Spawn On Me with Kahlief Adams: A Video Game Podcast · Spawn On Me LLC

Why Take Us North Matters: Game Developers Humanizing The Migration Journey

·41 min·4 clips

Carla Reyes shares how her family's migration from Guatemala inspired her to humanize the border crossing experience.

This episode of Spawn On Me features host Khalief Adams interviewing Carla Reyes, founder of Anima Interactive and creative lead for the narrative game *Take Us North*. Reyes is a first-generation immigrant whose family history informs this project about migrant journeys across the U.S.-Mexico border. The game is described as a narrative-driven interactive experience designed to humanize the stories of asylum seekers and migrants. The main topic is the development and mission of *Take Us North*, which immerses players in the perilous crossing of the Sonoran Desert. Reyes explains the team collaborates with migrant shelters in Mexico, academics specializing in migration, and humanitarian groups on the ground. She personally walked migrant trails and participated in resource drops, witnessing both the confiscation of supplies by vigilantes and the sharing ethic among migrants. The game's mechanics involve playing as a guide, managing resources, and using stealth to avoid Border Patrol and wildlife. Reyes cites inspirations like the game *Bury Me, My Love* and the VR experience *Carne y Arena* by Alejandro Iñárritu. A key insight is Reyes's observation that some migrants are now calling a return to Mexico the "Mexican dream," complicating narratives about the "American dream." The team incorporates authentic audio and video accounts from migrants, handling these stories delicately to avoid re-traumatization. Reyes shares that during street interviews, she encountered surprising public misconceptions about migration, reinforcing the project's goal. The art style uses faceless 3D models to reflect how migrants are often stripped of identity, contrasted with detailed 2D character portraits to showcase culture. The tone is conversational, educational, and advocacy-oriented, focusing on empathy and social change. The style is interview-based, with the host expressing clear support for the project's humanitarian aims. This episode would appeal to listeners interested in narrative games, social justice, immigration stories, and indie development. It might be less engaging for those seeking purely entertainment-focused gaming news or lighthearted content.

As heard by us

A human-centered game story about immigration that keeps the focus on migrant voices.

Spawn On Me spends this episode with Take Us North, a Kickstarter-backed game project that treats immigration as a human story and keeps its attention on the people behind it.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get a gaming conversation about a Kickstarter project on immigration that stays close to the people telling it.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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