Among the litany of games revealed at the showcase was Neva, the next project from developer Nomada Studio, the team behind 2018 gem Gris. That game was one of the few to come to Nintendo Switch before other home consoles, and helped to cement Nintendo's machine as one that is perfectly suited to indie and smaller budget titles. The developer's upcoming offering is coming to the PlayStation 5 in 2024, and already looks to have captured the charm of the game that preceded it, as so much of that game's quality was in the way it looked.
Gris' art style was its drawing factor, as the game looked as good—or even better—than it did to play. It's a side-scrolling platformer that handled the topic of depression and grief in a way that wasn't overt, nor too cryptic. Its art was a perfect vessel to show this, and Gris managed to visually stand out in a year that included The Return of the Obra Dinn, Tetris Effect, and The Messenger. While this would suggest that Neva is in the best spot to replicate its beauty, it could prove to be underwhelming if it doesn't live up to what has come before. The standard has been set very high, and Neva has a lot to do to meet it.
Gris Wears its Art on Its Sleeve
The gameplay of Gris is solid, and it does well to conjure a great story, but much of what makes it special can be seen immediately, even from promotional material. The washed-out, pastel color palette is stunning and its artist, Conrad Roset, serves as the game's director, so it's little wonder that the art is deeply intertwined with the game's overall quality. The reliance on color seems to be something that Neva is using to its advantage, too, which is one of the reasons it was a highlight of the May 24 presentation in which it was formally announced.
However, due to its predecessor, those lofty expectations exist, which could give the game the sales it needs to be a commercial success, but should it not be as beautiful as what came before it could be unfairly overly criticized for it. Having Gris' legacy to live up to could be a very difficult shadow to break out of, and Neva has to do something special with its story, presentation, tone, or characters if it wants to not only achieve the standard set, but find a way to surpass it.
Neva Could Separate Itself from Gris
Neva promises to be an evocative adventure, which is little surprise given its pedigree. However, the art presented in the cinematic trailer may bear resemblances to Gris, but it seems to do enough to make it stand out on its own. It won't likely be connected in any way outside of being a spiritual successor, so launching on a PS5 that is already dominating the market could put it in a good position to flourish with gamers who have yet to give Gris a try.
People will undoubtedly be interested in Neva because of its connection to Gris, which could work massively in its favor. However, the latter's art is gorgeous, but also progressive as the story becomes more enveloped in color the further it goes on, and Neva will have to find a new way to make the aesthetics more than skin deep in a way that doesn't tread on the toes of what has come before. It's a hard line to tread, but one that if navigated well could make Neva one of the best games of 2024.
Neva launches 2024 on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
