Never Alone

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 235 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 235
  2. Mixed: 127 out of 235
  3. Negative: 31 out of 235

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  1. paidforitall
    Nov 21, 2014
    10
    Most interesting game I've played in a while. A breath of fresh air. If you are bored of the same old thing, or if you want your games to teach you something, give Never Alone a try. You won't be sorry.
  2. Mhlcc
    Nov 22, 2014
    10
    This game is both remarkably beautiful and fills a unique niche in the video game world by celebrating a rich culture we know very little about. The care with which the beautiful story unfolds and the narrative which rests on actual stories adds a totally riveting dimension to the play. I hope the producers do more of this type of game because this one is truly unforgettable and deeplyThis game is both remarkably beautiful and fills a unique niche in the video game world by celebrating a rich culture we know very little about. The care with which the beautiful story unfolds and the narrative which rests on actual stories adds a totally riveting dimension to the play. I hope the producers do more of this type of game because this one is truly unforgettable and deeply moving. Get it!… Expand
  3. montecarlo
    Nov 26, 2014
    10
    It's going to be a Never Alone Thanksgiving!

    When I first saw Never Alone back at E3 I knew I was going to love it, and it didn't disappoint. I've played at as the girl, the fox and several times as co-op and the experience just keeps getting better. The thing I love most about this game is how the puzzles seem difficult at first and there are several different but subtle combinations    It's going to be a Never Alone Thanksgiving!

    When I first saw Never Alone back at E3 I knew I was going to love it, and it didn't disappoint. I've played at as the girl, the fox and several times as co-op and the experience just keeps getting better. The thing I love most about this game is how the puzzles seem difficult at first and there are several different but subtle combinations to solve each one.

    Games are a big part of our Thanksgiving tradition...can't wait to share this with the fam!    … Expand
  4. owhi
    Apr 13, 2015
    10
    For me, as xwlemi man there is nothing more powerful or beautiful in the world other than my culture. This interactive story is not an expression of my own people. However, it is beautiful thing to see an indigenous story being expressed through this medium in utter perfection and brilliants. The depth and beauty nearly left me in tears of awe, the language was not heard but felt. TheFor me, as xwlemi man there is nothing more powerful or beautiful in the world other than my culture. This interactive story is not an expression of my own people. However, it is beautiful thing to see an indigenous story being expressed through this medium in utter perfection and brilliants. The depth and beauty nearly left me in tears of awe, the language was not heard but felt. The spiritual reality of this story somehow managed to transcend the oral tradition into a masterpiece of indigenous wonder. Never Alone, deserves a category of its own for there is nothing like it.. there no other creations to compare it to.
    Granted this game is not for everyone. For those who are not indigenous people the depth, beauty, and brilliants will no doubt escape you. The gameplay is immersive and is a means of sharing a story and a reality, it never fail at this function. I cannot apologies for including such a deep grained bias in this review, for my culture or "bias" is what makes me who I am. "I am because we are, we are because I am." It is a rare thing within any medium for our indigenous culture and worldview to be translated with respect, integrity, and with the same beauty as an elder sharing a story. This comes as close as possible to that translation. Words give this piece of work little justice... I can only compare it to hearing another tribes song.. that song is not your own. But you can feel the spirit that goes into that song, you know it comes from a similar heart and mind, the power and beauty of that song does not escape you. This game is the same way, a song that is not my own..but it comes from a similar heart and mind, and, its power and beauty is felt each and every minute. This review will not make sense to many of you, but if it did this game is worth your time.    … Expand
  5. thehenman
    Nov 30, 2014
    9
    Excellent indie game. Very emotional game with good graphics and superb storytelling. There are minor technical issues but i forgot about them soon enough. If you enjoyed valiant hearts you will like this as it has a simelar history telling aspect to it. Very nice .
  6. adamkynaston
    Nov 28, 2014
    9
    Another point in the "original, fantastic storytelling" column. Not quite the emotional impact of Supergiant's Transistor, but the music and story are beautifully told. Most importantly, this shows that cultural interests and sensitivities can be built effectively through gaming as a primary medium. Can you imagine having children in the deep south play this kind of game that addressedAnother point in the "original, fantastic storytelling" column. Not quite the emotional impact of Supergiant's Transistor, but the music and story are beautifully told. Most importantly, this shows that cultural interests and sensitivities can be built effectively through gaming as a primary medium. Can you imagine having children in the deep south play this kind of game that addressed racial tensions common in the USA? This could be the start of something amazing.… Expand
  7. elMorseman
    Feb 23, 2015
    9
    What a charming and delightful little game this is!
    Despite a couple of niggling little issues such as lack of movement while aiming and the occasional mistimed jump, where the game can be a tad sluggish, it's a true delight to play.
    It's a simplistic 2d puzzle platformer and to some that's a turnoff but don't miss this game if you like a gentle and charming tale, I got lost in this    What a charming and delightful little game this is!
    Despite a couple of niggling little issues such as lack of movement while aiming and the occasional mistimed jump, where the game can be a tad sluggish, it's a true delight to play.

