
Create virtual lifeforms whose development is shaped by a deep simulation of evolution. Guide them as they fight, mate, and adapt to the environment you have built. All the creatures in the trailer evolved on their own in the game!
Modeled estimate, not a reported figure. How we estimate →
About
Ecosystem is a game about life. At its heart are evolving virtual lifeforms, who grow from synthetic DNA and live in a physically-simulated ocean. This DNA encodes everything about a creature: their skeletal structure, their mental processors and even their combat prowess.
The nervous system of a virtual lifeform is a pipeline computer where, every moment, data from sense organs passes through a network of neurons and finally contracts a muscle in a specific body part. Creatures swim just like real sea-life, applying torque at their joints to push against the water in a way coordinated to propel themselves forward.
To create life, you need only release a batch of these lifeforms into the water with random brains and bodies. Most will flail around aimlessly, but those that manage to move even slightly will get to have more offspring than the others. Ten generations later, their descendants will be talented swimmers.
It’s really satisfying to see the creatures evolve in a real sense, guided by your hand in the simulated fluid of your own world.
Whether it’s using electrical attacks to stun enemies or developing poisonous spikes to evade the jaws of predators, Ecosystem’s simulation features an in-depth combat layer.
Each creature has a range of combat statistics that will determine their role in the food chain. As a species evolves and gains a foothold, it will need to adapt to survive attacks from predators or face extinction.
If you want to take a more hands-on approach in your creatures’ evolution, a suite of tools are provided, unlocked as you progress through the game, to force certain traits in your species. From high level settings such as requiring a species to have tentacles, be a certain size, or have a set amount of body parts, to minute details such as determining the amount of drag or torque a creature may face when swimming, the simulation is yours to control.
Ecosystem features procedural worlds with a variety of options such as ocean depth and soil type, but you can go one step further and sculpt the terrain yourself, raising mountains or carving out dark caves for your predators to lurk in.
For players who want to monitor their ecosystems closely, there is a lot of data at your fingertips. We’ve got you covered for all the statistics and analysis of your world that you could possibly want - from ecosystem overviews showing population charts for both animals and plants to phylogenetic trees for individual species, allowing you to track your species evolution.
Ecosystem features Steam Workshop support, allowing you to share your species, maps and aquariums. Download other players' species from within the game and introduce them to your ecosystem and see if they have what it takes to survive.
Genres
Stats
All-time low is the lowest price we've recorded for this game since we started tracking it.
Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
Engagement
Hours played at review time, across 41 reviews with recorded playtime.
Reviews
Themes across 41 recent reviews and how positive each mention is. A keyword signal, not full sentiment analysis.
positive critical· bar length = how often the theme comes up
Reviews
After 4 hours of game, I was unable to load my saved games. Obviously there is a bug that is occuring since end 2025 when visiting aquarium, that causes the problem. I asked for a refund; but was refused. Do not buy this game and the DLC.
Ecosystem offers a refreshing interpretation of the life simulation genre by focusing on evolution, biology, and environmental interaction rather than traditional resource management or survival mechanics. Instead of controlling a single creature or completing a scripted campaign, players oversee the development of an entire underwater ecosystem where every living organism evolves according to simulated genetics and natural selection. The game embraces scientific principles to create an experience that feels both educational and entertaining, giving players the opportunity to observe life emerge, adapt, and compete in a constantly changing aquatic environment. Its concept is ambitious, and it succeeds in delivering a sandbox where experimentation often produces fascinating and unpredictable outcomes. The defining feature of Ecosystem is its advanced evolutionary simulation. Every creature is generated from a strand of artificial DNA that determines its physical appearance, skeletal structure, movement, senses, and behavior. Rather than relying on preset animations or predetermined species, animals evolve naturally as successful traits are passed from one generation to the next. Watching initially awkward organisms slowly transform into efficient swimmers, skilled hunters, or cautious prey creates an incredible sense of discovery. Since evolution is driven by environmental pressures instead of scripted events, every new world tells a unique story that unfolds differently with each playthrough. Movement and behavior are equally impressive because they are built upon realistic physical simulation instead of simple animation cycles. Creatures propel themselves through water by using their evolving body structures, while their decisions are guided by simulated neural networks that react to nearby food, threats, and other environmental factors. The result is a living ecosystem where no