Nali

Nali is a fictional humanoid species appearing in the Unreal video game series, developed by Epic Games. They are native to the planet Na Pali and are central to the game's lore, serving as a native civilization encountered by human players.

In Unreal and its expansions, the Nali are depicted as a tribal, pre-industrial people with a spiritual tradition. Their societies are shown as village-based, guided by shamans or elders, and their sacred sites and artifacts are integral to the world-building. Players interact with Nali through exploration, quests, and environmental storytelling, with encounters ranging from cooperative information exchanges to hostile confrontations depending on the player’s actions.

Design and storytelling emphasize the Nali as part of Na Pali’s ancient history. They appear in various ruins, temples, and ceremonial sites that invite players to study the planet’s past and its inhabitants. The Nali’s presence helps establish the setting’s sense of mystery and depth, contrasting with the human characters and technological elements introduced later in the game’s narrative.

Return to Na Pali, a 1999 expansion to Unreal, expands the geographic scope and lore related to the Nali, adding new locations and reinforcing their role in the planet’s history.

Outside the Unreal universe, the term Nali is not widely used in common terminology and is primarily associated with the game series among fans and scholars of the franchise.