Inayah - Life after Gods News

[center]Hello everyone![/center]

Thank you for joining our pre-release AMA session — we received even more questions than expected, and they were all really interesting. We love sharing the details of a game we’ve poured our hearts into!

[h3]A quick reminder that INAYAH: Life After Gods launches tomorrow at 17:00 CET.[/h3]



Q: How long is the game, and are there going to be alternate outfits? (Greetings from Spain!)

A: ¡Hola! A first playthrough typically takes around 15–20 hours. On harder difficulties, we usually spend about 20 hours, but our most experienced players can finish in 10 hours.
There aren’t any extra skins yet, but we’d love to add them in the future. Thanks for your kind words—saludos!

Q: How much time does frame-by-frame animation take? And why is it the coolest part of the game?

A: It takes a lot of time. In INAYAH, everything—from characters to visual effects—is hand-drawn and animated. Inayah alone has over 50 unique animations and more than 3000 individual frames. We aimed for a “living cartoon” feel, because that’s how we envisioned our world from the start.

Q: What was your main focus during development?

A: We wanted players to constantly go “wow.” The core pillars of the project are vibrant visuals, rich lore, memorable bosses, and dynamic combat.

From the outset, we pictured a world where people survive on the ruins of an ancient civilization and sometimes worship technology they don’t fully understand.

We also felt it was crucial to create a three-form “multi-tool” weapon that would be useful in both platforming and combat, encouraging players to “juggle” different tactics.

Curious about how our ideas came to life and evolved into actual game mechanics? Check out this devlog, where we share more about our development process:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3199390/view/507321809704584445?l

Q: Will the game release on other platforms?

A: We’re already working on a parallel release plan and aim to support as many platforms as possible. We’ll share details later!

Q: How did you create the cutscenes, and did it take a long time?

A: We always wanted cinematic scenes, but only really got serious about them late last year. After launch, we’ll keep working on more cutscenes—stay tuned!

You can read more about it in one of our devlogs:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3199390/view/498313975282271519?l

Q: Will there be a launch discount?

A: You’ll find out tomorrow—we hope you’ll like what we have planned.

Q: How many bosses are in the game?

A: There are 20+ unique bosses in total, each with its own tactics and mechanics.

Q: Is parrying mandatory? I’m not really into that mechanic.

A: Parrying is just one of many options. We have three weapon forms and an extensive skill tree, so you can skip parrying if it’s not your style. For instance, the Mace has a “Magnetism” ability that absorbs enemy projectiles and boosts your damage.

Q: Will there be a map in the final version?

A: Yes! We’ve added both a local and a global map to make exploring easier.

Q: I prefer using the D-Pad. Will that be supported?

A: Absolutely. On Steam, we use Steam Input, so you can configure the controls however you like. Other platforms will also have their own ways to rebind.

Q: I just want to explore the world, but you’ve added tough bosses and mechanics. Why?

A: We offer four difficulty levels plus a Custom mode, where you can adjust platforming and combat difficulty separately. On Easy, you get a double jump from the start, and enemies are almost no threat, so you can focus on exploration.

Q: How about Steam Deck support?

A: We’re actively testing INAYAH on Steam Deck and want to ensure a smooth experience at launch.

Q: Will it be comfortable to play on a big TV?

A: All our assets are optimized up to 4K, so the game should look very sharp on a TV.

Q: What are your post-release plans?

A: We’ll share more details later, but here’s a quick teaser:

• Ports to PS, Xbox, and Nintendo are planned for this year.
  
• A free DLC will launch alongside the console releases, featuring a new mode and extra content for the base game.
  
• We’re working on more cutscenes and possibly additional language voice-overs.
  
• A major DLC is in the pipeline, and we hope to create a sequel—we’ve got plenty of ideas for another 2D adventure!
  

Thanks for all your questions! We can’t wait for you to dive into INAYAH: Life After Gods. Just a reminder: launch is tomorrow at 17:00 CET. See you in the game!

I was initially pretty curious about INAYAH – Life After Gods because of what it seemed to offer at first glance—a Metroid-like game, clearly inspired by Hollow Knight’s combat, with a really interesting art style? Sign me up! As I’ve stated many times in the past, Metroid is easily my favourite game series of all time, and I have a particular reverence for Hollow Knight, which probably makes me a bit more critical of attempts to emulate it.

But like I’ve said before, if you’re going to adapt something, you really need to understand what it is you’re building from—and I’m not fully convinced INAYAH – Life After Gods does. While it’s not a particularly bad game, it definitely feels like a case of style over substance, and the longer I played, the more annoyed I became with it.

The story is fairly straightforward. You play as Inayah—pronounced In-ai-yah—who was orphaned as a child when a mysterious group of Ironclad soldiers ruthlessly murdered her tribe. Years... Read more

Do you have questions about game development, the game’s lore, or our creative process? Great news! We're hosting an AMA session where you can ask anything to the development team.

