Not sure if this is just for fun or for research. Artificial Life is/was a field of ressearch for a while, papers were written, books were published, [1][2] etc. The field sought to study biology and the complexity of living things by experimenting with simulations of the real thing(s).

This reminds me of what IMHO is best use of artificial life in a game, Unnatural Selection. In the game you had to select and breed creatures to go against other enemy creatures. [3][4]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_life

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-INSTITUTE-SCIENCES-COMPLEX...

[3] https://www.mobygames.com/game/unnatural-selection

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zteY_f9DrQA