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Golly

Golly

by Andrew Trevorrow

47 ratings
30 reviews
🎮 Games
🕹 Simulation
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • August 28, 2012
  • September 26, 2026

Features

Developer

Andrew Trevorrow
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Golly screenshot #1 for iPad
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Golly screenshot #4 for iPad
⭐30
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🔄6+ apps
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❓5 answered
FAQ↘︎
📦~ in 2 years
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About

Explore Conway's Game of Life and various cellular automata with this open-source application. It supports diverse universe types, multiple algorithms, and a wide array of cellular automata rules. Users can import patterns, download from online archives, and utilize unlimited undo/redo functionality.

✓Supports bounded and unbounded universes
✓Multiple algorithms including hashlife
✓Variety of cellular automata types included
✓Reads multiple file formats (RLE, macrocell, etc.)
✓Extracts patterns and rules from zip files
✓Downloads patterns and rules from online archives
✓Unlimited undo/redo
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What's New in Golly

1.6

September 26, 2026

* Fixed crashes on iOS 27. * The button between All and Paste now has a text label (Edit) rather than an image. * The New button asks if you want to save your changes. * No more beeps if you try to zoom in beyond the maximum scale (1:32). * Files with extensions .tree or .table are no longer supported. * Updated the app icon.

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User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

ONE THING I HATE

Idk why the game lags very bad at very high speeds.
:(
no see guyno see guy

A masterpiece

Einfach nur geil…
Barnarne62Barnarne62

BRING BACK DARK MODE

My eyes 😭
Juv 21Juv 21

its ok but tiamat is better

i like how theres different engines & how u can run it super fast but pookies ima be honest im not using it bc it doesnt support continuous automata (like Lenia for example) and it also doesnt support multi layer automata like Widelife which is my ruleset and the whole reason i got this... i get that continuous automata is rlly hard to run but like multi layer is not so it would be nice to have that yk... til then ill use tiamat for most stuff but i like how the universe is gigantic yet u can do millions of cycles per second
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fayfoxxheartsfayfoxxhearts

+++++

Very good app or game :)
Daniil PisklovDaniil Pisklov
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FAQ

What is Golly?

Golly is an open-source application designed for exploring Conway's Game of Life and a wide range of other cellular automata. It allows users to create, simulate, and analyze complex patterns and rules within these computational systems.

What are the key features of Golly?

Key features include support for bounded and unbounded universes with up to 256 states, multiple algorithms like hashlife, various cellular automata types (e.g., von Neumann's CA, Wolfram's 1D rules), and the ability to read and extract patterns from multiple file formats. It also offers unlimited undo/redo and an integrated Life Lexicon.

Is Golly free to use?

Yes, Golly is an open-source application and is completely free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements associated with its use.

What kind of patterns can I explore with Golly?

Golly supports a vast array of patterns and rules for cellular automata. This includes standard Conway's Game of Life patterns, John von Neumann's 29-state CA, Wolfram's 1D rules, WireWorld, Generations, Langton's Loops, and Larger than Life, among many others.

Can I import my own patterns into Golly?

Yes, Golly supports importing patterns from various file formats, including RLE, macrocell, Life 1.05/1.06, dblife, and MCell files. You can also extract patterns and rules directly from zip files.