Neva

About Neva

Neva is an indie action-adventure platformer developed by Nomada Studio and released in late October 2024 under the Devolver Digital label. It lands on PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Mac, and PC. The game stars Alba, a young woman bonded to a wolf cub after she survives a dark encounter. Their story unfolds as they navigate a world slowly rotting away from their presence. You control both characters in a single-player experience that relies on side-scrolling movement and environmental interaction. The visual style uses watercolor aesthetics to create distinct scenes ranging from lush forests to crumbling ruins. It feels like a companion piece to Gris but focuses more on the dynamic between two living beings rather than just internal healing.

Gameplay

You toggle between Alba and her wolf companion to solve puzzles and cross obstacles. The wolf provides climbing, digging, and attacking capabilities while Alba offers puzzle-solving skills and magical abilities that can buff the beast or clear paths. Combat involves timing your attacks to parry enemies and using the environment to gain an advantage. You will spend most of your time jumping across gaps, climbing vines, and navigating narrow ledges. The game features 18 achievements with an average unlock rate of just over 41 percent. Players who finish the main story typically spend around five hours playing before seeing all the collectibles or rare trophies like "Memories," which only unlocks for about nine percent of users.

What Players Think

Critics and players have responded very well to this title. OpenCritic shows an 87 out of 100 score with 94.55 percent of reviewers recommending it. IGDB lists a similar 87.8 rating based on fifty-two user reviews. The community moods lean heavily toward positive, often citing the emotional weight of the narrative. Reviews from outlets like Daily Mirror and TheGamer both gave perfect scores, praising the watercolor art direction and heart-tugging story beats. Many players note that the gameplay feels polished rather than repetitive. The rarity of the "Memories" achievement suggests that finding every detail requires significant exploration beyond the main path. This data confirms a strong reception without any major negative spikes in player feedback.

PlayPile's Take

Neva is worth your time if you enjoy short, narrative-driven platformers with beautiful art. At $9.99 on GOG, it sits at its historical low and offers great value for the content provided. The 18 achievements add a layer of replayability for completionists, though most will finish the core story in under six hours. You get a complete experience without microtransactions or online requirements. This title works best for players who prefer tight controls and emotional storytelling over open-world exploration. Grab it now at the discounted price before sales end.

Storyline

Neva chronicles the story of Alba, a young woman bound to a curious wolf cub following a traumatic encounter with dark forces. Together, they embark on a perilous journey through a once-beautiful world as it slowly decays around them. Their relationship evolves as they learn to work together, helping one another to brave increasingly dangerous situations. The wolf grows from a rebellious cub to an imposing adult while seeking to forge her own identity, testing Alba’s love and their commitment to one another. As the cursed world threatens to overwhelm them, Alba and her courageous companion will do whatever it takes to survive and make a new home, together.