A novel optimization approach based on unstructured evolutionary game theory

Proposing new metaheuristic methods is crucial for continuous algorithmic improvement and the ability to effectively address increasingly complex real-world optimization problems. On the other hand, Evolutionary Game Theory analyzes how trough competition is possible to modify the strategies of individuals within a population in order to spread successful mechanisms and reduce or remove less successful strategies. This paper introduces a novel optimization approach based on the principles of evolutionary game theory. In the proposed method, all individuals are initialized using the Metropolis–Hasting technique, which sets the solutions at a starting point closer to the optimal or near-optimal regions of the problem. An original strategy is then assigned to each individual in the population. By considering the interactions and competition among different agents in the optimization problem, the approach modifies the strategies to improve search efficiency and find better solutions. To evaluate the performance of the proposed technique, it is compared with eight well-known metaheuristic algorithms using 30 benchmark functions. The proposed methodology demonstrated superiority in terms of solution quality, dimensionality, and convergence when compared to other approaches.