Neva

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,763 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Neva Game Cover
Neva is a sublime experience, using a deceptively minimalist approach to tell one of the most heartfelt stories of the generation.
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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.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,763 reviews
story298 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and breathtaking art style that create a captivating atmosphere.
  • Emotional storytelling that resonates deeply, often evoking tears from players.
  • Engaging gameplay with a mix of platforming, puzzles, and combat that keeps the experience fresh.
  • The game is relatively short, taking around 4-6 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
  • Combat mechanics can feel basic and repetitive, lacking depth compared to the emotional storytelling.
  • Some players found the platforming sections frustrating due to hitbox issues and unclear navigation.
  • story697 mentions

    The story of "Neva" is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful visual storytelling, often drawing comparisons to its predecessor, "Gris." Many players found the narrative touching and impactful, effectively conveyed through art and music without the need for dialogue, although some noted it could feel predictable or simplistic. The game also offers a "story mode" for those who prefer a more relaxed experience, allowing players to focus on the narrative and visuals without the stress of combat.

    • “The story is beautiful, the platforming and combat are seamless and I can't put into words how much I like the art.”
    • “The story is deeply touching and had me crying at the end.”
    • “What truly stands out is the captivating storyline—it's incredibly engaging and filled with so much emotion, it drew me in from the very beginning.”
    • “While the combat can be fun and there were some highs, the combat really feels like a distraction from the lackluster story and platforming.”
    • “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.”
    • “Unfortunately, while this game can be fun and is definitely beautiful to look at, it's too easy and the little bit of the story that's there is not that interesting.”
  • music584 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. While the soundtrack complements the stunning visuals and enhances the overall experience, some players feel it lacks the memorable impact of the music from the previous game, "Gris." Overall, the combination of beautiful art and evocative music creates an immersive and emotionally resonant journey for players.

    • “The music is striking and lends to the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the emotional weight of the story, which will tug at your heartstrings from start to finish.”
    • “The visuals, the music, the gameplay, it all just is so seamless and flows with a level that is just unmatched.”
    • “Neva's soundtrack, like its story, like its platforming will be memorable only in that it is a reminder of my disappointment.”
    • “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.”
    • “In Neva, however, I struggled to find those moments where the music truly resonated.”
  • graphics433 mentions

    The graphics in "Neva" are widely praised for their breathtaking beauty, with many reviewers noting that each frame resembles a work of art, enhanced by a stunning watercolor aesthetic. The visuals are complemented by an emotionally resonant soundtrack, creating an immersive atmosphere that captivates players throughout the game. While some critiques mention that the gameplay may not match the visual quality, the overall presentation remains a standout feature, making it a compelling experience for fans of artistic storytelling in games.

    • “The visuals are breathtaking, with every frame feeling like a work of art, carefully crafted to evoke powerful emotions.”
    • “Incredible visuals, beautiful music, simple yet engaging gameplay and puzzles, and a brilliant story.”
    • “Neva is a masterful blend of awe-inspiring visuals, captivating music, heartbreaking/heartwarming narrative, fluid gameplay and increasingly more unique and engaging mechanics.”
    • “Its just very standard, boring platformer with visuals that clearly inspired by gris, but more bland and again more boring.”
    • “In neva, the visuals are more detailed and busy, which means individual elements don't have as much impact.”
    • “Graphics are okay but too plain with some post processing effects to cover it up.”
  • gameplay390 mentions

    The gameplay in "Neva" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fluid mechanics, engaging puzzles, and the introduction of combat elements that enhance the experience compared to its predecessor, "Gris." However, some players found the gameplay to be repetitive and simplistic, lacking depth and innovation, which detracted from the overall enjoyment. While the visuals and music are consistently highlighted as stunning, opinions vary on whether the gameplay effectively complements the artistic and narrative elements of the game.

