Games Windows
Foldit
Fold virtual proteins and tackle scientific puzzles with Foldit, a free-to-play Windows game that contributes player solutions to research.
- Operating system
- Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11, as listed by the publisher
- Architecture
- x64 (publisher package filename)
- Download package
- EXE installer
Publisher estimates about 800 MB of installation space and recommends at least 4 GB RAM. Package was not downloaded or executed.
Link checked · Download guidance
What is Foldit?
Foldit turns protein folding into hands-on puzzles. You adjust virtual molecular structures and work toward higher-scoring solutions, rather than donate idle computing power as in Folding@home. Campaign puzzles introduce the tools, Education puzzles explain the science, and Science puzzles address problems submitted by researchers.
The project covers protein design, small molecule design and structure solving. Science-puzzle solutions are collected for analysis; some puzzles lead to laboratory experiments. The game is developed by a university collaboration that includes the University of Washington's Center for Game Science and Institute for Protein Design.
Free to play does not mean private: Foldit's research terms allow logging and analysis of gameplay, with research data potentially shared or made public. Review those terms before playing, particularly for children. The project uses rolling releases and does not support older versions. This link points to the publisher's Windows x64 EXE; the screenshot illustrates a tutorial interface, not a verified current build.
What it offers
- Manipulate virtual proteins and use puzzle scores to assess candidate folds.
- Learn the tools through Campaign puzzles and explore the science through Education puzzles.
- Contribute Science-puzzle solutions to ongoing research in protein design, small molecule design and structure solving.
- Work on individual solutions or improve shared solutions, with separate soloist and evolver rankings.
Good to know
- Gameplay data may be recorded, analyzed and shared for research under the project's consent terms, including anonymous identifiers for offline or account-free play.
- Older releases are not supported; the publisher advises allowing application updates before logging in.
- The publisher does not support interoperability with other programs' molecular file formats, such as PDB.
- Players under 18 need parental or guardian consent; the terms require players to be at least 7.
Product images
Sources
References used for this listing. Retrieval dates do not indicate hands-on testing.
- Foldit - Download — Windows listing and screenshot gallery ↗Retrieved
- Foldit — About Foldit ↗Retrieved
- Foldit — Download ↗Retrieved
- Foldit — Help ↗Retrieved
- Foldit Terms of Service and Consent ↗Retrieved
- Foldit — Credits ↗Retrieved
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