You have grown up on the Vaikyste Islands, a vast chain of small islands in the Pacific Ocean. This is the only life you've ever known. But now, you’ve been admitted to Haven, the most prestigious university on the Vaikyste Islands that is located in an archipelago of five major islands. Your future is bright. Welcome to Haven.

Haven is a multimedia role-playing game designed to help first-year students at the University of Chicago develop skills in open discourse, free expression, and engaging with diverse perspectives. Created by the Weston Game Lab and the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse, Haven offers an immersive experience where players navigate challenges and opportunities in a vibrant island setting.

Through Haven, first-year students will learn to think critically, engage in meaningful discussions, refine their ideas, and be oriented to their first-year university experience and introduce to the University of Chicago Core curriculum. The game encourages participants to practice intellectual virtues such as curiosity, humility, courage, and generosity. By seeking out and engaging with different viewpoints, students will foster a habit of open inquiry and recognize the importance of diverse perspectives in creating robust knowledge. Haven also highlights the reality of power dynamics in discursive spaces, teaching students to navigate these complexities thoughtfully.This project builds on years of game-based learning projects at the University of Chicago.