Game of Life
Click/drag to draw cells. Space play/pause S step R random
How to play Game of Life
Conway's Game of Life is a famous cellular automaton. Draw an initial pattern of live cells, then watch it evolve generation by generation under four simple rules about neighbours. From those rules emerge gliders, oscillators, and surprisingly lifelike behaviour — with no further input.
- 1 Click or drag to toggle cells alive or dead.
- 2 Press play to run the simulation.
- 3 Each generation updates every cell by its living neighbours.
- 4 Pause, clear, or draw a new pattern any time.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules of the Game of Life?
A live cell with two or three live neighbours survives; a dead cell with exactly three comes alive; all others die or stay dead. Those four rules drive everything.
Who invented it?
Mathematician John Conway devised it in 1970. It is a landmark example of how simple rules can produce complex, emergent patterns.
What is a glider?
A small pattern that "walks" across the grid, repeating its shape as it moves — one of the most famous structures in the Game of Life.
Is it actually a game?
It is a "zero-player" game: you set the starting pattern, then the rules play it out on their own.