Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna)
Developer Upper One Games, E-Line Media
Never Alone, also known as Kisima Inŋitchuŋa is a puzzle-platform adventure video game developed by Upper One Games and published by E-Line Media and was first released in November 2014. It is based on the traditional Iñupiaq tale, "Kunuuksaayuka", which was first recorded by storyteller Robert Nasruk Cleveland in his collection Stories of the Black River People. Swapping between an Iñupiat girl named Nuna and her… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
207 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy) · newest Nov 1, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
123 positive · 61 negative
95% range 60–73%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 123 | 61 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 7 | 0 | 15 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
What players are saying
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 183 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (6,994 of 8,683 positive).
Players praise the game's cultural and educational value, highlighting its authentic portrayal of Iñupiat stories. [1][2][3] Many reviewers criticize the clunky controls and bugs, which frustrate gameplay. [4][5][6] Some find the platforming simplistic and the game more of an interactive documentary than a compelling game. [7][8][9]
- [4]
I've owned this game for a long time, and tried to finish it several times on different machines since then. I can't. And just as I can't, I can't leave a positive review, I simply can't recommend this game. It might be nice if you're playing co-op, but this game is meant to be enjoyed by single players as well and I certainly didn't enjoy it - nor have I been able to finish it since the controls are so terrible, …
- [6]
I love games that teach me about other cultures, and I really liked the start of this one. The short documentary clips scattered throughout the game are amazing, and I genuinely enjoyed listening to the Iñupiaq people talk about their culture ... but sadly, the game has one big problem: the gameplay. I’m not usually someone who puts gameplay above everything else, especially in such story-rich games, but I draw the …
- [1]
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, …
- [9]
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 …
- [2]
I really loved the game! It’s a fantastic gateway for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in Iñupiat culture. Dmitri Verevka, the art director at E‑Line Media and a graduate of the Stieglitz Academy, did an incredible job — he collaborated with 40 elders and storytellers from the community. The experience offered by this game could serve as a great model for developing other culturally grounded games. The idea of …
Summarised from 26 of the 183 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 11, 2026. How summaries are made
Players who liked Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) talk about rich cultural insight into Iñupiat traditions and stories; those who didn't talk about clunky and frustrating controls, especially in single-player. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Never Alone received many accolades, including the British Academy Games Award for Best Debut Game, as well as 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. At The Game Awards 2014, Never Alone received a nomination in the "Games for Change" category. In 2015, Never Alone received nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction from the AIAS' D.I.C.E. Awards, Best Debut from the Game Developers Choice Awards, and Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award from the SXSW Gaming Awards. Never Alone also won an Interactive Narrative and Game + Play Peabody Award in 2021.…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 207 · most liked firstNever 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…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →First stream of 2025~! I'm looking forward to playing Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) 💙 We're taking a cute small break from playing horror to enjoy a gorgeous Indigenous developed and collaborated game! I hope to see you all tonight around 6PM PST 💙
positive · AI labelView post →I've owned this game for a long time, and tried to finish it several times on different machines since then. I can't. And just as I can't, I can't leave a positive review, I simply can't recommend this game. It might be nice if you're playing co-op, but this game is meant to be enjoyed by single players as well and I certainly didn't enjoy it - nor have I been able to finish it since the controls are so terrible, which is a shame because I truly believe that the game is lovely and I would have…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh, another cute thing I saw in Chicago: At the Field Museum, they have an exhibit called Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories that's all about Native Americans and Indigenous people. Among the displays there is a station where you can play Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna). That was pretty rad.
neutral · AI labelView post →CONTROLLER ISSUES (THIS MIGHT HELP) I would have left a positive review for this game had it not been for the endless bugs and controller issues experienced. Unfortunately, any positive feelings I would have had towards this game (and there would be lots of good reasons for this), have been completely lost due to the extreme frustration. However, the below may help someone not become as frustrated. This is also a note for the DEVS. After battling half way through game, I realised it was…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Today I will be playing Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) in honor of Native Peoples who are often disregarded on this holiday. It is a snowy, beautiful game and I love revisiting it. It's short enough to play in one go, so I'll be doing it all tonight. See you at 7pm cst, crows!
