Neva

Neva is a game you won’t soon forget. With stunning visuals, gorgeous art, and an incredibly emotional story, this new classic continues Nomada Studio’s solid reputation and is a must-play in this reviewer’s book.

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"Neva" is an emotionally charged adventure game, serving as the follow-up project from the creators of the award-winning game "GRIS." This new title boasts stunning visuals and gripping gameplay, inviting players into a rich and immersive world. Dive into this captivating experience, exploring gameplay details and screenshots on the official PlayStation website.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,366 reviews

story406 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and art style that create a breathtaking experience.
Emotional storytelling that resonates deeply with players, often leading to tears.
Engaging gameplay with a mix of platforming, puzzles, and combat that keeps the experience fresh.

Combat can feel simplistic and sometimes frustrating, with issues related to hitboxes and visibility.
The game is relatively short, taking around 4-6 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
Some players found the narrative less impactful compared to Gris, feeling it lacked depth and complexity.

story
949 mentions
43 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Neva" is widely praised for its emotional depth and visual storytelling, often drawing comparisons to the studio's previous title, "Gris." Players appreciate the game's ability to convey a poignant narrative about themes such as parenthood and the cycle of life without the use of dialogue, relying instead on stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack. While some find the story straightforward or lacking in complexity, many agree that it effectively evokes strong emotions, making it a memorable experience.
- “Neva is a breathtakingly artistic platformer that combines emotional storytelling, stunning hand-drawn visuals, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The story, however, though conveyed completely nonverbally and through just the art and the music, was somber and haunting.”
- “The story is simple yet impactful, beautifully blending stunning visuals, emotional storytelling, and engaging gameplay.”
- “The story is basic and predictable, executed incredibly and thoughtfully.”
- “The story lacks proper direction, and the game relies on basic enemies, bosses, and puzzles from start to finish—only the mirror part stood out as decent.”
- “The plot is vague and the symbolism regarding the cycle of life is quite generic.”
music
692 mentions
66 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in *Neva* has been widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional work of composer Berlinist. The soundtrack complements the stunning visuals and storytelling, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players, although some noted it may not reach the same heights as the music in *Gris*. Overall, the combination of beautiful art and evocative music is a standout feature, enhancing the game's emotional impact and gameplay experience.
- “The music, much like in gris, is a character in its own right, sweeping, melancholic, and uplifting in equal measure.”
- “Its stunning art, enchanting music, and heartfelt storytelling blend seamlessly to create an emotional and immersive journey.”
- “The breathtaking visuals and emotional moments together with the fantastic music and design create a unique and wonderful experience.”
- “The music in this game is also quite forgettable compared to gris, which I believe to be because gris intertwined gameplay and music, making the music feel part of the world.”
- “The newly added combat was a little unforgiving with just 3 hits to go on and I feel like the music isn't as impactful as in gris but I adore the game regardless.”
- “The soundtrack is of the quality you'd expect from berlinist, but generally more subtle and less moving than gris', with a few notable exceptions.”
graphics
622 mentions
64 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Neva" have been widely praised for their stunning, hand-drawn art style that evokes a watercolor aesthetic, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's work. Players have noted the breathtaking visuals and emotional depth they bring to the storytelling, often describing the game as a moving painting. The combination of beautiful graphics and a captivating soundtrack enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game, despite some critiques regarding gameplay clarity and mechanics.
- “The visuals are breathtaking, with every frame feeling like a work of art, carefully crafted to evoke powerful emotions.”
- “Neva is a masterful blend of awe-inspiring visuals, captivating music, heartbreaking/heartwarming narrative, fluid gameplay and increasingly more unique and engaging mechanics.”
- “The artwork is breathtaking, with hand-drawn landscapes that seem like they're pulled straight from a moving painting.”
- “As much as I love the visuals, they also get in the way of the combat.”
- “Well, it's beautiful on paper, and I'll probably use a screenshot as my wallpaper for a bit, but the visuals obscure the outlines of the level geometry to the point that in some parts it's difficult to discern what's going on.”
- “The graphics might look similar, but they feel very blurry, which is due to the missing outlines of shapes that 'Gris' had.”
gameplay
534 mentions
41 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Neva" has been described as a blend of simple yet engaging mechanics, combining platforming, light combat, and puzzles that evolve throughout the game. While some players appreciate the intuitive controls and the emotional connection fostered through gameplay, others find it lacking in depth and complexity compared to its predecessor, "Gris." Overall, the game is praised for its stunning visuals and music, with gameplay that is enjoyable but may not satisfy those seeking a more challenging experience.
- “Neva is a masterful blend of awe-inspiring visuals, captivating music, heartbreaking/heartwarming narrative, fluid gameplay, and increasingly more unique and engaging mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and engaging, perfectly complementing the storytelling.”
- “The gameplay combines platforming, exploration, and combat, with the wolf companion's growth introducing new mechanics that keep the experience engaging.”
- “It's mainly just running across colorful pastiches with basic platforming and simplistic battle mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is where I struggled.”
- “The game is a pretty walk through desktop wallpapers but doesn't have much going for it gameplay-wise and upon finishing the game I am actually mad at the narrative.”
