Indivisible

Indivisible is an action RPG set in a vivid fantasy world where the protagonist Ajara can harness multiple souls to gain incredible abilities. Combining platform exploration, tactical combat, and soul-based puzzle solving, players uncover the secrets of this rich anime-inspired realm while unlocking new powers to overcome their enemies and themselves.

Indivisible: Review

1. Introduction

In a gaming landscape saturated with open-world epics and live-service behemoths, Indivisible emerges as a defiantly singular achievement—a hand-drawn, hand-crafted labor of love that defies genre conventions. Developed by Lab Zero Games, the studio renowned for the fluid combat of Skullgirls, this 2019 action-role-platformer is a bold synthesis of Metroidvania exploration and Valkyrie Profile-inspired tactics, wrapped in a vibrant tapestry inspired by Southeast Asian mythology. Its development, funded through a nerve-wracking Indiegogo campaign, was a testament to the power of grassroots support for ambitious, unconventional art. Yet, despite its undeniable charm and innovative systems, Indivisible is a game defined as much by its imperfections as its brilliance. This review argues that while Indivisible stumbles in pacing and execution, it stands as a landmark title—a visually resplendent, narratively rich experience that redefines what an indie RPG can be, anchored by one of the most endearing protagonists of the decade. Ajna’s journey is not just a quest for power, but a profound meditation on identity, forgiveness, and the indivisible nature of good and evil.

2. Development History & Context

Born from the ashes of Skullgirls’ critical success but commercial struggles, Indivisible was Lab Zero Games’ audacious pivot to a new medium. Announced in July 2015 at Anime Expo, the project represented a radical departure: a 2D action RPG blending platforming and tactical combat, with a world steeped in Hindu, Buddhist, and Southeast Asian folklore—a deliberate move to center narratives often sidelined in Western game design. The development was a crucible of passion and peril. Lab Zero launched a $1.5 million Indiegogo campaign, releasing a playable prototype to demonstrate their vision. Initial fundraising lagged, necessitating a tense 20-day extension that saw the campaign ultimately reach its goal in December 2015. This success, coupled with publisher 505 Games’ backing, allowed the team to expand their vision, with funds secured through Indiegogo’s InDemand service. Technologically, the game leveraged Lab Zero’s proprietary Z-Engine, pushing the boundaries of hand-drawn 2D animation—a choice that would later become the game’s most celebrated feature.

The four-year development cycle unfolded against the backdrop of an industry dominated by live-service models and AAA open worlds. In 2019, when Indivisible finally launched, it arrived as a counterpoint: a linear, narrative-driven experience with no microtransactions, loot boxes, or endless grinding. Its release was marred by irony, however; Lab Zero Games dissolved in October 2020 amidst reports of a toxic work environment, abruptly halting all post-launch support—including planned DLC guest characters (e.g., Shovel Knight, Shantae) and a Peacock animated series adaptation. This abrupt end cast a shadow over the game’s legacy, leaving it as a final, unfinished testament to the studio’s ambition.

3. Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Indivisible’s narrative is a sprawling, emotional odyssey centered on Ajna, a village girl with a rebellious streak and a hidden destiny. The story opens with a prologue depicting her father, Indr, and his comrades sealing away the malevolent goddess Kala—a battle that ends with Kala’s defeat but leaves a scar on the world. Sixteen years later, Ajna’s idyllic life is shattered when warlord Ravannavar’s army destroys her village and kills Indr. In a moment of uncontrolled rage, Ajna absorbs Ravannavar into her mind, gaining the power to “incarnate” fallen allies into her inner realm—a pocket dimension where her companions reside. This mechanic serves as the narrative’s core metaphor: Ajna’s journey forces her to confront not just external foes, but the fractured parts of herself.

