Narvas

About

Narvas is a single player and multiplayer platformer game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Stranga Games and was released on September 3, 2022. It received neutral reviews from players.

The story of Mace, a young scavenger recently promoted to the Resource Collection Department for the Narvas Colonies. He is ordered to infiltrate and discover resources on distant planets in search of materials to ensure the survival of his people. Supplies are hemorrhaging, scarce, and unaccounted for. Times are bleak for Narvas. The scavenger feels the weight of an entire population on his s…

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40%

Audience ScoreBased on 141 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Narvas offers a unique blend of retro-inspired pixel art platforming with engaging action and RPG elements.
The game features interesting mechanics such as teleportation, weapon variety, and the robot companion 'Toby', adding depth to gameplay.
Environments and atmosphere are immersive with a strong sense of world-building and nostalgic charm for fans of classic platformers.

The controls are widely reported as clunky, sluggish, and unintuitive, especially with movement, jumping, and aiming using the same input.
High difficulty combined with punishing platforming (e.g. one-hit spikes and frequent restarts) leads to frustration and a steep learning curve.
Technical and design issues like poor checkpoint placement, buggy bosses, awkward weapon management, and inconsistent enemy telegraphing detract from the experience.

gameplay
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
Gameplay in this title is a mixed experience, featuring several innovative mechanics like robot-assisted tasks, teleportation, and strategic boss fights, yet is frequently marred by imprecise controls, stiff movement, awkward platforming physics, and frustrating checkpoint systems. While some players appreciate its retro-inspired design and strategic customization options, others find the gameplay limiting, unintuitive, and plagued by inconsistent mechanics that hamper smooth and enjoyable progression. Overall, it may appeal to niche fans of retro 2D platformers and RPG hybrids but is often recommended at a discount due to its rough execution.
- “The robot that you can use to do some tasks is a unique mechanic and I find it very smart to implement. The fact that relocating it is useful at times due to some attacks triggering near it is very cool, and that the robot can do some minor objectives is nice. Boss fights having HP bars that tell you when the boss will get more intense and change its attack pattern is cool as well. It's literally a modern game made in the style of the golden era of games, and for that, it's a really decent game. I suggest trying it and not sleep on it just because of bad reviews.”
- “Gameplay sits somewhere between exploration, puzzle-solving, and light combat. The mechanics are intuitive, though not groundbreaking. Some players may also find the lack of direct guidance frustrating, particularly if they prefer more structured gameplay.”
- “The game combines RPG elements with action and strategy mechanics, offering a varied and engaging gameplay experience. Strategy mechanics are integrated effectively, with options to customize and upgrade the character, explore different skills and equipment, and take varied approaches to solving the game’s challenges.”
- “Poorly designed platforming mechanics, such as imprecise controls, lack of momentum, bad enemy placement, and awkward jump physics is the best description of this game.”
- “The music is out-of-place, the gameplay feels incredibly limiting, stiff, inflexible, and painful, and none of the core mechanics to the game feel good or fun.”
- “From bizarre gamepad button layout to unpredictable moving mechanics that only work sometimes, to the game's insistence on having you perform precision platforming with said mechanics, to horrendously obnoxious soundtrack that doesn't even have the decency of being mutable, to comically excessive amount of controller rumble any time you are hit, and endlessly respawning enemies - everything about this game is purpose built to be as irritating and user-hostile as humanly possible.”
story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The story in the game receives mixed feedback, with some finding it intriguing and well-developed through environmental storytelling and quests, while others feel it is vague, minimal, and lacks depth to fully engage or immerse players. It serves primarily to provide context and motivation for gameplay rather than being a central focus. Overall, the narrative appeals more to players who appreciate slow exploration and discovery rather than fast-paced action or strong story-driven experiences.
- “Narvas’ storyline is engaging and well-developed, with a narrative that immerses players in a rich and detailed world.”
- “The story unfolds through dialogue, events, and discoveries throughout the game, revealing an intriguing plot that keeps players invested in the journey.”
- “While the story is light and largely functional, it gives purpose to the constant movement between planets and missions.”
- “You're immediately thrown into a three-line dialogue with a robot companion the player doesn't understand, so there's not a lot of story to draw the player in.”
- “There's no wanting to get really sucked into a story.”
- “Let's not talk about the story, as it's there at least, but it ain't great.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The game features vibrant and detailed pixel art graphics that are visually appealing and complement its fast-paced gameplay, though some users find the visuals occasionally hard to read. While generally praised for its style and clarity, there are noted issues with occasional FPS drops that can affect smoothness. Overall, the graphics are well-crafted, enhancing the atmosphere alongside the soundtrack.