positive · AI labelView post →I really loved the game! It’s a fantastic gateway for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in Iñupiat culture. Dmitri Verevka, the art director at E‑Line Media and a graduate of the Stieglitz Academy, did an incredible job — he collaborated with 40 elders and storytellers from the community. The experience offered by this game could serve as a great model for developing other culturally grounded games. The idea of including educational video clips feels a bit outdated by 2026 — it does pull…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love games that teach me about other cultures, and I really liked the start of this one. The short documentary clips scattered throughout the game are amazing, and I genuinely enjoyed listening to the Iñupiaq people talk about their culture ... but sadly, the game has one big problem: the gameplay. I’m not usually someone who puts gameplay above everything else, especially in such story-rich games, but I draw the line at frustrating. I just didn't have fun in the last hour. The controls are…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43083373/]Clever games curator review: 2/10. I think a lot of the positive reviews for this game stem from the unusual subject matter, and rarely heard voices that it features in the entirely optional documentary that is unlocked as you play. But as a game, it’s broadly speaking “a go right and occasionally jump” simulator. Sometimes that jumping involves wall jumps, and sometimes it involves having to swap to a different character who is allowed to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[🔴LIVE NOW] twitch.tv/BreakthroughT1D Join @nukkuler.bsky.social on our Twitch channel for a look at Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna), a game featured in our current bundle on @humblebundle.com! All 9 games included in this bundle have connections to #type1diabetes! ➡️ bit.ly/t1d-bundle-2025
neutral · AI labelView post →#FridayRecommendations Today's recommendation is the game Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) developed in collaboration with the Inupiat in Alaska and based on a traditional story. It's breathtaking and we need way more games like it. #e-linemedia #neveralonekisimaingitchuna www.neveralonegame.com
positive · AI labelView post →Come with me into the frozen world of the game Never Alone: (Kisima Ingitchuna) 🧩 I am promised cute characters, puzzles and platforming! Let's see if this indie game is any good! 🦊 Live Twitch & YouTube 🔴
neutral · AI labelView post →An educational glimpse into the Iñupiat, an Alaska Native people, drawn from a traditional story that has been passed down through generations. You can watch the Alaska Native community share stories and cultural wisdom by collecting owls throughout each chapter, each unlocks its cultural insight. But the gameplay didn’t go well. The controls aren’t smooth, and it’s tough to control two characters alone. There’s input lag and delayed reactions. Jumping and ledge grabs often fail due to poor…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great idea. Terrible execution. The controls are a mess and make the game incredibly frustrating. Couldn't push through even though I really wanted to experience the story.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →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…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →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.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not the worst game but none of the achievements worked for me
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love the concept of this game, the art and the cultural teachings. But I experienced technical difficulties that rendered the game unplayable. There's a fix pinned in the discussion but it didn't work for me. I tried everything and tried to push through, to make it work. I would really love to be able to play this game. Disappointing. I hope they come up with a patch or something eventually.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) is an older mobile app from 2014. It's a venerable 10 years old at the time of this review. It's an admittedly charming puzzle platformer that can be played either solo or co-op, and follows the story of an indigenous Alaskan child and a fox companion to stave off an eternal blizzard. Hope you like snow themed games. One important note is that even though this is an amateur project, it does seem to be sincerely and genuinely made. I couldn't find any flipped…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →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.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Such an atmospheric, deep, and whimsical experience. I return to this game frequently and show it to students to display how narratively rich and culturally poignant games can be.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Review about shared screen experience. Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) is a really specific title. It feels more like a promotional material of Inuit culture rather than a game. That said - I did enjoy insights which gave me more knowledge about said culture and in-game characters/events. However the game itself was pretty bland. The story could be interesting, but the execution wasn't too good. It's quite buggy. Half the game your shared screen partner has nothing to do. Controls on pads are…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wasn't able to enjoy the story because of the gameplay issues. The controls are very wonky and random while the game physics are inconsistent. With how unexpected and choppy the gameplay was, the crying characters got very annoying. The fox controlling platforms was slow and not explained well. The bola was not intuitive to throw, even on controller. The gameplay is very simple but most of the puzzles being invisible or not easily understood was confusing. For some of the puzzles, you had to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Simplistic gameplay with run and jump options only and regularly interrupted by some video notifications. Also still pretty buggy game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pleeeeaaaase fix the controls. I was so getting into it but my controller seems to have incompatibility issues with the button inputs. Please add support for Playstation controllers. Or maybe... if I find this game on the Playstation... I shall work with that instead. You got me invested with the story. I can't recommend it if the controls aren't working for me.