Never Alone

Never Alone is far more than a video game, it is a living record that brings to light the long history of Alaska, too often, this land is reduced to its modern conquest or its recent political integration, but its past stretches back thousands of years, and this game captures that depth with remarkable fidelity. The Inupiat stories that structure the adventure are not mere folktales, they are oral archives, testimonies carried through centuries, preserving knowledge of survival, collective values, and the worldview that shaped Arctic societies. The experience highlights what Western chronicles often neglected, long before Russian exploration, before American purchase, before the great expeditions of the nineteenth century, Alaska was already a land with complex social organization, refined techniques of hunting and navigation, and a philosophy in which nature was not a commodity but a partner to respect. The game conveys this depth by centering cooperation, an eternal principle in Arctic history, whether in collective hunts, in surviving storms together, or in the communal sharing of food during scarcity, the documentary segments within the game are invaluable, they act as historical annexes, bringing players closer to oral sources and living memory-keepers. In them, one finds echoes of the ancient past, the following of caribou migrations, the mastery of sleds and skin boats, the careful crafting of tools and garments, each artifact embodying ingenuity forged in the struggle against the cold, these voices create a bridge between living history and interactive experience. What stands out most is the way Never Alone restores a sense of historical continuity, unlike the myth of Alaska as an “empty frontier” conquered in the nineteenth century, the game insists on the truth, this land has always been inhabited, told, and shaped by countless generations. It refuses erasure and reminds us that the real history of Alaska does not begin with colonization or modernity, but with those who endured and thrived here for millennia. At a time when particular heritages are threatened with dilution, this work serves as preservation. It does not simply entertain, it safeguards and transmits a history bound to Alaska’s soil, its climate, its peoples, its traditions. It proves that a modern medium can function as a living archive, a way to play while learning to respect what came before, in this sense, Never Alone is not merely a successful game, it is a major contribution to the historical memory of Alaska, a reminder that identity is rooted in a millennial continuity, and that it is our duty to protect and pass down this heritage intact to future generations ❤️ Long live Alaska, North to the Future !!

I play games as a fun way to pass the time, most of em' don't stick with you for too long and are just fun in the moment. Time well spent that you don't regret but eventually forget. Some games leave you frustrated and annoyed at time wasted, ideally you don't encounter these too often. Even better is when you find some masterpieces which are amazing memorable experiences that you look back on fondly but there's a 4th option which is very rare. The type that leaves you a better person, with newfound knowledge or appreciation of the world. Never alone is one of these rare experiences. The gameplay is fine and falls strictly under the 1st category but what really stuck with me was the 'documentary' videos sprinkled throughout that left me with a newfound respect for the native population of Alaska.
I'm an ecologically concious person, i studied environmental chemistry and try to do as much as i can to lower my carbon footprint. I abhor all forms of animal abuse/cruelty and also don't eat meat or fish, something that i'm very passionate about although i do have a live and let live mentality towards my fellow humans. Initially i kind of revolted at the hunting footage shown in these documentaries but it quickly became apparant that these people lived about as harmonious with nature as one can be. In fact i'd wager that there footprint is substantially smaller than mine despite consuming meat. The way they waste NOTHING and respect nature is outright humbling. I really wish more people look towards these incredibly wise people and their ways of life.
Regardless of wether or not you'd be into this game i would strongly recommend playing it as these videos will leave you enriched and hopefull. There are ways to live with nature and we can learn so much from other cultures. And just incase you're still hesitant about picking up the game for only this reason. Let me reassure you that Never alone is also a very fun game, something you won't regret spending time on. From a wonderful soundtrack to uniquely beautiful visuals and fun gameplay it has it all. The story is heartwarming and inspired by folklore, full of symbolism and life leasons. I was suprised but incredibly excited to hear a sequel coming and i hope they can build upon this game in unexpected ways. I'm gonna pick it up either way as this game is special in a very unique & memorable way!

Cool idea for a game, its like an interactive documentary with puzzle platforming. Nothing outstanding, and the characters would get bugged sometimes, but I had a fun few hours and learned about the Native people of Alaska.

Bought this 10 years ago and finally got round to playing it after leaving it unfinished. While the controls are a little annoying since they're all so close together (e.g.: Q and TAB) but the story was intriguing and the game play simple but fun.

I'm surprised this has mixed reviews as of recently. Played this expecting to be crap 'cause of all the whining, and I actually enjoyed the game.

Never Alone is a passable LIMBO-esque game that is only elevated by its indigenous documentary.
This indie game is made by/with the help of Indigenous people of Alaska and is a respectable feat.
But as a game, it is pretty lacking, especially that Limbo came out years before this.
On their official website, they claim "we've paired world-class game-makers with native storytellers..", are you kidding me? world-class who? The gameplay design is borderline primitive!
In the end this is an indie game, there isn't even a whiff of "world-class" here. Just because this game won a BAFTA, doesn't make the game's subpar mechanics into "world-class".
The game itself is visually beautiful. The main selling point are the documentary segments that teach about the Inuit cultures. Those were the only things that kept me playing.
Locking the documentary parts behind collectibles, was not that good of an idea. In the later game, where it is harder to find them or you are pressed for time, you inevitably skip over some. This locks you out of seeing the whole documentary. They should have automatically unlocked everything once the game was completed, just so these precious documentary interviews would not be lost and forgotten. I missed like 2 and can't be bothered to replay 2 chapters just to get them.
Especially when the gameplay, controls and mechanics are subpar.
I get what they were going for with the local Co-Op, but solo players have to babysit two characters. Usually when you play one, the other follows. But here is a big issue, they don't become immortal NPC during that time. When they eventually are hit by an attack or miss a jump and die, then its game over for both. The most annoying part was when the AI was too stupid and sometimes just leapt into certain death, which frustrates you even more!
The bola weapon aiming is horrendous too. It does not launch in the desired directions and its controls are trash. This is worse in time-sensitive and dangerous segments, where a single miss means game over.
The jumping puzzles and parkour was also not very polished, meaning that you could randomly die just because a pixel touched you.
The bugs and glitches did not help. Combine all that, and it was a pretty subpar experience.
I was this close to dropping this game and even now I am more inclined to give it a Negative rating.
The only thing elevating it were the documentary segments.
Also the Foxtales DLC that game better puzzles and tighter controls proved that this game could have been more solid if the "world-class" developers wanted it to..
Because there ain't a mixed rating on Steam, I reluctantly give it a positive score because it just barely passed my criteria.
Also I got this game dirt cheap.
They announced a sequel? I am doubtful.

Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) is a beautiful and heartfelt puzzle-platformer that explores Inuit culture and storytelling. Its stunning visuals and emotional journey make it a truly unique experience.