- “Narvas' graphics are visually stunning and well-crafted, featuring an art style that combines detailed aesthetics with a vibrant color palette.”
- “Visually, Narvas adopts a vibrant pixel art style that complements its frantic pace.”
- “The game looks good, and the pixel art style is clear and detailed.”
- “When I first saw the game, I thought the graphical style and gameplay would be really interesting... and on paper it is.”
- “Controls poorly and graphics are somewhat difficult to read.”
- “They're frequently hidden behind the explosion graphics which encourages playing slowly, which is contrasted against the stacking timed powerup system which encourages playing quickly.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed feedback, with some users praising its charm and how it complements the art style or mood, while others find it poorly integrated, repetitive, or even irritating. Its ambient and minimalist elements enhance immersion for some, but overall the soundtrack's fit and impact appear inconsistent among players.
- “Love the music and art style.”
- “Fell in love with main menu music.”
- “Ambient audio, distant echoes, and a minimalist soundtrack work together to reinforce the game’s mood.”
- “The music doesn't seem to attach to the atmosphere without more backstory to make it fit; it feels thrown in to avoid leaving silence.”
- “From bizarre gamepad button layout to unpredictable moving mechanics that only work sometimes, to the game's insistence on having you perform precision platforming with said mechanics, to horrendously obnoxious soundtrack that doesn't even have the decency of being mutable, to comically excessive amount of controller rumble any time you are hit, and endlessly respawning enemies - everything about this game is purpose built to be as irritating and user-hostile as humanly possible.”
- “The music is out-of-place, the gameplay feels incredibly limiting, stiff, inflexible, and painful, and none of the core mechanics to the game feel good or fun.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The atmosphere in Narvas is immersive and thoughtfully crafted, with pixel art and meticulously designed areas that evoke a strong, moody fantasy feel reminiscent of 2000s games. While the world feels layered and mysterious, some find the music disconnected from the overall ambiance. The experience prioritizes immersion and challenge, creating a welcoming yet demanding environment.
- “At first glance, it presents itself as a familiar action-adventure experience, but the deeper you go, the more it reveals a layered, atmospheric world that feels both mysterious and deliberately crafted.”
- “Narvas is a thoughtful, atmospheric experience that prioritizes immersion over hand-holding.”
- “Each area of the game is meticulously designed to provide a unique atmosphere and a dynamic environment for action and strategy.”
- “The music doesn't seem to attach to the atmosphere without more backstory to make it fit; it feels thrown in just to avoid leaving silence.”
- “The atmosphere says, 'welcome, traveler,' but the gameplay says, 'leave a message after the tone.'”
- “Narvas has an atmosphere that is reminiscent of the games of the 2000s.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Narvas offers high replayability through its fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay focused on momentum and reflexes, supported by diverse mechanics and customization. Although primarily single-player, the addition of achievements and secondary objectives further enhances its replay value.
- “Narvas is a fast-paced 2D action platformer that leans heavily into arcade-style design, prioritizing momentum, reflexes, and replayability over narrative complexity.”
- “Replayability is a central pillar of the experience.”
- “Narvas is predominantly a single-player experience, but its high replayability is ensured by its diversity of mechanics and customization options.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted as light and somewhat unintentional, with players finding amusement in the exaggerated flaws like the unusually strong gravity affecting movement. Overall, it adds a quirky charm despite control issues.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in this game is hindered by finnicky controls, slow and awkward movement, and punishing platforming that demands extreme precision. This results in a tedious and frustrating experience, making progression feel more like a chore than enjoyable mastery.
- “The controls are finicky at best; a pixel off in height can get you locked in place. Jumping is confusing, and movement is very slow and wonky. Many platforming segments require insanely precise timing and positioning. Even brushing a spike will kill you and reset your weapon buffs. The first boss is a nightmare unless you have the right setup, and it's hard in a tedious way, not a fun challenge.”
- “I love retro 2D platformers and Metroidvanias, but this one just felt weird. The gameplay did not feel smooth even though it appeared smooth. Mastering the controls seemed like it would be quite a tedious affair.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users felt that the game effectively evokes a sense of being a legendary adventurer, despite the challenging and often chaotic gameplay moments. The emotional impact balances excitement with the struggle of survival.
- “Narvas made me feel like a legendary adventurer, which was really generous of it considering I spent most of my time rolling into walls and fighting for my life like a medieval unpaid intern.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers an engaging experience but suffers from occasional laggy controls and some bugs, affecting overall stability.