Exploring Cellular Automata: 6 Variations of Game of Life

We often think of "Artificial Life" as complex neural networks or evolutionary algorithms. But in 1970, mathematician John Conway demonstrated that complexity can emerge from simplicity. His "Game of Life" is a cellular automaton—a universe governed by a few deterministic rules.

The rules are simple: 1. Underpopulation: A live cell with fewer than two neighbors dies. 2. Survival: A live cell with two or three neighbors lives. 3. Overpopulation: A live cell with more than three neighbors dies. 4. Reproduction: A dead cell with exactly three neighbors becomes a live cell.

These rules (often noted as B3/S23—Birth on 3, Survival on 2 or 3) create chaos, oscillators, and stable structures. But what happens if we tweak them?

Below are six variations of this simple universe. Each represents a different set of physical laws, leading to drastically different emergent behaviors. From the explosive growth of "HighLife" to the rigid corridors of "Maze," witness how slight changes in local rules transform global destiny.