Inspiration
Quantum computing is fascinating, but learning it often means staring at equations, abstract diagrams, and unfamiliar mathematical concepts. We wanted to change that.
What if you could learn quantum computing by actually building a quantum computer? And what if the fate of Schrödinger's cat depended on getting the physics right?
That question inspired Schrödinger's Last Experiment, a story-driven 3D puzzle game that transforms real quantum physics into interactive challenges.
Our goal was simple: make quantum mechanics something you can experiment with, discover, and genuinely understand, rather than just memorize.
What it does
Schrödinger's Last Experiment is a browser-based 3D quantum adventure where your mission is to save Schrödinger's cat.
Your cat is trapped behind ten quantum locks, and the only way to free it is to build a functioning quantum computer, one experiment at a time.
Players explore a mysterious physicist's laboratory, collect components, interact with workstations, and complete 10 progressively challenging physics-based puzzles.
You begin with simple electrical circuits and gradually discover quantum energy levels, superposition, coherent states, Schrödinger cat states, quantum errors, and quantum error correction. Eventually, you construct a superconducting cat qubit and attempt to measure it without destroying the information it protects.
But you're not alone!
- Schrödinger is your AI companion, powered by Google Gemini, offering contextual explanations, hints, and guidance.
- ElevenLabs brings characters to life through expressive voice dialogue, speech synthesis, and voice interactions.
- Heisenberg challenges your understanding, introducing misleading claims that you must overcome using physics.
- Interactive instruments let you manipulate quantum states, examine Wigner functions, visualize Bloch spheres, and observe quantum noise.
- Real physics models validate your experiments, so completing a challenge requires more than guessing the right buttons.
Rather than watching a simulation, you're actively experimenting with it.
How we built it
We built the game using React, TypeScript, Three.js, and React Three Fiber, creating an immersive 3D laboratory with interactive workstations and scientific instruments.
The experience combines several components:
1. A 3D interactive world
Using Three.js and React Three Fiber, we built an explorable laboratory with collectible equipment, interactive consoles, animated transitions, and a progression system.
2. Physics-driven gameplay
We implemented mathematical models of quantum systems directly in TypeScript, including harmonic oscillators, Bloch sphere rotations, coherent states, Wigner functions, dissipative stabilization, and quantum readout.
These models power the puzzles and determine whether the player's experimental setup succeeds. For browser performance, we use simplified, physics-informed models rather than computationally expensive full quantum simulations for every interaction.
3. An AI-powered physics tutor using Gemini
We integrated the Gemini API to give Schrödinger awareness of the player's current experiment, objectives, and progress. Instead of providing generic chatbot answers, Schrödinger can explain relevant concepts and guide players toward discovering solutions themselves.
4. Voice interactions with ElevenLabs
We integrated ElevenLabs for character speech and voice-based conversations, making Schrödinger feel more like an actual companion than a text-only assistant. We also bundled prerecorded story dialogue for a reliable gameplay experience.
5. Game progression and deployment
We used Zustand for game state management, GSAP for animations, and Vitest for testing physics models and level objectives. The game is deployed through Vercel and runs directly in a browser without installation.
Challenges we ran into
Our biggest challenge was turning real quantum mechanics into something that feels like a game rather than an interactive textbook.
Quantum physics is mathematically demanding, and simply showing graphs and equations isn't necessarily fun. We had to design interactions where players discover physical principles by manipulating components, observing consequences, and solving problems.
Another challenge was balancing scientific accuracy with real-time performance. Full quantum simulations can be computationally expensive, especially inside a browser-based 3D game. We developed lightweight models that preserve the essential physics while keeping experiments responsive.
Integrating a 3D world with detailed 2D scientific workstations also required careful design. We wanted players to feel immersed in a physical laboratory while retaining precise control over instruments, sliders, and visualizations.
Finally, getting the AI tutor to provide helpful, context-aware explanations without immediately revealing puzzle solutions required a deliberate approach to prompting and experiment context.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We're particularly proud that we managed to build a complete 10-level quantum computing adventure grounded in actual physics.
A few highlights:
- 10 interconnected experiments that take players from building an LC circuit to stabilizing and reading out a superconducting cat qubit.
- Physics-validated puzzles, where players must satisfy meaningful experimental objectives rather than arbitrary game conditions.
- An AI-powered Schrödinger, who understands the current challenge and can guide players through unfamiliar quantum concepts using Gemini and ElevenLabs.
- Scientific visualizations as gameplay mechanics, including Bloch spheres, phase-space diagrams, photon distributions, and Wigner functions.
- A playable, browser-based experience with an explorable 3D world, narrative progression, voice dialogue, and saved progress.
Most importantly, we created something that connects advanced quantum computing research with playful, hands-on discovery.
What we learned
We learned that scientific complexity and engaging gameplay don't have to be opposites.
Some of the most interesting mechanics came directly from quantum physics. Superposition becomes a puzzle. Photon loss becomes an obstacle. Quantum error correction becomes a survival mechanism. Measurement becomes a risky final challenge.
We also learned how powerful AI can be when integrated into an educational game with meaningful context. Instead of functioning as a separate chatbot, Gemini can participate in the learning experience, while ElevenLabs helps make that interaction feel natural.
On the technical side, we gained experience combining real-time 3D rendering, interactive scientific visualizations, physics simulations, and AI services into a unified browser application.
Perhaps our biggest takeaway was that the best way to understand physics is often to play with it, make mistakes, and see what happens.
What's next for Schrödinger's Last Experiment
This is just the beginning.
We want to make the laboratory more immersive, with richer 3D environments, animated scientific equipment, and quantum experiments that feel increasingly like interacting with real hardware.
We also envision a free-experiment sandbox mode, where players can go beyond the story, assemble their own quantum systems, change experimental parameters, and discover unexpected behaviors.
Other directions include expanding the AI tutor into a more adaptive learning companion, introducing additional quantum computing challenges, and improving the physical fidelity of our simulations.
Ultimately, our vision is to build a platform where learning advanced physics feels like exploring a world, solving mysteries, and conducting real experiments.
Built With
- 3js
- claude
- javascript
- python
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