Open source evolution sim Thrive adds currents, bioluminescence, additional environmental events and more

Quite a big release for the open source evolution sim Thrive, with some major new features being added to the latest release of this scientific survival game. I really love watching this game evolve, it has some really fun and unique ideas that we've not seen in such a game before and every update like this greatly expands it.

It's in Early Access with Thrive 0.8.2 bringing in some big features like currents, so you and other cells will be pushed around a bit more, along with some moving water particles being added for a bit of visual flair. Currents change and push other things so the game is a fair bit more dynamic.

There's a bunch of new events that have been added like glaciation events and meteor impacts and they've overhauled the tutorial to prevent some player confusion. My favourite addition though? Bioluminescence! They said it's been on their list to add in for a long time, and it's finally in, so you can make yourself look pretty.

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Some more of what was added includes:

• More polished environmental tolerances with organelles now affecting the tolerances.
• Added resolution scaling options to render at lower resolutions for more performance.
• Added a loading screen for stages during which graphics are loaded and shaders compiled to reduce stuttering during gameplay.
• Upgraded to Godot 4.4.1.
• Added a button to play the game at double speed.
• Reordered the organism statistics panel to put less important stats at the bottom and make the compound balances visible without scrolling down.
• Balancing tweaks and made AI members of the player species dying affect the population.
• Various graphics and GUI tweaks.

The game is free and open source, but you can buy it from stores to support the development. It has Native Linux support and Valve rated it Steam Deck Playable.