Agent Higgs
Teachers can use Agent Higgs as a logic-puzzle game on its own or integrate it into a physics or chemistry lesson. It could be used as an introduction to the topic or as a fun way for students to interact with particles they've already learned about. Some levels are a bit tricky, so working in pairs might be helpful. Students can also use the level editor to design their own puzzles to share with others and demonstrate what they've learned.
Continue readingAgent Higgs is a logic-puzzle game in which players use elementary particles -- electrons, several kinds of neutrinos, and others -- to maneuver and hide Agent Higgs. (The theme is likely based on the Higgs boson particle being hard to observe.) Students move the particles orthagonally with the mouse or arrow keys, and the particles don't stop until they hit a wall. Players can combine matter and antimatter to cause explosions, which is sometimes necessary to allow access to Higgs. Neutrinos can travel through some walls and not others. Like charges repel. Students use strategy and obstacles to move most efficiently. It's really a puzzle/logic game first and a science lesson second.
Levels start out easy and quickly ramp up in difficulty as new particles and obstacles are added. This free Agent Higgs version has two chapters, each with at least 25 levels, plus a level editor. As students solve each level, the next one is unlocked, and they can go back and play earlier levels any time they like. Players score from one to three stars when they finish a level, depending on how many moves were taken compared to that level's perfect score.
While a science-themed game, Agent Higgs is light on science, teaching, and explanations. Instead, it's a decent logic puzzle game with some nice scientific context, exposing students to elementary particles and actions, such as neutrinos being able to pass through some substances and matter + antimatter = boom! Playing this game, however, students will likely get curious about how the particles function, and want to seek out additional information. In the end, it's an engaging, interesting, and fun logic-puzzle game that will keep students' interest long enough to introduce them to the applicable science.
The included level editor allows students to create up to 25 original puzzles to share with others, which will teach them more about how the particles interact and what makes a good logic puzzle.
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