Unveiling the Breathtaking Beauty of Neva: A Hauntingly Lovely Watercolor Masterpiece

The Pain of Progress: A Neva Review

I’m not a woman with a sword, and I don’t live in a soft, watercolor world that’s quickly being overcome by dark, spindly shadows. But I feel like I do. Most days are a fight as I slash back at the abyss that threatens to overwhelm; I have a lot more in common, right now, with Neva’s striking human character Alba than I expected.

Neva, Nomada Studio’s follow-up to its widely acclaimed platformer Gris, begins with Alba nudging awake the fantastical wolf pup Neva, who’s a distraction from the world’s decaying beauty. Together, they take in the spring air and bursts of greenery until a familiar shadow washes over the environment. Birds drop from the sky, dead and blackened with flowers instead of decay. The larger wolf narrows its eyes, crouching as Alba unsheathes her sword. The darkness overcomes, knocking Alba unconscious and shawling up the larger wolf. Alba and Neva later awaken to the reality of what’s happened: Alba’s companion, Neva’s mother, is dead.

Though consumed with grief, life doesn’t stop for Alba and Neva. The darkness still itches at their backs, threatening to consume Neva’s lush world, but they must move forward. The gameplay in Neva is about Alba’s journey with Neva, and the relationship they forge in this shared sorrow. It’s an exploration of the world’s decay, and their bond grows stronger as they confront the darkness together.

In the quiet moments between combat and platforming, Neva’s emotional resonance becomes almost overwhelming. Nomada Studio uses these long stretches of almost nothing to surprise you with an unexpectedly emotional experience. There are plenty of times throughout Neva where the only thing you’re doing is pushing your controller’s joystick to the left or right, moving forward, and I’ve actually found an element of challenge in these moments. Am I going the right way? Does that really matter? I just move forward.

In these moments, I think about my own dogs, about Alba and Neva, and the wolf who came before. I’ve thought a lot about how my relationship with the new pup will change and grow, about how it’ll be different or the same as with my best friend. There is no replacement for what I’ve lost, to what Alba and Neva have lost. But even forged in grief, something beautiful will grow. We’ll just move forward. Alba and Neva do, too.

Neva will be released on October 15 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. The game was played on Steam Deck using a pre-release download code provided by Devolver Digital.

Image: Nomada Studio/Devolver Digital

Image: Nomada Studio/Devolver Digital