Exploria at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Singapore: A Large-Scale Immersive Experience that Changes How We See Inaccessible Nature / GSM Studios

Some habitats on Earth are beyond human reach: whether extinct or simply invisible to the naked eye, they are impossible to recreate. Global creative group GSM Studios has brought these hidden realms of the natural world into clear view with Exploria, a spectacular educational and entertainment attraction that immerses visitors in five thematic worlds across 10,000 m², inviting them on a fascinating journey to discover hundreds of wonderous, often surprising species.

An international collaboration

Nathanaël Meyer, Executive Creative Director at GSM Studios, explains: “Exploria was born out of Mandai Wildlife Group’s ambition to create a nature-themed attraction capable of both inspiring and educating audiences, while maintaining a balance between rigorous scientific content and the immersive power of themed entertainment. The storytelling approach we’ve developed is truly rooted in our time: engaging, inspiring, ethical and, at times, deeply moving.”

Fiona Ng, Managing Director of GSM Studios Singapore, adds: “GSM partnered with Mandai Wildlife Group from the very beginning of the project. Our team developed the concept, led the design and worked closely with Mandai to manage and produce every component of the experience through to the final installation. Our role was to coordinate an international consortium of creative and technical specialists while overseeing architects, contractors and suppliers to deliver a fully integrated attraction.”

An immersive experience spanning 10,000㎡

At the centre of Exploria sits Our Interconnected World, a hub from which visitors can freely explore the attraction’s five worlds. At its heart, a monumental digital sphere comes to life through Our Planet Awakens, a multimedia show symbolizing the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.

Instead of a realistic recreation, each world has been designed as a living archetypal environment — dynamic, imaginative and deliberately interpretive. This creative approach allowed GSM Studios to develop surprising, awe-inspiring environments that promote discovery while remaining grounded in science.

01. Realm of the Giants

A monumental sculptural environment restores the true scale of Earth’s extinct giants, from dinosaurs to other remarkable creatures of the Mesozoic Era. Augmented reality installations place visitors face to face with these long-lost species, while a 360-degree multisensory show traces the evolution of life on Earth over hundreds of millions of years while raising awareness about mass extinction phenomena.

02. Micro Worlds

The infinitely small is revealed through a galaxy of illuminated spheres showcasing plankton, insect colonies, fungi and bacteria. Interactive exhibits and physical models allow visitors to explore life at scales beyond human perception.

03. World of Darkness

Visitors descend into deep oceans and subterranean caves, discovering species that have adjusted to environments where light never reaches. A labyrinthine layout challenges visitors’ perception and encourages them to explore the extraordinary sensory adaptations of life in darkness.

04. Infinite Wonderland

From tropical rainforests to coral reefs, the planet’s most biodiverse ecosystems are celebrated through a kaleidoscopic journey that moves from the sky down through forest canopies and into the depths of the ocean.

05. Bitdeer AI Extreme Frontiers

A series of conceptual immersive installations challenges visitors to experience hostile environments including deserts, polar regions, high-altitude ecosystems and urban habitats. Mixed-media simulators combine temperature and wind effects (infinity rooms) to create highly sensory encounters.

Technology at the service of science

Mandai Wildlife Group’s mission is to inspire curiosity about the natural world, thus rallying audiences around biodiversity conservation. To spark that curiosity and encourage visitors to discover all 250 species featured, Exploria uses a centralized gamification ecosystem powered by RFID technology that serves as the backbone of the experience’s interactive storytelling.

By activating a personalized Explorer profile through a digital avatar, visitors can unlock quests, collect badges for species discovered, complete challenges and track their progress across Exploria’s five immersive worlds.

Building on the original concept developed by GSM Studios and Mandai Wildlife Group, Montreal-based interactive studio Dpt. was tasked with designing and producing Exploria’s 87 interactive installations with Singapore partner Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd.

By integrating hours of hyper-realistic wildlife media and developing interactive missions and gameplay systems, Dpt. brought these environments to life in every layer of the visitor journey, transforming scientific discovery into an engaging and participatory experience.

Nathanaël Meyer concludes: “With Exploria, GSM Studios’ ambition is to inspire a deeper passion for the living world. Technology serves knowledge and emotion, supporting a visitor experience that is playful, entertaining and participatory. By revealing species in a context that is neither a zoo nor a standard screen, Exploria introduces a completely new experience format — one we hope will inspire future attractions all around the world.”