    It's a simplistic 2d puzzle platformer and to some that's a turnoff but don't miss this game if you like a gentle and charming tale, I got lost in this game for some 3-4 hours chiefly due to the atmosphere, storytelling and style. If you're getting tired of AAA titles banging their drums at you and fancy a change of pace and a bit of heart in a game, give Never Alone a go, it's worth it    … Expand
  8. mediaglitch
    Nov 21, 2014
    9
    What a breath of fresh air this game is. You can see our full review on or YouTube channel. Here's a little indy title that made me remember what its like to play a good co-op game with a friend. The controls and graphics are great and the music or ambiance fits well into the whole experience. I say experience because that's what it is. with the story line of the game in conjunction withWhat a breath of fresh air this game is. You can see our full review on or YouTube channel. Here's a little indy title that made me remember what its like to play a good co-op game with a friend. The controls and graphics are great and the music or ambiance fits well into the whole experience. I say experience because that's what it is. with the story line of the game in conjunction with the documentary that comes with the game you finish the game a little smarter. It rare that you find a game that is fun but teaches about the rich culture of a people race as well. The only down side of the game is how short it is but I guess it just leaves you wanting more.… Expand
  9. Batavier
    Mar 30, 2019
    8
    This is a little gem of a game. It's not a AAA game by any means, but it's a small game with a small story about a small girl (and her fox). It's compelling though, and I loved it. You should look at it as if it's a story more than a game.

    Some people say it's a shallow game. And they are right up to a certain point. In between the various chapters or scenes you get to learn about Inuit    This is a little gem of a game. It's not a AAA game by any means, but it's a small game with a small story about a small girl (and her fox). It's compelling though, and I loved it. You should look at it as if it's a story more than a game.

    Some people say it's a shallow game. And they are right up to a certain point. In between the various chapters or scenes you get to learn about Inuit culture as well. I really liked these short interview-like intermissions.

    The real bonus for me was being able to play together with my son who controlled the fox. It's a compelling story with enough interaction, platforming and storytelling. The atmosphere is amazing, the sound effects are really good as is the music. It's not perfect and the difficulty isn't high. Although at some points there is a sudden spike in difficulty, it's never impossible or frustrating. To be honest, I found it very relaxing to play this game, apart from the parts of the story that were more exciting.

    Recommended!    … Expand
  10. brightonrover
    Dec 2, 2014
    8
    A pleasant title and well worth £10. The graphics/sounds and gameplay are very good. It's great fun playing local co-op (haven't played alone). There are some frustrating elements, which I can imagine are a real pain playing alone, but generally the difficulty level is quite low and shouldn't be at all challenging for seasoned gamers. But this is mostly about the story and, whilst short,A pleasant title and well worth £10. The graphics/sounds and gameplay are very good. It's great fun playing local co-op (haven't played alone). There are some frustrating elements, which I can imagine are a real pain playing alone, but generally the difficulty level is quite low and shouldn't be at all challenging for seasoned gamers. But this is mostly about the story and, whilst short, it is very enjoyable.… Expand
  11. Turbodowg
    Apr 16, 2015
    8
    A beautiful and mesmerising game. The art style is enchanting. The gameplay is fluent and interesting and the story is memorable and distinct. For a free game on ps+ it's a must you check it out.
  12. Granny117
    May 7, 2015
    8
    It's a fun little game, WAY better with a second player. I got annoyed going it alone, but it really works with a second person. It's a cool experience, very refreshing, and learning a little along the way was surprisingly well done.
  13. XxJoseManuelxX
    Oct 9, 2016
    8
    Never Alone is a puzzle-platformer video game by Upper One Games. Swapping between an Iñupiaq girl named Nuna and her Arctic fox companion, the player completes puzzles in a story based on Alaskan indigenous stories told in eight chapters.

