Neva [Review]
Nomada Studio’s follow-up to GRIS is one of the year's best games.
Neva. Credit: Nomada Studio / Devolver Digital
Some games are beautiful, and then some reach an even higher level, not just with gorgeous visuals but an emotionally resonant story to match that beauty. Nomada Studio’s Neva, a game about our environment and motherhood published by Devolver Digital, is one of these. With Neva, Nomada Studio has surpassed the lofty expectations it created with its previous title, GRIS. It also gets extra points because hugging your dog is part of the game.
You are Alba, a young woman and swordfighter. When out with her beautiful, giant, antlered white wolf, she encounters a shapeshifting masked black mass that I can only describe as a personification of death and pollution straight out of a Studio Ghibli film. It takes the wolf's life, leaving Alba to protect her young cub, Neva. Over four seasons, Alba goes on a quest to find the source of the plague and avenge her loyal friend, Neva’s mother.
Neva. Credit: Nomada Studio / Devolver Digital
The game is a narrative 2D platformer with sword combat. You can jump, climb, slash, and dodge. You’ll battle the dark shadows and solve puzzles to open up paths. Aside from regular battles, you’ll fight giant bosses or desperately run to escape from them in thrilling wall-of-death sequences and have some epic duels. Neva frequently introduces new enemies, encounters, puzzle types, and combat abilities in tandem with the changing seasons in each of the game’s levels, making the game consistently feel fresh.
Neva. Credit: Nomada Studio / Devolver Digital
Neva plays a key role. She starts as a helpless cub that Alba must clear a path for and protect. Level by level, she grows into a formidable wolf that will give Alba combat support and eventually can ride; by the end, Neva is protecting Alba rather than the other way around. It’s an affecting relationship that adds much emotional depth to the game, reflecting the cycle of life between parent and child. A button on the controller is dedicated to calling out Neva’s name, and Alba’s performance changes based on the situation to reflect her emotion and worry. If Neva is scared or hurt, you must pet or hug her to comfort her. Sometimes, my heart would just melt.
Neva. Credit: Nomada Studio / Devolver Digital
The game’s painterly 2D visuals are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I’d constantly find myself pausing to marvel at the scenery, taking frequent screenshots. The handmade 2D art doesn’t have outlines; everything is rendered with splotches and fields of color. Each level is a season, with different colors that dominate the scene. Light sometimes bathes and illuminates everything, putting the world nearly in silhouette. The character animation flows beautifully, which is part of what makes combat feel so good. Alba’s movement is accented by how her cloak flows with the air. The game’s enemies are no doubt inspired by creatures in Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke. The game’s sound design and score add to the magic, making the experience totally engrossing.
Rarely does everything come together as well as it does in Neva. GRIS was excellent, but Neva is extraordinary and one of the best games of this year. You owe it to yourself to get this game and lose yourself in its magic; you won’t soon forget the time you spend with it.
Neva is available now for PC (Steam), PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Overall Score: 10/10
Played on: Steam Deck
