Never Alone making camp on Wii U next week

If you're on the lookout for games that aspire to heights not often aimed for by big franchises, take note of Never Alone.

On June 25, the atmospheric puzzle-platformer will make camp on the Wii U eShop as a digital download. The game stars two friends, Nuna and Fox, and explores the unlikely animal-human friendship through the setting of a perilous arctic world. The escapades are influenced by Iñupiat culture and stories, which Upper One Games and E-Line Media worked with a variety of Alaska Natives to capture. Wii U exclusive features include off-TV play, over 40 Miiverse stamps and a new feature called Contextual Insights that uses the GamePad to share cultural and historical details on the Iñupiat people.

To be sure, the vision and direction of Never Alone casts a bright light amid tiresome themes in gaming.