Foldit

Foldit is a free online puzzle video game about protein folding developed by the University of Washington's Center for Game Science in collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry and the Rosetta Commons. Launched in 2008, Foldit invites players to fold and design protein structures by manipulating a 3D model of a chain of amino acids within real-world constraints. The game uses the Rosetta energy function to score solutions, so higher-scoring folds are considered more physically plausible. Players perform actions such as adjusting backbone angles, rotating side chains, and docking proteins into larger complexes. Some puzzles involve recreating known structures, while others task players with designing novel proteins or improving existing models. Foldit combines guided tutorials, sandbox play, and online challenges, often incorporating collaborative or competitive elements to accelerate exploration.

The project has become a prominent example of citizen science. Researchers have used Foldit-derived solutions to inform laboratory experiments and to refine computational methods for protein structure prediction and design. Several peer-reviewed papers describe cases where human intuition contributed to breakthroughs that were difficult for automated algorithms alone. The game is maintained as part of ongoing studies in biochemistry and computational biology and serves educational purposes in classrooms and outreach programs.

Foldit is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with a web-based interface as well as desktop clients. It is supported by the University of Washington and funding from multiple sources, including government research grants, and continues to involve a growing international community of players.