View source for The Neverhood

{{Short description|1996 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = The Neverhood
| image = The Neverhood - box art.jpg
| developer = {{Plainlist|
* The Neverhood, Inc.
* [[Riverhillsoft]] {{Small|(PSX)}}
}}
| publisher = {{Plainlist|
* [[DreamWorks Interactive]]
* Riverhillsoft {{Small|(PSX)}}
}}
| director = 
| producer = 
| designer = [[Doug TenNapel]]<br>[[Mark Lorenzen]]
| programmer = 
| artist = Mike Dietz<br>Ed Schofield<br>[[Mark Lorenzen]]<br>Stephen Crow
| writer = Dale Lawrence<br>[[Mark Lorenzen]]<br>[[Doug TenNapel]]
| composer = [[Terry Scott Taylor]]
| engine = The Neverhood, Inc.
| platforms = [[Windows]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
| released = '''Microsoft Windows'''<br>{{vgrelease|NA|October 30, 1996<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 1997 |title=Online Gaming Review |url=http://www.ogr.com/news/news1096.html |access-date=April 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970227065725/http://www.ogr.com/news/news1096.html |archive-date=February 27, 1997 }}</ref>}}'''PlayStation'''<br>{{vgrelease|JP|April 23, 1998}}
| genre = [[Point-and-click adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}
'''''The Neverhood''''' (released in Japan as '''''Klaymen Klaymen''': '''The Mystery of Neverhood''''') is a 1996 [[point-and-click adventure]] video game developed by The Neverhood, Inc. and published by [[DreamWorks Interactive]] for [[Microsoft Windows]]. The game follows the adventure of a [[claymation]] character named Klaymen as he discovers his origins and his purpose in a world made entirely out of clay. When the game was originally released, it was unique in that all of its animation was done entirely in claymation, including all of the sets. The gameplay consists mostly of guiding the main character Klaymen around and solving puzzles to advance. Video sequences help advance the plot. In addition to being unique, ''The Neverhood'' aimed at being quirky and humorous, as is evident by the characters, the music, and the plot sequence. The game has garnered a [[cult following]]. It received a sequel in 1998, ''[[Skullmonkeys]]'', which was a [[platform game]], abandoning the adventure format of the original. ''[[Armikrog]]'' was later released as a spiritual successor to the game, developed by many members of the same team.

== Gameplay ==
''The Neverhood'' is a [[point-and-click adventure]] game which emphasizes the solving of puzzles through character action rather than inventory usage.<ref name=GPro96>{{cite magazine|title=The Neverhood: A Curious Wad of Klay Finds his Soul |magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=96 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=September 1996 |page=54}}</ref> Klaymen must use the available environment in order to advance in the game, with the standard inventory being quasi-absent. There are possible gameovers if the player is not careful enough, with one where the game cannot be restored from a previous save and must be restarted.

== Plot ==
The titular Neverhood is a surreal landscape dotted with buildings and other hints of life, all suspended above an endless void. However, the Neverhood itself is strangely deserted, with its only inhabitants being Klaymen (the main protagonist and player character), Willie Trombone (a dim individual who assists Klaymen in his travels), Klogg (the game's antagonist who resembles a warped version of Klaymen), and various fauna that inhabit the Neverhood (most infamously the 'weasels', monstrous, crablike creatures that pursue Klaymen and Willie at certain points in the game). Much of the game's background information is limited to the 'Hall Of Records' which is notorious for its length, taking several minutes to travel from one end of the hall to the other.

The game begins with Klaymen waking up in a room and exploring the Neverhood, collecting various discs appearing to contain a disjointed story narrated by Willie (which Klaymen can view through various terminals scattered throughout the land). As Klaymen travels the Neverhood, he occasionally crosses paths with Willie, who agrees to help him in his journey, while Klogg spies on them from afar. Eventually, Klaymen's quest directs him to Klogg's castle, and for this Klaymen enlists the help of Big Robot Bil, a towering automaton and a friend of Willie's. As Bil (with Klaymen and Willie on board) marches to Klogg's castle, Klogg unleashes his guardian, the Clockwork Beast, to intercept Bil. The two giants clash and Bil proves victorious, but as he forces open the castle door for Klaymen to enter, Klogg gravely injures Bil by firing a cannon at him. Klaymen manages to get in, but Bil loses his footing and falls into the void with Willie still inside. 

Alone in Klogg's castle, Klaymen finds the last of Willie's discs, revealing the full context of his tale: The Neverhood itself is the creation of a godlike being named Hoborg, who created the Neverhood in the hopes of making himself happy. Realizing that he was still alone, Hoborg created himself a companion by planting a seed into the ground, which grew into Klogg. As Hoborg welcomed Klogg to the Neverhood, the latter tried to take Hoborg's crown, which Hoborg forbade Klogg from doing. Envious, Klogg managed to steal Hoborg's crown, rendering Hoborg inert in the process, and the crown's energies disfigured Klogg. With Hoborg lifeless, any further development of the Neverhood ground to a halt. Having witnessed this, Willie (himself and Bil being creations of Hoborg's brother Ottoborg) discovered that Hoborg was about to plant a seed to create another companion. Willie took the seed and planted it far away from Klogg, with Willie hoping that whoever grew from the seed would defeat Klogg: That seed in turn grew into Klaymen. 