The plot unfolds in three acts, each escalating Ajna’s internal conflict. Act I casts her as a vengeful hero hunting Ravannavar, inadvertently unleashing Kala and alienating her companions. Act II sees Ajna recklessly confronting Kala, succumbing to rage, and inadvertently causing catastrophic destruction—culminating in the heartbreaking sacrifice of Dhar, the warlord’s lieutenant-turned-ally. This tragedy forces Ajna into a redemptive arc in Act III, where she atones for her mistakes by aiding the very communities she disrupted, ultimately convincing Kala to abandon her world-destroying vision through empathy rather than combat.

Thematically, the game explores the duality of creation and destruction, personified by Ajna and Kala. Kala, the goddess of entropy, embodies a nihilistic desire to reset the world to a “perfect” state, while Ajna—initially a manifestation of Kala’s third eye—embraces humanity’s messy, beautiful imperfections. The narrative’s emotional weight is amplified by its diverse cast: Dhar’s redemption arc, from antagonist to tragic hero; Thorani’s maternal guidance; and the humorously chaotic dynamics of Ajna’s “incarnations” (e.g., the shaman Razmi’s pyromaniacal tendencies). Dialogue crackles with wit, as noted in Vice’s coverage, where Ajna’s deadpan reaction to her father’s killer inhabiting her mind—“You’re an asshole. I’m leaving”—elicits genuine laughter. Yet beneath the humor lies a poignant examination of trauma, forgiveness, and the courage to choose compassion over vengeance. The bittersweet ending, where Ajna merges with Kala to preserve the world’s imperfect beauty, elevates the story from a hero’s journey to a profound philosophical statement on acceptance.

4. Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Indivisible’s genius lies in its seamless fusion of two distinct gameplay philosophies. Overworld exploration channels the traversal of Super Metroid, with Ajna navigating lush, interconnected environments—villages, jungles, and deserts—gaining new abilities to overcome obstacles. These include wall-climbing with an axe, grappling with a kusarigama, and mid-air dashes with a spear, each unlocking new paths and rewarding curiosity. However, the platforming, while fluid, occasionally suffers from repetitive design and finicky controls, a point critics like GameSpot flagged as a minor hindrance.

The true innovation emerges in combat, a real-time system inspired by Valkyrie Profile. Each party member is mapped to a face button (e.g., X for Ajna, Square for Dhar), and inputting a sequence of attacks builds combos and fills the Iddhi meter—a resource for super moves. The depth lies in timing and synergy: holding up or down on the D-pad modifies attacks, while perfect blocks (a nod to Ajna’s early training) stagger enemies and generate Iddhi. This creates a rhythmic, almost fighting-game-like flow, where stringing moves like Zebei’s arrow storms or Tungar’s whip-sword flurries feels tactile and rewarding. Character progression is refreshingly streamlined: no skill trees or crafting exist. Instead, Ajna’s stats grow via story milestones and crystals collected in hard-to-reach areas—a deliberate design choice to avoid grinding, as noted by RPG Site.

Yet the system isn’t without flaws. Boss battles, particularly early ones like Pindayar, suffer from inflated HP pools and punishing difficulty spikes, forcing reliance on specific strategies (e.g., Razmi’s Iddhi super). The UI, while clean, obscures crucial information like enemy attack ranges, leading to frustrating missteps. Additionally, the game’s linearity in later chapters—relying on backtracking over familiar terrain—undermines the Metroidvania promise, a point echoed by Game Informer’s critique of pacing. Despite these issues, the combat remains Indivisible’s crown jewel, a masterclass in marrying accessibility with depth that invites experimentation and mastery.

5. World-Building, Art & Sound

Indivisible’s world is a love letter to cultural diversity, drawing inspiration from across the Asian continent—from Himalayan villages to Aztec-inspired deserts and Iron Kingdoms reminiscent of Victorian imperialism. This eclecticism is reflected in the art direction, which Lab Zero Games described as “a vibrant tapestry of Southeast Asian mythology and global influences.” Environments like the smog-choked slums of Tai Krung City or the serene Port Maerifa are rendered with breathtaking detail, each backdrop a hand-painted masterpiece that begs closer inspection. Studio Trigger’s animated opening—directed by Little Witch Academia’s Yoh Yoshinari—sets the tone: a kinetic, expressive sequence that blends 2D animation with the game’s signature fluidity.