emotional
494 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Neva" is widely praised, with many players describing it as a deeply moving experience that evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears. The game's stunning visuals, haunting soundtrack, and heartfelt storytelling create an immersive emotional journey, with players highlighting the bond between the protagonist and her wolf companion as particularly impactful. While some comparisons to its predecessor, "Gris," suggest that "Neva" may not reach the same emotional heights for everyone, it still delivers a powerful narrative that resonates with many players.
- “Neva is a breathtakingly artistic platformer that combines emotional storytelling, stunning hand-drawn visuals, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The emotional weight of the story is complemented by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack immersing players in its sorrowful yet hopeful tone.”
- “The relationship is the emotional heart of the game, evolving beautifully as you navigate the challenges of a hostile, crumbling world.”
atmosphere
71 mentions
75 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Neva" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, and immersive storytelling, creating a captivating and emotional experience for players. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of feelings through its art direction and music, making it a standout title for fans of atmospheric indie games. While some note that the gameplay may not be groundbreaking, the overall atmosphere is described as rich, enchanting, and unforgettable.
- “Nomada Studio’s attention to detail creates an atmosphere that is as immersive as it is unforgettable.”
- “The beautifully designed environments, coupled with a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, create an immersive experience that is both captivating and moving.”
- “An absolute masterpiece that draws you into its world where every frame is carefully crafted, with vivid colors and subtle details that blend to create an atmosphere both haunting and enchanting.”
- “The atmosphere is so dense.”
- “An absolute masterpiece that draws you into its world where every frame is carefully crafted, with vivid colours and subtle details that blend to create an atmosphere both haunting and enchanting.”
- “Atmosphere and music are killer but the gameplay is super thin; I also really like the visuals at parts, but so much of the screen usually ends up being covered by fog or blown out gradients it's hard to appreciate.”
grinding
13 mentions
8 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
69 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the combat mechanics and the need for backtracking to achieve completion. While some appreciate the polished combat system and the option to play without health penalties, the overall sentiment leans towards a desire for more engaging gameplay that doesn't rely heavily on repetitive tasks.
- “I'm not grinding through this stuff over and over.”
- “Unfortunately, this half-assed gameplay makes the game tedious, repetitive, and frustrating, in my opinion.”
- “The puzzles are rare, the combat is tedious and way too frequent.”
replayability
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while players appreciate the ability to revisit chapters and collect hidden items, many feel that the short length and limited upgrades diminish long-term engagement. Some find replay value in the challenge of uncovering secrets, but others express a desire for additional modes or content to enhance replayability.
- “Its only real flaw for me is that it's quite short, but being able to start again from any chapter and the challenge to collect the white flowers and other secrets ensures replayability.”
- “Good replay value due to some achievements.”
- “And the cyclical nature of the plot makes it replayable; it's genius.”
- “I see little replay value in the game; other than 'find the secret flowers', there isn't anything to do.”
- “It's short (though I knew that going in), with the only replay value being in getting collectibles.”
- “Or at least have a new game + or some additional game mode or other replay value.”
character development
10 mentions
40 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful character designs and artwork reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, while others criticize the lack of connection to the protagonist and absence of character growth, particularly noting that Neva features no dialogue to facilitate development. Overall, while the visual and auditory elements are celebrated, the depth of character development appears to be a significant shortcoming for some players.
- “The makers seem to like Ghibli studio movies a lot; the character design and story have a number of similarities.”
- “The soundtrack, environment, and character design are beautiful, and I loved every second of this game.”
- “There was no connection to the protagonist as well, no character development.”
- “Neva has no character development as there is no dialog.”
- “Next installment I'd love to see from this studio is all that we got from Gris/Neva + additional RPG elements/character development.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of light-hearted moments and ironic situations, such as the player's struggle with normal enemies contrasted by an easy victory over the final boss. Additionally, the emotional depth of the story elicits a range of feelings, from laughter to frustration, while the unique brightness tuning feature adds a humorous twist to the visual experience. Overall, the humor seems to enhance the game's charm and relatability.
- “The story made me laugh, cry, rage, and restore some faith in humanity.”
- “It's funny, the game has that thing where you tune the brightness so you can barely see the picture, but while normally this is used to keep the game dark enough but still visible, in Neva it's the opposite.”
- “It's a bit funny that I struggled with some normal enemies but managed to beat the final boss on the first try.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting exceptional performance across various platforms, from the Steam Deck OLED to high-end setups like the 4080 at 4K resolution.
- “Linux performance is phenomenal.”
- “Performance-wise, it worked amazingly from the Steam Deck OLED to 4K on a 4080.”
stability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is considered worse than its predecessor, with some users reporting bugs; however, it performs well on the Steam Deck.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “Worse than the previous part; it's a bit buggy, but still good.”