Neva: Prologue Review

When Neva first released in 2024, I remember thinking it looked beautiful. The watercolor art style caught my eye right away, and I’d heard plenty of praise about its emotional storytelling. But for whatever reason, I never got around to actually playing it. It slipped into that ever-growing backlog, but I did want to check it out at some point.

Then, during a recent Nintendo Direct, the announcement of Neva: Prologue popped up. A small DLC expansion, positioned as a prequel to the main story. That was the push I needed. If there was ever a time to finally dive in, this was it.

So I did things properly. I sat down and played through Neva from start to finish on my Nintendo Switch before even touching the DLC. And I’m glad I did. Even though Prologue technically takes place before the events of the base game, it’s very clearly designed for players who already understand the world, the tone, and the emotional weight of what’s to come. Jumping into it cold would rob it of much of its impact.

For those unfamiliar, Neva is a 2D action platformer with a heavy focus on environmental storytelling and emotional character moments. You play as Alba, a young woman navigating a decaying, dying world. Early in the game, she forms a bond with a mysterious wolf cub named Neva. What follows is a journey across changing seasons, with combat encounters against shadowy creatures and platforming challenges woven through vast, painterly landscapes.

The gameplay blends fluid movement with fast paced combat. Alba wields a sword, and encounters are often small arenas where you must manage space, dodge incoming attacks, and strike carefully. It’s not overly complex, but it requires focus. As Neva grows, she becomes more involved in both traversal and combat, assisting in fights and opening new ways to navigate the world. That growing partnership becomes the heart of the experience. The story is told with minimal dialogue. Instead, it leans on visuals, animation, and music to communicate grief, growth, and resilience.

Which brings me to Neva: Prologue.

As the name suggests, this DLC tells the story of how Alba first meets Neva. It’s a small-scale addition, but one that fills in a key emotional gap. After finishing the base game, I immediately launched into Prologue, and the transition felt natural. The mechanics were fresh in my mind, and emotionally, I was still invested.

The plot here is simple and focused. We see Alba before the events of the main game, navigating the earlier stages of the world’s corruption. It explores her isolation and the circumstances that lead to her crossing paths with the young wolf. There are no massive twists or sweeping revelations. It delivers exactly what it promises, the beginning of their connection.

What surprised me most was how effective it still felt, even knowing where things eventually lead. There’s a certain tenderness to seeing those first moments. Small gestures, hesitant trust, and the fragile start of a bond that you already know will grow into something powerful.

Gameplay-wise, Prologue is very much “more Neva.” That’s not a complaint. After finishing the base game, I wanted more of that movement, more of that combat, more time in this world. The DLC offers additional platforming sections, new environmental puzzles, and several combat encounters that feel a touch more intense than I expected.

There are new enemy types introduced here. Some move faster, others force you to reposition constantly rather than relying on familiar patterns. There are also a couple of boss encounters that genuinely tested me. They aren’t unfair, but they require focus. Dodging at the right moment, committing to an attack at the right times, reading visual cues carefully. I was grateful I had just played through the main campaign because the muscle memory was still there. If you’ve been away from the game for a while, you’ll probably need a little time to refamiliarise yourself with the feel of Alba’s movement and the rhythm of combat.

The DLC also adds new stages to explore. They’re not sprawling, but they are distinct. There’s a strong sense of place in each area, reinforced by the art direction. And once again, that art direction is the first thing most people will notice.

Neva, both in its base form and in Prologue, is stunning. The softly coloured watercolor aesthetic gives everything a hand painted look. Forests glow in warm golds and cool blues. Ruins crumble in muted tones. The creeping corruption stands out in harsh contrast. On the Nintendo Switch, it looks fantastic whether docked on a larger screen or played in handheld mode. In handheld especially, the crisp lines and gentle gradients feel almost like playing through an illustrated book.

The music deserves just as much praise. The score carries much of the emotional weight. Quiet piano motifs swell into fuller arrangements during key moments. Combat sequences are scored with tension without overwhelming the scene. In softer moments, the music pulls back, letting ambient sounds breathe. It sets the tone perfectly and amplifies the story in ways that dialogue never could.

That said, one thing I felt strongly while playing Prologue was the absence of Neva herself during much of it. Coming straight off the main game, where she’s by your side through so many encounters, I felt that absence sharply. In the base game, she becomes integral to both combat and traversal. She distracts enemies, creates openings, and shares in the physicality of the journey. In Prologue, those early sections where Alba is alone feel intentionally lonely. It works narratively, but I couldn’t help missing that companionship. It speaks to how well the main game builds that bond.

In terms of length, Prologue is short. I finished it in just over an hour. It’s concise, focused, and doesn’t try to overstay its welcome. At around $5 AUD, the pricing reflects that scope. You’re not getting a massive expansion. You’re getting a compact narrative addition with a handful of new gameplay moments.

It also doesn’t dramatically alter the overall story of Neva. If you’re expecting major revelations that recontextualise everything, you won’t find them here. Instead, you get a gentle, heartfelt look at how Alba and Neva’s story began. And honestly, that was enough for me.

Neva: Prologue feels like a small thank you to fans of the original. It’s more time in a world that’s haunting and beautiful. More of a combat system that’s simple but satisfying. More of a relationship that forms the emotional core of the experience.

I regret not playing Neva back in 2024 when it first released. But in a way, experiencing the base game and then immediately stepping into Prologue felt right. It let me see the full arc, from first meeting to final moments, without a long gap in between.

If you’ve never played Neva, start with the main game. Learn its rhythms. Then, when you’re ready, step back to the beginning with Prologue. It may be brief, but it’s beautifully made, emotionally resonant, and a welcome return to one of the most visually striking games on the Nintendo Switch.

A Nintendo Switch review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

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