# Game of Life (xs) > GPU-accelerated simulation of Conway's Game of Life with customizable rules and patterns. (iPhone/iPad app by Vojtech Stursa.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-of-life-xs/id997719497 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Vojtech Stursa](https://appshunter.io/developer/997719496) - Category: Education, Entertainment - Price: Free - Rating: 4.40/5 from 28 App Store ratings · 16 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 13 MB - Languages: American English, Dutch, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, European Portuguese, European Spanish - Released: 2015-06-06 - Data updated: 2026-08-25 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-of-life-xs/id997719497/reviews.md ## What is Game of Life (xs)? Gpu accelerated version of Game of Life made by John Conway. Customizable rule set, many patterns to explore, AirPlay, cell aging mode, color palettes and even some fractals! ## Key features - GPU accelerated - Customizable rule set - Many patterns to explore - Cell aging mode - Color palettes - Fractals ## Recent user reviews (10 of 16) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-of-life-xs/id997719497/reviews.md ### 4/5 — Nice game! *2025-01-05, version 1.9* I enjoy the degree of customization and the creation +evolution of patterns over many generations. I also find the store/restore feature useful. I do have a suggestion though: I have been using the “save to gallery” feature to capture patterns and I was wondering if there was a way to implement uploading photos from the camera roll which were saved from the game. This would allow for saving multiple states and also patterns could be stored externally as a photo, which could be reuploaded to the game. This could probably be a separate option from saving the picture to the gallery. ### 5/5 — I'm SO excited! *2024-12-01* It's back! I couldn't get it for a while! It's the best implementation of this game I have ever seen and I'll never update my iPhone or iPad again now thank you! **Developer response:** Thank you, it will stay in store. I have some more hobby apps on their way, so it will stay active :) ### 5/5 — Amazing *2019-09-21* Great Conway's Life! Lots of options, free w/ no hidden purchases. ### 1/5 — Useless without a reset *2019-03-26* Looked all over the app, and I couldn't find a way to reset a design back to G 0 without having to completely re-draw it. If they put a reset in there, they did a terrible job of making it apparent. **Developer response:** Please check the latest version. I added save/restore function just for you ;) ### 4/5 — Good Implementation! *2019-01-15* I appreciate the amount of control one has over the birth/sustain rules, as well as the aging feature. I would like to be able to save/load custom rules, as well as have an implementation of the "immigrant" feature, where a new cell has the average color of the cells around it. Overall, though, it is excellent for being free! ### 4/5 — Many variations *2018-08-12, version 1.3.6* This is a very well done app. Lots of choices and different ways to configure the life particles. You can now export an image of your creations — thanks for listening — but they are blurry for some reason. I’ll stick to doing a screen shot for now. ### 5/5 — Wonderful game *2017-09-01* This is the best time killer ever! ### 4/5 — Conways Life nicely done *2017-07-04, version 1.3.1* Fast and fluid implementation, high resolution, good range of options. Ads are very annoying full screen ones but for $1.49 you can get rid of them and obviously that's what the developer wants you to do. Fair enough! I'm a bit puzzled why the arena is a different shape to the screen but I guess you can zoom and pan so that kinda makes sense. ### 1/5 — Ads stopped me from doing anything *2016-03-01* Deleting this. I downloaded it because the screenshots looked good but the Game of War popup ad just kept blocking me from spending time with the game. So it's the trash bin for you. **Developer response:** Could you please check a new version? I made some improvements. The ads are still there, but they show every fixed period of time (previously it was based by computed generations) and you can get rid of them for a while by sharing the app (or permanently by buying it). Thank you for your time. ### 1/5 — Rubbishy *2015-12-22* The simulation is 100% spoils by full screen adverts that pop up too often ## Frequently asked questions about Game of Life (xs) ### What is Game of Life (xs)? Game of Life (xs) is a GPU-accelerated simulation of John Conway's Game of Life. It allows users to explore various patterns and customize the rules of the simulation. ### What makes Game of Life (xs) unique? This version is GPU accelerated for faster performance. It also features a cell aging mode, diverse color palettes, and the inclusion of fractals, offering a richer visual experience. ### Is Game of Life (xs) suitable for children? Yes, Game of Life (xs) has an age rating of 4+, making it appropriate for younger users interested in exploring patterns and simulations. ### What devices support Game of Life (xs)? Game of Life (xs) is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod, providing a versatile experience across Apple devices. ### How often is Game of Life (xs) updated? The latest version, 1.9, was released on April 1, 2022. While updates may not be frequent, the app is stable and offers a comprehensive simulation experience. ### Does Game of Life (xs) have ads? No, Game of Life (xs) is completely ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted exploration of its simulation features. ### What is the learning methodology behind Game of Life (xs)? The app facilitates learning through exploration and experimentation. Users can observe emergent behavior from simple rules, fostering an understanding of complex systems and mathematical concepts. ### Can I track my progress in Game of Life (xs)? Game of Life (xs) focuses on real-time simulation and pattern discovery rather than explicit progress tracking or certifications. Users can save and revisit patterns they find interesting. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.10 — 2026-06-03 New rule families • Generations — multi-state rules: Star Wars, Spirals, Bombers. Patterns fire, recharge, and evolve through colours. • SmoothLife — continuous-density fluid automaton: SL Blob, SL Spots, SL Mitosis. Cells blend without discrete on/off states. New topologies • Hex — hexagonal cells with 6 neighbours. Presets: Hex Spots and more. • Triangle — triangular cells with 12 neighbours. Five presets: Tri Life, Tri Maze, Tri Coral, Tri Stars, Tri Spots. Gravity • Cells flow downhill — real falling-sand physics. • Available on all topologies. Configurable gravity/life ratio: from 1:8 (slow trickle) to 8:1 (fast flow). Save & Load • Saved images now embed the rule set and topology — open any Life photo and it restores exactly as you left it. Under the hood • Simulation engine fully rewritten — faster, cleaner, lower memory footprint. • Rendering optimized across all topologies. ### 1.9 — 2022-04-01 Enhanced unsplash photo handling Minor fix ### 1.8 — 2021-12-01 Added support for Unsplash - use image as a playground. Removed grid and noise. ### 1.7 — 2021-11-28 Minor update of internal libs. Back in the store :) ### 1.6 — 2020-08-25 Saving / Restoring of the playground (every playground size now has a separate one item store). ## Apps similar to Game of Life (xs) | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [LogicGates-MechanicalComputer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/logicgates-mechanicalcomputer/id1667742521) | 3.0 (1) | Free | Education | | [Jude - Fractal Explorer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jude-fractal-explorer/id1480948909) | 4.7 (11) | Free | Education | | [Mandel-GL](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandel-gl/id1230459217) | 3.2 (5) | Free | Education | | [Recursivity](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/recursivity/id1525622761) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education | | [Mandel Draw](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandel-draw/id1547068084) | 4.5 (147) | Free | Education | | [FractalEcho](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fractalecho/id6473468070) | 4.1 (9) | Free | Education | ## More apps by Vojtech Stursa - [Footheball](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/footheball/id1427331810) - [Funnygram!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/funnygram/id1455500975) All apps by Vojtech Stursa: https://appshunter.io/developer/997719496 ## Related topics [conway life](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/conway-life) · [the game of life conways](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-game-of-life-conways) · [golly](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/golly) · [catalogue of life](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/catalogue-of-life) · [conways game of life](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/conways-game-of-life) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*