Lepidoptera is a butterfly identification and exploration game developed by indie studio Orca Virtual, released in July 2023. The word "lepidoptera" is the scientific order name covering all butterflies and moths, and the game earns that title: you roam real-geography-inspired meadows, rocky hillsides and forest clearings with a virtual camera in hand, photographing and identifying species to build a personal collection.

The core loop is beautifully straightforward. Butterflies settle on flowers, rocks and branches throughout each environment. You point your camera, photograph them, and then tag the species correctly to unlock the ability to hold the butterfly in your hand. Each correctly identified species adds to your catalogue, and the environments reward patient observation over rushing. It is the closest most students will come to real fieldwork entomology in VR.

Beyond the identification mechanic, the environments are genuinely beautiful and contain other wildlife: kookaburras in the Australian level, fish at the docks, and assorted ambient fauna. The multiplayer layer means students can explore together, invite each other to locations, and share discoveries in real time. Parental controls are built in, making it suitable for younger students in supervised settings.