Neversong Review — Fun Dream or Crazed Nightmare?

Neversong is an adventure game with a heavy emphasis on psychological horror. Players take on the role of Peet, a 12-year-old boy who wakes up from a coma to discover all adults have disappeared and his girlfriend is lost. On his search for her, Peet gains plenty of new tools which all introduce new and interesting gameplay mechanics to the player. However, there are plenty of dangers awaiting him, ranging from mildly unsettling to downright horrifying. As Peet, you will have to beat them in order to rescue the girl, uncover secrets behind the creepy antagonist, and save your hometown.

A fascinating narrative

Neversong has a story that is actually refreshing at first. Going into this game, it is easy to assume that you’ll be faced with a dreary, humorless tale. However, players will quickly see that the game is filled with charming characters and some oddly catchy music. The initial impression is quite disarming in a good way.

Peet’s interactions with the colorful cast of Neversong is often entertaining. The player probably won’t find themselves growing attached to these kids, but they’re still good for a laugh or two. They also present a great contrast to the often horrific things happening in the background. Crazed adults, murderous monster parents, and creepy mysteries all await any player who steps into the setting of Redwind Village.

This gives Neversong a distinct atmosphere similar to Stephen King’s IT and Netflix’s Stranger Things. Anyone who enjoys those stories will more than likely be pleased with Neversong’s presentation. This is due in large part to Dr. Smile, the game’s antagonistic monster. This creepy nightmare man is often lurking just out of sight until he makes his presence known. He will definitely set off some alarm bells for anyone with a fear of Pennywise the Clown.

However, a great experience and an intriguing plot are brought down a bit by the ending. The climax of Neversong is unfortunately predictable and lacks any sort of emotional punch. This is exceedingly disappointing, as the game does feel like it is hiding something significant behind its back the entire time. Sadly, it simply never follows through with that expectation.