Christophe De bont 
19/07/2019
Whatever happened to Eskimo? Back in the day, the ambitious project of Sakari Games was one of the very first titles to be supported by the then newly founded VAF/Gamefonds. It would be a shame to see this cool looking game end up on ice forever, so we’re excited that the studio is finally defrosting its passion project.
For those not in the loop: Sakari Games was founded in 2008 by veteran game developer Pepijn Rijnders (Davilex, Playlogic) and was one of the founding members of FLEGA. Primarily known for Foreign Legion, a duo of gory cartoon shooters, in recent years the studio operated on a low profile. After focusing on contract work and co-creating horror VR shooter Cargo Breach, Sakari is finally returning to its first love: the Inuit.
Rijnders appreciation for Inuit culture sprouted at a young age, when he read about their way of life while on holiday with his family. Intrigued by their ability to survive in harsh conditions and yet still be grateful to the gods for every moose or fish to cross their path, he wanted to create a game about living in harmony with nature. Fun fact: Sakari actually means “sweet” in the Inuit language.
In this survival RPG you’ll control two young siblings who’ll have to rely on each other to survive. Over the course of their journey, the younglings (along with the players) will experience the Inuit way of life. They’ll have to learn how to hunt and fish and master new techniques to survive in the cold environment and overcome the dangers on their path, ultimately growing up into young tribesmen.
The game’s designed for co-op play and should feel right at home on Nintendo Switch. For instance, if both players stay close to each other it’ll be easier to keep their body temperature up. They’ll also have to rush to each other’s aid when one of them falls prey to one of the many dangers of the polar environment. While the game’s primary goal is survival, there’s no realistic violence or suffering involved, as Sakari aims to deliver an experience that’s easy to pick up and play by both kids and their parents.
Sakari has been beefing up its staff considerably for the project and we can’t wait to dip our toes in the snow for the first time.
