Evolution of Trust

An interactive guide to the game theory of cooperation

Understanding the Game

In this game, you'll explore how trust emerges in repeated interactions.

Each round, you and your opponent choose: Cooperate or Defect.

Payoff Matrix

Opponent Cooperates Opponent Defects
You Cooperate +3 / +3 0 / +5
You Defect +5 / 0 +1 / +1

Meet the Strategies

Let's play against different strategies...

You

Score: 0
Round 1 / 10

Opponent

Score: 0

History

Evolution Simulation

Now let's see what happens when these strategies compete in a population...

Each generation, successful strategies reproduce and unsuccessful ones die out.

Generation: 0 / 50
Population: 100

Sandbox Mode

Adjust parameters and see how they affect the evolution of trust.