Particle Life

What Particle Life actually is

Each coloured particle attracts or repels every other colour by an amount you set in a small matrix, and that is the whole rule set. Even so, the dots reliably organise themselves into membranes, chasing pairs, orbiting clusters and structures that look unmistakably biological.

Why it is worth your time

Randomising the attraction matrix a few times is usually enough to stumble on something that behaves like a dividing cell, from rules containing no notion of life.

Common questions

Is Particle Life free?

Yes. Particle Life is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does Particle Life take?

Good within five seconds of loading. We file it under "Instant" — coloured dots that attract and repel start forming cells.

Does Particle Life work on a phone?

Particle Life really wants a mouse and a wide window. It will load on a phone, but the experience is built for desktop.

What kind of site is Particle Life?

We list it under Sandboxes & Simulators — small worlds that keep running without you. Randomising the attraction matrix a few times is usually enough to stumble on something that behaves like a dividing cell, from rules containing no notion of life.