Inua – A Story in Ice and Time uses past to affect present across three lives in this tale drawn from a lost historical expedition and Inuit folklore.
The game follows three stories. Taïna, in the present, is a reporter working on finding out the truth behind the disappearance of a ship from the Franklin expedition. This ship’s goal was to explore the arctic in the 19th century. Her story connects to that of Peter, a filmmaker from the 1950’s who was covering a military expedition. Finally, we have Simon, a sailor in the Franklin expedition who’s trying to keep his crew alive. Their stories are all connected in some way, and through the decisions you make in these various past eras, you’ll shape what is possible in the present time.
Seeing as the fate of the real-world Franklin expedition is largely unknown (but seems to involve mutiny, shipwrecks, and other bad times at sea), some of it has been filled in by the supernatural in this game. To that end, historical possibility has been woven together with Inuit tales and folklore, bringing some incredible, striking mythologies to life in the game’s world. I mean, you’re guiding the characters toward Nanurluk, a colossal polar bear from ten thousand years ago. I really want to see a giant polar bear, especially in this game’s gorgeous art style. The developers brough on Inuit writer Thomassie Mangiok to ensure the narrative is faithful to the folklore it draws from as well.
Inua – A Story in Ice and Time offers a compelling series of stories that come together in interesting ways, and shapes that narrative through some intriguing player interactions with the game. It feels pretty wild to watch your decisions and how they shape several timelines, and when combined with this rich folklore and visuals, it makes for a wonderful tale to get yourself lost in.
Inua – A Story in Ice and Time is available now on the Nintendo eShop, App Store, Google Play, and Steam.
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