Neva: Prologue

While not an essential addition, this DLC offers extra context that offers a similar emotional tale to that of the base game. Even at only an hour or so, it’s as beautiful as the mainline entry and has a few more challenges and stages that will interest fans.

If you are new to Neva like I was, it’s a great gateway to the main game.

Though seeming inconsequential on its surface, Nomada Studio's first DLC ranks as a commendable example of subtractive design adding to a greater whole.

NEVA: Prologue is a short but meaningful expansion that reinforces the emotional core of the original game without straying from its essence. It doesn't seek to revolutionize, but rather to refine what already worked, and it does so with admirable precision. Its length may be short, but it leaves a lasting impression long after its final scene.

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.

And this is how Alba and Neva got to meet...

Neva: Prologue resolves the initial question regarding the real need to reveal the backstory of an already complete adventure, dispelling it the moment you are faced with the pure tenderness of the budding bond between the brave warrior and the four-legged pup. While the experience’s marked brevity and the partial rehash of threats already largely overcome in the past might understandably raise some eyebrows, the masterful recalibration of the challenge level and the clever reworking of the jumping mechanics through the delicate act of physical transport transform this expansion into a precious and satisfying exercise in style.

Neva Prologue isn't an expansion that attempts to do something entirely new. The game largely builds on the ideas and systems of the main game. Nevertheless, it's a well-crafted and atmospheric experience that demonstrates how strong Neva's foundation remains. Playing with lighting, timing, and disappearing platforms provides enough variety to keep the short playtime interesting. For players who played the original, the price of around three euros is a no-brainer. It's cheaper than a drink on a terrace and considerably cheaper than an evening at the cinema. In return, you get an hour to an hour and a half of well-crafted gameplay. That makes this DLC a delicious treat for fans of the game.

Neva: Prologue returns to the original universe by portraying the beginning of the bond between Alba and the young wolf, preserving the agile combat, challenging platforming, and striking art direction—now with a darker tone. The new puzzle ideas and enemies add variety and increase the difficulty; however, they are underexplored due to the short length. Although it delivers intense and visually impactful moments, the sense of more of the same and its brevity lessen its overall impact. Even so, it is a recommended expansion for those who wish to revisit this story from a new perspective.

Neva: Prologue provides an earnest portrayal of the unique bond that can be found between humans and animals.