Faculty at Kennesaw State University announced on Apr. 17 the development of a video game designed to help students and users learn about nuclear energy and reactor operations through interactive experiences.
The project, titled “Simulating the AP1000: An Educational Game to Promote Understanding of Nuclear Energy Safety and Sustainability,” brings together engineering and game design faculty. It aims to make complex concepts in nuclear science more accessible by using simulation-based learning rather than traditional classroom methods.
Eduardo Farfan, professor of nuclear engineering in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, leads the initiative with support from Joy Li, associate professor of game design and development in the College of Computing and Software Engineering. The team, including student researchers, has developed a simulation that models the AP1000—an advanced U.S. nuclear reactor—allowing players to explore how reactors function under real-world scenarios.
“We teach students how to operate reactors using simulators that are based on real systems,” Farfan said. “But those tools are complex and require background knowledge. This project creates a simpler way for students, including those in high school, to understand how a reactor works.”
Li said that educational principles from serious game design were used so users could follow objectives, receive feedback, and learn by seeing consequences immediately: “We use educational and serious game design principles to simulate the reactors in a more approachable way,” Li said. “Users follow objectives, receive feedback, and learn by seeing the consequences of their actions in real time.”
The simulation also presents safety scenarios for players to understand modern reactor protections without overstating risks. “We might include certain incidents in the game to show what could happen, but we also emphasize that these situations are very unlikely in real reactors,” Farfan said.
A major feature is demonstrating passive safety systems within AP1000 designs—systems that rely on natural processes instead of mechanical intervention—which continue operating during power loss with minimal human input. This approach helps reinforce how current technology prioritizes safety.
“As users go through the game, they learn how the system works and understand that modern nuclear energy is designed to be extremely safe,” Farfan said.
Li noted that this collaboration allows her students practical experience while making technical content more accessible: “Students in my course work on real-world projects where they design and develop games for educational purposes,” she said.
The initiative began as a student-driven concept but has grown into an ongoing multi-semester effort shaped by user feedback with each iteration improving both accuracy and usability. “We’re combining two very different fields – nuclear engineering and game design – and that’s been one of the most rewarding parts,” Farfan said.
Looking ahead, faculty plan further refinements for broader reach as an educational tool.
