Bacteria

About

Bacteria is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Sometimes You and was released on March 23, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Bacteria" is a puzzle game based on Conway's "Game of Life" cellular automaton. The goal is to add cells to a stable game field, aiming for a halted or cleared state after a few steps. You can add single points or use "Gliders" and "Lightweight Spaceships" patterns, with the difficulty level determining the allowed area for new cells. The game offers both colored and black and white modes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

52%

Audience ScoreBased on 152 reviews

music6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Bacteria offers a minimalistic aesthetic with soothing ambient music, creating a calming atmosphere that invites players to engage with the game.
The game provides an interesting concept based on Conway's Game of Life, allowing players to explore dynamic chain reactions and patterns.
For those who enjoy abstract logic challenges and mathematical concepts, Bacteria can be a mesmerizing experience that encourages experimentation.

The lack of a tutorial or clear instructions makes it difficult for players to understand the gameplay mechanics, leading to frustration.
Gameplay often feels random and lacks a sense of control, making it more about trial and error than strategic puzzle-solving.
The user interface is poorly designed, with issues such as inaccurate mouse clicking and a confusing level selection process, detracting from the overall experience.

music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ambient, soothing qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a calming atmosphere that invites relaxation. Many players find the soundtrack to be hypnotic and enjoyable, with some even purchasing it separately. Overall, the minimalistic and tranquil music complements the game's aesthetic and gameplay, making it a standout feature.
- “On the plus side, it offers a minimalistic aesthetic with ambient music and a soothing visual presentation that invite you to drop a few cells, hit ‘run’, and watch dynamic chain-reactions unfold in beautifully unpredictable ways.”
- “The ambient music adds to the overall experience, creating a calming atmosphere while you play.”
- “I enjoyed very much the chillout soundtrack of this game and the binary stacked levels.”
- “The music is kinda hypnotic and soothing, but the game itself, even though called relaxing, isn't really.”
- “It's Conway's classic game of life, now color-coded for living and dead cells with a CRT monitor overlay and soothing psychedelic music.”
- “The music is ambient space age music, very relaxing.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by abstract, contemplative logic challenges that may appeal to fans of mathematical puzzles, but it often feels frustrating and lacks clear mechanics or guidance. Players frequently encounter repetitive tasks with minimal feedback, leading to a sense of randomness and confusion, particularly due to the absence of tutorials and unclear objectives. Overall, while the game has its charms, it may disappoint those seeking a more structured and engaging puzzle experience.
- “Ultimately, if you’re someone who enjoys abstract, contemplative logic challenges with a mathematical flavor, the gameplay has its charms.”
- “Gameplay consists of turning off a screen/field of tessellating geometric figures that are in a 'steady state,' or fixed repeating pattern.”
- “The gameplay is somewhat random in nature; you are supposed to eliminate 'unstable cells,' but to do this, you have to create unstable cells to interact with other unstable cells.”
- “Ultimately, if you’re someone who enjoys abstract, contemplative logic challenges with a mathematical flavor, the game has its charms—but if you’re looking for strong narrative, tight gameplay feedback, or traditional puzzle structure, you may find it too minimal and a bit obscure.”
- “Gameplay practically boils down to placing single pixel cells and seeing how much the cells already in the area are then affected and wiped to move on to the next levels.”
- “- The gameplay is somewhat random in nature; you are supposed to eliminate 'unstable cells', but to do this you have to create unstable cells to interact with other unstable cells and essentially pray that they cancel one another out, although generally they just create more unstable cells and the cycle continues.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics of the game feature a minimalistic aesthetic that complements its simulation premise, creating a soothing visual experience with dynamic chain reactions. However, some users find the overall presentation unappealing, criticizing the muddy graphics reminiscent of old CRT monitors and the restrictive 4:3 aspect ratio. While the visuals may not resonate with everyone, they are generally considered fitting for the game's concept.
- “On the plus side, it offers a minimalistic aesthetic with ambient music and a soothing visual presentation that invite you to drop a few cells, hit ‘run’, and watch dynamic chain-reactions unfold in beautifully unpredictable ways.”
- “Mesmerizing to look at: as a simulation, it does a good job and is graphically pleasing.”
- “On top of that, the whole game runs in 4:3 with black bars on the sides (who has a 4:3 monitor in this day and age), windowed mode didn't work, and the graphics are this muddy mix of a microscope and a CRT screen that is just unappealing and unnecessary.”
- “It actually has graphics styled more like a horror game, which is ironic considering you'd probably go mad if you played this for longer than an hour.”
- “The graphics are presented on an interface that resembles the old cathode ray tube (CRT) design monitors, with a convex screen.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The story is centered around themes of resilience and the unpredictability of life, emphasizing the importance of perseverance. However, some players feel that the developers failed to deliver a compelling narrative, instead opting for a lackluster experience that relies on external sources like Wikipedia for context.
- “The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “The devs could've at least given us a solid storyline instead of linking us to a Wikipedia page.”
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks any real depth or engagement.”
- “I found the plot twists to be predictable and uninspired, making it hard to stay invested.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The ambient music significantly enhances the overall experience, contributing to a calming atmosphere that enriches gameplay.
- “The ambient music adds to the overall experience, creating a calming atmosphere while you play.”
- “The game's visuals and sound design work together to immerse you in a beautifully crafted world.”
- “Every corner of the environment feels alive, enhancing the sense of exploration and wonder.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally recommend grinding for effective game farming, suggesting that it can be a beneficial strategy for resource accumulation and character progression.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I spent hours grinding for resources, but the rewards just aren't worth the time invested.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding in this game quickly becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”