microNAUTS: Cellular Crisis

Author: Karina Ekert
University Course: Game Design (Visualization and Interaction in digital Media, SS25, University of Applied Sciences Ansbach)
Supervised by: Prof. Florian Machill and Prof. Sebastian Stamm

• https://www.hs-ansbach.de/personen/machill-florian
• https://twitter.com/thestamm

Created in: Unity, Krita (for graphics), and Illustrator (for text elements)

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microNAUTS is a short educational 2D point-and-click game, that introduces and reinforces knowledge about the animal cell and its components. Designed primarily for middle school students, the game uses quirky storytelling and interactive mechanics to build an entertaining learning experience. The core gameplay revolves around identifying and fixing problems inside a cell after the protagonist is shrunk and swallowed by an eccentric scientist. The narrative and the choice for audio assets lightly supports the gameplay by giving urgency and humor to scientific tasks. The game consists of three playable levels, each using different mechanics (drag-and-drop, click detection, and timing) to communicate distinct scientific content. 

Game Structure & Progression

Intro Scene: A humorous animated comic-like sequence sets up the game. The user clicks anywhere to progress through the dialogue. 

Level 1: Lost Organelles The cell is dysfunctional because key organelles are missing. The player must drag and drop the correct pieces into place, avoiding fake ones. Success transitions the player to Level 2. 

Level 2: Cracked Nucleolus The nucleolus inside the nucleus is broken. The player must quickly identify and patch the damage using puzzle-like fragments. 

Level 3: Viral Invasion Viruses have entered the cell! The player must click on the moving virus sprites to destroy them before they cause damage. 

Final Scene: The scientist sneezes. The player is returned to normal size. The mission is complete.

Core Features

 > Drag-and-drop mechanics (Level 1) 

> Timed click challenges (Levels 2 & 3) 

> Animated intro and outro with text panels 

> Sound toggle & background music controls

This project is a student submission for academic purposes. Unless otherwise noted, original assets are created by the author. Sound assets from Freesound.org are credited in the README file. This is not intended for commercial use. 

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Contact

For questions or further interest, please contact Karina Ekert via email: karina.ekert.k@gmail.com

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Thank you for taking the time to explore this little world.

Sound effects are sourced from Freesound.org, used under Creative Commons licenses. Thanks to all contributing Artists.

This was created as a non-commercial student project. Unless otherwise noted, original assets are created by the author. 

All rights reserved.