Never Alone is an intriguing platformer game based on the traditional culture and stories of the Inuit people of Alaska. Though it falls short of being truly great, it is an encouraging example of a culturally authentic and educational game that has reached a wider audience.
The gameplay switches between the girl and her fox companion. Despite the two characters being both warm and fuzzy and extremely well animated, this is a harsh and unforgiving world. They die, many, many times. During the course of the game, you will be mauled by polar bears, impaled on spikes of ice, crushed between moving icebergs, or be eaten by the spirits of dead children (seriously). And there is always the shifting wind, ready to blow you helplessly into the freezing Arctic waters below. The darker side of folk tales is not glossed over here.
It is unfortunate, then, that the platforming is decidedly mediocre, managing to be both unchallenging and frustrating at once. Thankfully, the game is short, like a wise storyteller drawing to a conclusion before he or she runs out of ideas. An interesting and educational experience, certainly, but it’s a game I want to love, rather than a game I actually love.
Coding Is Magic 