Toronto-based game developer Abhijeeth Swaminathan has been closely following the excavation of the more than 2,000-year-old Keeladi site in Sivaganga, even consulting with archaeologists and visiting the location. It is all part of his research to develop a game based on the Sangam era. “My team is pulling out all stops to better understand the period. We want to recreate a Sangam-era village,” says Abhijeeth, who heads Visai Games. “Our music director has procured an actual yazh (ancient harp) and kudamuzha (pot drum) made to Sangam-era specifications that will be featured in the game.”
Whether the game succeeds in fully realizing that vision remains to be seen; its ambition is indicative of a shift taking place in Indian game development: one that seeks to present narratives from Tamil Nadu to players.
Ayelet Studio’s upcoming ‘Son of Thanjai’ is among them. The first fully Tamil-voiced video game developed by Ayelet Studio, with Abraham K as the studio head and creative director of the project, the game has its story, screenplay, dialogues, and songs written by Tamil lyricist and screenwriter Madhan Karky.
The game, set in the 11th century, follows Vinnendhiran, a spoiled young Thanjavur prince who suddenly finds himself stripped of his title and thrown onto the streets of the Chola empire, forced to survive among ordinary people for the first time, and battling foreign threats. Players can watch folk performances, join traditional village games, listen to stories and legends told by locals, or take on side quests and cultural experiences from non-playable characters, all while “marvelling at the meticulously detailed Chola architecture,” say the developers.
“Players get to use ancient Tamil weapons such as the valari, aruvaal and surul vaal (whip sword),” says Abraham. “We wanted to create an immersive, historically accurate combat experience. We tested more than 100 prototypes of the surul vaal to create a fresh yet authentic weapon.”
Integrating Tamil history into gameplay was challenging, says Karky. “I researched Chola-era culture, folklore, infrastructure and daily life for the game to ensure historical accuracy.”
While foreign developers have represented different cultures through games in personalized ways — ‘Until Then’ (2023) by PolyChroma Studios showed day-to-day Filipino life through the eyes of a teenager and ‘1000xResist’ (2024) by Sunset Visitor involves a Hong Kong family who immigrated to Canada, attempting to hold onto their heritage — India has hardly ever featured. And when it has, it has been unimpressive. “In ‘Uncharted: The Lost Legacy’, the protagonist is an Indian Australian treasure hunter. The game had non-playable characters who spoke in Tamil, but the developers didn’t bother to hire native Tamil speakers, so it sounded forced,” says Rohan Suresh, a video game player from Chennai.
Which is why developers at ‘Project Madras’, an upcoming semi-linear open-world game set in Namma Chennai, are determined to capture the essence of the city.
Royston Cinemo, creative head, says the game “captures the spirit of Chennai” by creating the ambience of Chennai, not just its architecture but also its street life, local humour, weather and language. “The game features iconic zones in Chennai such as the Marina beach, Central Railway Station and Anna Salai,” says Royston, adding that they have drawn inspiration from open-world immersive simulators such as the ‘Hitman’ and ‘Watchdog’ franchises. He adds that the team’s sound designer, Sahil Kandasamy, recorded hours of ambience from various parts of Chennai, along with music that will support the game’s mood and atmosphere.
“We want Tamil people to feel represented and players from outside the region to discover something new and interesting about the city,” says Royston. “Chennai is not merely a backdrop in our game. We want to bring out its character.”
Abhijeeth is convinced there is an international audience for local and authentic stories. In 2023, his team created Venba, centred on a Tamil family and their relationship with food. The game’s success came as a surprise even to Abhijeeth. “Venba started as a small side project, so I didn’t have big expectations. But it clicked. It brought Tamil cuisine, language and everyday life to players around the world,” he says. A Tamil streamer, he also challenges the common assumption that Indian-made games appeal primarily to Indian players. “Most of Venba’s players are not Indian or of Indian origin.”
