NASA has recently surprised the gaming community by releasing its first-ever tabletop role-playing game, titled The Lost Universe. The game, available for free on NASA’s website, combines elements of education, science fiction, and fantasy, offering players an intriguing storyline involving the theft of the Hubble Space Telescope by a dragon.
The game is set on a planet called Exlaris, which was thrown into chaos when a black hole disrupted its orbit. The planet, now dedicated to academia, becomes the backdrop for the players’ adventure. Players take on the roles of Earthlings who worked on the telescope at NASA and are brought through a portal to Exlaris to save the day.
The 44-page gameplay book is designed for 4-7 players and is estimated to take around 3-4 hours to complete. While the game features heavy fantasy elements, it also incorporates educational aspects, emphasizing the importance of the Hubble Space Telescope and its contributions to our understanding of the universe.
Throughout the game, scientific concepts such as gravitational lensing are explained, highlighting the educational value of the gaming experience. Additionally, the lore of The Lost Universe is filled with references to Hubble and NASA, adding an extra layer of depth to the gameplay.
Overall, The Lost Universe offers a unique blend of entertainment and education, showcasing NASA’s creativity in engaging with audiences through unconventional means. The game’s release has generated excitement within the gaming community, further solidifying NASA’s commitment to promoting scientific learning in innovative ways.