    + Beautifully Animated
    + Coop
  14. DrFriendless
    Sep 9, 2018
    8
    This is a cute game. I played it co-op with my son who's a much better gamer than I am. I played the fox and he played the girl. It's a pretty standard platformer with a few puzzles and challenges, so nothing really outstanding. It mostly works well, though there were a couple of odd glitches that weren't fatal. The cultural background of the game is very strong, although we did not payThis is a cute game. I played it co-op with my son who's a much better gamer than I am. I played the fox and he played the girl. It's a pretty standard platformer with a few puzzles and challenges, so nothing really outstanding. It mostly works well, though there were a couple of odd glitches that weren't fatal. The cultural background of the game is very strong, although we did not pay too much attention to it yet. The art style is wonderful.

    I had a lot of fun carrying on like a fox, but the second half of the game is less interesting for the fox. In co-op play, the better player should definitely be the girl.    … Expand
  15. awayka
    Sep 19, 2019
    8
    Хорошая короткая игра-платформер про инуитов и песца. Со вставками из истории инуитов. Под конец, правда, скучнее уровни, затянутые.
  16. BrianDavid94
    Sep 11, 2022
    8
    Quick background on me the reviewer, I tend to like single player games that is heavy on narrative the most. I also play a lot of racing games and use to play multiplayer games in my high school days but now that it's hard for me and my friends to find a good time to link up so now it’s rarer for me to get into a multiplayer game. Up to try any genre of games and sometimes I find somethingQuick background on me the reviewer, I tend to like single player games that is heavy on narrative the most. I also play a lot of racing games and use to play multiplayer games in my high school days but now that it's hard for me and my friends to find a good time to link up so now it’s rarer for me to get into a multiplayer game. Up to try any genre of games and sometimes I find something new that I didn't think I'd like. I own a PC (built by me), Xbox One X, Xbox Series X, PS3, PS4, PS5, and a Switch. I prefer Playstation due to their focus on narrative games. For scoring, I’ll be using the Gameinformer review scale and of course influenced by my personal opinions.

    (8) Very Good. Innovated, but perhaps not in the right choice for everyone. This score indicates that there are many good things to be had, but arguable so.

    A simple platformer that teaches you about an Alaskan Native tribe. Graphics/art, and message makes it worth the try. It’s a short game but the story will help you learn about an old culture by swapping you between a girl named Nuna and an Arctic Fox as a companion. They work together to solve simple puzzles and create a partnership. You’ll leave the game feeling like you learned something as well as being entertained for 5-6 hours.    … Expand
  17. FriedConsole
    Apr 13, 2015
    7
    A lot like Valiant Hearts in that it is trying teach you stuff in a puzzle platformer but the puzzles aren't as interesting and there is a lot of real boring platforming and running away from stuff.
  18. RedWulfr
    Dec 27, 2015
    7
    This is probably 2014 cutest story about an important issue. The fact that they have involved informational elements is a good thought, but as a game its devastating. I would easily had classed this game as a top-game if this was better performed. Now its just a game i think would be obligatory to play in North American schools.
  19. Sparkticle
    Nov 6, 2015
    7
    Interesting game with an interesting setting and cultural influence. It looks aesthetically pleasing, and it's a story game driven by your 2D actions, much like Limbo. If you had fun with Limbo and you would like to see another game that approaches that formula, then this is for you. For me it just wasn't compelling enough for me to call this a recommendation to anybody else.
  20. Popan
    Apr 13, 2015
    7
    This is honestly a really good game with a great historical value. It also gives background info on certain things as well. My only problem is that as good as it is the gameplay is kind of boring.

    Art/Graphics:9
    Gameplay:6
    Value: 10(free for PS Plus in April 2015)
    Story:9
    Quality;9
  21. The_Garays
    Oct 13, 2015
    7
    Never Alone was the first indie genre game I played and I enjoyed it, but once I kept playing different titles I saw that my opinion on it was evolving, so I waited for a while to write this review.

    It's a game that has a very elaborate art design, it provides players a nice storyline and a very rewarding BS. You keep unlocking information about the Alaskan natives culture, those videos    Never Alone was the first indie genre game I played and I enjoyed it, but once I kept playing different titles I saw that my opinion on it was evolving, so I waited for a while to write this review.

    It's a game that has a very elaborate art design, it provides players a nice storyline and a very rewarding BS. You keep unlocking information about the Alaskan natives culture, those videos have a fascinating narrative, the stories captivate you, It almost felt like bed time when I was five and my grandpa read me stories.

