Haven Academy is a multimedia role-playing game created to introduce first-year University of Chicago students to the Core curriculum, university life, and the principles of free expression. Set on fictional islands, each representing a different academic discipline, the game immerses players in a world of discovery, puzzles, and social interaction.
Development and Future of Haven Academy
The game was designed and built by students and faculty at UChicago’s Weston Game Lab, known for its work in game design, media arts, and interactive storytelling. Haven Academy was launched in 2024 and played by over 1,000 incoming students during Orientation. Featuring 130,000 words of text, 47 puzzles, original music, voice acting, and hand-drawn environmental art, the game was a large-scale effort that blended creative storytelling with educational goals.
Feedback from the pilot year is now being used to refine and expand the game for future orientations. As the game evolves, it continues to offer students an immersive, thought-provoking way to learn about university life, engage with diverse ideas, and build a sense of community—all through the lens of play.
Narrative and Setting
Set on a remote archipelago, Haven Academy is divided into four academic islands, each dedicated to a different mode of thinking:
As players navigate Haven Academy, they engage in discussions with fellow students and faculty, uncover secrets about the university’s history, and work together to solve challenges that encourage critical thinking and collaboration.
Puzzles and Gameplay
Puzzles are a core component of Haven Academy, designed to foster teamwork, problem-solving, and open discourse. Rather than simply teaching students about free expression and diverse perspectives, the game actively engages them in these ideas through interactive gameplay. Players must work together to solve challenges that reflect the values of discussion, debate, and intellectual exploration.
Some puzzles require logical reasoning and pattern recognition, while others involve interpreting texts, decoding messages, or even negotiating with in-game characters. These mechanics encourage students to navigate differing viewpoints, find common ground, and practice meaningful discourse—all essential skills for university life. The collaborative nature of these puzzles means that success often depends on players sharing their unique perspectives, mirroring real-world academic discussions.