Start of Life

Cell Phase

Creature Phase

Tribal Phase

Civilization Phase

Space Phase

After the player's species evolves its brain capacity far enough, it enters the tribal phase. At this stage physical development ceases (as does the player's exclusive control over an individual creature), and the player is given a hut, a group of fully evolved creatures, a mini-map of the world for the first time, as well as two of six possible "super powers", which are unlocked depending on the species' behaviour in the previous phases.

In this phase the game is similar to an RTS (real-time strategy game). The player may give these creatures tools such as weapons, musical instruments, and campfires, purchased with food that the tribe has hunted and/or gathered. Food now replaces "DNA points" as the player's currency. Creatures also gain the option to wear clothes that demarcate their professions; for example, recruiters wear recruiting clothes while farmers wear farming clothes. The player may also "tame" other non-intelligent creatures, and even use them as livestock. Domesticated creatures seem to undergo neoteny in contrasting photos of the same species, but it is unknown whether it is automatic or if the player was permitted to edit tamed creatures in the editor. Friendly or hostile intraspecies tribe-to-tribe contact can take place in this phase. Creatures also learn to speak in this phase, their language is dependent on the type of mouth they possess; primate-type mouths, for instance, result in Simlish.

The tribal members are assigned roles by the player, such as fishing, gathering, or hunting. The creatures' behaviors and personalities are affected by the way the player utilizes them. If a player uses them aggressively, their autonomic behavior will reflect that; conversely, if the player uses them peacefully, "conquering" other tribes, say, with music, their behavior will be more kind. Even their idle behavior will reflect their personality; warlike tribal members will practice combat with one another while docile members will practice instruments and throw parties.

Once the player's tribe reaches a certain point of superiority over neighbouring tribes, a statue is built and transition to the civilization phase occurs.

Food serves as the phase's currency, which the player uses to spend on items and structures, as well as barter with other tribes.