Your first life in Evolve a Cell is short for almost everyone. Something bigger shows up, you don't see it coming, and you're a snack. That's fine. This guide is about making the second life go better than the first.
Controls
| Action | PC | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Swim | Mouse / WASD | Your cell follows the cursor |
| Dash | Space | Short burst. Also how you deal real damage when ramming |
| Editor | E | Add, move and remove parts, reshape and paint |
| Rebirth | Hold G | Available from stage 4 |
On mobile the same actions are on-screen buttons.
Step 1: pick plants or meat
The first screen asks "What do you eat?" Green food is plants, red food is meat. Your mouth can only use one of them at the start.
If this is your first time, pick plants. Green food is everywhere and nobody fights you for it. Meat grows you faster, but only once you can actually take fights. Read Plants vs Meat if you want the longer version.
Step 2: eat, and learn to read size
Swim over food to eat it. Every pellet gives DNA, and DNA fills the bar to your next level.
The one rule that matters early: anything clearly bigger than you can eat you. You can't see other cells' health bars, so size is all you have to go on. If it's bigger and swimming toward you, leave.
Step 3: your first card
At your first level you choose one of three parts. Early options are usually Eyes, Shell and Antenna. We'd take Eyes: without them the screen is darker and you can't zoom out as far, which means you spot hunters too late.
After that, each level offers three more cards — new parts, stat boosts like Hot Blood or Mending, or level-ups for parts you own. See every one on the Level-Up Cards page.
Step 4: open the editor
Press E. Parts cost DNA to place and you only have a few slots early (around five). Some basic rules that save a lot of grief:
- Mouth goes on the front. If spikes or a drill cover your mouth, you can't eat. One creator learned this the hard way after building a full drill face.
- Speed parts go on the back. Jets, fins and tails.
- Eyes face forward. It's easy to drop them on your underside by accident.
- You can drag to resize the body shape and switch to paint mode to recolor. Skins unlock as you play.
Step 5: claim free DNA
Open the rewards menu early. Playing for a few minutes pays out DNA (one player got 60 DNA after three minutes), and the season pass has a free track. It's free growth — grab it.
Step 6: when you die
The death screen gives you choices:
- Descend — continue as your own descendant (the next generation). You keep some progress.
- Start over — a clean slate.
- Second Chance — revive on the spot for Robux (25 R$ for the first one; it gets pricier).
Most of the time, descending is the right call.
Next steps
Once you reach stage 4, read the Rebirth Guide. That's when the game opens up.