As part of today’s Xbox Partner Preview broadcast, we’re thrilled to reveal a sequel to Raji: An Ancient Epic, the multi award winning indie action-adventure title set in ancient India. Raji: Kaliyuga isn’t just a simple follow-up to the original’s story, but a whole new game entirely – with an additional playable character, new action mechanics and, most ambitiously, an entirely new third-person perspective.  

When Raji: An Ancient Epic was first created, Nodding Heads Games was a young studio, driven by pure passion, belief, and a collective dream to establish India on the global gaming stage. We faced numerous challenges with limited resources and a small team, yet we possessed massive ambition. Years later, we have evolved into a mature and intentional studio. Our learning extends beyond just making a game; we’ve learned to build a universe. We’d love to talk you through our new project. 

An Epic Continuation 

Raji: An Ancient Epic was never intended to be a standalone story. The first game ended on a deliberate cliffhanger — from the very beginning, the tale was meant to continue.  

Set six years after the original, Raji: Kaliyuga expands on the conflict, portraying not just a war among mortals but a cosmic struggle involving gods, asuras, and mystical forces. The ancient asura warlord, Mahabalasura, unseals the heaven’s doors, shattering the divine equilibrium and plunging all realms into endless war. 

The story centers on Raji, now a seasoned warrior, and her younger brother, Darsh, a young dreamwalker haunted by visions of the past and future. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to the Eternal Summit, traversing various lokas (realms). Their destiny hangs in the balance: will they save the universe, or be forced to destroy it to end the conflict?

Creating a Second Hero 

Raji: Kaliyuga features dual protagonists, allowing players to embody both Raji, the warrior of faith, and Darsh, the dreamwalker. Characters switch based on story events and act as companions to one another. Raji employs acrobatic martial arts and wields the divine Trishul, while Darsh awakens to immense powers, controlling Siddhis to manipulate gravity, time, and energy. 

Integrating Darsh as a playable character alongside Raji is a core development for Raji: Kaliyuga, enhancing the narrative and gameplay experience in several key ways: 

• Emotional Closure and Perspective: The first game left Darsh’s fate uncertain. Playing as Darsh allows players to actively experience his journey, providing a personal and emotional resolution to the events of Raji: An Ancient Epic. 

• Embodying Cosmic Duality: Raji and Darsh embody the fundamental balance of the cosmos – Raji representing faith and the warrior, and Darsh representing vision and the dreamwalker. Controllable duality gives this central theme tangible form for the player. 

• The Power of Reunion: The emotional heart of the story is the siblings’ separation and eventual reunion. Players will witness how each character has evolved and how their combined strength shapes the ongoing war. 

• Layered Worldview: Raji’s journey was rooted in duty and faith, while Darsh’s explores introspection and destiny. Switching between their viewpoints offers a deep, multifaceted understanding of the game’s world and conflict. 

• Complementary Gameplay: The characters offer distinct and varied playstyles. Raji wields the divine power of the Trishul, while Darsh commands Siddhis (supernatural powers). This variety enriches combat, puzzle-solving, and boss battle strategies, and enables players to craft their own combat styles. 

• Dynamic Pacing: The shifting control between Raji and Darsh at different story junctures keeps the game’s momentum and pacing fresh. 

• Narrative Evolution: We’re moving beyond a simple story of divine intervention. Kaliyuga explores the coexistence of faith and illusion, where the narrative tone, art, music, and gameplay systems must mirror this duality, shifting to reflect the perspective and truth of the character currently being played. 

Shifting Perspective 

And, of course, we have our biggest change. While Raji: An Ancient Epic was a dynamic isometric action-adventure, Raji: Kaliyuga makes a significant leap into the third-person action-adventure genre.  

A move to third-person felt like the next natural step for our team. Although we remain fans of the camera styles used in Raji: An Ancient Epic, the evolution of the gameplay led us to believe that third-person action was the correct direction for this project. Despite the significant challenge of this transition, the team has adapted well and invested considerable time in mastering it. Our confidence in executing this successfully is bolstered by the team’s collective experience as gamers who have enjoyed many third-person action titles over the past two decades. Our team continues to push boundaries daily, elevating our skills to meet the genre’s demands.  

We’re matching that ambition elsewhere, too. Raji: An Ancient Epic was acclaimed for its handcrafted art and painterly visuals, deeply rooted in Indian architecture. This distinct artistic soul remains central to Kaliyuga, even as we advance our tools and scope. We’re now leveraging modern Unreal Engine 5 features, including an advanced lighting system and modular world-building, while meticulously preserving the essence of traditional art. Our murals are no longer static; they breathe and tell a living story. 

A Game for New and Old 

While Raji: Kaliyuga grows in scope, tone and perspective, it must still feel like a homecoming for players who loved Raji: An Ancient Epic. At its heart, Raji was never a battle against asuras – it was a testament of faith, resilience and divine grace through hardship. That essence carries through. 

The new game is designed to appeal to both veterans of the first game and newcomers. Kaliyuga features a completely self-contained narrative. New players will grasp the core premise instantly, and all essential backstory elements will be revealed naturally through memory murals, dialogue, and environmental storytelling.  

But while playing the original title is not a prerequisite, returning players will find a deeper, more emotional connection to the events. And, of course, Raji remains one of the central figures, not replaced but evolved. Players will recognize her stances, combat grace and quiet courage. 

Stay Tuned for More 

In the past year, Raji: An Ancient Epic has reached an incredible 2.5 million players globally. While the release of Raji: Kaliyuga is still a little ways off, we are excited to share what we’ve been working on, as we now feel ready as a studio to do so. Reaching this point has taken extensive time and effort, and we are committed to continuing our relationship with our community for many years to come. 

While a launch date announcement is still far off, players can stay informed by following us on social media and joining our Discord server, where we will provide regular updates.