Discovering Dutch Wildlife: Wildlife Researchers

What if exploring the forest could feel like going on an adventure? That’s the idea behind Wildlife Researchers, a game created by a group of first-year Creative Media & Game Technologies students for Staatsbosbeheer.

The game encourages children to explore the forests of the Netherlands by combining exploration, photography, collecting, and learning. Inspired by games like Animal Crossing, players can discover different trails, search for animals, and build their own collection of wildlife. 

The heart of the game is a sticker notebook. When players spot an animal, they can take a photo and add it to their collection. Each sticker also includes an interesting fact, turning every discovery into an opportunity to learn more about Dutch wildlife. 

Players can also compare their collections with friends, encouraging them to explore together and discover animals they might have missed.

With Wildlife Researchers, the team wanted to make spending time in nature more interactive and exciting, while helping children discover just how much there is to find in their own backyard.