Raji: Kaliyuga
Raji: Kaliyuga Revealed With Debut Trailer by Nodding Head Games
Nodding Heads Games revealed the sequel to its 2020 debut during Microsoft's Xbox Partner Preview, introducing dual protagonists and upgraded Unreal Engine 5 visuals while maintaining authenticity.
Highlights
- Nodding Heads Games announced Raji: Kaliyuga during Xbox's Partner Preview, featuring a shift from isometric to third-person gameplay with dual playable protagonists Raji and her brother Darsh, each with distinct combat abilities.
- The sequel continues six years after the original game's cliffhanger ending and utilizes Unreal Engine 5 while maintaining the Pahari art style, designed as a standalone narrative accessible to newcomers.
- The original Raji: An Ancient Epic (2020) reached 2.5 million players globally, won 36 international awards, and became the first Indian-developed game nominated for The Game Awards.
Nodding Heads Games announced Raji: Kaliyuga during Microsoft's Xbox Partner Preview broadcast on Thursday, revealing a sequel that shifts from isometric to third-person gameplay while introducing dual playable protagonists.
The sequel picks up six years after the original title's cliffhatter ending, following series protagonist Raji and her brother Darsh through a cosmic conflict spanning multiple realms. The game features story-driven character switching between the siblings, with Raji employing acrobatic combat and the divine Trishul weapon while Darsh manipulates gravity, time and energy through supernatural powers called Siddhis.
The development team upgraded to Unreal Engine 5, implementing advanced lighting systems and modular world-building techniques while maintaining the Pahari art style and Indian architectural influences from the 2020 original. The studio designed the sequel as a self-contained narrative accessible to new players, though returning players will encounter connections to established characters.
You can see the trailer of the new game here:
The Series’ First Game ‘Raji: An Ancient Epic’ Marked a Milestone for Indian Game Development
Raji: An Ancient Epic launched in August 2020 as a Nintendo Switch timed exclusive before expanding to other platforms. The action-adventure game reached 2.5 million players globally, according to the studio.
The title's reach expanded significantly through subscription services, joining Xbox Game Pass in July 2021 and Netflix Games in April 2023. The game accumulated over 36 international accolades and became the first Indian-developed title nominated for The Game Awards in 2020, competing in the Best Debut Game category.
Nodding Heads Games did not disclose a release window or pricing for Raji: Kaliyuga in Thursday's announcement. However, the company detailed the vision for its newest game on Xbox Wire.
The Xbox Partner Program broadcast also featured multiple third-party titles including new announcements for Armatus, Echo Generation 2 and Erosion.
According to Xbox, all featured games support Xbox Play Anywhere, Microsoft's cross-platform purchase system spanning Xbox consoles, Windows PC and compatible gaming handhelds, suggesting Raji: Kaliyuga will implement the same functionality.
Author
Vignesh Raghuram is Editor in Chief of Outlook Respawn, where he is building the outlet into the leading destination for authoritative pop culture and gaming journalism. With a decade of gaming and esports experience, he previously built India's premier esports media destination, earning three consecutive Gaming Publication of the Year awards for his editorial leadership.
Vignesh Raghuram is Editor in Chief of Outlook Respawn, where he is building the outlet into the leading destination for authoritative pop culture and gaming journalism. With a decade of gaming and esports experience, he previously built India's premier esports media destination, earning three consecutive Gaming Publication of the Year awards for his editorial leadership.
