Never Alone: Arctic Collection

Never Alone: Arctic Collection is a title that, although it doesn't particularly stand out on a playable level, it does stand out on a visual level. Together with its charming story narrated by the Iñupiat tribe, it makes it an interesting adventure, as well as educational.

Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) is a light and fun game, it is nice for those looking for a short game to relax a little and get to know a new culture.

Never Alone falters somewhat where the gameplay is concerned, but you’re unlikely to mind as you learn more about the rich culture it portrays. Its stunning environments pair perfectly with the deep meaning behind every aspect of the world, making for a truly unique experience.

It’s nothing, but a beautiful and well-designed game.

When it comes to video games, it is more than just a way to learn, it also has to have other elements to make it a good game. This is where Never Alone: Arctic Collection falls short; there are issues with controls and glitches that make this more irritating than it should be. I like what Upper One Games are doing here, but Never Alone is a great informative piece mixed with an imperfect video game hampered by mediocre controls and awkward glitches. Should this stop you from playing? No, but just be wary that this journey through the Alaskan winter might not be as cool as one anticipates.

Never Alone: Arctic Collection consists of the original Never Alone that was released on the Wii U in 2015, as well as an additional set of downloadable content. While some of the gameplay in this puzzle-platformer feels rather imprecise and the mechanics are a bit dated, there is a redeeming dimension in this Arctic Collection (already observed in the original) in the way it portrays and inform the player about the Iñupiat people of Alaska and translates the barren Arctic landscapes into the game.