Algaetopia

What it does

Algaetopia is a serious game set in the year 2060, designed to cater to organizations and institutions such as natural resource departments, civil affairs bureaus, and architectural agencies.

Your inspiration

By 2060, rising sea levels due to global warming could submerge much of the world's landmass. This will push human activities towards the ocean, leading to the rise of maritime cities. As non-renewable energy sources deplete, humans will develop ways to harness clean energy. Meanwhile, increased life expectancy will make elderly care a key societal concern. In this future, mindsets will shift significantly. Fewer people will prioritize traditional marriage and family. Instead, they'll adopt a more open cohabitation model based on mutual assistance.

How it works

In Algaetopia, the application and scientific nature of game design are combined with sociological research to create a tangible player experience. Players take on the role of“community builders,”using meticulously designed basic modules to construct algae-based mutual care communities for the elderly. They simulate the unique operation of these communities based on their specific actions,exploring the potential for long-term sustainability and supporting research in related social science issues. Moreover, the design of Algaetopia also incorporates the flexible integration of big data and artificial intelligence. In this project,we have drawn on a vast amount of data from multiple disciplines, including energy studies,sociology, biosciences, and statistics. Integrating this data at the information level is an extremely challenging task. Artificial intelligence can precisely link information from two seemingly unrelated disciplines.

Design process

During the production phase of Algaetopia, our team initially employed Houdini to procedurally generate modular urban environments, which were subsequently imported into the game engine. The real-time rendering of water bodies and atmospheric effects was facilitated by functionalities provided by the Unreal Engine.This approach to constructing a modular community is highly intricate, involving extensive data from various disciplines such as energy studies, sociology, biological sciences, and statistics. Integrating this data on an informational level poses a significant challenge. Throughout this process, large language models played a crucial role. Artificial intelligence technologies can accurately link information from two seemingly unrelated disciplines in an ingenious manner, which has been instrumental in advancing the Algaetopia project. For instance, within this project, there indeed exists a subtle intrinsic connection between energy utilization efficiency and resident satisfaction. Through in-depth analysis aided by AI, we discovered that improvements in energy efficiency not only reduce operational costs for communities but also enhance the quality of life for residents by providing more stable and clean energy supplies, thereby increasing resident satisfaction.

How it is different

Algaetopia is not a just game; it is an experimental platform that simulates social operations in a specific future environment, offering a new perspective on the symbiotic relationship between humans and the environment. By modeling different community operation modes, the game provides valuable data and insights to policymakers, urban planners, and environmental scientists, helping them understand and anticipate the challenges and opportunities that future societies may face. Moreover, Algaetopia challenges traditional East Asian notions of elderly care by proposing a future solution based on marine resources and cohabitation with mutual assistance. This approach offers new ideas for addressing global aging and climate issues.

Future plans

Over the next 12 months, the Algaetopia project will focus on establishing a foundational technical validation system and reproducible experimental methodologies. As an independent game currently in the proof-of-concept phase, the primary objective is to develop a demo to test the game’s mechanics and the causal relationships between the in-game algae ecosystem and community interactions.

Awards

Winner, 2025 DNA Paris Design Awards (FR), July 2025; Silver Winner, 2025 IAI Design Award (CHN), May 2025; Silver Winner, 2025 London Design Awards (UK), May 2025; Silver Winner, 2025 MUSE Creative Awards (USA), April 2025;