Much like Nomada's previous game, GRIS, this is a beautiful piece of art that, in my personal opinion, everybody should experience at least once (unless you can't stomach harm to animals - in which case, stay far away). Featuring striking environmental design, emotional musical accompaniment, pulse-pounding combat encounters, and a gut-wrenching visual narrative, Neva will leave you absolutely breathless.

The option of either Adventure Mode (where combat has risk of death and enemies have additional health) or Story Mode (squishier enemy encounters with no deaths) allows the game to remain just as accessible as GRIS for players looking only to enjoy the overall gameplay and story, while offering a new, more difficult experience in Adventure Mode for those seeking challenge.

Character movement is fluid and mostly intuitive, at first building off of basic, familiar mechanics from GRIS, then progressively adding fresh ideas to the mix of abilities which differentiate Neva from its predecessor. Combat is mostly simple, but enemy encounters and boss fights are varied enough along the way that it never feels tiresome or repetitive. My only nitpick with the controls comes from a few sections late in the game where the platforming difficulty curve felt like it peaked a little too high for a casual experience in Story Mode.

Chapter selection is unlocked after finishing the game on either mode and you can go back to find all of the hidden secrets in each chapter without having to fully replay. This makes getting all achievements a bit easier for those who seek completion.

The story and overall presentation borrow familiar aesthetics from GRIS, Journey, and the Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke (which is no surprise, as GRIS featured a nod to the same movie), while taking some uniquely dark twists along the way to set Neva apart. As mentioned at the beginning of the review, this is not a game for anybody who has difficulty seeing animals die or be in perilous situations, as the core gameplay and story often lean heavily on the struggles to be overcome by your furry companion. If you have the stomach for it though, Neva offers an intensely emotional journey which will not be soon forgotten. Much of the success of that narrative comes from the impeccable level design, built specifically for environmental storytelling, and another brilliant soundtrack from Berlinist that can tear at the heartstrings all on its own.

EDIT: As of the December 2024 update, all of my concerns regarding accessibility and the difficulty of the platforming sections in Story Mode have been addressed and improved. Thank you, Nomada, for listening to your players. It was a pleasure to experience Neva again on the new update.

Pros:
+ Satisfying gameplay mechanics and progression
+ Memorable and emotional story
+ Beautiful art design and visuals
+ Outstanding soundtrack

Cons:
- Significant content warning for animal death, harm, and distress
- Some platforming sections which could prove frustrating to casual players PATCHED OUT

Score:
9/10 - Highly recommended