The game is broken up into distinct “stages”. The outcome of one phase affects the initial conditions and leveling facing the player in the next. Each phase exhibits a distinct style of play, and has been described by the developers as ten times more complicated than its preceding phase.[3][4] Phases often feature optional missions; when the player completes a mission, they are granted a bonus, such as a new ability or money. If all of a player’s creations are eliminated at some point, the species will respawn at its nearest colony or the beginning of the phase.