Neva Reviews
Everyone should play Neva. With a story mode for anyone who hates combat and a narrative that can be taken at a surface level or delved further into, this is something exceptional gamers of all types and ages should be playing.
Neva is a game that'll speak to any pet owner and touch their soul. The story between Alba and Neva is simple, but it is a tale packed with emotion that will make anyone tear up. It also boasts some of this year's best visuals with its watercolor background and vibrant colors. The gameplay and puzzles might be lacking for some, but it does the job.
Alba and Neva's journey was the most captivating I've experienced since the boy and Trico in 2016's The Last Guardian. When necessary, the game transitions seamlessly between simple, epic and moving tones. Combat is responsive and challenging in the right measure. It maintains strong and reflective themes such as perseverance, family and the Cycle of Life. And what was most praised in its previous project is once again present with more variety of music, colors and impeccable animation fluidity. An excellent game for fans of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Neva is a work of art that explores motherhood and other aspects of life from a beautiful and dark fantasy world. It is a game that, although short, stops at just the right moment.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Neva is recommended for all those who want to enjoy a very emotional narrative story full of charm thanks to its stunning visual art and captivating soundtrack. Where Alba and her lobata are the main pillar of this beautiful fable. A once in a lifetime experience that you must play.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Neva is an extremely emotional journey that catches your heart and makes you cry. It is probably my favorite game of the year at the moment, due to the fact that it provided me with everything I need in a video game. Very good gameplay, beautiful graphics and an emotional soundtrack complementing it all, gives one of the best gaming blends this year.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Neva is a magnificent action adventure, a true work of art. It masterfully combines contemplation and action, delivering an artistic composition and immersive and exciting narrative. Alba and Neva’s journey is captivating from start to finish, creating a special bond between the player and the characters. While certain themes may resonate more with some people than others, the reflection on the cycles of life and time is universal. Neva is stunning, beautiful, poetic and devastating.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Neva combines stunning visuals and a story marked by the relationship between unique characters to result in one of the most exciting experiences in recent years. The addition of combat and platform mechanics really enhance the context of urgency, even though its proposal is not focused on being an action game. All of this makes Neva an unmissable title and a true work of art in digital format.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Every frame of Neva looks like a painting, there’s a surprising amount of challenge and the way it builds these characters without saying a word is masterful.
Neva is a fable about growth, friendship, and the cycle of life. The friendship between the protagonists is touching and will surely bring the player to tears in this beautiful game. The story has a twist that isn't one of my favorites, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a very meaningful experience, despite being short, and one that everyone should give a chance.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Neva is a fantastic and emotional journey the whole way through. The bond between Alba and Neva feels real and earned, so the stakes feel even higher when danger befalls them. It’s a game that makes us think about the hardships of life and survival, but at its core drives home one main theme: hope. Neva will have you running through a whole gambit of emotions in its four hour run time, so have some tissues handy, but it’s an experience well-worth your time.
Neva is a game made with love that will not leave you indifferent and that, without a doubt, you have to play. It is one of those essentials with its own voice that cannot be overshadowed by the frenetic video game market.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
After Gris, Nomada Studio tries again with Neva, another short video game experience that reminds us why video games are, in all respects, a form of art. A true pearl as regards the artistic direction, between oriental landscapes and a highly refined audio section, but also a title with simple and solid gameplay, suitable for all ages and all gamers. It's difficult not to be moved and not to be carried away. A handful of hours of pure poetry.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Neva is an action-adventure game that tells the story of Alba, a swordswoman, and Neva, a fantasy wolf. Together they save the world from dark creatures that are polluting and poisoning the world. The story is very reminiscent of Princess Monoke, similarly emotional and very visually stunning.
Review in German | Read full review
Neva is love, Neva is life, and also a fun-if-brief visual splendour to boot.
Neva, the new game from Nomada Studio, the studio behind the acclaimed GRIS, once again surpasses itself with a beautiful, emotional and revealing story about parenthood, growing up, love and life itself, all with a narrative that presents us with the relationship between Alba and the wolf Neva in a hostile environment, and how they must take care of each other, and grow together. All this is complemented by gameplay that combines action, platforms and small puzzles that fit together perfectly and form a definitively outstanding whole. If you liked GRIS, Neva is essential, since it clearly surpasses this one, and if you haven't tried it, go straight for both.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Neva is a lush and responsive 2D action platformer that delivers an enthralling world and unforgettable emotional experience.
Despite feeling somewhat like well-trod narrative ground, Neva is a beautiful game, skilfully made with a lot of heart. The bond it fosters between you and your canine companion cannot be understated, and is likened to that of a parent and child. Alba becomes the parent figure, and the protector during Neva‘s youth. As Neva grows, it is Alba now, who must be protected and cared for. We can only hope to have passed on what we learn to our children, in the hope that they will do a better job than we did. Fans of the genre are unlikely to find a better game this year than this. Now I’m off to have a good cry and hug my kids.
Building on the strong foundation the developers laid with Gris, Neva once again impresses with an emotionally charged story, beautiful visual presentation, and a captivating soundtrack. The game combines challenging platforming with simple yet satisfying puzzles and combat, all centered around the partnership between Alba and her growing wolf. While the pace could have been a little quicker for some players, the breathtaking art style makes every moment feel like a living painting. The few drawbacks, such as the repetitive death sounds and occasionally frustrating save points, do little to detract from the overall picture. Neva is a beautifully crafted game that not only challenges your skill as a player, but also touches your emotions. It is an interactive art experience that shows how powerful the medium can be, both in terms of gameplay and storytelling.
Review in Dutch | Read full review