Creators of Alaska Native adventure want to usher in a new era of ‘world games’

The North Slope of Alaska is a hostile place for a little girl and her animal companion. In Never Alone, they’ll have to wade through fierce blizzards, avoid polar bears, and outrun mischievous spirits. The real-world stakes of their adventures, however, are even more pressing. Resting on their shoulders (and on the team of developers and Alaska Native elders who worked on the game) is the potential success of a new genre: world games.

According to Never Alone creator E-Line Media, world games celebrate the unique stories and perspectives of indigenous cultures. But the company doesn’t want you to think of these merely as educational games. It wants to create entertaining experiences that can compete with other games while also raising awareness of underrepresented communities. E-Line Media also looked at indie hits like Journey and Braid as proof that smaller games with new voices and innovative gameplay can succeed.