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.

91%Game Brain Score

story, music

grinding, optimization

96% User Score Based on 4,060 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 31 reviews

Platforms

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About

"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

+13

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,091 reviews

story719 positive mentions

grinding15 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and art style that create a breathtaking experience.
Emotionally impactful story that resonates with themes of life, loss, and companionship.
Beautiful soundtrack that complements the gameplay and enhances the emotional depth.

Combat mechanics can feel simplistic and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.
Some platforming sections may be frustrating due to unclear hitboxes and timing.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.

story
1,648 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
55%
2%
The story of "Neva" is a poignant and emotional journey that explores themes of life, loss, and the bond between a girl and her wolf companion, conveyed almost entirely through stunning visuals and music rather than dialogue. While some players found the narrative straightforward and less impactful compared to its predecessor "Gris," many praised its ability to evoke deep feelings and reflections on parenthood and nature. The game also offers a "story mode" that allows players to experience the narrative without the challenge of combat, making it accessible for those who prefer a more relaxed storytelling experience.
- “If you never heard of gris and just found this by accident: if you like a story told not by words but by character actions and phenomenal artwork + soundtrack, this is for you.”
- “Nomada studio has thoroughly proved that they know how to craft a deeply emotional story, despite the game having basically no dialogue.”
- “The game masterfully weaves a story of loss, growth, and love, all while immersing you in a beautifully crafted world that feels alive and vibrant.”
- “The plot lacks the depth and emotional engagement that could have made the game truly unforgettable.”
- “However, where neva falls short is in its storytelling.”
- “The story is wired and empty compared to gris; gris has more touched emotion and more little details.”
music
1,229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
34%
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 narrative, enhancing the overall immersive experience, although some players noted it lacks the memorable impact of the music from the previous game, *Gris*. Overall, the combination of beautiful art and evocative music creates a captivating journey that resonates with players.
- “The beautifully designed environments, coupled with a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, create an immersive experience that is both captivating and moving.”
- “The music really elevates this game, making those triumphant moments soar and those sad moments devastate.”
- “The art and music just like gris are fantastic and vibrant and every just looks and sounds amazing.”
- “I won't be looking up the OST and listening to it over and over this time around; I can't remember a single track after playing through the game.”
- “Even though there's some beautiful songs, overall the music is a slight downgrade to Gris in my opinion.”
- “The music in this game is also quite forgettable compared to Gris, which I believe is because Gris intertwined gameplay and music, making the music feel part of the world.”
graphics
1,078 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
36%
The graphics of "Neva" have been widely praised for their breathtaking beauty and artistic style, often described as resembling a moving painting with watercolor aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the seamless integration of stunning visuals with an emotional soundtrack, creating a captivating atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience. While some players noted that the visuals occasionally hinder gameplay clarity, the overall consensus is that the game's art direction and design are exceptional, making it a must-play for fans of visually rich narratives.
- “The breathtaking visuals and emotional moments together with the fantastic music and design create a unique and wonderful experience.”
- “The visuals are breathtaking, with every frame feeling like a work of art, carefully crafted to evoke powerful emotions.”
- “Neva is a stunningly beautiful game, with jaw-dropping artwork, a heartbreaking yet hopeful narrative, and incredibly creepy enemies that are very satisfying to destroy.”
- “The combat is rather simplistic and boring and the platforming is mostly only challenging because of the graphics.”
- “Normally I wouldn't leave a negative review for a game that looks as good as this, but I think visual clarity is sacrificed too much for the aesthetic.”
- “As good as the artwork is, it can be a bit annoying to see where and what the enemy is at times.”
gameplay
924 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The gameplay of "Neva" has been described as a significant improvement over its predecessor, "Gris," incorporating a blend of platforming, light combat, and puzzle-solving mechanics that keep the experience engaging and varied. While some players found the combat simplistic and the overall gameplay somewhat repetitive, many appreciated the intuitive mechanics and the emotional connection fostered through interactions with the companion character, Neva. Overall, the game is praised for its stunning visuals and soundtrack, which complement the gameplay, creating a captivating and immersive experience.
- “The gameplay mechanics are smooth and intuitive, allowing for an experience that is both challenging and rewarding.”
- “Neva improves on the gameplay of gris with a simple but satisfying combat system, while maintaining the level of visual flair and impressive backdrops of its predecessor.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive and creative, offering a unique mix of challenges that are both enjoyable and rewarding to overcome.”
- “The gameplay is not as bad as my criticisms may make it sound, because it is still perfectly playable except for a few places where aesthetics get in the way of the gameplay.”
