There are games that are purely to help ease you out of your boredom and then there are those that are purely for entertainment value. But then, every once in a while, you come across a game that not only challenges your intellect but also expands your world so you can learn about cultures other than your own. This is what Never Alone: Ki Edition seeks to do, especially now that it’s out of beta with its Version 1.0 and is available worldwide for Android devices.
KI stands for Kisima Ingitchuna, and this is the first game that has been developed in cooperation with the Iñupiat, a people group native to Alaska. The game developers consulted with almost 40 elders, storytellers, and community members to create a game that is also a way of telling the stories of the indigenous culture that most people may not be familiar with. It’s also a testament that video games can be used for more than its entertainment value. The whole game is narrated by a master storyteller speaking in the Iñupiat language.
The game is actually an atmospheric puzzle platformer where you can meet legendary characters from the Iñupiat stories. You can switch between two characters, Nuna, a young Iñupiat girl and an arctic fox, depending on the situation you’re facing. The two have unique skills that you can study as you go along your quest to find the source of the “eternal blizzard” that has been affecting the survival of their people. You are aided by the Helping Spirits as you go through the various environments like an abandoned coastal village and an iced-over forest.
The game is also interspersed with videos and interviews with the elders and other members of the community so you can have a deeper insight into their culture. You can download Never Alone: Ki Edition from the Google Play Store for $4.99.
SOURCE: Never Alone
