Last week I built a small browser game — or maybe a thought experiment.
It started as a curiosity about how probability feels when you live it instead of just calculating it.
You start a simulated life. Every second, a random event might end it.
There’s no strategy, no goal, no progress bar. Just a silent question:
how long would you last if life were reduced to chance?
It was loosely inspired by that classic Quora scenario:
“You press a button and receive $100 million, but a random person dies instantly.”
Except this time, you’re the random person.
After a few runs, I realized I wasn’t really playing anymore — I was just watching, waiting.
And that waiting became the point.
Sartre once said we are “condemned to be free.”
This simulation doesn’t offer choices, only outcomes — but somehow it still feels like freedom.
It’s not meant to be morbid, just an experiment in what randomness feels like when it’s personal.
DaveZale•3mo ago
Wow.
I saw a snippet of an article once on a professor's office door, saying that the most dangerous thing we do everyday is driving in a car. It will be great to have AI driving for us. Can't come soon enough
SoftTalker•3mo ago
To me, the limited time we have is what gives life purpose. If you could live forever, why do anything? There's always tomorrow.
q534•3mo ago
You start a simulated life. Every second, a random event might end it. There’s no strategy, no goal, no progress bar. Just a silent question:
how long would you last if life were reduced to chance?
It was loosely inspired by that classic Quora scenario:
“You press a button and receive $100 million, but a random person dies instantly.” Except this time, you’re the random person.
After a few runs, I realized I wasn’t really playing anymore — I was just watching, waiting. And that waiting became the point.
Sartre once said we are “condemned to be free.” This simulation doesn’t offer choices, only outcomes — but somehow it still feels like freedom.
You can try it here: https://probability.games/games/death-simulator
It’s not meant to be morbid, just an experiment in what randomness feels like when it’s personal.