# Unearthed: Trail of Ibn Battuta

> 2013 video game

**Wikidata**: [Q12187853](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12187853)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unearthed:_Trail_of_Ibn_Battuta)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/unearthed-trail-of-ibn-battuta

## Summary
Unearthed: Trail of Ibn Battuta is a 2013 episodic action-adventure and third-person shooter video game developed and published by Saudi Arabian studio Semaphore. The game follows a modern-day treasure hunter inspired by the 14th-century explorer Ibn Battuta and was released across nine platforms from mobile to PlayStation 4.

## Key Facts
- Released 29 May 2013 in Europe; developed and published by Saudi studio Semaphore.
- Arabic title: الركاز: في أثر ابن بطوطة (Treasure: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta).
- Single-player only; runs on Windows, macOS, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Android, iOS, Ouya.
- Built with Unity engine version 3.5.7b1; distributed digitally via Steam, PlayStation Store, Google Play, iOS App Store.
- IMDb entry tt15881374; Steam application ID 263680; Metacritic ID "unearthed-trail-of-ibn-battuta".
- Localised UI/subtitles in nine languages; full Arabic voice-acting plus English voice-over.
- Narrative set in Morocco; marketed as Episode 1 with a later "Gold Edition".
- Classified as an indie game; speedrun.com leaderboard ID "unearthedtoib".

## FAQs
### Q: What platforms can I play Unearthed: Trail of Ibn Battuta on?
A: The game is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Android, iOS and the Ouya micro-console. Touch-screen controls are used on Android and iOS.

### Q: Is Unearthed: Trail of Ibn Battuta multiplayer?
A: No, it is strictly a single-player experience with no co-operative or competitive modes.

### Q: Do I need to play Episode 1 before later episodes?
A: The 2013 release is self-contained as "Episode 1"; no further episodes have shipped, so the story ends on a cliff-hanger.

### Q: Does the game support Arabic language?
A: Yes—Arabic is the only language that includes both interface text and full voice-over; other languages provide interface and subtitles only.

## Why It Matters
Unearthed was the first major Saudi-developed console title to secure global digital distribution, signalling the Kingdom's entry into the international games market. By localising into Arabic and English simultaneously and setting its treasure-hunt narrative in Morocco, Semaphore positioned the game as both a cultural product for Arabic speakers and a commercial outreach to Western players. Although critical reception was mixed, the title is frequently cited in academic discussions of MENA game development and is preserved in multiple language Wikipedias, making it a reference point for researchers mapping non-Western game production. Its cross-platform reach—from high-end PlayStation consoles to low-spec Android phones—also illustrates early-2010s middleware flexibility, showing how a small Riyadh team could target nine disparate devices with one Unity codebase.

## Notable For
- First Saudi-made game to launch on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PS Vita simultaneously.
- One of the earliest indie titles to offer full Arabic voice-acting alongside English.
- Episode-based structure predates the modern boom of Arabic-language narrative games.
- Multi-platform parity: identical content across flagship consoles, desktop and mobile within a single year.
- Preserved speed-running category despite niche status, maintaining a small but active leaderboard.

## Body
### Development & Release
Semaphore, a Riyadh-based studio, self-funded and self-published the project. Director Ahmad Jadallah and designer Mohammad Khaleel led a small team that built the game in Unity 3.5.7b1. After a soft-launch on Android and iOS, the European PlayStation Store debuted the console versions on 29 May 2013, followed by North America and other territories. Steam carried Windows and macOS builds under application ID 263680; mobile stores listed it as a premium download with no in-app purchases.

### Gameplay & Content
Players control Faris Jawad, a modern Moroccan treasure hunter retracing Ibn Battuta's historic route. Core mechanics combine third-person shooting, environmental puzzles and quick-time events across three linked chapters. The entire episode lasts roughly two hours, ending on a narrative cliff-hanger intended to set up future instalments. Control schemes adapt per device: gamepad for consoles, keyboard-mouse for PC, and single-touch for phones.

### Reception & Legacy
Review aggregators show mixed scores; critics praised the Arabic localisation effort but criticised short length and technical rough edges. Nonetheless, the game became a cultural touchstone within Arabic gaming communities and is routinely referenced in Gulf-state media coverage of local industry growth. Rights remain with Semaphore; no sequels have been announced, yet the title continues to sell on Steam seasonal sales and mobile discount events.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoGame",
  "name": "Unearthed: Trail of Ibn Battuta",
  "alternateName": "الركاز: في أثر ابن بطوطة",
  "description": "2013 episodic third-person shooter and action-adventure game developed by Saudi studio Semaphore.",
  "url": "http://www.unearthedgame.com",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12187853",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unearthed:_Trail_of_Ibn_Battuta"
  ],
  "gamePlatform": [
    "Microsoft Windows",
    "macOS",
    "PlayStation 3",
    "PlayStation 4",
    "PlayStation Vita",
    "Android",
    "iOS",
    "Ouya"
  ],
  "author": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Semaphore"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Semaphore"
  },
  "genre": ["Action-adventure game", "Third-person shooter"],
  "datePublished": "2013-05-29",
  "inLanguage": ["ar", "en", "fr", "it", "de", "es", "da", "nl", "el", "ja"],
  "playMode": "Single-player",
  "gameEngine": "Unity 3.5.7b1"
}

## References

1. Steam
2. PCGamingWiki
3. GameSpot
4. Giant Bomb
5. Q124398839
6. GamesMeter.nl
7. GOG Dreamlist