STAFF REVIEW of Neva (Xbox Series X)

Monday, January 13, 2025.
by Josh Morgan

Neva Box art Nomada Studio, the developer behind the indie darling Gris, is back again with their sophomore follow up title called Neva. Much like the first game, Neva continues to explore themes of growth, change, and loss that stick with you long after the credits roll.

During its 3 to 4 hour story you play as an unnamed woman who is dealing with the loss of a loved one and is forced to care for and protect a mysterious wolf creature that is somehow tied to her. The story progresses across seasons as you and this wolf grow closer together, and it’s delivered through wordless short cutscenes and environmental storytelling during its gameplay moments. The environment and character interactions really tell most of the story in Neva and its message of mourning and acceptance is felt from beginning to end.


The core gameplay of Neva is a smooth blend of platforming, exploration, puzzle solving, and mixed with a splash of combat. Your companion Neva helps in all these areas with her special abilities. She’ll help you jump from platform to platform by destroying obstacles, and she can even help in combat by knocking back enemies or holding them down with her powerful jaws so you can swipe them with your sword. The controls are super tight and responsive and I never felt like I died due to delay. Your health bar consists of 3 flowers that disappear as you get hit, but as you land hits on your opponents it refills. As you progress through the levels there will be flowers that once Neva howls near them your health bar will fill.


Right off the bat you will be blown away by the incredible art direction of Neva, as it’s one of the things that enticed me to play the game when I first saw its trailer. The 2D world is breathtaking and completely hand drawn with spectacular use of vibrant colors and deepest blacks, and the shift across seasons is felt with changes in color and tone of the story. The flawless animations of the main character and her companion Neva really keep you immersed in the game and its story. She moves with speed and grace as she jumps from platform to platform, and her swipes with the word are quick and precise showing her expertise with the weapon. She will call out “Neva” as you issue the command for the wolf's aid, it’s as if the wolf knows exactly what to do to help you out. It’s a very seamless mechanic that keeps you engaged throughout its sad story. I played on Xbox Series X and I never once saw the game dip below its locked 60 frames at a stunning 4K resolution.


Similarly to the soundtrack of Gris, Neva is composed by Bertrand, and it’s heavily tied to the emotions of our unnamed character. In moments of hope and happiness we are treated with a lush orchestral arrangement that lifts our spirits, and when our character is sad and alone, we are met with more somber tones and deep sounds to emphasize her feelings. The game sounds are just as fantastic and does a lot to keep you engaged with the story and gameplay. The rustling of leaves, the shuffling of grass, and the swipe of your sword are all used expertly to keep you immersed in the world.

Neva is a must play for fans of artistic and narrative games. The tight gameplay mixed with impressive hand drawn graphics and animations make it a joy to play. Its emotional story delivers an experience of love and loss that is enhanced by its beautiful score and immersive environment. You’ll spend about 3 to 4 hours within the world of Neva, and for me it flew by. I don’t know if it’s a game I will revisit more than once, but it’s a game that I am sure glad I experienced.

**Neva was provided by the publisher and reviewed on an Xbox Series X**




Overall: 9.0 / 10
Gameplay: 8.0 / 10
Visuals: 10.0 / 10
Sound: 9.5 / 10

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