“This new game is part of NOAA’s educational strategy to engage students in challenges that maintain an interest in science and technology. It joins other games and educational efforts that promote the knowledge and behaviors of future environmental stewards,” said Holly Bamford, acting deputy assistant administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service.

The game takes place in a seaside town in the southeastern United States and involves six stakeholders critical to the protection and recovery of the loggerhead sea turtle, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Players navigate a series of mini-games from the beach cleanup to clear the way for nesting turtles to a food chain version of Sudoku to improve the likelihood of survival of the loggerhead turtle. To succeed, players must understand human actions affecting loggerheads and what people can do to improve the chance for survival of the species, both on land and in the ocean.