    On the other hand, the gameplay is very poor, puzzles and riddles are very simple and they can be solved very quickly. I belive that if the difficulty was just a bit higher it would've been an 8 score game, anyway I enjoyed it and it was free for my PSN Plus, so... win win :)    … Expand
  22. Bumblebugbee
    Aug 27, 2016
    7
    Video games usually aren't the first place to if I want a learning experience. I do however enjoy documentaries and in many ways Never Alone is a hybrid video game/documentary. This original story of a young girl and a friendly fox has been cleverly designed to cover the life and legends of the Inuit people. The game lets the player go back and forth from the gameplay to mini-segmentsVideo games usually aren't the first place to if I want a learning experience. I do however enjoy documentaries and in many ways Never Alone is a hybrid video game/documentary. This original story of a young girl and a friendly fox has been cleverly designed to cover the life and legends of the Inuit people. The game lets the player go back and forth from the gameplay to mini-segments of a documentary covering various aspects experienced through the game. It is really cool to be able to discover the different parts of this rich culture and go on to experience them hands-on. If you're curious to learn about the native Alaskan people or you're looking for a light co-op experience Never Alone might be worth checking out.

    In this story you play as a young girl named Nuna. With a relentless storm threatening Nuna's village she decides to head out to find what the origin of the storm is. Nuna doesn't quite realize what she is getting her self into. Thankfully she quickly finds a Fox who will help protect and guide her. Both Nuna and her Fox have different abilities that require them to work together. You can control both characters or you can play co-op with each player controlling one character. On Nuna's adventures you'll come across different elements of Inuit culture which are explained in detail via the documentary. The story is definitely the focus of this experience and its quite fun to learn about all the different legends and beliefs of these natives.

    Game-play wise this is a pretty straight forward side-scroller. The two characters will need to avoid or maneuver around various hazards such as Icebergs and Polar bears. When there is no immediate danger the levels often turn into puzzles. You'll need to take advantage of Nuna's bola and the fox's ability to climb to navigate and progress to the next area. The game isn't particularly challenging which isn't too surprising since this is an educational game and was designed with children in mind. That being said there are a couple parts especially in the later half of the game that can get quite tricky and may require multiple attempts.

    Never Alone is very pretty game. As one may imagine there is only so much variety of things to see in this snowy paradise but what there is to see looks nice. The cut scenes are particularly interesting as they borrow the look of traditional Inuit art. To farther enhance the immersion the narration is voiced by a native in the native language. This game is all about spreading and promoting Inuit culture and it does everything it can to be authentic.

    How much you'll enjoy this game really comes down to how open minded you are. If you enjoying learning new things there is a lot to appreciate. However, more "hardcore" gamers find the gameplay a bit too lax. That isn't to say there is anything wrong with the gameplay, in fact I found the difficulty quite appropriate for the experience. This game also is a good example of proper asymmetrical multiplayer for those who enjoy couch co-op games. Find any reason to play Never Alone and I'm sure you'll walk away contented and a lot more knowledgeable about this fascinating culture.    … Expand
  23. whatiremember
    Mar 6, 2017
    7
    As a game and story and historic/cultural document, I loved Never Alone. It is beautifully designed. The art is striking and the animation is playful. The co-op aspect is well-done, but it’s also fun and functional in single-player. My favorite part was probably reading about Inuit mythology and tradition in the extras section—though the gameplay was really engaging, sometimes platformersAs a game and story and historic/cultural document, I loved Never Alone. It is beautifully designed. The art is striking and the animation is playful. The co-op aspect is well-done, but it’s also fun and functional in single-player. My favorite part was probably reading about Inuit mythology and tradition in the extras section—though the gameplay was really engaging, sometimes platformers can get a little repetitive. Also playing as the fox was sometimes buggy and frustrating.

    The night we played this together you broke down when I told you I wanted to go home to sleep. You cried with your whole body and the sound of it seemed to hurt you. I felt a pain seeing you this way—in a pain I didn’t understand and that you couldn’t communicate. Eventually you calmed down a little and spoke to me. “I built walls. Walls so nobody could ever get in. But you did.” You looked at me with an anger I hadn’t expected. “So you can’t leave me. You’ll destroy me, when I did this for you.”
    I sat there listening to you, and I felt like I was in a movie. Like a highly dramatized version of a relationship—where one person doesn’t understand how things work or how people talk, and the other person is stuck. But it was happening. And I had to talk you down from it, and reassure you I wasn’t leaving or destroying anything. Later that night I lay awake in your bed very nervous. My whole body felt alight thinking about the way you had talked about us. But your body lay between me and the edge of the bed, and beyond that the door. That was the first night I felt afraid.
    Game Rating: 7/10
    Playing Experience: 2/10    … Expand
  24. Menni
    Apr 27, 2020
    7
    Bella avventura anche se abbastanza breve e facile. Arricchita dalle tante testimonianze dei popoli nativi dell'Alaska sbloccabili man mano che si avanza
  25. bergcamp101
    Dec 4, 2020
    7
    Very nice small game with good story and interesting puzzle mechanics. Very satisfying.
  26. nexus151196
    Jan 29, 2021
    7
    Милая , ламповая игра. Арт - прекрасен, мифология тоже. С головоломками все понятно, они не напрягают. DLC - тоже достойное. На 1 раз - самое то.
  27. JokeRPro12
    Apr 26, 2015
    6
    Beautiful game with a powerful story yet an un-fulfilling gameplay, while it works for the most parts usually the gameplay brakes when trying to control both characters at the same time. it collectible videos however are quite good offering a unique look at the Northern culture. Fun Enough to play once but not at full price [6.5/10]
  28. dancingmind
    Apr 13, 2015
    6
    Never alone is looking to use the game medium to share the stories of the Iñupiat people through puzzle platforming, illustrated cutscenes and unlockable documentary segments.

