Developer Uses Penguin Protagonist to Examine Colonial History

October 11, 2026 - 11:55

A game developer from New Zealand is taking on the legacy of colonialism through an unexpected lens. Naphtali Faulkner, who is affiliated with Ngai Te Rangi, is following up an award-winning debut project by adapting one of H.P. Lovecraft's most recognized stories into an interactive experience that questions the stories empires tell about themselves.

The project places a penguin at the center of its narrative, a choice that shifts how players encounter familiar themes of exploration and discovery. Rather than celebrating expansion, the game turns those ideas inward, asking who benefits from the myths that nations build around their pasts.

Faulkner's approach draws on his own background and perspective as an Indigenous creator. By reworking a well-known piece of Western speculative fiction, he creates space to challenge assumptions that often go unexamined in mainstream games. The penguin protagonist serves as both a narrative device and a symbol, guiding players through environments that reflect the consequences of colonial thinking.

The game industry has seen growing interest in stories that tackle history and identity from underrepresented viewpoints. Faulkner's work adds to that shift, offering a project that treats colonialism not as a distant historical footnote but as a living force that shapes how people understand themselves and each other today.