At first glance, Neva appears to be a serene game centered around nature and its woodland inhabitants. However, once the game is initiated, it soon reveals the harsh realities of the wild. In just a matter of moments, you witness a bird’s death, leaving behind a charred shell, and a graceful wolf-deer meets a dire fate at the hands of sinister forces.
This unsettling atmosphere is not unexpected considering the developers behind Neva. Created by Nomada Studio, known for their previous title Gris—a stunning yet poignant journey through grief—Neva expands upon its predecessor’s themes. This new game blends captivating visuals with dark narratives, focusing on the violent aspects of nature. Additionally, it enhances the puzzle platforming experience with increased difficulty and the introduction of combat elements.
You take on the role of a character named Alba, who is left unnamed during gameplay. She is tasked with safeguarding an expansive forest alongside her hybrid wolf-deer friend. However, tragedy strikes at the beginning when this companion is killed, leaving behind a cub named Neva. The story then follows Alba and Neva through a year of challenges as Alba nurtures the cub, preparing it to become the new guardian of the forest.
As a puzzle-platformer, the game invites you to explore a surreal wilderness, hopping between platforms, executing air dashes to bridge gaps, and scaling massive structures to advance. Throughout your journey, you face dark, corrupted foes that pose a threat to the forest’s peace. With each passing season, Neva becomes more involved in combat, aiding Alba by stalling enemies with her bites or attacking unreachable foes.
There is a clear influence from Studio Ghibli evident throughout the game. Alba’s fierce commitment to protecting the forest, together with her formidable wolf companion, naturally evokes memories of San and Moro from Princess Mononoke. Additionally, the distorted enemies, reminiscent of No-Face from Spirited Away with their blackened forms and mask-like faces, further enhance this connection.
Nevertheless, Neva manages to carve its own identity instead of simply emulating Ghibli’s style. The visuals showcase a unique aesthetic that distinguishes it from its inspirations, characterized by the painterly quality and the minimalist designs reminiscent of Gris. Any screenshot from Neva could easily find a home in an art exhibit.
However, unlike the slow-paced, contemplative puzzle-solving found in Gris, the immediate gameplay in Neva shifts to a more action-oriented tone. The incorporation of combat introduces stakes absent from the previous title, with the game’s emotional core leaning more towards anger than sorrow. There’s an unmistakable sense that terrible things are happening in these woods, and it falls on Alba and Neva to confront these wrongs. This creates a narrative that is both defiant and aggressive.
As a result, Neva presents a level of difficulty that may catch players off guard. Expecting a leisurely, narrative-focused experience typical of many artful games, I was surprised by its challenging nature. While it does include walking and puzzle-solving, the added challenge introduces a thrilling twist. With a limited health pool and a move set that requires strategic thinking during combat encounters, navigating certain platforming challenges demands creativity. It isn’t as punishing as Dark Souls, but those anticipating a breezy playthrough should prepare for a more intense experience.
This complexity is welcomed, resulting in memorable moments. For instance, during combat, the environment dynamically transforms, complicating your positioning. Enemies sometimes manipulate the surroundings to fight back, while aerial foes make the confrontation more intricate, forcing you to adapt your strategies.
I particularly appreciated the innovative twists in the platforming segments of Neva. The game keeps you engaged with shifting environments, requiring you to command Neva to activate switches mid-air or combine double jumps and air dashes in creative ways. One moment, notably in the Winter chapter, plays with perspective in an impressive manner, making it one of the game’s standout features.
The most captivating moments of the game arise when you find yourself in danger and Neva leaps in to assist. These scenes embody the game’s core essence. Mechanically, they often introduce new skills for the upcoming challenges, while narratively, they effectively portray the developing bond between Alba and Neva, all without relying on dialogue.
Neva excels in its minimalist storytelling approach. The only spoken word throughout the game is the name “Neva,”called out when needed. The narrative unfolds exclusively through actions and subtle interactions, sparing us from lengthy explanations regarding the source of the corruption. We instinctively comprehend that it must be confronted. Any ambiguity left for players to interpret personally. Is it a representation of nature’s cruelty that demands respect, a commentary on pollution’s impact on wildlife, or perhaps an allegory for cycles of life and death? Each interpretation holds merit, inviting contemplation long after the final credits roll.
In truth, I find it challenging to pinpoint any significant flaws in Neva. Any critiques I come up with feel trivial or misguided attempts to reshape the game into something it isn’t. Is there room for a broader range of moves to mitigate repetition? Certainly, but the game’s elegance plays a vital role in delivering its narrative. Are there instances where the landscape might impede progress overly? Occasionally, but these events are infrequent, typically occurring during calm exploration moments. I can’t recall any fog obscuring key combat segments, for example.
While the game is somewhat brief—my journey lasted almost four hours and offers limited replay value aside from optional plant interactions—what those hours provide are rich, heartfelt experiences worth revisiting.
Neva is a charming and memorable game that left a deep mark on me. Each visual appears radiant, the challenges surprisingly engaging, and the character development achieved without dialogue is remarkable. If you appreciate short, artistic games, Neva is a must-play.
Neva is available now on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
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