two species behave exactly alike. Some animals become agile predators, others evolve defensive adaptations, and many develop unexpected strategies simply through the interaction between genetics and survival. This level of emergent behavior gives the simulation remarkable depth and authenticity. Combat and survival are integrated naturally into the ecosystem. Predators hunt weaker creatures while prey continuously adapt to avoid extinction, creating an ever-changing balance within the food chain. Species may evolve venom, electrical attacks, improved speed, or stronger defensive features depending on the challenges they face. These evolutionary arms races make the ecosystem feel alive, as population numbers constantly rise and fall according to the success or failure of each adaptation. Instead of forcing conflict through missions or objectives, the game allows competition to emerge organically through its underlying systems. Although the simulation is capable of running independently, players have numerous tools to influence its direction. They can encourage specific traits, alter the likelihood of physical characteristics appearing, and shape the evolutionary path of future generations without completely removing the unpredictability of natural selection. Environmental editing is equally flexible, allowing the construction of underwater landscapes filled with caves, cliffs, open waters, and other terrain features that directly influence how species survive and interact. This combination of indirect control and emergent simulation makes experimentation one of the most satisfying aspects of the game. Another strength lies in the extensive analysis tools provided throughout the experience. Population statistics, evolutionary trees, species information, and ecological data allow players to study the development of their worlds in remarkable detail. These systems transform the game into more than a sandbox, offering insight into how each organism evolved and how environmental changes affected the overall ecosystem. Players interested in biology, artificial intelligence, or procedural simulation will likely appreciate the amount of information available for observation and experimentation. Visually, Ecosystem presents an attractive underwater world filled with colorful marine environments and uniquely evolved lifeforms. As generations pass, creatures gradually develop increasingly complex shapes, making the ocean feel populated by original species rather than recycled assets. Combined with relaxing ambient audio and a peaceful atmosphere, the game often feels meditative despite the constant struggle for survival occurring beneath the surface. Moments of dramatic ecological change, such as the sudden rise of a dominant predator or the extinction of an entire lineage, provide memorable highlights that emerge naturally from the simulation. Ecosystem is undoubtedly designed for a niche audience. Players looking for structured objectives, fast-paced action, or traditional progression systems may find its slow, observational gameplay challenging. Much of the enjoyment comes from patiently watching evolution unfold, experimenting with environmental conditions, and learning how small adjustments influence the ecosystem over many generations. Those willing to invest the time will discover one of the most sophisticated evolutionary sandboxes currently available, offering remarkable replay value thanks to its highly dynamic systems and endless variety of outcomes. Overall, Ecosystem successfully delivers on its ambitious vision of creating a believable digital ecosystem driven by genetics, physics, and natural selection. Its combination of deep biological simulation, realistic creature behavior, environmental customization, and detailed analytical tools creates a unique experience that rewards curiosity and experimentation above all else. While its deliberate pace may not appeal to everyone, it stands as an impressive achievement for players who appreciate complex simulations and emergent gameplay. Rating: 7/10
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this game is very bad especially for £16 ts game is ass
good
Cool a-life sim where u watch ur fish evolve new body plans and niches.
怪异物体诞生器
For the price, it's fun. It's very slow paced and sometimes the bigger sized things just won't move all together. A little buggy, but I LOVED spore and was dying for a new alternative. Not the exact same, but it scratched the itch and now I have a bunch of gleeps and gloops (idk what else to call them they don't resemble any living thing I've ever seen) swimming around and it's been fun to add the predators and see who wins the age old battle. I like to run it in the background between league matches and just see what new hellish thing has spawned in. It's a good aquarium sim tbh, just with more personalization.
very relaxing and fun, still even now finding new things and better ways to make things efficient, looks overwhelming to understand but trust me it didnt take too long to learn. If you like slow burning enviroment building, life evolution kinds of gameplay then this is definitely a try for you. even if you havent checked out this genre of game, try it out!
My only wish is that plants would grow at a good rate no matter the fps
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Trends
Modeled estimate over time, reconstructed from Steam's monthly review histogram.
Audience
Estimated from the language of this game's reviews — a proxy for where players are, not official Steam demographics.
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