- “Unfortunately, this half-assed gameplay makes the game tedious, repetitive, and frustrating, in my opinion.”
- “Here the gameplay is the problem, it's repetitive and feels bland; it's in fact a simple platformer with no interesting gaming mechanics.”
emotional
875 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Neva" is widely praised, with many players noting its ability to evoke strong feelings through its stunning visuals, haunting soundtrack, and heartfelt storytelling. The game effectively conveys a touching narrative about the bond between the protagonist and her wolf companion, often leading players to tears, particularly during pivotal moments. While some comparisons to the emotional depth of its predecessor, "Gris," suggest that "Neva" may not reach the same heights for everyone, it still delivers a powerful and memorable emotional experience that resonates deeply with many players.
- “Nomada studio has thoroughly proved that they know how to craft a deeply emotional story, despite the game having basically no dialogue.”
- “The game's story, filled with emotional depth and complex characters, keeps players engaged from start to finish.”
- “The emotional connection the game creates between you and Neva is so powerful.”
atmosphere
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
24%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals and haunting soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that captivates players emotionally. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance soothing and intense moments, with art direction and sound design that enhance the storytelling. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a masterclass in emotional engagement, drawing players into a beautifully crafted world that resonates long after gameplay ends.
- “The beautifully designed environments, coupled with a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, create an immersive experience that is both captivating and moving.”
- “The atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the emotional weight of the story, which will tug at your heartstrings from start to finish.”
- “The atmosphere is so dense.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
72%
12%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the challenge of collecting hidden items and the cyclical nature of the plot, others find it limited due to its short length and lack of substantial new content or modes. The memorable storyline and crafted experience encourage some players to revisit, but many feel that the replay value primarily hinges on achieving collectibles rather than offering a robust replay experience.
- “Good replay value due to some achievements.”
- “And the cyclical nature of the plot makes it replayable; it's genius.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
26%
65%
Reviews indicate a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the polished combat and engaging puzzles that avoid repetitive grinding, others find the gameplay tedious and frustrating, particularly criticizing the frequent combat and the need for backtracking to achieve completion. Overall, the game offers a blend of interactive elements, but the grinding aspect can detract from the enjoyment for some players.
- “Neva also features something different from Gris, which is a more interactive gameplay, filled with very smart (but not tedious) puzzles, and a simple combat system that is really well polished. Once mastered, not a single fight will feel like it overstays its welcome, and the way this game uses the mechanics you've learned across the game, in order to defeat enemies (usually of the same kind) is something worth praising. It also feels like the character you're controlling grows as they become stronger to protect those cherished ones.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I'm not grinding through this stuff over and 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.”
character development
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
35%
24%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of connection to the protagonist and minimal character growth, particularly in titles like Neva, which features no dialogue. While the character designs are praised for their beauty and creativity, some reviewers express a desire for deeper narrative engagement and character development in future installments. Overall, the focus seems to be more on artistic elements rather than character progression.
- “The story structure and character designs clearly take inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke.”
- “Gris has brilliant architecture design, vivid and diverse color use, and very memorable character design (e.g. the cute little creatures in the forest which you need to feed apples).”
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to frustration, while also providing a unique twist on gameplay mechanics, such as the brightness adjustment. Players find the combat amusingly challenging, particularly in contrast to the emotional depth of the story, which enhances the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “Minor complaint: I played the full game on adventure mode and the combat has a bit of challenge to dodge/strike the enemies (it's a bit funny that I struggled with some normal enemies but managed to beat the final boss on the first try).”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, delivering impressive performance across a range of devices from the Steam Deck to high-end 4K setups with a 4080 GPU. While most users report excellent performance, a few mention minor hiccups that are worth noting. Linux users, in particular, have highlighted exceptional performance.
- “I'm impressed by the performance of this game on my laptop.”
- “Performance-wise, it worked amazingly from the Steam Deck OLED to 4K on a 4080.”
- “Linux performance is phenomenal.”
- “There are some minor performance hiccups; it's fairly short - just something to consider.”
- “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, especially in crowded areas.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes and long loading times, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's stability is noted to be worse than its predecessor, with some bugs present; however, it still performs well overall. Additionally, it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “Worse than the previous part; it's a bit buggy, but still good.”