Coral Quest

Bring coral reefs to life! Swim, catch polyps, grow vibrant coral, unlock sea life, and earn the coveted coral crown after 3 evolving reef bases. Your actions make a difference!

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Inspiration

Our inspiration comes directly from SDG 14: Life Below Water and the urgent need to reconnect people with the ocean. Coral reefs are often "out of sight, out of mind," yet they are vital to the health of our planet—and to us.

Colorful Coral Quest was created as a way to transform passive awareness into active participation. By placing players in the role of reef restorers, we invite them to experience firsthand the beauty, fragility, and power of coral ecosystems. The game transforms empathy into action, showing that even small choices can spark real change.

We believe that when people feel connected, they care—and when they care, they act.

What it does

From Collective to Coral Quest: A Story of Art, Action, and Immersive Change

It all began with shared roots—in art, in care, and in community. Tink and I first met in art school, where our creative bond was built on a belief that art could move people to feel, to see, and to act. Years later, this same belief shaped the beginnings of Coral Collective, a growing initiative dedicated to healing ocean ecosystems through creativity, storytelling, and technology.

Seth, too, has long been part of this vision, bringing his unique energy and insight to several Better World Museum projects—at least 3 to 5! His contributions have helped shape how we turn immersive experiences into catalysts for real-world impact.

As Coral Collective evolved, so did our ambitions. We wanted more than awareness—we wanted action. We asked ourselves: What if people could feel the reef breathe again because of their actions? What if they could see life return because they cared?

That dream has become a reality in our newest project: Coral Quest, a mobile immersive game built for Horizon Worlds.

In the game, players are greeted by a glowing orb that welcomes them into an underwater mission. With a simple touch, coral polyps burst into the world, floating like magic. Players swim through immersive oceans, catching polyps and restoring bleached coral, which slowly grows into vibrant reef structures. Every five corals restored brings sea life—fish, jellyfish, and surprises—back into the world. After 3 rounds, there's a coveted coral crown celebrating their impact.

Coral Quest isn’t just about coral. It’s about us—artists, technologists, and dreamers—using immersive worlds to make better ones. From art school sketches to metaverse missions, our journey continues. And this is just the beginning.

Colorful Coral Quest: A Mission Grown from Resilience

Challenges We Faced

One week before our submission deadline, two key team members changed course. It could have stopped us in our tracks—but instead, it became a catalyst for a new world. The remaining team regrouped, grounded ourselves in our mission, and asked: what do we have, and how can we move forward with strength and purpose?

We took inventory—of our assets, our technical abilities, our passion—and found clarity in collaboration. With full transparency and trust, we rallied together, working swiftly with creativity and calm. Rather than fall apart, we rose with renewed focus. It made the final product stronger, more aligned, and truly ours.

Accomplishments We’re Proud Of

  • We transformed Coral Collective’s vision into a fully playable mobile game experience inside Horizon Worlds.
  • We designed an engaging gameplay loop that connects immersive joy with real-world ocean care.
  • We developed three reef base environments, a growing system of life regeneration, and a playful tail-based reward system to keep players motivated.
  • We worked across art, code, sound, and storytelling—using a limited timeline as a creative constraint rather than a block.
  • We built something that feels alive, hopeful, and scalable.

What We Learned

  • Aligned purpose can outpower any unexpected challenge.
  • Clear, shared vision makes rapid decision-making possible and energizing.
  • Games built with empathy and intention can be powerful emotional tools for change.
  • The right team chemistry, even when small, can move mountains (or coral reefs!).
  • Artistic roots, like those we planted in art school, grow into meaningful collaborations years later.

What’s Next for Colorful Coral Quest

  • Submitted to the UN World Ocean Day to share our mission globally.
  • Collaborate with ocean-focused nonprofits to expand the game’s reach and impact.
  • Present at BitBasel during Miami Art Week, with ocean experts bridging science and immersive storytelling.
  • Join the panel on AI NPCs at Augmented World Expo and participate in other future-focused conferences.
  • Continue expanding Coral Collective’s network of artists, technologists, and ocean stewards, using XR as a bridge between care and action.

Colorful Coral Quest is more than a game—it’s a call to heal, to wonder, and to believe in the power of collective action.

Built With

  • blender
  • canva
  • chatgpt
  • elevenlabs
  • horizonai
  • metahorizon
  • midjourney
  • procreate
  • udio
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