Item: Evolution - Learning Creatures
Rating: 83
Author: Dinsun

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. This reminds me of the old educational software we used to have on the Apple IIe, just with better resolution. It’s more of a laboratory than a game, and I appreciate that. It doesn't treat the player like they have an eight-second attention span. You actually have to think about how traits like speed or size affect a creature's ability to gather food or avoid predators. It’s an honest piece of software.

The downside is that it lacks 'game' polish. It’s very dry, and the interface is a bit clunky. It feels like it was built by a scientist rather than a game designer, which is both a strength and a weakness. It’s a bit too slow for casual play, but for someone interested in biology, it’s a refreshing change of pace from the mindless shooters on the App Store. I’d like to see more depth in the late-game, as it gets repetitive once you find a 'winning' creature design.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Solid educational value
Focuses on real science concepts
No manipulative monetization

Unpolished UI
Slow pacing
Minimalist visuals may be too plain for some

Technical Report

Performance: Stable; low resource usage.

Accessibility:

Text-heavy instructions
Simple navigation

Audience Fit

Buy if: You are interested in biology or want an educational game for your students/children.

Skip if: You want fast action or a game with a traditional story arc.

Similar Games:

Cell to Singularity
Species: ALRE
SPORE (Mobile)

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative veteran gamer
Hardware: iPad Pro
Playtime: 4 hours
Status: Ran multiple generation cycles

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1227314223

$1.99 4+★4.4 545 reviews

Author : Keiwan Donyagard

Pubish Date : Tue Apr 18 2017

Last Update Date : Mon Oct 06 2025

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 4.0.5Mon Oct 06 2025

This update addresses the recently discovered security vulnerability in the Unity game engine (CVE-2025-59489).
Use joints, bones and muscles to build creatures that are only limited by your imagination. Watch how the combination of neural networks and an evolutionary algorithm can enable your creatures to learn and improve at their given tasks all on their own.
The tasks include running, jumping, climbing and flying. Can you design the ultimate creature that is good at all of the tasks?
The latest update allows you to easily share your simulation saves and creature designs with your friends.
Note that this is more of a simulation than a game. There are no real objectives. But there is a lot to learn if you are interested in the basics of machine learning and neural networks. You can even look at the source code if you want.
There is also a Mac & PC version available for download and a browser version for you to try out on the main project website (keiwando.com/evolution).
Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Use joints, bones and muscles to build creatures that are only limited by your imagination. Watch how the combination of neural networks and an evolutionary algorithm can enable your creatures to learn and improve at their given tasks all on their own.
The tasks include running, jumping, climbing and flying. Can you design the ultimate creature that is good at all of the tasks?
The latest update allows you to easily share your simulation saves and creature designs with your friends.
Note that this is more of a simulation than a game. There are no real objectives. But there is a lot to learn if you are interested in the basics of machine learning and neural networks. You can even look at the source code if you want.
There is also a Mac & PC version available for download and a browser version for you to try out on the main project website (keiwando.com/evolution).

Ratings & Reviews

4.4 out of 5 with 545 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Evolution: Learning Creatures is a powerful biological simulator where you control the threads of life. Build creatures from various body parts, define their neural networks, and unleash them into an ecosystem to see if they can survive. Using advanced genetic algorithms, the game simulates the process of natural selection. Only the most efficient creatures will pass on their traits. Witness the rise of complex behaviors as your creations learn to walk, swim, and hunt through thousands of generations.

Features

Real-time genetic algorithm simulation

Robust creature creator with physics-based movement

Dynamic environments with varying challenges

Detailed graphs and data tracking evolutionary progress

Educational insights into natural selection

Tips

Building Your First Creature

Use the editor to connect joints and bones. Assign muscles to specific parts of the body to determine how the creature will move.

Running the Simulation

Place your creature in the environment and hit play. The 'Learning' phase begins where the creature attempts to move toward a goal. The most successful versions are used to seed the next generation.