Nomada studio follows up their critically acclaimed game Gris with Neva. Much like its predecessor, Neva serves as a true work of art.
From the opening moments, I found myself emotionally invested in this beautifully crafted narrative. It doesn’t rely on heavy dialogue or complex mechanics but rather lets its visual storytelling take center stage, allowing players to connect on a deeply personal level.
The music, art direction, and simple yet effective gameplay all come together seamlessly, creating one of the most awe inspiring gaming experiences I’ve had this year.
Wordless Storytelling
Everything Neva presents is part of the overall experience, to go into too much detail here would spoil that experience. The game begins with Alba and her wolf cub companion, Neva, experiencing a tragic loss — something I felt to my core.
In the opening moments, a bird is seen flying through a painterly sky and struck down by an invisible entity, leaving the bird drained of colour and sprouting soot-like flowers.
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The invisible entity takes form as a black wave of smoke that envelops our companions, leading to the previously alluded to tragic loss. This event charges Alba with having to guide Neva through a dying world. The duo are the essence of hope in this world, their struggle against the overwhelming task before them being the key focus.
As the game progresses, the world becomes increasingly fractured thanks to this black, formless cloud of death and destruction.
The narrative unfolds through the exceptional use of music and imagery. Like Gris, Neva features no dialogue aside from Alba shouting Neva’s name. The team at Nomada has once again done an extraordinary job of presenting a deep emotional story with minimalism in this emotionally charged narrative.
Undoubtedly, the story will be open to many interpretations and to give mine here would spoil the essence of it. Just know that I loved every moment.
A Painting Come to Life
Neva’s presentation is essentially a series of gorgeous artworks all strung together — a moving painting. It takes place over the four seasons, each bringing an entirely new artistic palette for your eyes.
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Nomada Studio has done an incredible job utilising both foreground and background illustrations to create a sense of depth and immersion. Through a masterful use of colour, close-ups, and panoramic views, each frame feels alive, drawing you in.
These visual techniques help craft powerful, heartfelt moments between Neva and Alba, where the lush botanicals of the foreground and background overlap, centring their bond and emotions. The result is a visual landscape that not only supports the narrative but elevates it, making every interaction feel poignant and purposeful.
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The red hues give a sense of warmth, enveloping the world in a comforting glow during more serene moments. In the same fashion, the developers skilfully employ darker, cooler tones to evoke a stark contrast, especially within the claustrophobic caves. These shifts in colour effectively convey the encroaching darkness, heightening the tension and immersing you in the more perilous parts of Neva.
The opposite techniques are used in tandem for sprawling vistas and monumental mountains. Either depicting the sheer scale of destruction or the wealth of beauty in this world.
It is truly the work of masters flexing the brush of artistic design.
I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying!
The true force of emotive narrative in Neva is the score and Barcelona’s Berlinist has exceeded in their delivery. Creative Director Conrad Roset previously said that, for Gris, the music by Berlinist was “50% of the game.” The same holds true for Neva.
The haunting, evocative soundtrack weaves itself into the very fabric of the game, enhancing every moment and elevating the emotional depth of the story. It’s the kind of score that lingers with you long after the final note fades.
String instruments are used to great effect, really evoking an emotional response. They pull at your heartstrings and I found myself tearing up more than once. The score enhances these moments with evocative choral harmonies that cut deep, striking at your emotional core.
Unlike Gris where you are unable to die, Neva features combat and death with a heavier use of drums and bass to build tension in these moments of gameplay. For those who prefer a more narrative-driven experience without the risk of dying, there is a story mode option that removes death from the game and simplifies some of the challenges. This allows players to immerse themselves in the beautiful world and emotional narrative without the stress of failure.
The story’s less intense moments feature a light score, accompanied by pronounced ambient sounds, such as birds singing, deer eating grass and boar meandering across the plains.
As the world slowly dies, these sounds are replaced with the creaking of lifeless branches, the clicking chatter of the game’s enemies (think of Kodamas in Princess Mononoke), and the splintering of the earth.
The game’s sounds are used to a profound effect, bringing this world to life as you journey through it.
From Protector to Protected
The gameplay in Neva is relatively simplistic, but that doesn’t diminish its effectiveness. The game combines puzzle platforming with combat sequences to create a varied experience, with each chapter culminating in a boss fight.
Similar to Gris, Neva also features optional puzzles scattered throughout its chapters, offering players additional challenges to tackle at their own pace. These extra puzzles not only enhance the gameplay but also enrich the overall experience, inviting exploration and deeper engagement with the world.
Alba has only a few abilities at her disposal: she can jump, dash, and attack. Additionally, there’s a keybind to call out to Neva and even give her a reassuring pat.
In the beginning, Neva is a pup that needs to be protected, Alba defends Neva with her sword attacks while you use the call-out command to encourage Neva past danger, to jump gaps and climb edges. It was reminiscent of The Last Guardian in a way, albeit an extremely simplified version.
As seasons progress, Neva grows and she gains more abilities, such as dash attacks and the ability to teleport. Slowly becoming Alba’s protector, dealing big damage in combat or pinning enemies down with her dash attack.
Ultimately the relationship of the gameplay shifts to Alba needing Neva, rather than Neva needing Alba.
The core gameplay loop centres around platforming, and Nomada Studio has crafted some truly inspired ideas to keep the experience fresh. Each new challenge introduces unique mechanics and creative level designs that encourage exploration and experimentation. Discovering these is part of the experience.
Neva — A Journey For All?
To me, Neva transcends the boundaries of what we typically define as a game. It feels more like an emotional experience, an interactive journey that stirs the imagination much like a piece of fine art.
Playing through Neva is like wandering inside a thought evoked by a painting, where every brushstroke tells a story. The way it draws you into its world is profound, making it more than just completing objectives — it’s about feeling the weight of every moment.
At around four hours long, it never overstays its welcome but it leaves you wanting more.
This style of game certainly isn’t for everyone. Titles like Journey, The Last Guardian, and Abzu come to mind — where the gameplay often takes a backseat to the artistic expression. Though, I believe we need more games like this. Gaming is an exceptional medium for creatives to express themselves, being able to take control and dive into their collective minds is a joy.
In many ways, these are the kinds of experiences you could envision hanging in an art gallery, where patrons gather not just to observe, but to experience — much like the works of Van Gogh or other great artists. Neva is one such work of art, capturing an otherworldly quality that transcends what we expect from games. It is not simply played; it is felt.
Neva releases on October 16th and will be available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X|S
Quest Daily scores Neva:
10/10
A review copy of Neva was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
