Never Alone 2

The player-character plays as the Iñupiat girl Nuna and her Arctic fox. As an "atmospheric puzzle platformer", Never Alone's puzzles entail swapping control between Nuna and the fox. While the fox is fast, Nuna can pick up things and open new areas using her bola. The story and its structure is based on the intergenerational transference of wisdom.

The story is separated into eight chapters. The story is narrated in Iñupiaq by James Nageak. Unlike traditional platformer games, which involve overcoming obstacles and defeating enemies, Never Alone rewards players with collectible "cultural insights", short videos of Iñupiaq elders, storytellers, and community members sharing their stories. The central plot is set in the harsh physical environment of Alaskan snowy plains and revolves around discovering the source of the blizzard that has ravaged Nuna's village and restoring balance to nature.

Never Alone was developed by Upper One Games in conjunction with writer Ishmael Hope, a storyteller and poet of Iñupiaq and Tlingit heritage, and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, a non-profit organization that works with indigenous groups living in Alaska's urban areas. The Council partnered with video game education company E-Line Media and generated the idea for Never Alone as part of a series that "shares, celebrates, and extends [indigenous] culture". The council's for-profit Upper One Games is the "first indigenous-owned video game developer and publisher in US history". They built the game to explore "what it means to be human" and intergenerational stories.

It is intended both to share the stories of native culture as entertainment, and to revitalize interest in Alaskan indigenous folklore. Proceeds from the game will fund the council's education mission.

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. 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.