    Unfortunately the title does not pull off what it is trying to at all as each element is executed poorly. The game portion is mostly frustrating and comical. There are plenty of checkpoints (thank fully) as the    Never alone is looking to use the game medium to share the stories of the Iñupiat people through puzzle platforming, illustrated cutscenes and unlockable documentary segments.

    Unfortunately the title does not pull off what it is trying to at all as each element is executed poorly.

    The game portion is mostly frustrating and comical. There are plenty of checkpoints (thank fully) as the game seems to know it will make you fail through poor visibility of where to jump, poor self-destructive companion AI, and poor jumping mechanics.

    The illustrated cutscenes look like poor flash animations. They seem to disgrace the magical art style of the Iñupiat. The story told is supposed to be from a legendary story teller of their people but most of the lines are just "there is a blizzard and it is cold. And the blizzard continued". Then the unlockable documentary videos are... okay. There's nothing really exciting nor do you get much of a sense of the culture besides it being in Alaska where it is cold and there is snow. A bit of a disservice to the people in my opinion.

    It's an easy set of trophies and won't take very long to obtain so long as you have a tolerance for repetition and frustrating design.    … Expand
  29. BaronMonaco
    Jan 6, 2016
    6
    I played this game thanks to the PS+ subscription but I'll review it like if i bought it as is no longer available for free.

    Never Alone is one of those game that is more concern by its purpose than it is with its gameplay. Then yes you'll learned a lot about an original culture, the game has cute graphics that match its chara design. For an indie game the technical side is pretty good.    I played this game thanks to the PS+ subscription but I'll review it like if i bought it as is no longer available for free.

    Never Alone is one of those game that is more concern by its purpose than it is with its gameplay. Then yes you'll learned a lot about an original culture, the game has cute graphics that match its chara design. For an indie game the technical side is pretty good.

    The story without being amazing is, like already said, a true discovery of this people culture with a very nice atmosphere but it will only last about 3 hours which is way too short for the 15€ asked.

    And at least if those 3 hours were intense it would compensate the length but not the puzzles and the platforming is so simple you'll just walk through each level and take the few collectibles scattered across.

    There's not much more to say, it's cute and interesting, but not very interesting and very short. If you want to play it I suggest to wait for a big discount.    … Expand
  30. AnimeKing
    May 9, 2015
    6
    its ok you learn about eskimo life style, but as for game. its a platformer co-op style game. story wise its ok nothing big or grand about it. music eh, was just music in the background nothing popped out. overall, it was interesting the bosses were annoying to figure out what I was doing wrong probably the big problem I had was the wind there would be a build up on the wind before itits ok you learn about eskimo life style, but as for game. its a platformer co-op style game. story wise its ok nothing big or grand about it. music eh, was just music in the background nothing popped out. overall, it was interesting the bosses were annoying to figure out what I was doing wrong probably the big problem I had was the wind there would be a build up on the wind before it pushed which slowed me down and killed me a couple times.
    rating wise, I'd say pick it up for a quick run through but its not a need game if you have a friend you like to co-op with it's a good sit down.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Best PS4 Game of 2014
50
#50 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
71
#71 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. GameCritics
    Jan 16, 2015
    70
    Despite my frustrations with some unfair aspects of the gameplay, I found Never Alone to be incredibly compelling.
    Read full review
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jan 13, 2015
    50
    Sadly, pretty looks and sweetly-edited shorts can't mask the lack of inspiration at its mechanical core. [Jan 2015, p.94]
  3. Edge Magazine
    Jan 9, 2015
    60
    A fragile container for a tale of such inestimable value, and what ought to be universally welcoming instead must be approached with caution: come expecting revelation on an emotional level, not a mechanical one. [Jan 2014, p.121]
See all critic reviews »