    • “The gameplay is fun and provides a challenge without becoming frustrating.”
    • “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 delivers an intense and satisfying experience, where you step into the shoes of a badass, female John Wick meets Constantine, battling demons in the underworld with your loyal dog companion by your side.”
    • “But the gameplay is repetitive and frustrating.”
    • “Here the gameplay is the problem, it's repetitive and feels bland; it's in fact a simple platformer with no interesting gaming mechanics.”
    • “I'm very sorry but I'm truly disappointed with the direction of the gameplay.”
  • emotional360 mentions

    Neva is widely praised for its emotional depth, with many players reporting that it brought them to tears through its beautiful storytelling, stunning visuals, and evocative music. The game effectively combines heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, creating a deeply immersive experience that resonates with players, particularly those who connect with its themes of companionship and loss. While some comparisons to its predecessor, Gris, suggest it may not reach the same emotional heights for everyone, Neva still stands out as a powerful emotional journey that lingers long after completion.

    • “This game was an incredibly beautiful and emotional experience.”
    • “The emotional depth left me in tears, and the stunning visuals are breathtaking.”
    • “Neva is beautifully crafted and deeply emotional, making for one of the most touching and exquisite games of the year.”
  • atmosphere57 mentions

    The atmosphere of Neva is widely praised for its stunning artwork, enchanting music, and emotional storytelling, creating a rich and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its visuals and sound design, making it a masterclass in atmospheric gaming. While some note that the gameplay mechanics may be simplistic, the overall ambiance and emotional depth leave a lasting impact on players.

    • “The atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the emotional weight of the story, which will tug at your heartstrings from start to finish.”
    • “The unique graphics, atmospheric soundtrack, and a touching story will grab you by the heart, squeeze more than one tear out of you, and leave your emotional stability shattered into pieces long after the credits roll.”
    • “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.”
    • “With that setting turned on the combat is pretty simple & easy, but the game's atmosphere is so well crafted that the fights still felt tense, and the visuals were still thrilling.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability, primarily revolving around the collection of hidden flowers, which may not be sufficient for some players. While there is a small incentive to revisit the game for collectibles, the lack of additional modes or a New Game+ feature diminishes its overall replay value.

    • “There is a bit of replay value to find all of the hidden flowers throughout the game as well.”
    • “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.”
    • “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 for more replay value.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the reviewed games varies significantly; while titles like Gris showcase memorable character designs and vibrant environments, Neva lacks character development entirely due to its absence of dialogue. Overall, the aesthetic appeal and design elements are praised, but the depth of character growth is inconsistent across different games.

    • “The soundtrack, environment, and character design are beautiful, and I loved every second of this game.”
    • “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).”
    • “The makers seem to be inspired by Studio Ghibli movies; the character design and story have a number of similarities.”
    • “Neva has no character development as there is no dialog.”
    • “In any case, it gets way too close for comfort here, in my opinion, for very front and center elements, such as main character designs and critical plot points.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with frequent combat encounters overshadowing the rare puzzles. While some appreciate the overall experience, the gameplay can feel frustrating due to its lack of rewarding challenges and the need for backtracking to achieve completion.

    • “The puzzles are rare, the combat is tedious and way too frequent.”
    • “Unfortunately, this half-assed gameplay makes the game tedious, repetitive, and frustrating.”
    • “Achievements are all trivial to get (although if you missed some, it requires some tedious replaying/backtracking).”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its clever subversion of typical gameplay mechanics, such as the brightness adjustment feature, which is used in an unexpected way that adds a comedic twist. Players find this approach amusing, highlighting the game's playful take on conventional gaming tropes.

    • “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.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is well-optimized, achieving a stable 60fps on the Steam Deck while docked and running at maximum settings, even during intense combat scenarios.

    • “For performance, I'm getting a locked 60fps with the Steam Deck in its dock playing on my TV, even in combat, with the settings all the way up.”
    • “The optimization in this game is impressive; I can run it smoothly on lower-end hardware without sacrificing visual quality.”
    • “I love how the game allows for extensive customization of graphics settings, enabling me to find the perfect balance between performance and visuals.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

88% average critic score

Buy Neva

Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
4hMain story
6hCompletionist
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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