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →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.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Finished in 6 hours (Steam not keeping track of time spent when offline). Well, what to say about this one... Disappointing. The intentions of the team behind to show us their interesting culture are clearly there, and it looks nice ; but the gameplay is catastrophic. Clipping through walls, freezing in the air, interesting puzzles but sometimes very tight with stiff control, awkward back jump, one time broken camera, narrative during action phases, white font with very thin black border in…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have a particular love for game experiences that teach me about subjects connected to our world. Never Alone (Kisima Innitchuna) is based on the traditional Inupiaq tale, Kunuuksaayuka. This game can be played alone or co-operatively (local only). I played the entire game in one sitting with my partner. It made for a fun evening game session. Never Alone is a platformer with two main characters. I'm not sure how they're controlled while playing solo but with co-op, each player controls one…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really bad game mechanics, I had to play this game for my Native American Art History class and this has got to be the worst game experience of my life. I get having a coop game but ♥♥♥♥ the ai doesn't know what it's doing half the time so if you play by yourself you repeatedly have to swap characters in areas that if you stay still in you die. DO NOT BUY.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I feel really bad leaving a bad review for this game, as the story was good and the educational aspects are great, which is usually enough for me to be lenient if the gameplay isn't as good. But I have to draw the line at borderline unplayable. Its age is not an excuse either, since there's platformers from the 80s that play unbelievably better. I will start by saying it's fairly obvious that the game is designed for a co-op experience, which is not how I played it, and I do suspect many of…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →NOT Steam deck compatible. Can't play because it won't accept my pressing A to start. Uninstalled and reinstalled and have consistent issues. Unfortunately, this has prevented me from playing the game properly as I bought it specifically due to the verified compatible status.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really wanted to like this game. To start with the good, the cultural insights (the documentary style clips) are the best part of the game. I'd genuinely recommend watching them on YouTube if you're at all interested. Which is what I had to do since they wouldn't actually play on my computer, a sign of things to come. Other positives include the narration, which feels like someone is actually telling me a story, and the art. Unfortunately, the game is clunky and buggy to the point of…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wanted to love this SO BADLY. Art, story, gorgeous. But within half an hour it's unplayable; as in, I actually cannot physically move the characters. They just erratically bop around, independent of any buttons I'm pressing, and die. All my keyboard inputs suddenly stopped functioning and despite restarting they never recovered.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't mind that it's a short game, an artistic game, a simple game, a one person project. What I mind is that basic gameplay functionality is crap. Delayed inputs, refused inputs, events that have to occur in sequence or the game hangs, unexpected seuqences leading to death, the AI parter getting themselvers killed, wonky jumps... it's all janky as hell. I'm happy to play your asrtistic game if there is a good, simple gameplay. This is not good but it sure is simple. It's just artistic.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A kind of plain platformer but really shines due to the cultural focus it has on native tribes of Alaska. The platforming is mostly alright and, unless you have a co-op partner, has you controlling two characters. Though the AI will take control of one to follow you, you must switch between the two to overcome obstacles. The AI does it’s best but there are moments it kind of freaks out and can even cause the character to die due to poor pathing. Which leads to the sincerely awful noises the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Even though I really liked the story, the game was not 'it' for me. The controls were really clunky which annoyed me and led to stop playing the game
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Can't believe it's taken me so long to play this game, it's utterly delightful. It's a fantastic example of why games can be a powerful tool, it teaches the player about culture, indigenous people and history in a fun and engaging way. I've learnt more about the Inuit the last hour then I have for years, and it gets you curious for more. Not to mention the controls are forgiving and the graphics are soft and great for a laptop gamer as myself. (Also the colours aghh)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →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…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Contols in this game are made with the sole purpose of annoying the player and testing their patience.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sadly I can't recommend this game for solo play. I haven't played it with someone else so I can't say anything about that. I keep having issues with the game giving me control over both characters at once instead of only one character. You should be able to switch between characters, the character you're not playing being controlled by the game. When I get control of both characters the game is unplayable because one of them will easily fall to their death of drown. A hard quit out of the game…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A game made with a lot of love, but not that much talent. Note that I played slightly over two hours, on steam deck. The story is nice and beautifully told by a combination of live narration and animated drawings between chapters. In addition, the player regularly unlocks short documentaries on Alaska, which can be viewed in game at any time and are truly enriching. It felt like an authentic cultural sharing. However, the gameplay is indeed rather simple (not an issue for such a