Expansive vistas, richly detailed temple courtyards, bustling market streets, stunning environmental design, that too, for an Indie game from the south of the country.
The latest teaser trailer of the Son of Thanjai game dropped a month ago at Gamescom, and now, it is grabbing eyeballs among gamers in India! In case you haven’t watched it already, here it is:
The teaser is more derived from cinematic straight out of the game engine and not a specially produced one, and this is a brave choice.
Chola-era architecture and period costumes create an immersive sense of place. But it also shows how far it should improve.
Character and weapon design
King Rajendra Chola’s character model features regal attire, intricate armour, and expressive animation that convey his royal stature. More than that, he looks Indian, and not a caricature of cultural appropriation!
The surulvaal or urumi—traditional Dravidian whip-sword—is the main weapon of the Chola king, as per the trailer. The little of the whip-sword animations we got already stood out for fluidity and impact, promising a unique combat experience rooted in Kalarippayattu.
Cultural immersion
Authentic cultural elements—such as temple processions, classical dance performances, and traditional folk music—are woven into the trailer.
As someone from the region, my eye would be on the game’s commitment to historical authenticity and local storytelling, once it comes out.
Music and audio
The Tamil score, blending percussion, vocal chants, and orchestral swells, is already on point—but it could be better. The cut-to-action in the middle of the teaser was something straight out of a PlayStation exclusive title’s playbook, lifting dramatic tension and reinforcing the South Indian setting.
What we did not like about the Son of Thanjai game teaser
The curse of the Unreal Engine struck once more... Facial expressions were stiff. There was a general feeling of games from earlier console generations—the issue was the immersion in close-up shots.
We also need a gameplay-focused trailer to better assess mechanics and interface design.
So many things remain unanswered—stealth mechanics, enemy AI, and progression systems.
Also, where is the narrative? What are the stakes of Rajendra Chola’s journey? Where are the supporting characters?
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Indie developer Ayelet Studio used Unreal Engine 5 as the primary game engine, with Autodesk Maya for modelling and animation. The studio visited Thanjavur and used employs photogrammetry techniques to replicate historically accurate sculptures and artefacts from the Chola period. Full marks for dedication.
Son of Thanjai is scheduled for release in 2026 on PlayStation 5 (and PS 5Pro), Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Gamers can wishlist the title on all of these platforms now.