- Inspired by real-life elephant stories… The first work by a Portuguese indie developer
- An orphan boy and a baby elephant met in the forest, a journey leading to exploration, puzzles, and battles
A heartwarming action-adventure game depicting the special friendship between a boy and an elephant is coming to gamers.
Portuguese indie developer One Way Eleven raised expectations by revealing new information about their upcoming game , ‘Hanno: A Magical Tale,’ on October 16.
‘Hanno: A Magical Tale’ is a work that deeply explores the process of an orphaned boy named Vimal, who discovers an injured baby elephant in the forest, and the elephant Hanno meeting and building a deep bond to become a family.
The developer stated that they plan to deliver a unique experience by combining a solid narrative with the distinctive gameplay of action-adventure. The game is scheduled to be released on the PC (Steam) platform, and development is currently being accelerated with a target release date of 2027.
An orphan boy and a baby elephant, companions who support each other
The player takes on the role of Bimal, an orphaned boy from a small village, who meets Hanno, an injured baby elephant, in the forest. Bimal promises to take care of Hanno, but he is unaware that he gains great power when he is with Hanno. The magic is unleashed only when Bimal is holding Hanno.
In the game, the two protagonists explore, solve puzzles, and engage in combat together as they confront an unknown threat polluting the world. The developers described their relationship as “a story where it is unclear who is protecting whom,” foreshadowing a bond that goes beyond mere companionship.
In particular, there is a specific section during gameplay where the two protagonists separate and go their separate ways, and a feature of this part is that you can directly control the elephant Hanno.
The dramatic moment of separation and reunion vividly demonstrates just how precious the two protagonists are to one another. The development team ultimately remained silent regarding Hanno’s fate, a topic many gamers are curious about. Instead of providing a specific answer, they left it up to players to enjoy the adventure and witness their special bond firsthand.
Inspired by the actual elephant sent to the Pope in 1514
‘Hanno: A Magical Tale’ is based on the true story of an Asian elephant sent from Portugal to the Pope in 1514. The developers explained that they wanted to tell the elephant’s own story by reimagining the elephant’s journey—which was recorded in history only as a gift—in a fantasy format.
The game is set in ‘Ashar,’ an original fantasy world featuring its own unique writing system. Lush forests, ancient waterways, and murals appear, and the world’s story unfolds through the traces discovered during the journey. In a world where warmth and threats coexist, Bimal and Hanno become each other’s strength as they set out on their path.
Creative Director Pedro Campos, who took the helm of the game, shared the backstory of the development, stating, “The starting point of the game’s development was a historical awareness of the problem of consuming animals as means of transportation, spectacles, or gifts.”
They further explained, “Hanno is not merely a means of transportation for the protagonist, but an independent companion with unique magic and a specific role.” The development team plans to pose the fundamental question of “who protects whom” through the relationship in which the two protagonists fill each other’s voids.
New Portuguese indie title that won 2nd place at the Gamescom Indie Awards
The debut work ‘Hanno: A Magical Tale’, which the small Portuguese indie studio One Way Eleven has been working on since 2023, is making a fierce start.
This game, which already demonstrated its potential by being selected for the 2024 GDC Pitch, has emerged as a global prospect, building a brilliant career that includes winning second place at the 2026 ‘GameStar FYNG Indie Awards’ and being officially selected for the Gamescom ‘Indie Arena Booth’.
‘Hanno: A Magical Tale’ is a work that立体적으로 implements the dual relationship between characters—who are comrades to protect while simultaneously serving as the driving force that makes one stronger—through its game system.
All eyes are on their future endeavors to see how the emotional bond between the boy and the elephant organically intertwines with the game’s core elements of combat, puzzles, and narrative to touch the hearts of gamers.
Information regarding ‘Hanno: A Magical Tale’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | One Way Eleven (Portugal) |
| Genre | Story-driven action adventure |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | Scheduled for 2027 |
| price | Undetermined (unconfirmed) |
| Supported languages | Unconfirmed |
| Key Experience | GameStar FYNG Indie Awards 2026 2nd Place Officially Selected for Gamescom Indie Arena Booth 2026 Selected for GDC Pitch 2024 |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
