Upcoming point-and-click adventure game Neyyah evokes a powerful nostalgia in its design, despite being a modern property. Solo developer Aaron Gwynaire, working under the Defy Reality Entertainment name, grew up playing iconic games like Myst and Riven. With intentionality, Neyyah calls back to a simpler time in PC gaming, aiming to capture the essence of these classics.
“With a game like Neyyah, it’s pre-rendered and it’s point and click. Being completely honest, it’s probably not going to feel as immersive as if it was real-time,” Gwynaire told ScreenHub. “But the cool thing about pre-rendered is … it really captures light in a very realistic way … even though it’s point and click and you’re clicking to move through the world, the environments feel so real.”
Building Neyyah Brick by Brick
Gwynaire’s work is deeply inspired by games of the 90s, which first sparked his love for game development. He recounted a revelatory moment watching the behind-the-scenes of how Cyan made Myst. “I thought ‘wow, this is such a cool way, of how they did it.’ It’s a very simplistic way, where they were pre-rendering the artwork, so it was just images, you would click to move forward,” Gwynaire said. “That really appealed to me.”
Over the years, Gwynaire taught himself game design and modeling, starting with early experiments in 3D modeling. His journey took him from the UK to Australia, where he pursued various creative endeavors. Around 2018, inspired by a childhood filled with Cyan’s magical creations, he began work on what would become Neyyah.
“I take inspiration from the places I’ve lived, as well as the environments,” Gwynaire said. “Even though I take the inspiration from Myst and Riven, I use my own story and background to really pull from that, to make it quite unique to the game.” His experiences shaped the game’s overarching story and puzzles, with additional support from publisher MicroProse and funding from Screen Australia.
Nostalgia as a Powerful Inspiration
Several years into developing Neyyah, Gwynaire began sharing his creation online, not initially considering it a full-time endeavor. However, his efforts garnered attention, accumulating 2,000 wishlists on Steam through a grassroots marketing approach. This caught the eye of David Lagettie, CEO of game publisher MicroProse, who appreciated the game’s nostalgia-infused approach.
“The main thing [was] the passion for the game,” Gwynaire said. “For me, it’s a huge passion project. It’s huge creating not just the game, for me, but it’s being inside this world and discovering it for myself, and then being able to pull that out, and bring it to everyone else.”
Nostalgia serves as a vehicle for reminiscing with rose-colored lenses, allowing players to indulge in memories of a freer time. In Neyyah, Gwynaire aims to recall a transportive era in his own game development journey, inviting players to enjoy classic point-and-click adventures and the mysterious possibilities they promised.
Pushing Neyyah Out the Open Door
With the core of Neyyah solidified around nostalgia and memory, years in development swiftly passed. Gwynaire worked and reworked the game, adapting to technological shifts and new ideas. Seven years later, Neyyah is on its way to release.
“It’s a bit of sacrifice,” Gwynaire said. “I’ve been at this game now for so long, I feel like I want to push this baby out into the world.” He is already contemplating new projects, though he plans a break after Neyyah’s release to appreciate his work coming to fruition.
“Even a month ago, I’d say, ‘wow, it would be so cool just to feel like the game is finished,’” Gwynaire said. “You get to that point where it comes down to other feedback – QA, very little bugs … You kind of get reassurance from other people, and that gives you the boost.”
The next steps, following a period of reflection, involve imagining Neyyah’s legacy and how Gwynaire’s skills could evolve into new projects. “I’ve now spent seven years on this project,” Gwynaire said. “The way I see it is that I’ve got seven years of work that can be the foundations, the framework … to create a brand new project.”
Neyyah is currently set to launch for PC on 2 September 2025, promising to bring a nostalgic yet fresh experience to players worldwide.
