BitLife is a text-based life simulator game in which players take on the role of an avatar, making decisions and shaping their own life story. The game has a variety of scenarios, including different careers, relationships and possible random life events, such as getting into a car accident or winning the lottery. When a new game begins, players create their character, choosing their gender, name and country of birth. They can then choose to customize their appearance, such as hairstyle and clothing, although these choices have no effect on gameplay. The game also generates random character traits, such as intelligence, happiness, and health, which affect the character's actions and outcomes. the main gameplay of BitLife consists of making choices that affect the character's life path. Players can choose to study hard, go to college, or drop out of school to pursue a career in a particular field. They can also engage in social activities such as dating, getting married, having children, and maintaining relationships with family and friends. Each decision made has the potential to affect the status of the character and their overall happiness.

The game's interface is simple and user-friendly. Players navigate the game by selecting options from a menu that appears on the screen. Each action taken by a character is accompanied by a text description of the outcome, which may be humorous, tragic, or unexpected. For example, a character who decides to cheat on his or her spouse may find themselves in a messy divorce and lose custody of their children. Conversely, a character who chooses to remain faithful to his or her partner may have a happy marriage and a successful career. a unique aspect of BitLife is its focus on the random events and challenges that can occur during the course of the game. These events range from the trivial, such as receiving a parking ticket, to life-changing situations, such as being diagnosed with a serious illness. Players must navigate these challenges and make decisions that may affect the outcome of their character.