A great piece of literature is a foundation, not a cage. Even the most well-known narratives hold secrets, unseen perspectives, or unexplored branches waiting for an opportunity to flourish. Our process often begins by asking “What if?” and looking beyond the main chronology to the edges of the known world. This approach allows us to create new avenues for players—opportunities to engage with the themes and characters in ways the original author may not have envisioned, but which remain fundamentally true to the story’s core message.

Classic stories, by their very nature, invite endless interpretation. While the canon provides a beloved framework, there’s a universe of possibility lurking in the margins. What happened to the minor character after their brief appearance? What if a pivotal decision had been made differently? At Northern Game Studios, we see these questions not as deviations, but as invitations to deepen the experience. It’s about respectful exploration, not reckless alteration.

Our methodology involves identifying key thematic elements and character archetypes from the source material and then building out scenarios that test and expand upon them. This might involve crafting side quests that shed new light on a protagonist’s motivations, or introducing choices that allow players to forge alliances or rivalries that weren’t explicit in the original text but feel entirely congruent with its spirit. We aim to create a sense of discovery, even for those intimately familiar with the source material, offering fresh perspectives on narratives they thought they knew inside and out.

By venturing “beyond the canon,” we’re not rewriting history; we’re enriching it. We’re providing players with the agency to participate in a living, breathing interpretation of a classic, inviting them to forge their own paths through narratives that continue to resonate through the ages. It’s a tribute to the enduring power of storytelling, demonstrating that even the most cherished tales can offer new adventures.