Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) is an Alaska-themed puzzle-platformer game by Upper One Games and published by E-Line Media. It was released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 in North America on November 18, 2014; for Xbox One the following day on November 19, 2014; PlayStation 4 in Europe on November 26, 2014 and in Japan on December 11, 2014. It was later released on OS X on February 26, 2015; on Wii U in North America on June 25, 2015 and in Europe on July 9, 2015; on PlayStation 3 in Europe on December 22, 2015 and in North America on December 23, 2015, as well as on Linux that same day; and finally on iOS on June 2, 2016.
Development[]
Never Alone - Official Launch Trailer
Official launch trailer for the game
Never Alone was Upper One Games' break-out premier title. It is notable as being the first game produced by the first company owned by an indigenous people, with the game company being owned by the Alaska local Cook Inlet Tribal Council based in Anchorage, Alaska. It is expected to receive a PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One release.
The game is based on traditional Alaska stories, following a young female protagonist named Nuna and her arctic fox as they seek to rescue her homeland from an endless blizzard.
The game's inspiration comes from centuries-old stories and folklore of the local Iñupiat people native to Alaska.
Reception[]
Never Alone received many accolades including the British Academy Award for Best Debut game and Game of the Year and Most Significant Impact awards from the Games for Change organization. In 2014, Never Alone was an Official Selection Finalist at Indiecade. In 2015, Never Alone was also nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction from D.I.C.E., Best Debut from Game Developers Choice Awards, Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award from SXSW Gaming Awards.
Never Alone received "mixed" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. However, as of December 6, 2019, it has received very positive reviews on Steam, from 4,347 customer reviews.
Critics positively noted the game's art design, which blends a simple, cartoon style with scrimshaw influences. The included documentary videos were also remarked upon as "[leaving the player] feeling educated as well as entertained" and "[doing] an excellent job of giving a cultural context" for the game.
The platforming elements of Never Alone were more divisive. Some reviewers described the game as "frustrating", noting imprecise controls and inconsistent behavior by in-game characters. However, other critics felt the gameplay was diverse and "satisfying".