Mulaka (2018)
Lienzo's Authentic Tarahumara Indigenous Lore, Copper Canyon, and Shamanic Odyssey
Developed by Chihuahua-based Mexican indie studio Lienzo and released in 2018, Mulaka is a celebrated cultural preservation action-adventure masterpiece rooted in the indigenous mythology of northern Mexico's Tarahumara (Rarámuri) people. Stepping into the sandals of a 'Sukurúame'—a shaman and spiritual runner—players journey across the breathtaking, low-poly Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre) to cleanse a malevolent corruption threatening creation, utilizing the spiritual blessings of animal demigods.
Rarámuri Running Ethos and Spirit Transformations
Honoring the legendary endurance of the Rarámuri—renowned as some of the finest ultra-distance runners on Earth—movement flows with superhuman stamina. Players unlock mystical transformations, shifting into an eagle to glide over chasms, a bear to shatter rock barriers, and a woodpecker to reveal hidden spiritual paths.
Anthropological Preservation and Philanthropy
Crafted in direct consultation with tribal elders, historians, and Rarámuri voice actors, the game preserved endangered oral folklore while donating portions of its commercial proceeds to indigenous welfare funds in the Sierra Tarahumara, earning international cultural accolades.