Aquatica Observatory: Climate Education through Roblox

“As... excessive heat and energy warms the ocean, the change in temperature leads to

unparalleled cascading effects, including ice-melting, sea-level rise, marine heatwaves, and

ocean acidification. These changes ultimately cause a lasting impact on marine biodiversity, and

the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities.” -- UN

Given the beauty and abundance of our oceans, learning about oceanic issues can be incredibly

disheartening and difficult to younger children. Aquatica Studios has found a new way to spread

climate education to younger audiences, taking an appreciation-based approach that minimizes

fear mongering. Aquatica Studios’ mission is “to inspire and build lasting connections with the

ocean through immersive experiences”, and they achieved this through a surprisingly innovative

initiative: a Roblox game called Aquatica Observatory.

As the online gaming platform Roblox rises in popularity, it has become the ideal platform for

Aquatica Studios’ mission. 56% of Roblox’s users are under 17 years old which allows Aquatica

Studios to bring oceanic climate education to younger audiences ("Roblox Demographics Statistics").

As a fan of Roblox, I was so excited when I came across Aquatica Observatory. At first, the

game reminded me of Scuba Diving at Quill Lake—another favorite of mine—because both

involve exploring underwater environments and managing oxygen levels. However, Aquatica

Observatory adds an educational layer to the experience, setting it apart and making gameplay

both meaningful and engaging. Its beautiful graphics further enhance the feeling of being inside

an aquarium.

I was so excited to see different species swim by, and through scanning them in-game, you can

learn different information about each species. It’s really fun when a species you’re interested in

swims by you; I chased a Manta Ray through the tunnel, and once I scanned it, I learned that it

was a Reef Manta Ray, Mobula alfredi, from the family Mobulidae, with a wingspan of 5m. It

also provided several really interesting, fun facts, but you’ll have to scan it yourself to learn what

they are. Not only can you scan fish, but outside of vertebrates, there are invertebrates, corals,

and plants that you can scan and learn about. Once you scan them, all the information that you

have learned is proudly stored in your personal Reef Database.

The game creates a very interactive way to learn about a variety of aquatic topics, including

detailed explanations of the science of diving. Through the in-game diving experience, I went out

equipped in my pink dive mask for clear vision, basic fins for +20% swim speed, and my starter

diving set for +50 air capacity, all purchased through coins awarded through achievements from

learning about different species and completing quests. While waiting inside the aquarium for

my oxygen to refill, there are a variety of exhibits. One examines the Open Ocean, explaining the

ecology, size, and importance.

This is the type of game that the more you play, the more exciting features you discover, and the

more interesting it becomes. One of the features I discovered later on was being able to pick up

trash on the reefs, which encourages players to be upstanding and pollution conscious.

Aquatica Studios’ dream of “bringing ocean conservation and education to the Roblox platform”

has been effective, seeing as the game has 3.5 million visits as of March 2026. Aquatica Studios

proves that bringing climate education to youth is possible and that climate education can be a

fun, engaging, and meaningful experience all in one.

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Bibliography

"How Is Climate Change Impacting the World's Ocean." United Nations. Accessed

March 15, 2026. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/

ocean-impacts.

Roblox Demographics Statistics 2026. January 12, 2026. Accessed March 15, 2026.

https://www.takeaway-reality.com/post/roblox-demographics-statistics.