Why is Gauley called 'Nepal's GTA game'? Everything to know about Ashim Shakya's Steam sensation

Why wait for GTA 6 when our neighbors are making a game of their own? Solo Nepali developer Ashim Shakya has poured years of passion into Gauley: Experience Nepal, an open-world action-adventure inspired by Rockstar's iconic franchise while staying deeply rooted in Nepal's culture and landscapes.

Released in Early Access on Steam on April 1, 2026, the game quickly earned praise for its cultural authenticity and ambitious scope


So, why is Gauley being called Nepal's GTA? From its years-long development process and compelling story to its immersive gameplay, here's everything you need to know. Scroll down!


This intriguing open-world game drops players into a richly recreated version of Nepal, where exploring bustling towns and scenic hillsides is just as rewarding as following the main story.

Instead of following a fixed path, players are free to explore the vast map at their own pace while uncovering hidden mysteries and experiencing the country's rich heritage.

Beyond exploration, Gauley: Experience Nepal lets players drive a variety of land and air vehicles, ride horses, interact with NPCs, complete side missions and even pick up passengers to earn points.



The story follows two protagonists, Fulmaya and Aaitey, as they navigate a world inspired by Nepal's rich culture and folklore. Like any good open-world game, Gauley lets players explore freely, drive vehicles, interact with NPCs, and even deal with a wanted system.


What makes it different, however, is the way it weaves Nepal's culture/traditions and folklore into almost every part of the experience. Players take on a wide variety of missions, from visiting ancient temples and making deliveries to investigating shrines, surviving yeti encounters, performing jhakri rituals, and escaping kidnappers, while at the same time battling through intense shootouts.

Alongside the story-driven chapters, players can transport passengers and explore the world at their own pace, adding a sense of realism and everyday life that makes the experience even more relatable.


The internet seemed amazed and showed respect for the creator. One user on Reddit wrote, "This game is developed by only one person, so respect this person."

Another commented, "Even Nepal is growing in games dev... Love from Nepal."

A third user compared the game to Ubisoft's Far Cry 4, writing, "Looks very much inspired by Far Cry 4... the vibes and gameplay look similar."

Meanwhile, another gamer claimed, "Gauley game is far better than Mumbai Gullies."

One admirer simply saluted the developer, saying, "Super game... Salute to Ashim Shakya Ji."


As we've already seen from the comments, much of the praise surrounding the game has been directed at the man behind the game. Meet Ashim Shakya, a self-taught game developer and digital artist from Kathmandu, Nepal, who spent years bringing his vision to life.


With over a decade of experience in digital art and eight years in game development, Shakya took on almost every major role himself, from coding and 3D modelling to music, cinematics, and world-building. Before creating Gauley, he also worked in animation and art direction, according to Medium.

The open-world title isn't his first project either, as he has previously worked on games like Didi, Flight, and Urban Legends: Survival.

The man of the hour spent nearly seven years turning Gauley: Experience Nepal from an ambitious idea into a fully playable open-world game. Working almost entirely on his own in Unreal Engine, the self-taught developer often put in up to 18 hours a day to bring his vision to life.

Drawing on his background in digital painting and animation, Shakya handled nearly every aspect of development himself, including coding and integrating authentic Nepali culture into the game's world.

Reflecting on his vision, Shakya said, "This is my solo venture to put Nepali art and game development on the international radar," with Medium.

• Visit the official Steam page and search for Gauley: Experience Nepal.
• Purchase the game for $14.99(around ₹1,435) and add it to your Steam library.
• Download and install it using the Steam client on your Windows PC.
• Launch the game and start playing its Early Access version.
• Share your feedback or report bugs directly to developer Ashim Shakya to help improve future updates.

At the moment, Gauley: Experience Nepal is primarily available for PC players through Steam and itch.io. While support for Mac and Linux is also listed, the game's current development remains focused on the PC version during its Early Access period.


For now, Ashim Shakya has not announced any official plans to release Gauley on mobile devices or consoles, with the priority being to refine and expand the PC experience through community feedback.