Conway's Game of Life

Simple rules, infinite complexity

Generation: 0 Population: 0 FPS: 0

Classic Patterns

Still Lifes

Oscillators

Spaceships

Guns

Methuselahs

Interesting

The Rules

💀 Death: A live cell with fewer than 2 or more than 3 neighbors dies
🌱 Birth: A dead cell with exactly 3 neighbors becomes alive
♾️ Survival: A live cell with 2 or 3 neighbors survives

Conway's Game of Life is a cellular automaton devised by mathematician John Conway in 1970. Despite its simple rules, it produces remarkably complex emergent behaviors. Click on the grid to draw your own patterns, or select from the classic patterns above to see them in action.

💡 Tip: Click and drag on the canvas to draw cells. Try the R-pentomino or Acorn to see chaotic evolution, or the Gosper Glider Gun to watch endless gliders being created!