SimLife

SimLife (1992)

by Maxis
Genres:Simulator
Themes:Science fiction
Game modes:Single player
Story:SimLife was a genetic diversification simulator from Will Wright and Maxis. Create new life forms, introduce them to a planet's ecosystem, and watch them flourish or become extinct.
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Stories about this game (3)
What’s your memory of SimLife?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
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user avatar@zakotuser avatar@zakot
February 09, 2025
SimLife wasn’t just another simulation game—it was a biological sandbox, a place where I could design creatures, tweak their genes, and then set them loose in my own handcrafted ecosystem. Would my six-legged, herbivorous mega-rabbit thrive in a harsh desert? Could I make a flying carnivore that only hunted at night? The answers were always unpredictable, and that’s what made it so magical. It wasn’t about winning—there was no final boss, no high score, just endless experimentation. I spent hours fine-tuning genetic traits, adjusting environments, and watching as my carefully designed world either flourished or collapsed into extinction. The game felt alive, responding to my choices in ways that no other game did at the time.
I never got to play it. Still have the CD somewhere, but it was already too old for my time. Would love to see it preserved. I had to do with impossible creatures instead.
user avatar@jason_c_ouser avatar@jason_c_o
April 20, 2025
Had this as well as many other Maxis Sim games. I guess it was my first try at pixel art, because it let you draw the sprite for any creature. I remember kinda giving up on the game as I never felt they looked cool enough and they would always die anyway. The evolution genre, while still around, is as niche as ever. I'd love to see this make a return.
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