short and…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the worst games I've ever played, so far. Has zero value except for telling some small local legend. There are many and many of these in any nation's folklore, and even though it's nice to "play" one of them, it was truly one of the most frustrating platforming experiences I ever had in my life. It was fist-clinchingly annoying at some points. I've played it solo. Companion has no AI at all and tends to un-alive itself quite often and refuse to jump by its own into the right place to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Never Alone didn’t evoke any strong emotions in me, but I wouldn’t say I disliked it either. If you’re considering playing it, think of it as a folklore-based story game that offers insight into Inuit culture, and don’t expect much more than that. At its core, it’s a platformer, but the mechanics are quite simple and unsophisticated. The controls can feel a bit clunky and buggy at times, though I didn’t encounter any major issues. You can play it in co-op (which I did), and I recommend doing…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought it to play as a cute little fox, half way through the fox turned into an ugly boy 0/10 DO NOT RECOMMEND
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very mixed bag. I was surprised to find out that the original version of this was in fact first released on Steam, because it has all the hallmarks of a mediocre mobile port. The controls are truly abysmal, more akin to a cheep asset flip than a gane that costs 15€ after a decade. Aiming with the bola is whats especially horrible, I have no idea who thought that was a good idea, but if it was a tablet/mobile swipe mechanics that was just implemented badly ,it would make some sense. The rest…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A mini-masterpiece, very educational and full of soul. I loved the videos. I didn't find it too difficult. Feels like it would be a fun game for families to play together.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) is a good game with writing by Ishmael Hope, who is of Iñupiaq and Tlingit heritage, and in collaboration with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council! it's about 3-4h
positive · AI labelView post →Culturally and story-wise, it's decent. As a platformer, though, it's a little rough around the edges, since you're controlling two characters at once. The number of times the second character jumps to its death is ridiculous.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Played for a class in college. The game is very informational and the story is great. Platforming mechanics could use a little brush up.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A charming game! Never Alone Kisima Inŋitchuŋa is a beautiful native Alaskan story made into a game. The Iñupiaq tale of Kunuuksaayuka, of the girl and the fox, is simple yet enchanting, truly a joy to have such a cultural insight. The tale is told with a mix of in-game cutscenes as well as animated ones, that recall traditional art of the inuit people. The game itself is fairly simple; some platforming, some puzzles, some action, but what stands out is the story and the world imagined. Never…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It has nice music and cool documentary videos and a neat concept, but holy hell I got so frustrated with the wonky controls and the characters would get stuck on walls.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's mostly a walking simulator with snippets of documentary about the Iñupiat. The best part of this game are the mini-documentaries. However, if you're interested in the Iñupiat culture, you can always just go to YouTube and find a proper documentary. The gameplay is really lackluster and slow-paced for no reason, and we played it in co-op mode (and it's hardly a co-op experience, since the fox is really mostly a supporting character rather than an equal partner). It just isn't fun. We tried…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game was really cute! The puzzles were mostly just challenging enough, and it was fun for date night.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love this game! A pretty fun way to learn new cultures, stories and lessons
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly not that great, the story is okay but the game is really buggy and is a pain to play by yourself. In general when you don't control a character it doesn't do anything, which can restrict camera movement and make chase scenes difficult when you need both characters to do something within seconds, also the death sounds get old really quickly because it's the exact same every time. I hope the second game is better when/if it comes out
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Game Bundle] TID Breakthrough: Games with Links to the Diabetes Community. $10: | Game Name | Steam Link | |----------------------------------------------------|------------| | Sam & Max: Save the World | https://store.steampowered.com/app/1440440/Sam__Max_Save_the_World | | Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space | https://store.steampowered.com/app/1747050/Sam__Max_Beyond_Time_and_Space | |…
neutral · AI labelView post →10 video games to get to know me 🎮 🐢 Dark souls 🐢 Elden ring 🐢 Dragon age Origins 🐢 The Long dark 🐢 Pyre 🐢 Dredge 🐢 Tyranny 🐢 Darkest Dungeon 🐢 Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) 🐢 Soma
neutral · AI labelView post →Don't recommend this. On PlayStation amazing. On pc abysmally bad and bugged. I keep falling through the floor. The game keeps activating coop every 3 to 15 seconds. Doesn't give the full menu so I have to press the windows key and go back to the game for the full menu. Not worth the annoying bugs.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I think the main problem this game has is just an aesthetic problem. Like it's certainly interesting and captivating at certain parts, but Never Alone ironically never grabs my attention for long enough too care. Do I think this was an interesting take on a foreign culture implementation in a game? Ya, but interest is left at the door when it comes to nearly everything else about it. Perhaps it's my bitter heart when it comes to any game with co-op play or maybe it's the way the game kinda…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Live with Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) twitch.tv/kittentiramisu
neutral · AI labelView post →
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