Nomada’s hallmark as a studio is the outstanding art of their games. Gris was stunning with its detailed watercolor world and Neva is just as arresting. Every inch of Neva is gorgeous. It trades the intricate detail of Gris for a softer lineless look that makes its depiction of nature pop. Neva swings from intense, saturated hues that overwhelm the eyes to softer tones that capture the majesty of Neva‘s surroundings. I was utterly taken every step of the way, always basking in the radiance of the scenery. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
Neva follows Alba and her wolf Neva on a journey through a decaying world. The game begins with the sudden appearance of a dark force that is infecting the world. Birds suddenly drop dead from the sky, sprouting pitch-black flowers from their corpses. A massive wave of amorphous beings made from that same force which killed those birds arrives soon after, Alba and a massive horned wolf all that stands to stop the tide. It doesn’t go well. Alba is quickly overwhelmed and knocked out, her wolf companion valiantly putting up a fight before succumbing to the horde as well. Neva, just a pup right now, still remains, Alba taking the young wolf into her care.
The game takes place over the course of a year as the two trek across the land fighting back against the invading force wherever they find them, reversing the decay as best they can all the while. The world becomes steadily more unwelcoming with each new season. The lush forests and thriving plains of summer give way to fractured earth, tree roots barely keeping the floating blocks of land connected to one another as vibrant colors of the surroundings fade into a monochromatic haze. Neva grows over this period as well, starting as a small and defenseless pup to a fully grown force to be reckoned with, becoming stronger and more capable as the world becomes more inhospitable.
Nomada’s works are primarily visual feasts. The actual experience of play is always rudimentary and Neva is no different. Platforming is simple and straightforward, never demanding much of you. Chaining double jumps and air-dashes together to traipse the fractured landscape is pleasurable, as good feeling movement is paramount when it comes to platforming, but it does remain on the easy side. The most involved it becomes is through the occasional diversion for hidden flowers to find, which require a little more finesse to reach and showcase what sort of movement Neva is capable of when the game sets its mind to it, but these moments are few.
Combat is a touch more involved, but similarly basic. Most fights are cleared by mashing your three-hit sword combo and dodging as needed until all the foes are vanquished. It maintains a consistent tempo throughout, always feeling good to partake in. While combat never assumes any complexity, the spectacle remains consistent throughout. Everything flows smoothly and looks so beautiful in motion it’s hard not to be taken by it. Larger fights and bosses in particular relish the chance to show off, every clash thrilling to watch.
The combat does have a bit of style once Neva starts fighting alongside you, allowing you to send them toward distant enemies and pin them down for a time. They start by acting on their own in a divide and conquer approach, which does create some good moments with Alba and Neva both playing off each other. A particularly fun sequence occurs during the early parts of the second chapter where the wolf will knock an enemy right in front of you for you to finish it off and send it flying, or vice versa, all without interrupting your trek jumping and climbing between floating blocks of earth. It’s all restricted to scripted events rather than naturally occurring in proper combat encounters, granted, but it’s a nice touch to convey how well the two work in tandem. Eventually Neva materializes alongside each swing of your sword, the two acting as one and slaying foes with greater ease.
It makes Neva’s absence in the rare moments you’re separated more pronounced. Fighting solo, however brief, makes you feel weaker. Not having Neva at your side makes battle just the tiniest bit harder once you’ve gotten used to having them beside you. It illustrates how much the bond between them grows and changes. First it’s Neva who’s dependent on Alba, then steadily becomes the opposite as the wolf becomes stronger, their presence indispensable as much for their company as their general prowess.
Which makes the bittersweet nature of the story more potent. It’s a predictable tale, all told, every step of the journey closely following the playbook for any story about a person and their animal companion, but it doesn’t lessen the impact of the events regardless. Neva is a brief and beautiful game, a visual feast in every way, and a pleasant jaunt all the while.
Callum Rakestraw is the Reviews Editor at Entertainium. You can find him on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Twitter, as well as his blog.