Character design is equally exceptional. Ajna’s evolution from wide-eyed youth to battle-hardened warrior mirrors her visual transformation, from earthy browns to ethereal blues in her Heruka form. Incarnations like Dhar (a stoic swordsman) and Razmi (a chaotic shaman) are instantly recognizable, their designs reflecting their personalities without resorting to cliché. Even minor NPCs, like the panaggalan enemies draped in Godiva-like viscera hair, showcase the team’s commitment to originality.

Sound design completes the immersion, with Hiroki Kikuta’s soundtrack (Secret of Mana composer) weaving traditional instruments into sweeping orchestral scores. Battle tracks pulse with energy, while quieter moments feature sitars and flutes that evoke a sense of wonder. Voice acting is uniformly strong, particularly Tania Gunadi’s Ajna, who balances vulnerability with resolve, and Keith Silverstein’s Indr, whose paternal warmth makes his loss all the more devastating. Sound effects—from the thwack of Tungar’s whip-sword to the “oooom” of saving—add tactile weight to every action. Together, art and sound create a world that feels lived-in, magical, and utterly indivisible from its narrative.

6. Reception & Legacy

Upon release, Indivisible earned “generally favorable reviews” (Metacritic: 77–82 across platforms), with critics hailing its art, combat, and representation as standout achievements. IGN and GameSpot awarded it 8.8/10, praising its “extraordinary” combat and “charming protagonist,” while USgamer lauded its “fresh RPG hybrid” heart. However, critiques centered on pacing issues (Game Informer), uneven difficulty (PC Gamer), and repetitive backtracking (Nintendo Life). Commercially, the game underperformed, its niche appeal and lack of marketing failing to capture mainstream attention—a fate compounded by Lab Zero’s dissolution in October 2020, which scrapped planned DLC and an animated series adaptation.

Over time, Indivisible’s reputation has evolved. It is now regarded as a cult classic, celebrated for its representation of Southeast Asian cultures—a rarity in a genre often dominated by Western or Japanese tropes. Its combat system, particularly the Iddhi meter and combo mechanics, has influenced indie RPGs like Sea of Stars, proving that innovation can thrive beyond AAA budgets. The game’s legacy is also bittersweet: a testament to Lab Zero’s artistic vision and a reminder of the industry’s volatility. As Destructoid noted, its “blemishes can be hard to ignore, but Indivisible, like Ajna’s friends, still gets inside your head.” In the pantheon of RPGs, it stands as a flawed, unforgettable gem—one that dared to be different.

7. Conclusion

Indivisible is a game of contradictions: a Metroidvania where traversal is secondary to narrative, a turn-inspired combat system that thrives on real-time rhythm, and a hero’s journey defined as much by failure as triumph. Lab Zero Games crafted a world that is as much a character as Ajna herself, blending breathtaking art, deep lore, and emotional storytelling into a cohesive whole. While its pacing falters and its difficulty spikes frustrate, these flaws are overshadowed by its ambition and heart. Ajna’s evolution—from a girl consumed by vengeance to a goddess of compassion—resonates because it mirrors the game’s own core theme: that strength lies not in division, but in unity.

In the end, Indivisible earns its name. It is a game that defies easy categorization, a labor of love that transcends its technical shortcomings to deliver an experience that is, in the truest sense, indivisible: art and gameplay, East and West, light and dark fused into something unforgettable. For players seeking an RPG that prioritizes character over combat, substance over spectacle, and heart over hype, Indivisible is not just recommended—it is essential. It is Lab Zero Games’ final, flawed, and magnificent ode to the power of stories that dare to be different.