Festival premiere at Kunstareal: Players decoded the electrolysis field, cracked the light code, and solved molecular puzzles. With the help of 3D-printed nanostructures and voice messages from the fictional Dr. Violetta Photon, they learned more about artificial photosynthesis, semiconductors, and catalysts. (Photo: Andreas Heddergott / TUM)

At the Kunstarealfest on June 26, 2025, in Munich, Escape from Carbonia celebrated its premiere. The story takes players to a distant future and a planet called Carbonia, where the energy supply still relies on fossil fuels – and is now facing the consequences of a climate disaster. Can the planet be saved? Yes – if you solve the knowledge-based puzzles, you can rescue Carbonia and, along the way, learn more about the research of the e-conversion Cluster of Excellence. Spoiler: It’s all about artificial photosynthesis.

Just one week later, the escape game team was back in action – this time at the Festival der Zukunft at the Deutsches Museum. Once again, the mission was to solve scientific riddles, crack combination locks, and follow the clues of energy research.

The game was developed by an interdisciplinary team of students, doctoral researchers, and science communication professionals at TUM as part of the “Hochschulwettbewerb” (University Competition) by Wissenschaft im Dialog, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the Science Year 2025 – Future of Energy.

What we took away from both festivals

We’re reaching people of all ages – from university students to children with their parents and grandparents. There’s something for everyone: finding hidden clues, puzzling, experimenting, calculating, and cracking combination locks. Our players had fun with chemical formulas, semiconductor band gaps, and catalyst surfaces. We spark conversations about research topics, science, and the energy transition – especially when players get to choose how the story ends. And yes: flower pots are seriously underrated as hiding spots.

Want to join the game?

Your next chance to play Escape from Carbonia is on July 26 at the Zamanand Festival in the TUM StreetScience tent, Ludwigstraße, Munich.

Highlights from the event