Troubleshooting

Nousfarer is a 3D game that plays in your browser, so its speed depends on your device, browser and connection. Most problems have a quick fix.

What you need

• An up-to-date web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) with hardware acceleration (graphics acceleration) turned on in its settings. The game needs WebGL 2 or WebGPU.
• An internet connection while you play. The universe, its lessons and your progress load from our servers, so the game does not work offline.
• A computer with a keyboard gives the best experience. Phones and tablets get touch controls and lighter graphics automatically.

If it will not start

The loading screen shows the download’s progress, then BOARDING while your ship and the opening film are prepared. The first start downloads the game, so it takes longest; later starts reuse your browser’s copy and are much quicker.

If the loading screen shows a message instead, it says what went wrong: an old browser without WebGL 2, a lost connection, or a start that took too long. Reload the page; if it keeps happening, tell us (below).

If the game feels slow

• Close other heavy browser tabs and programs, and plug in a laptop.
• Make sure hardware acceleration is on in your browser’s settings: without it, the browser draws the game on the processor and it becomes very slow.
• Smaller windows are lighter to draw than full screen on a large monitor.

If something is still preparing

The first visit to a place can take longer than a return visit. A painted loading screen covers the landing while a city is prepared. The first time a tower is visited, its storeys are written for it: you can read the framework’s article in the hall meanwhile, and saved storeys are reused on every later visit.

The universe has uneven coverage: some planets have more towers than others, and a tower’s framework article can open before all of its storeys are ready.

If you see an error

Use the retry button the game shows. If it keeps failing, reload the page. Signed-in progress is saved with your account; guest progress is not.

Report a problem

Email axel@noosaga.com with:

• your browser and device,
• where you were in the game (for example the planet, the tower and storey, or the ship’s room),
• what you were trying to do,
• the exact error message, if one appeared.

For a mistake in a lesson or quiz rather than a technical problem, see Report a problem in Trust & Provenance.