Games like Gridworld

Looking for that same replayable and minimalist spark as Gridworld? These games are a good place to start.

Species: Artificial Life, Real Evolution
Play with evolution! Species: ALRE is a scientifically-grounded, emergent simulation of natural selection. Creatures evolve and speciate in response to in-game mutation and selection forces, allowing you to experience and tinker with evolution in real-time.
Replayable, Relaxing
73% of 975 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 1$19.99
The Bibites: Digital Life
Digital life that actually evolves. Bibites are tiny creatures with neural network brains and genes of their own: set up a world, let natural selection do its thing, and watch new species, predators and parasites emerge. Or skip evolution and engineer your own lifeform. An aquarium, a science lab and a god game in one.
Replayable, Retro, Relaxing
96% of 227 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 30$9.99
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).
Replayable, Minimalist, Chaotic
48% of 111 Steam reviews are positiveFree
Ecosystem
Seed a simulated ocean with random creatures and watch evolution do the rest. They learn to swim, hunt, mate and adapt while you sculpt reefs, tune their DNA and track the family tree. Slow, strange and oddly relaxing.
Replayable, Relaxing
76% of 611 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 4$19.99
The Sapling
Design your own plants, algae, fungi and animals, then set them loose in a world together. Add random mutations and watch evolution fill every niche, or shape the planet yourself, ice ages included. A calm, creative ecosystem toy from solo developer Wessel Stoop.
Replayable, Relaxing
88% of 1,974 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 53$17.99
ANLIFE: Motion-Learning Life Evolution
A relaxing evolution simulation where AI-driven block creatures move in unexpected ways. There are no complex ecosystems—just pure movement learning through a physics engine. Watch as these creatures scurry, stumble, and evolve in their own unique, unpredictable ways.
Replayable, Minimalist, Relaxing
83% of 168 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 3$13.99
Intelligent Design: An Evolutionary Sandbox
Polygons eating polygons eating polygons. An evolution sandbox where the genetics really are simulated. Seed a world, walk away, and come back to species neither of us designed. Watch populations boom, bust and go extinct. Best left on a second monitor.
Replayable, Minimalist, Relaxing
53% of 98 Steam reviews are positive$0.76
EvoLife
Create and evolve your own digital lifeforms! Watch or interact as your creations adapt and thrive in a world governed by the laws of physics. Download now and start your own evolutionary journey!
Replayable, Minimalist, Relaxing
83% of 30 Steam reviews are positive$9.99
Thrive
Start as the first spark of life on an alien planet and steer your species across billions of years. Build your microbe from real organelles, hunt or photosynthesise your way to survival, and watch rival species evolve against you. A calm, science-driven evolution sandbox where every run plays out differently.
Replayable, Minimalist, Relaxing
92% of 1,726 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 21$4.99
Creatura
Seed, Breed, Create. From single cell organisms to complex ecosystems. Evolve every part of your own unique aquarium / terrarium by applying scientifically accurate principles of natural and artificial selection, in Creatura - ultimate Virtual Evolution Vivarium Simulator.
Replayable, Relaxing
67% of 219 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 1$14.99
Vilmonic
Vilmonic is an artificial life simulator and genetics and evolution sandbox game. Protect and breed unique pixel-art life forms where pixels and color have meaning. Craft tools and buildings and change the environment. Find ancient tech and fend off haywire zombitons. Craft Farm Breed Evolve!
Replayable, Retro, Relaxing
71% of 68 Steam reviews are positive$14.99
evolution for beginners
Evolution For Beginners is an evolution simulation where you can create and cultivate your own species by only using evolutionary mechanics. Watch your creatures multiply like microorganisms in a primeval ocean while only the fittest survive.
Replayable, Minimalist, Relaxing
67% of 3 Steam reviews are positive$3.49

Cheaper than Gridworld

Intelligent Design: An Evolutionary Sandbox

Polygons eating polygons eating polygons. An evolution sandbox where the genetics really are simulated.

$0.76

Ardarium

Watch a simulated 2D world including weather, plants, animals, and humans in this casual sandbox game about nature and life.

$0.99

Plankton

Minimalist style game : plankton simulation, an electronic pet generated by math codes. Under your care it will slowly grow up and evolve.

$0.99

Territory: Animals Genetic Strategy

Strategy game about genes and animal species. Evolve, reproduce, expand to new territories, survive, and fight to achieve various goals like…

$1.74

Atoms and Time

Survive, evolve, and adapt in a rapidly changing world. Survive the test of time, and become an integral part of your world's biosphere.

$0.99

Physics of life simulator

This is a simple simulator that simulates the formation of life through simple physical rules.

$0.99

LifeGameSimulator

How the extremely complicated universe made with simple 16 particles? This life game will be short explanation of that.

$0.99

Sandboxels

A pixel sandbox where every powder, liquid and gas reacts, and the only goal is the one you set yourself.

$0.99

Mountain

Float in space as a mountain, catch the weather, let the seasons turn, and let time pass without lifting a finger.

$0.99

Bacteria

'Bacteria' - A relaxing puzzle game based on the rules of the cellular automaton ‘Life’ devised by John Horton Conway in 1970.

$0.99

Fury Life

Fury Life is a Conway's Game of Life simulator where cells are visualized as animated creatures called "Octos".

$0.99

DOOD

Bring your drawings to life with eyes, legs, wings, and other parts, then set them loose on the Junk Planet in this sandbox ecosystem sim.

$1.79

Hidden gems like Gridworld

Earth Simulator

Shape continents and climates, then watch civilizations rise under your hand, with friends along for the ride.

$4.99

Planetary Life

Terraform a barren world, tune its climate and watch the life you seed evolve across millennia, all at your own unhurried pace.

$11.99

The Bibites: Digital Life

Digital life that actually evolves. Bibites are tiny creatures with neural network brains and genes of their own: set up a world, let natural…

$9.99

Terra Firma

Play god and create your own world in this complex simulation.

Free

ANLIFE: Motion-Learning Life Evolution

A relaxing evolution simulation where AI-driven block creatures move in unexpected ways.

$13.99

Nature & Life - Drunk On Nectar

Play as Animals, Live in Nature! Multiple game modes include Realistic Lifecycles, Survival, Sandbox, Fantasy and Exploration.

$14.99

Ecosystem

Seed a simulated ocean with random creatures and watch evolution do the rest.

$19.99

Thrive

Grow a microbe into a species, choosing every adaptation as your alien world changes around you.

$4.99

Lifecraft

Survive and evolve as an organism with this simulation game in which you will literally start as a single cell and manage and organize all its…

$22.99

Creatures Docking Station

Raise and train a troupe of cuddly virtual life creatures that live on a Space Station.

Free

The Sapling

Design creatures and plants, release them into one world, and watch what evolution does with your creations.

$17.99

Equilinox

Fill a low-poly landscape with plants and animals, balance each ecosystem, and unlock genetic quirks that make your creatures wonderfully strange.

$9.99

Newest games like Gridworld