Son of Thanjai: Everything We Know

We don’t often get a lot of Indian protagonists or stories. So, for Son of Thanjai to design a game based on Tamil, a rich and ancient culture whose ethnic language is the oldest living in the world, is not only ambitious but exciting, too. We get a lot of Norse and Greek mythology games. Others, like Ghost of Tsushima, have also done a spectacular job of showcasing Japanese culture during the feudal era to the world. 

Still, Ghost of Tsushima had a big budget supporting its development. And it definitely impacts how stunning and breathtaking the final game is. Son of Thanjai, on the other hand, is from indie developers and likely can’t match the calibre of Triple-A games. And it’s vivid from the trailer, still needing touch-ups and polish to truly get the final game to the height of fame it deserves. 

We are definitely rooting for Ayelet Studio, and can’t wait to be immersed in Tamil Nadu. But first, let’s dive deep into everything we know about Son of Thanjai so far.

What is Son of Thanjai?

Son of Thanjai is an upcoming action-adventure game that will take place in the 11th century in South India. It narrows the cinematic story down to the Chola Empire. Players control a young Chola king and will explore a detailed, cultural world. You'll navigate themes of political intrigue, duty, and destiny, and master intense combat infused with stealth-based mechanics, all on the way to becoming a legendary ruler.

Story

Players will be controlling Rajendra Chola, spearheading the Chola empire as king. You’ll strive to become a legendary ruler, mastering the Surulvaal against enemies, and exploring a culturally rich world. The story will explore mature themes of duty, destiny, and power. It’ll incorporate political intrigue as Chola struggles to build a legacy. This is the Chola dynasty, adapting history and depicting a significant era of Indian heritage.

Having inherited your father’s legacy, you must navigate the responsibilities and duties that come with ruling. You’re a young king facing emotional struggles, but you must carve your own path to a legendary outcome. The world is also changing around you, further adding more twists and challenges. 

Ayelet Studio has been diligent in revealing the premise, where the story takes place three years after the conquest of Sri Vijaya. Rajendra Chola returns victorious, only to find his empire crumbling. Chaos brews in the temples and streets, as your allies turn enemies, and foreign saboteurs threaten your legacy. 

Gameplay

And then your battle begins, fighting enemies to protect your empire and people from destruction. You’ll mainly use the Surulvaal, a lethal, elegant, and flexible whip-like sword, which is historically authentic to South Indian martial arts, Kalaripayattu. When not fighting, it’ll be in your hand, marking your identity. However, you will also have a hidden blade, which will likely come with devastating combos. 

Furthermore, you’ll master stealth, akin to Assassin’s Creed. It’ll allow you to sneak up on enemies and take them down with precision. You’ll infiltrate enemy bases, disguised as someone else. Meanwhile, you’ll engage in interrogation techniques, all culminating in a deep action-adventure system. To beat the game, it’ll take proper planning, patience, and execution of kills with precision and brute force. 

But perhaps the most standout feature of Son of Thanjai is its world. A rich and detailed South India dates back to the 11th century. Among the cultural buildings and scenes you can see from the teaser are ancient temples, street performances, and even traditional sports events. You have marketplaces overflowing with the locals, all to showcase and preserve the world of the Cholas.

The developers are busy making every representation authentic, whether it’s the design of the buildings, characters, and the clothes they wear, or festivals. You’ll share meals and sing songs of the Tamil culture, and unravel a narrative steeped in history and deep culture.

Development

Ayelet Studio, based in Chennai, India, will be both developing and publishing the upcoming Son of Thanjai. So far, they have revealed a teaser at the recent Gamescom Future Games Showcase. They have also launched an official website, where you can keep in touch with all of the features and systems they plan to implement.

Fun fact: Son of Thanjai isn’t Ayelet Studio’s first rodeo. They may be an indie studio. However, they have worked on Unsung Empires, a series of strategy games following Rajendra Chola’s historical adventures in Thanjavur, India. They are evidently focusing on creating interactive, culturally rich games specific to preserving India’s traditions and heritage.

Trailer

Son of Thanjai’s announcement teaser trailer is out now for your viewing pleasure. It’s pretty exciting, with a lot of hope of potentially creating something special. You enjoy a Bollywood-like movie, with cinematic storytelling that involves a lot of dancing and bussing music. It’s clear Ayelet Studio intends to zoom in on Tamil culture, expounding on their festivals, celebrations, kingship, and inherent cultural practices. 

All of this is well and good. And when perfectly executed, it will surely immerse players around the world in a rich and beautiful, culturally-driven world. However, the other significant part that will truly make the game special is the combat and action-adventure. And at present, the graphics are still looking a bit outdated.

Animations are stiff and lack that stunning factor. Meanwhile, combat doesn’t stand out right out of the gate, which is unfortunate given the cultural impact Ayelet Studio intends to reach. With polish and careful fine-tuning of combat systems, Son of Thanjai can potentially hit staggering success.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

While Ayelet Studios confirms Son of Thanjai to be in development, and has released an announcement teaser to go along with it, they have yet to confirm an official release date, let alone a release window. However, they do confirm that the game will be coming to current-gen consoles, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms via Steam.

If there are any editions, they should be revealed via the social media handle, Steam, or the official game’s website, alongside future updates on gameplay, characters, and a behind-the-scenes look at world development.