Neva begins on a heartbreaking note, with a young swordswoman and her antlered wolf pup suffering the devastating loss of a loved one. Grief catalyzes a blossoming partnership between the pair, spurring them in their mission to spare a dying world from the same fate. Watching them grow closer throughout four tumultuous seasons is an emotional treat, a relationship that anchors this exceptional action platformer.
Like developer Nomada Studio’s previous game, Gris, Neva’s incredible art direction is a visual delight. Not only is the adventure beautifully illustrated, with bold colors and lineless art giving the models a distinct appearance, but fantastically fluid animation means the journey looks even better in motion. I can’t decide if Neva would be more at home at an indie film festival or on TV earning acclaim as a Cartoon Network series à la Samurai Jack. The vividly colorful forests make the encroaching blackness of a corrupting masked entity feel all the more jarring and threatening. But even this scourge is portrayed beautifully, with infected carcasses sprouting ashen flowers to create a haunting yet alluring sight. A stellar soundtrack pulls at the heartstrings as much as the narrative’s affecting themes of companionship, parenthood, death, and rebirth.
Throughout the game’s four chapters, I grew to love Neva (the wolf) and Alba (the woman) through their small but effective interactions. Simply calling Neva’s name, the game’s only spoken dialogue, resonates when laced with contextual nuances such as distress when Neva’s in danger, sternness when she misbehaves, or pride when she performs well. Petting Neva strengthens this attachment; I love giving a rewarding rubdown after a good fight or hugging her when she’s frightened.
These interactions work because Neva behaves like a real dog whose behavior evolves and matures over time. As a puppy, Neva will often stop to play with random flowers or chase leaves floating in the wind while being skittish around enemies. As Neva grows older – and much, much larger – her demeanor becomes more confident, her body language more dignified, and she’s more focused and aggressive toward threats. This growth effectively sells the passage of time, and one of the game’s strengths is making me feel like a proud parent who’s managed to raise a capable creature in an increasingly hostile world.
Gameplay-wise, it’s rewarding to watch Neva become less of a child to babysit and more of a partner in battle. In her teenage period, she’ll often engage foes unprompted, sometimes before I reach them, making her a helpful, if impulsive, teammate. Neva will even pin down certain foes, giving me a free window to finish them off. Neva gradually gains new abilities performed on command, adding another strategic layer to combat while narratively showcasing her growing discipline and synergy with Alba. Aiming and firing Neva like a furry missile at distant targets is equal parts cool and absurd, and you can even mount her once she’s big enough.
Alba slices through enemies with a one-button three-hit combo, creating a simple but satisfying dance of attacking and evading when combined with a nimble dodge roll. Landing consecutive strikes without taking damage replenishes health, a gratifying system that rewards good performance. Staying on your A-game in fights matters, as the game is more than a pretty face; Neva can be surprisingly tough. Combat encounters often lob several enemies to encourage thoughtful use of the wolf’s cooldown-based assists while you nimbly strike down foes with your sword. Boss battles require memorizing subtle enemy tells and executing split-second evades to retaliate during brief openings. I died more often than I expected during these bigger bouts, but that was always my fault and I enjoyed this demanding rise in tempo after lengthy exploration segments.
Neva’s elegant presentation and combat extends to its enjoyable puzzle-like platforming. Most riddles involve activating mysterious nodes by traversing floating, ever-shifting platforms and other obstacles. Platforming makes ample use of Alba’s air-dash, double-jump, and wall-climbing skills, and though less challenging than the combat, it still offers enough bite to remain engaging. Hidden flowers provide a nice little incentive to explore off the beaten path, not to mention another excuse to bask in the wonderful scenery.
Neva’s immaculate presentation, enjoyable action, and moving narrative prop it up among 2024’s best indies. Despite boasting thrilling cinematic sequences and jaw-dropping visuals, Neva’s best moments are often its smallest: watching a relieved Alba call her furry friend after a brutal fight to share an affectionate and appreciative embrace.
This 2025 review reflects our thoughts on the game’s current state at publishing. As such, post-launch updates were factored into the final score.
