Son of Thanjai is an open-world action game set in 11th-Century South India, a unique setting in the medium, and if that pitch doesn’t sell you on it, its gameplay trailer might. That’s because it looks awesome, with the princely protagonist Vinnendhira Chola utilizing the Indian whip-sword weapon known as a Surul Vaal to dismember enemies invading his one-day kingdom in a violently bloody fashion.
At 19 years old, Vinnendhira has spent his life behind palace walls, avoiding responsibility and enjoying royal comfort. But his father is dying, and enemies are preparing to overthrow the family throne, so Vinnendhira is thrown into an adventure where he must fight tooth and nail (and whip) to survive. Son of Thanjai also takes an alternate-history approach to the Chola Empire, alluding to surprises likely in store when the game launches sometime in the future on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Check it out in the Son of Thanjai gameplay reveal trailer below:
Looks pretty cool, right? There aren’t many games set in India, and even fewer (maybe none) set in 11th-Century South India. This setting and the game’s premise, coupled with this first look at gameplay, have caught my attention, and I look forward to checking it out one day.
Here are some more details from the Steam page:
“Cast out, Vinnendhiran travels a kingdom at the height of its power and on the edge of collapse: temple crowns crowded with merchants and pilgrims, fertile river plains, dangerous frontier roads, occupied settlements, and courts thick with ambition. Some still believe in the Cholas. Others have suffered because of them. Most are simply trying to survive. The farther he travels from the throne he lost, the more he learns how little he ever understood the people he was born to rule, and how much he will need them.”
There’s no word on when Son of Thanjai will launch, but the Steam page says “coming soon,” so hopefully we can check it out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in the near future.
For more, check out the coolest games we’ve played during the Summer Game Fest media play days, and then catch up on our Summer Game Fest 2026 Showcase round-up for the latest announcements, updates, news, and more.
What do you think of this gameplay reveal? Let us know in the comments below!