Educational , Adventure
When Rivers Were Trails
When Rivers Were Trails is a critically acclaimed point-and-click adventure game that explores the effects of colonization on Indigenous communities in the 1890s. Winner of the Adaptation Award at IndieCade 2019, it blends narrative depth with immersive jugabilidad. Players follow an Anishinaabeg character displaced from Minnesota, journeying west to California while navigating challenges tied to land loss and cultural survival. The game emphasizes hunting, fishing, and canoeing, alongside interactions with diverse nations and encounters with Indian Agents. Developed with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation and Michigan State University’s Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab, it features contributions from over thirty Indigenous writers, artists, and musicians. Creative direction by Nichlas Emmons, art by Elizabeth LaPensée, Weshoyot Alvitre, and music by Supaman and Michael Charette highlight its cultural authenticity. With a rich cast of characters and a poignant story, the game serves as both a historical reflection and a celebration of Indigenous resilience. For more details, visit the Gamepedia.