Achimostawinan Games

Achimostawinan Games is an Indigenous-owned, majority Indigenous-staffed independent game studio based in Hamilton, Ontario. Founded in 2016 by designer, writer and media artist Meagan Byrne with co-founder Tara Miller, the studio creates original interactive work for Indigenous audiences and players worldwide.

Its name comes from the Cree word Achimostawinan, meaning “Tell us a story.” That emphasis on storytelling informs the studio’s approach to Indigenous futurism, cultural representation and non-exploitative narrative design. The team draws on the Biskaabiiyaang (“the returning”) philosophy in story-driven games that combine cybernoir settings, detective mechanics and Indigenous perspectives.

Games and interactive work

The studio develops 3D narrative adventures in Unreal Engine and provides interactive digital-media expertise for Indigenous artists, cultural institutions and communities. Its work spans:

• Original video game development
• Narrative design and interactive fiction
• Interactive digital-content creation
• Cultural and digital-media consulting
• Cree-language and cultural integration in interactive projects

Its flagship release, Hill Agency: PURITYdecay, launched for PC in 2023. The 3D detective adventure is set in the futuristic Néhinaw metropolis of Akâmaskiy in 2762, placing players in an unguided investigation within a neon-lit cybernoir world. Earlier work includes Sealskin and the Purity & Decay game-jam prototype that helped shape the later Hill Agency project.

Recognition and practice

Achimostawinan Games was named the Ontario Grand Prize winner of the 2022 Ubisoft Indie Series, receiving a grant and executive mentorship from Ubisoft developers. The studio’s work connects game development with cultural and community-oriented digital practice, pairing commercial releases with consulting and collaborative interactive projects.

With a small multidisciplinary team, Achimostawinan Games continues to develop Indigenous-centred interactive stories across games, arts, culture and heritage contexts.