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Cell to Singularity

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Cell to Singularity
Developer(s)Computer Lunch
Publisher(s)Computer Lunch
Platform(s)Steam, Web Browser (outdated), Android, iOS
Release
  • Android (Early Access): December 2018
  • Android (Official): March 2020
  • iOS: July 2019
  • Steam (Early Access): December 2018
Genre(s)Incremental
Mode(s)

Cell to Singularity is a freemium incremental game developed and published by Computer Lunch. An exploration of evolution, naturalism, and civilization, the game uses idle mechanics to help players learn about science and history.[1]

Gameplay

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This game is represented as a simulation managed by an artificial intelligence called Semblance.

The game begins with a view of the Hadean Earth from space. The player must use their fingers or mouse to tap on the screen, tapping generates Entropy - an in-game currency, Entropy is used to unlock upgrades on a technology tree and purchase lifeforms that automatically generate Entropy. Progression involves increasing the player's Entropy accumulation and advancing through different eras of Earth’s history. When the planet and its organisms evolve and change by appearance, visual changes occur in 3D modeled "gardens" where the player can view the creatures and developments that they’ve purchased.[2]

Getting the technology "First Idea" unlocks a new currency for the player called Ideas. Players gain currencies continuously, with the simulation continuing to earn points while the game is offline.[3][4] Occasionally, "boosts" may become available, which allow the player to gain a small advantage in the game. This game's premium currency, called "Darwinium" (named after Charles Darwin), can be obtained via in-app purchase or through in-game events or achievements.[5]

When a technological singularity is reached in the civilization tree, the simulation "crashes" and restarts from the beginning; a prestige mechanic where earned Entropy and Idea Points are converted into a new currency called MetaBits, which are used to upgrade the simulation, the main tech tree of the game ends with the colonization and terraforming of Mars, though there are more generators to buy with Metabits and Entropy.

Expansions

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  • Mesozoic Valley – Branching off of the main tech tree is the Mesozoic Valley, a separate simulation featuring the evolution and eventual extinction of the dinosaurs. Released in December 2019, this expansion introduced a new gameplay style, similar to the gameplay of AdVenture Capitalist, including Trait Cards which can be used to upgrade individual creatures and a new level-based progression and prestige system.[6]
  • The Beyond – The second expansion of Cell to Singularity, the space-themed Beyond, was released on November 6, 2021. The launch of the expansion was marked by an in-game event where players tapped on a black hole icon. This milestone was reached after four days, and the simulation became available to play. The gameplay style is similar to the Mesozoic Valley, and it starts with exploring the various objects that make up the Solar System and then eventually, the Milky Way Galaxy and the various bodies that compose it.[7]

History

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Cell to Singularity began development in 2017, inspired by Computer Lunch co-founder Andrew Garrahan’s love of nature documentaries.[8] Wanting to create a game about science and history, Garrahan saw the emergent popularity of the incremental game genre as a good fit for the more relaxed pace of a documentary. Garrahan was also inspired by James Burke’s “Connections” series for the BBC.

The game was initially released in early access on Android in 2018.[9] It was later also released in early access on iOS and Steam.[10] The game was officially released on iOS in August 2019,[11][12] and Android in April 2020.[13] Finally, it left Steam Early Access in November 2021.

Exploration Events

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Cell to Singularity is still in active development, with updates releasing regularly.[14] Beginning in late 2021, limited time events, called "Explorations," have been added to the game.[15][16][17] These feature miniature simulations about specific topics in science, technology, and the humanities. All eleven planned Exploration events are released, these include:[18]

  • Unfold The Universe – Explores the James Webb Space Telescope and the detailed history and mission of the telescope. This event coincided with the launch of the said telescope.[19]
  • Fungus Among Us – Explores the entangled world of Fungi, its properties and types.
  • The Big Questions – Explores philosophy and its questions.
  • Life After Apocalypse – Explores the extinction events, which occurred in Earth history and shows what would happen if all humans die.
  • The Price Of Trust – Explores money and its history.
  • A Coevolution Love Story – Explores pollination and the codependency between bees and flowers.
  • Lurking in the Dark – Explores deep sea and its life.
  • A Journey of Serenity – Explores the history and culture of tea.
  • Good Vibrations – Explores the culture and evolution of music.
  • Anatomy of Life – Explores the human body and how it works.
  • The Power of Images – Explores the history of art and its evolution over time.
  • Threat of Infection – Explores the history of infectious diseases and how humans combat it via the immune system and various non-biological measures.


