Never Alone (video game)

Never Alone (Kisima Inŋitchuŋa) is a puzzle-platform adventure game released in November 2014. Developed by Upper One Games and published by E-Line Media, it was created in partnership with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, making it a video game produced by Indigenous people. The story is based on the traditional Iñupiaq tale "Kunuuksaayuka," first recorded by storyteller Robert Nasruk Cleveland in *Stories of the Black River People*.

Players control an Iñupiat girl named Nuna and her Arctic fox companion, swapping between them to solve puzzles. The game’s narrative is partly told in the Iñupiaq language, with James Nageak providing the narration. The plot follows Nuna and the fox as they seek the source of a blizzard threatening her village, aiming to restore balance to nature. It also incorporates other traditional stories, such as those of Blizzard Man, the Little People, Manslayer, the Rolling Heads, and the Sky People. Instead of defeating enemies, players unlock "cultural insights"—short videos featuring Iñupiaq elders and community members sharing their stories. The game supports 16 language subtitles.

Development was led by Upper One Games, the first Indigenous-owned video game developer in U.S. history, alongside writer Ishmael Hope (of Iñupiaq and Tlingit heritage) and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council. The council partnered with E-Line Media to create the game as part of a series that shares and celebrates Indigenous culture. E-Line Creative Director Sean Vesce, who previously worked at Crystal Dynamics and Activision, made a dozen trips to Alaska to gather stories and imagery. A 12-member Seattle development team worked closely with 40 Alaska Native elders, storytellers, and community members. The game was built using the Unity engine and includes a local co-op mode. Proceeds support the council’s educational mission.

A downloadable expansion, *Never Alone: Foxtales*, was released on July 28, 2015, for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, adding new levels and story content. It was later included with the base game at no extra cost for the Nintendo Switch on February 24, 2022. A sequel, *Never Alone 2*, was announced in 2024.

The game won a Peabody Award in 2015 and received mixed or average reviews according to Metacritic. Critics praised its concept, story, and art design—which blends a simple cartoon style with scrimshaw influences—as well as t