NEVA is a game that no one is talking about – but they should be. Nomada Studios are the geniuses behind 2018’s GRIS, and they’ve now one-upped themselves by creating one of the year’s best games. In NEVA, I enjoyed the gameplay while falling in love with the characters and story.
NEVA and GRIS have almost zero dialogue, telling the story through visuals and sounds. While GRIS profoundly explored grief, NEVA takes on parenting and the hardships of protecting your kid. What separates NEVA is how it makes you feel. As the game follows Alba (a warrior) and Neva (a protector), we experience their relationship grow. At one point, Neva is a small pup that needs protecting, and the next, she can do it without you, and she’s now the one saving and protecting you. That circle of life is captured with Studio Ghibli’s style and substance, sure to make gamers shed a few tears.
From a gameplay mechanics POV, NEVA is much more advanced than GRIS. You will die a lot. But with each death comes a learning for you to progress more the next time. The jumping, blade usage, and movements all feel so smooth. And most importantly – those boss fights are fun and creative! And the reason they suck you in is because you care so much about Alba and Neva.
I spent about thirty minutes longer than I needed to playing NEVA. That time was spent petting and calling for my furry companion, who is one of the most adorable NPCs I’ve seen in a game.
After beating NEVA last night, I immediately restarted the game. Not to get additional collectibles but to see the lovely story and be reminded of what it feels like to be a parent. That’s some powerful stuff for a video game.
It’s available on most platforms, while I played it on Nintendo Switch
