Ecosystem

Scratch catalog

Screenshots & trailers

6 media

Trailers autoplay muted — use controls to unmute.

1 / 6

Primary storefront actions

Planning your sessions

Time to beat

Timing estimate not available yet.

Source: IGDB

About this game

Ecosystem isn't just a video game version of the laws of ecology with pre-made fish models. The simulation actually determines the creatures in the game: their bodies, how they swim, and how they think and behave. All the creatures in the trailer evolved on their own in the game; none were hand-edited!

Virtual creatures evolve on their own to adapt to an environment you create At Ecosystem's heart are evolving virtual lifeforms, who grow from synthetic DNA and live in a physically-simulated ocean. This synthetic DNA encodes everything about a creature, from skeletal structure to skin, from joint-types to mental processes. The genetic code of a creature can mutate, combine, be spliced with other species, and be directly modified by the player.

Creatures' nervous systems evolve along with their bodies Creature brains are also encoded in DNA and subject to evolution. The neurology of a virtual lifeform is a pipeline computer where, every moment, data from sense organs is passed through a network of neurons and finally contracts a muscle in a specific body part.

Movement is bound by the laws of fishics To swim, creatures don't just play an animation. They move like real sea-life, applying torque at their joints to push against the water in a way coordinated to propel themselves forward. Working within this physical simulation, evolution can produce an enormous variety of body shapes and swimming styles.

Play for thousands of hours and never see the same animal twice! A wide variety of different creature populations share a single environment, where they swim, graze, prey on each other, and have children. The fittest creatures pass their genes along to their children, and over time a world of strange and unique creatures is born...

Grow and modify an ecosystem, with simulated evolution by natural selection creating the lifeforms that inhabit it. All the creatures in the trailer evolved on their own in the game. None were hand-edited!

System requirements

PC storefront requirement matrices are shown for the Steam / PC tab. Switch platform above for console release context.

Rarest achievements

Achievements unavailable for this source
This catalog entry does not have a Steam app mapping yet.

No linked expansions, DLC, or bundle items are published for this catalog slice yet.

Game Snapshot

Ecosystem cover art

Platforms

Community rating

No community rating yet

Critics rating

No critic rating yet

Themes

Game modes

Player perspective

Age ratingRating unavailable

Languages

Language support isn’t summarized on this overview yet.

Developer
Tom Johnson
Publisher
Slug Disco Studios
Release · PC (Microsoft Windows)
  • WorldwideMar 16, 2021
  • WorldwideNov 08, 2024

Support & links

Related catalogue picks

    Return to DiscoveryShelf view (authenticated)

    Community discussion

    Sign in to join the conversation when comments launch.

    Screenshot lightbox available