Neverway Preview
From developer Coldblood Inc., Neverway is a debut mystery-filled pixel art style horror. It’s a life sim-RPG where nothing is as it seems, where you end up as the herald of a dead god and trudge through cosmic horror.
Nowhere but Down
In Neverway, you play as Fiona, fresh off a dead-end job and not so freshly drowning in depression. This bout of mental gymnastics comes via Fiona’s need to be LITERALLY anywhere else but where she currently is. With the news, posters, and hazmat-wearing detail talking about something called “Misplaces”, I immediately got ‘No, I’m not a Human’ vibes. But if it were a pixel life sim.
You’re asked by your job’s HR to come collect your things after days of being a no-show, then promptly dumped immediately when you get home. Nothing else to lose, you leave everything behind and leave for an “idyllic” island life. However, that remains to be seen.
Simulating Life and Horror
With 10+ characters to romance, a life to simulate, and things to farm and craft, combat to learn, Fiona’s new life will be full. If she can, of course, somehow balance all this and come out sane on the other end. Which might be out of the question.
Neverway needs a keen eye. You have to keep a careful eye on Fiona and her stats. Anything you do, eat, or equip comes with some kind of caveat. For example, a nice cup of coffee could give you jitters and insomnia, but at least you’re awake a little longer to get more work in. You have to manage your money as well as be very careful just what it is you let your character take part in. Unless you want to stack suffering.
Conversations also affect Fiona’s state of mind. You get a chance to make certain dialogue choices whenever you converse with some of the characters in the game. Some will allow Fiona to lie. But it seems she’s a poor liar and can barely pull it off, the walking basket case that she is. Maybe she’ll get better at it as time goes on. Or it can be a skill you can master. But for now, you get to cringe at Fiona’s feeble attempts.
A second layer of the mystery manifests in a different area where you try to piece together clues and try to understand what is happening. Mysterious beings guide you along, and you thread together their hints as well as Fiona’s own memories.
On Artistry
Neverway’s art does not lack in little details. In fact, I’d say the artists and devs went above and beyond with all the little extra details and features. So many clicks on the screen have some kind of fun reactionary visual effects. The environments give so much to Neverway’s intricate and mysterious world building, both in its futuristic and cosmic horror feel. The world feels full, alive yet desolate and you truly feel alone. All for the good of immersion of course.
Neverway’s soundtrack is spearheaded by acclaimed composer Disasterpeace, who’s done work on Fez, Hyper Light Drifter, It Follows, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, adding a deeply haunting soundscape. The music is woven into the game’s stunning, monochromatic pixel-art world created by the artist behind Celeste. Which is a treat in itself and is wonderfully executed to add to the whole mood of Neverway.
Neverway is definitely one to look forward to. It checks all the right boxes as a “cosmic horror meets Stardew Valley,” if anyone’s ever felt that specific hole in their gamer soul.
***Preview code provided by the publisher***
