play. Get it on Steam →

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Evolution price

Evolution is free to play — there is no purchase price, on Steam or anywhere else we track. We keep watching it, so if it ever stops being free the price history on this page will show when that happened and what it changed to.

About Evolution

Evolution is a real time simulation of the evolutionary process. Creatures have DNA that defines their structure, traits, how they see the world around them, and how they react to it. Each creature is unique, most die quickly, some die a little slower, and others survive (some just like rocks, they usually die too). It is the survivors that reproduce and mutate, just a little, but enough to adapt to their environment. Early creatures are pretty basic but they have the capacity for some pretty elaborate behaviors and, to be honest, I am not sure how interesting this could get.

There are a number of games built around this evolution simulator. Primordial Soup is a free for all evolution platform where the creatures evolve mostly independently. You can help them along but its their world and they do what they like. To start you choose a world (or create a new one) and all the creatures become part of a global shared pool. It quickly becomes apparent that older more evolved creatures will dominate but there is always a chance you could evolve one that survives. Alternatively you can just start a new world and become the dominant creature there.

In Tidepool, the world is stacked in your favor to help you select and breed the creatures you deem fit to live. At first you control a small handful of creatures and help them find food, focus on those that move independently, or just let them figure it out. You compete against creatures that evolved in other tide pools from other players so it is never the same game twice. If you do manage to take over the environment all your creatures level up and you start over competing against the next level of enemy creatures.

The laboratory is where you can experiment on your creatures, cross breed creatures with other creatures, manage, save and share your creatures, and apply targeted mutations. Unfortunately the laboratory was not secure enough and the inevitable outbreak occurred. In this micro battle to stop the spread of an unstoppable pathogen (that you foolishly created) you battle the creatures directly in a miniaturized ship. Save Patient Zero to save the world, unless the creatures manage to find their way into another human but what are the odds of that happening?

Evolution — game info

Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux / SteamOS
Player modes
Single-player
Controller
Partial controller support
PC Game Pass
Not included
More games like this:Mac gamesLinux games

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

✦ AI summary

Evolution is a free-to-play evolutionary simulation sandbox that lets players observe and influence developing ecosystems where creatures evolve, adapt, and compete based on genetic rules rather than traditional gameplay mechanics. Players praise the unique concept of watching DNA-driven creatures emerge and adapt naturally over time, offering something distinctly different from conventional management games, though some feel the current version is bare bones with limited interactivity and wish for more direct player engagement beyond observation.

Recommended May 30, 2026
peanut would love some pets and treats :)      🌸>  フ      |  _  _ l     /` ミ_xノ     /      |    /  ヽ   ノ   │  | | | / ̄|   | | | | ( ̄ヽ__ヽ_)__) \二つ
7 found this helpful
Recommended Jul 25, 2026
Sometimes its nice to put in some inputs and see what happens.
1 found this helpful
Recommended Jun 1, 2026
Evolution is a free-to-play evolutionary simulation game developed by Alex Williams and published by Grubby Monster Games. Instead of focusing on combat, story-driven quests, or traditional strategy mechanics, the game places its attention on the fascinating process of natural selection. Players are given the opportunity to observe and influence living ecosystems where creatures evolve according to genetic rules, adapt to environmental challenges, and compete for survival. The result is a unique experience that feels closer to a scientific sandbox than a conventional video game, offering an intriguing look at how complex life can emerge from simple systems. The foundation of the game lies in its DNA-based simulation. Every creature within the world possesses genetic information that determines its appearance, behavior, senses, movement, and overall survivability. These creatures are not simply programmed to follow predetermined patterns. Instead, their actions are influenced by evolving traits that are passed down through generations. As species reproduce, mutate, and compete with one another, entirely new forms of life can emerge. This system creates a living world where unexpect…
1 found this helpful
Recommended Aug 23, 2026
Evolution is a free simulation game that lets me sit back and watch a small ecosystem develop over time. Every creature is built from DNA that controls its body, traits, senses and behaviour, so there is not one fixed creature that I am simply controlling. Instead, I am watching different creatures survive, reproduce, mutate and slowly change depending on what happens around them. I like the basic idea because it gives me something different from a normal management game. I am not directly building an empire or controlling every individual creature. I am more like an observer who can influence what is happening and then see where the simulation goes. The most interesting part for me is seeing how different traits affect survival. Some creatures manage to adapt to their surroundings while others disappear very quickly, and the fact that every creature has its own DNA gives the simulation a nice sense of unpredictability. I can watch a population develop and see whether certain traits become more common over generations. There is something satisfying about seeing a creature that started out very basic eventually develop behaviour that I was not expecting. The game also includes diff…
Recommended Apr 11, 2026
A little bare bones at the moment but it has great potential!
Not recommended Mar 24, 2026
simply isnt a game. you watch and dont interact

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