Mycogenesis

A virtual ride experience inside Natura, a utopian science lab of fungi and fiction.

Tools: Unreal Engine 5, Max

Collaborators: Nora Liu, Yidan Hu, Jenny Li

Role: Level Design, Physical Interaction, Experience Design

Demo:

Story:

Embark on a lab tour turned fantasy quest as students plunge into an underground world beneath Dr. Biohm's lab. Guided by Myco, a sentient mushroom, players uncover a long-buried secret that reveals emotional bonds between science and the natural unknown.

Level Design:

The world is split: the lush ground level is Myco's home, while a mirrored, mysterious underground realm is ruled by Ocym—its forgotten twin. Players transition between these realms, uncovering hidden relationships and multisensory clues.

Characters:

Dr. Biohm
Lab’s ambassador and researcher. She introduces players to the lab and sets the journey in motion.

Myco
A sentient mushroom accidentally raised by Dr. Biohm. Mischievous and curious, it guides the player through underground mysteries.

Ocym
Myco’s long-forgotten twin, dwelling in the mirrored underworld, waiting to be remembered.

Physical Component:

We designed two distinct scent experiences to signal transitions between realms:

— Peach + mint: diffused when the lab doors open on the ground level.
— Moss + mushroom: released during the plunge into the underground.

These sensory cues blur the boundary between digital and physical space, guiding players through emotional and spatial transformation.