| Deals with | biodiversity // biology // ecology // programming // science // zoology |
| Marine Biology | |
| Intended for | elementary school // middle school // high school // university |
| Available on | Android // iOS |
| Cost | free |
| Developed by |
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)
|
| Website at |
https://www.fathomverse.org/ |
FathomVerse is a free app that invites everyone with a smartphone or tablet to take part in real ocean exploration and discovery. Developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and partners through the FathomNet Program, FathomVerse connects a global community of ocean enthusiasts—called FathomNauts—with cutting-edge science.
Through interactive mini-games, FathomNauts identify animals in real underwater photos and contribute to a growing library of labeled images that helps scientists catalog and understand marine life.
| Expert Reviews By scientists and teachers |
14 / 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fun |
|
4 / 5 |
| Learning |
|
5 / 5 |
| Science |
|
5 / 5 |
| Player Reviews By everyone else (and you!) |
14 / 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fun |
|
4 / 5 |
| Learning |
|
5 / 5 |
| Science |
|
5 / 5 |
September 7, 2026
Déreck Michaud
Teacher
In FathomVerse, you explore the oceans and discover the vast biodiversity within them. The concept is simple yet brilliant: you are presented with photographs of marine life—actual images captured by research teams—and tasked with classifying them by taxonomy. While the gameplay is minimalist, the curiosity of what image will appear next keeps you hooked. After all, you might be the very first person to ever lay eyes on it.
As you progress through the game, your ability to classify these creatures sharpens, offering great motivation for anyone looking to deepen their ocean knowledge. The game features two modes: one to train, and another to put your skills to the test.
FathomVerse is more than just a great way to pass the time; it is a genuine scientific mission. Every time you identify a species, your answers are compared against community data and used to train and improve marine identification systems. By playing, you directly contribute to advancing ocean research.
Fun rating: 4 out of 5
Learning rating: 5 out of 5
Science rating: 5 out of 5
Total:
14 / 15
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