How does it work?

• Leave your questions in the comments on this post by March 25.
  
• On March 26, we’ll select the most popular and interesting questions and prepare a detailed response post with in-depth answers.
  

Don’t miss your chance to learn more about the world of INAYAH and how it was created. We’re looking forward to your questions!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3199390/INAYAH__Life_after_Gods/

In Inayah - Life After Gods, we place great emphasis on narrative to immerse you in Inayah's world.

We use a variety of storytelling tools:

• Environmental storytelling
  
• Character design (including enemies, bosses, and NPCs)
  
• Cutscenes
  
• Dialogues
  
• Notes
  

Another important storytelling tool is voice acting. Voices bring characters to life, making their personalities more expressive and their emotions deeper and more vivid. Every line of dialogue conveys mood, inner struggles, and the dynamics between characters.

Our game is fully voiced-overed — all dialogues are professionally acted, allowing players to immerse themselves even further in the game's world and experience the story on a deeper level.

In this devlog, we will avoid major story spoilers and instead focus on the various narrative mechanics we use to tell the game's story.

When looking at the game as a whole, the story unfolds on three levels, which are interconnected but cover different scopes (from the most global to the most personal):

• The Story of the Ancient Gods
  
• The Story of the Tribes
  
• The Story of Inayah
  

Each of these levels is presented differently and allows the player to interact with the narrative in unique ways.

[h2]The Story of the Ancient Gods[/h2]

One of the key ways we tell the past of this world is through environmental storytelling. As you explore INAYAH, you will encounter the ruins of a once-thriving high-tech civilization, now long lost to time. These echoes of the past appear across various biomes, and each ruin holds a piece of the puzzle to uncovering ancient mysteries.




Observant players can analyze how these locations were once used and how the current tribes have repurposed them centuries after the fall of the ancient gods.



This tragic story also unfolds through notes that can be collected from fossilized remains of the ancient gods. Scattered pieces of information slowly come together, helping to explain what led the world to its current state.



To gain deeper insight into the history of the ancient gods, players can help Clio create paintings that reconstruct the events of the past. Throughout her journey, Inayah will find fragments of history that aid Clio in illustrating the tragic fate of the ancient gods.




[h2]The Story of the Tribes[/h2]

Throughout her journey, Inayah will encounter three different tribes, each with its own unique culture, history, and perspective on the ancient gods.

The history of these tribes is conveyed through their settlements and surroundings. The forest dwellings of the Masters of the Forest in the Green biome and the desert structures of the Sand People in the Yellow biome are shaped by their environment and survival needs.



As you progress, you can assist Jasper in collecting treasures, gaining valuable insights into the tribes' past.



Unlike the ancient gods' story, which is locked in the past, the story of the tribes unfolds in real-time. For example, a warrior of the Masters of the Forest might fall into an ambush, fighting to the very end. The battle’s aftermath can be seen in the environment, where lush greenery was once untouched.



Your decisions will directly impact the relationships and future of the tribes.

[h2]The Story of Inayah[/h2]

At the heart of the narrative is Inayah’s journey, which is deeply personal, shaped by loss, hardship, and the search for belonging.

She doesn’t remember her mother’s face, and her last memory of her father is watching him be killed before her eyes. A wandering outcast took in the young girl, and together they traveled the world. However, wherever they went, people either feared her due to her unusual appearance or outright rejected her.

The hardships she endured turned her into a skilled warrior, but she never learned to trust others. She cares only for herself and her mentor — the only person trying to keep the spark of kindness alive in her.

Her past was difficult, and it shaped her personality… but it isn’t set in stone. Players have the ability to change her fate.
Through dialogue choices and quest decisions, players can influence Inayah’s worldview. For example, accepting or rejecting a quest can shape her development.



Your choices affect not only Inayah’s character but also the lives of those she meets on her journey to find her people and a place to call home.

INAYAH features multiple endings that reflect the choices made throughout the game. Will you find your tribe, forge new friendships, and build a home? Or will you continue wandering alone? The decision is yours.

We aim to create a living narrative where the story is not just told but experienced. Explore the world, uncover the past, make decisions, and become a part of this legend.

We hope this brief overview helps you better understand the world of our game. Your journey will be shaped by the paths you take, the stories you uncover, and the fate you create for Inayah. Stay tuned for updates, and as always, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

See you in the next devlog!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3199390/INAYAH__Life_after_Gods/

We’re excited to announce a new update for INAYAH!

List of changes:

• Added 64-bit support: Enjoy better optimization and enhanced performance.
  

Thank you for your continued feedback and support — it helps us make INAYAH even better! Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to share your thoughts with us.