Hidden Gems: Canada’s Indigenous Game Makers Need a Bigger Spotlight
As a gamer with a massive Steam shelf, I treasure homegrown titles from Canada. Some are rare notes in the noise, made by Indigenous creators who bring local flavor alive. They feel parked in the shadows, not in the main chat of the big game scene.
Canada often sits off the map in the global game talk. Yet the country hosts many studios that shape kid-friendly titles and big hits alike. The ESAC reports that video games added about $5.1 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2024. That’s a sign of real work and real reach, not just dreams.
Still, only a tiny slice of Canadian projects are led by Indigenous teams. The public eye tends to miss the rest. Two Falls from Montréal’s Unreliable Narrators and Hill Agency: PURITYdecay by Achimostawinan Games in Hamilton are notable exceptions. But for many readers, those names are just blurbs they’ve never heard.
Barriers on the Path: Training, Money, and Networks
Jeremy Nelson is the producer and designer at Little Buffalo Studios. His team in Toronto is building its first game, Akiiwan: Survival, a cozy take on survival life. He knows the odds all too well. It can feel like there are only a few people in this space who match the vibe of his Steam library.
Across the board, developers cite the same roadblocks: training, funding, skill growth, and networks. Indigenous-led projects face extra strain from cultural norms and the view of games as a lightweight pastime. Fewer people see strong role models in the field, which slows growth.
Nelson puts it plainly: some folks still see games as mindless shooters with little worth. Those who know better understand games can tell many kinds of stories. The gap here means many urgent voices don’t get told in games.
Jean-François D. O’Bomsawin, who directs communications for the Indigenous Screen Office, echoes this. The office supports First Nations, Inuit, and Métis creators. They don’t focus only on games, yet some funding goes to “Interactive and Immersive” work, which includes games. Akiiwan: Survival is among their funded projects.
Funding Isn’t Always a Shield for Authenticity
Money helps, but it also shapes what a final game feels like. Even with grants or private money, keeping the core Indigenous voice intact is a real test. Some publishers step in with good motives, but their influence can blur the original voice.
Josh Nilson, who runs Maskwa Investments and created The Métis Life for Roblox, warns about this risk. When outsiders or backers push to “help,” it can wash away what made the game special. The aim should be to support, not water down, the unique voice.
With fewer Indigenous creators rising to big hits, networking and distribution stay tough. Nilson notes that the games exist, but getting them into players’ hands is the real hurdle right now.
We Need More Voices: A Bold Vision for the Next Decade
The drive to change is clear. Promoters want to see more faces, more stories, more doors opening. Representation matters for the next wave of makers. Seeing a clear path to a game career helps many young creators stay in Canada.
Nilson shares a hopeful goal. He wants 1,000 new Indigenous game creators in the next two years and 10,000 in five years. The plan calls for more Indigenous venture capital, more Indigenous bankers, and broader support from allies who step up and say, “I’ll help.” He adds a simple nudge: an article or a post can spark a kid to try making games.
Nelson agrees the change will come in waves. There’s a growing community on Discord with many new projects. It’s still in a late bloom, but the signs are clear.
Ultimately, games are big business with a real love for original stories. Indigenous creators already bring fresh ideas and new worlds. Nilson sums it up: what could be more real than a game born from Indigenous views and told with an Indigenous lens?
What Fans Can Do Right Now
For readers who want to help, the simplest steps matter. Look for Indigenous-made games. Play them. Talk about them with friends and online. Share your favorite titles and spread the word. Every download helps a creator gain more reach and keeps the door open for others.
The bigger goal is to show investors and studios that there is a strong audience for these voices. When more people watch, buy, and praise these games, more studios will back projects that center Indigenous cultures and stories. That push can turn small studios into lasting, vibrant studios across Canada.
As a gamer, you’re part of that change. Keep an eye out for new releases, support the teams behind them, and celebrate their success publicly. Your small acts can fuel big shifts in who makes games and what kinds of stories get told.
Header image credit: Little Buffalo Studios
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