There are two types of museum-goer: those who love twiddling with knobs and interactive displays; and those who would much rather have it the old-fashioned way, with carefully selected exhibits presented in glass cases. Depending which you are, the Science Museum’s new Atmosphere gallery will either thrill or enrage.

The first thing you notice upon entering is the incredible attention to visuals. The whole room is bathed in a deep blue hue, familiar from other areas of the Wellcome Wing, but also painted in the light of a dozen projectors. Every surface, including the floor, is alive with colour and animation. Meanwhile, a mesh representation of the atmosphere twinkles with simulated particulates. It shouldn’t work but it does.

This riot of illuminations isn’t just decoration. The patterns and colours depend upon the outcomes of various educational games, played on touch-sensitive consoles at the centre of the room. Players are tasked with allocating budget resources or choosing green technologies in a number of creative ways (I accidentally flooded Rotherhithe while mucking about with flood defences. Sorry Richard.)

This is what it looks like without the projectors working.

If you want to leave the games to the kids (and, after all, it is a gallery primarily aimed at school parties), one or two exhibits may hold the interest. An Antarctic ice core sits in a freezer to the back of the room, although its importance in our understanding of climate science is perhaps a little underplayed. A low-emissions car is also on display, as well as temporary works of art on environmental themes (the current House of Cards mural by David Shrigley is, frankly, a little dull).

In conclusion – a splendid and educational diversion for the youngsters, but don’t expect the earth if you visit alone.