# Vivarium

> Vivarium (iPhone/iPad app by Hans Renz.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vivarium/id6760226672 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Hans Renz](https://appshunter.io/developer/861362527)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.2 · 14 MB
- Languages: German
- Released: 2026-03-17
- Data updated: 2026-07-17
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vivarium/id6760226672/reviews.md

## What is Vivarium?

Vivarium transforms Conway's Game of Life into a living microscope slide.

Watch as cells evolve, merge, and form complex organisms — all rendered in real-time with AAA-quality graphics powered by Apple's Metal GPU framework.

STUNNING VISUALS
• Per-pixel metaball rendering creates smooth, organic shapes — no blocky grids
• 3D lighting with dual specular highlights and Fresnel rim effects
• Subsurface scattering simulates light passing through cell membranes
• Bloom, chromatic aberration, and film grain for an authentic microscope feel
• Six handcrafted visual themes: Vivarium, Deep Ocean, Ember, Aurora, Neon Pulse, Monochrome

INTERACTIVE SIMULATION
• Pinch to zoom into the cellular world
• Draw cells with your finger — smart draw/erase detects your intent
• Place classic patterns: Glider, Pulsar, Gosper Glider Gun, and more
• Adjustable simulation speed from 1 to 60 generations per second
• Four grid sizes from 64×64 to 512×512

CLASSIC PATTERNS INCLUDED
• Glider — the iconic traveler
• Lightweight Spaceship — fast-moving vessel
• Pulsar — mesmerizing period-3 oscillator
• Gosper Glider Gun — infinite glider factory
• R-Pentomino — chaos from five cells
• And more: Acorn, Diehard, Pentadecathlon

BUILT FOR APPLE
• Native Metal compute shaders for buttery-smooth 60fps
• Resolution-independent rendering — pixel-perfect on iPhone SE to iPad Pro
• Supports all orientations and screen sizes
• iOS 26 Liquid Glass interface design
• Zero data collection, zero ads, zero tracking

Vivarium is completely free. No in-app purchases, no subscriptions, no compromise.


## Version history (last 1 release)

### 0.3 — 2026-03-17

some bugfixes

## More apps by Hans Renz

- [Coders Friend](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coders-friend/id6738924547)
- [Restlos](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/restlos/id6754604227)
- [NAS Guard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nas-guard/id6756511802)
- [PVE Guard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pve-guard/id6761167548)
- [Docker Guard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/docker-guard/id6765659261)

All apps by Hans Renz: https://appshunter.io/developer/861362527

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*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 2026-07-17.*