Neva
• PC (Windows) • Adventure, Platform, PuzzleNeva chronicles the story of Alba, a young woman bound to a curious wolf cub following a traumatic encounter with dark forces. Together they embark on a perilous journey through a once-beautiful world as it slowly decays around them.
Thoughts
As expected of a game made by Nomada Studio, Neva plays like a beautiful, quiet journey. The art is stunning, and it is paired with a beautiful soundtrack that only lifts it higher. The storytelling is solid and emotional, despite its silent nature.
The gameplay is a good evolution of the studio’s first game, GRIS, which felt more like an interactive movie at times. Puzzles return, but this time around there is a bigger emphasis on platforming and combat. To be honest, I was surprised by its difficulty. Fights are designed around pattern recognition and precision. It provided some challenge while still being approachable.
My favourite aspect of the game was Neva herself. From the one trailer I had watched, I had assumed that she would just follow along and we would get to pet her from time to time. I did not expect her to do her own thing, often leaving Alba’s side to chase butterflies or run ahead, or being paralysed by fear. She feels like a true companion, and eventually becomes part of the gameplay. I found this to be a great symbol of how strong her bond with Alba becomes.
I won’t lie, Neva might not be a perfect game for many people. Personally, I can’t say I loved some of the choices regarding the story, but I understand why they were made based on the message the game is attempting to portray. However, I still recommend you give it a chance, especially if you love animals and nature.
Sneak peek
It was incredibly difficult to pick only four screenshots! The game is so beautiful.
