When you think about popular video games making waves year-round, it’s usually not the side-scrolling indie titles with a unique art direction that earn their place as household names. Sure, they shake up the pond for a time, but sooner or later the hype is replaced by whatever AAAA title is in the works at Insert-Big-Publisher-Name these days. But some indie titles persist in their popularity, games like Neva.
Neva tells the story of a young woman and her wolf, two beings who share a lifelong bond, embarking on an adventure of the ages as dark and mysterious forces assault their world. It’s heart-wrenching from the get-go. Developer Nomada Studio, known for the highly-rated Gris, understands how to tell unique and captivating stories with a simplistic format.
As usual, let’s start with a look at the positive reviews. Many of those who thoroughly enjoyed Neva did so because of its captivating storyline—a tale of companionship in a harsh and unforgiving world—along with the overall art style of the game. People love the colors and world design, and rightfully so, as it’s gorgeous.
On the negative side of things, however, most point toward the game’s lackluster combat mechanics, which were sorely missing from Gris but added to Neva to spice up the gameplay loop. Well, it didn’t work as intended for many. Elsewhere, some players point toward confusing narrative elements as the reason they didn’t connect with the experience, especially during the first half of the game. A subsequent playthrough may resolve such woes, but most who leave a negative review probably won’t give the game a second shot.
If you’ve had your eye on Neva since launch and are curious what other gamers are saying, we’re here to help. Here’s a look at the game, as told by Steam reviews!