Reception

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Katherine Franklin of BigBossBattle.com called the game, "a commendable delve into a fun representation of evolution on (and off) Earth."[20]

Early reviews praised the game’s atmosphere, with one from BlueMoonGames.com declaring, "The visual presentation makes the game feel like an interactive animated educational tutorial through the [historical] periods described."[21]

Michael Zegar of GamePressure.com compared the game favorably to Spore, Cookie Clicker, and Plague Inc.[22]

The Beyond expansion, released in November 2021, also received positive reviews. Catherine Ng Dellosa of PocketGamer.com called it, "...a refreshing change of pace from the numerous mobile titles out in the market today."[23]

The game has a 4.7 rating on the Google Play Store, a 4.8 rating on the iOS App Store,[24] and a positive review rating on Steam based on over 9,000 reviews.[25] It was picked as an "Editor's Choice" game on the Google Play Store in June 2020.[26]

While the majority of the reception to the game has been positive, it has been criticized by some for its simple low-poly graphics, lack of branching narrative options, and slow update schedule. Many negative reviews of the game stem from distaste for its use of incremental mechanics such as clicking.

References

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  1. ^ Mohandas, Mithun (2021-03-19). "Cell to Singularity – Evolution Never Ends | Digit". digit.in. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  2. ^ "Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends — Patch 6_60: Beta Testing for Nanobots and Revamped Land Garden — Notícias do Steam". store.steampowered.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-09-12. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  3. ^ "Offline earnings have become a joke for the main sim but remain solid in Dinosaur sim. :: Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends General Discussions". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  4. ^ "Cell to Singularity: A Must-Have Game". The Edge. 2020-10-03. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  5. ^ "Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends - 7.19 Mammal Kingdom - Koala & Kangaroo, Photo mode, Skip Open Geode button - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  6. ^ "Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends - Patch 6.01: We Hatched a Major Update - The Reptiles & Birds Expansion is Here! - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  7. ^ Sheehan, Gavin (2021-11-02). "Cell To Singularity: Beyond Will Officially Launch November 6th". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  8. ^ "Click to Exist: A Chat with ComputerLunch about Cell to Singularity". TechRaptor. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  9. ^ "Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends gameplay details". JoyFreak. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  10. ^ "Cell to Singularity Evolving from Early Access - Hardcore Gamer". hardcoregamer.com. 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  11. ^ "Cells to Singularity iOS Version Arrives August 29, Dinosaurs Coming Soon". TechRaptor. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  12. ^ "Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends - Cell to Singularity Coming to iOS August 29th! - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  13. ^ "Cell to Singularity: Evolution Never Ends (2018) release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  14. ^ "Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends - Steam News Hub". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  15. ^ "Steam November 2021 top 20 new releases". VentureBeat. 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  16. ^ "Steam Community :: Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  17. ^ "The James Webb Telescope May Be Grounded But Cell To Singularity Is Already Counting On A Successful Launch". GameSpace.com. 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  18. ^ "Cell to Singularity on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  19. ^ Botadkar, Tanish (29 December 2021). "Cell to Singularity is celebrating the launch of the James Webb Telescope with a new story-driven event". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  20. ^ "From Cell to Singularity and back again". Big Boss Battle (B3). 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  21. ^ "Cell to Singularity | 2020 Review | Guides, Tips and Tricks". bluemoongame. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  22. ^ "Free Clicker That Lets You Play God Gains Popularity". Gamepressure.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  23. ^ "Cell to Singularity: Beyond review - "Staring into space has never been this rewarding"". www.pocketgamer.com. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  24. ^ "Cell to Singularity: Evolution". Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  25. ^ "Cell to Singularity - Evolution Never Ends on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  26. ^ "Cell to Singularity: Evolution - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
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