The story ends with Willie giving Klaymen the throne room key [[Fourth wall|through the terminal screen]], hoping that Klaymen knows what to do once he confronts Klogg. Afterwards, Klaymen manages to enter the throne room, with Klogg and a motionless Hoborg waiting for him. Klogg tries to dissuade Klaymen from reviving Hoborg by tempting him with Hoborg's crown. 

From here, the player may choose to take up Klogg's offer or take the crown to revive Hoborg:
* If the player chooses to take the crown for himself, Klogg gloats at his apparent victory, only for the now-villainous Klaymen, crowned and disfigured (similarly to Klogg), to instantly overpower Klogg and declare himself the new ruler of the Neverhood.
* If the player chooses to revive Hoborg, Klaymen distracts Klogg and manages to put the crown atop Hoborg's head, reviving him. As Hoborg thanks Klaymen, Klogg attempts to ambush them both, only to set off his own cannon which blasts him out of the castle and into the void. Returning to the building where Klaymen first started, Hoborg continues populating the Neverhood and orders a celebration when he is finished. However, Klaymen remains sorrowful over the loss of Willie and Bil, and Hoborg decides to use his powers to save Willie and Bil (to Klaymen's delight), and the game ends with Hoborg telling Klaymen "Man, things are good".

== Development ==
Doug TenNapel came up with the idea of a [[plasticine]] world in [[1988 in video gaming|1988]], creating approximately 17 structures.<ref name="Name">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/the-neverhood-chronicles |title= Review of The Neverhood Chronicles |date=June 5, 2004 |publisher= [[Game Revolution]]}}</ref> Due to his dissatisfaction with the way [[David Perry (game developer)|David Perry]] ran [[Shiny Entertainment]], TenNapel left the company in 1995. Two weeks later he announced at [[E3]] that he started his own company, The Neverhood, Inc., which consisted of a number of people who worked on the'' [[Earthworm Jim (video game)|Earthworm Jim]]'' game and [[Earthworm Jim 2|its sequel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.9/2.9pages/2.9neverhood.html |title=Welcome To The Neverhood |publisher=Awn.com |access-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref> [[Steven Spielberg]]'s [[DreamWorks Interactive]], which had recently started, needed fresh and unusual projects and TenNapel approached Spielberg with the idea of a [[clay animation|claymation]] game, with Spielberg accepting it for publication.<ref name="Name"/> The Neverhood, Inc. made a deal with DreamWorks Interactive and [[Microsoft]], and the game went for development. According to the developers, creating the game's characters and scenery used up over three tons of clay.<ref name="GPro96"/> ''The Neverhood'' was shown at E3 1996 under the title ''The Neverhood: A Curious Wad of Klay Finds His Soul''.<ref name="1996e3">{{cite web |date=June 1, 1996 |title=E3 Adventure & Role Playing Games |url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/adventure_vault/e3_adventure/page1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970614170625/http://www.cdmag.com/adventure_vault/e3_adventure/page1.html |archive-date=June 14, 1997 |work=[[Computer Games Strategy Plus]]}}</ref>

After a year of work, ''The Neverhood'' was finally released to the public in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/neverhood/interview/tn_02.html |publisher=Replay.waybackmachine.org |date=May 16, 2008 |access-date=October 14, 2012 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516050103/http://www.gamespot.com/features/neverhood/interview/tn_02.html |archive-date=May 16, 2008 |title=GameSpot:Video Games PC Xbox 360 PS3 Wii PSP DS PS2 PlayStation 2 GameCube GBA PlayStation 3 }}</ref> The game elements were shot entirely on beta versions of the [[Minolta RD-175]], making ''The Neverhood'' the first stop-motion production to use consumer digital cameras for professional use.

== Soundtrack ==
The game's soundtrack was composed and performed by [[Daniel Amos]] frontman [[Terry Scott Taylor]] and went on to win [[GMR (magazine)|''GMR'']] magazine's "Best Game Music of the Year" award. Tom Clancy's video game composer [[Bill Brown (composer)|Bill Brown]] called ''The Neverhood'' Soundtrack, "The Best of any of them (video game soundtracks)."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danielamos.com/tst/tst.html|title=Terry Scott Taylor|publisher=[[Daniel Amos]] band website}}</ref>

== Ports and legacy ==
A [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] port of the game titled ''Klaymen Klaymen'': ''The Mystery of the Neverhood'' was made and released to Japanese audiences only.<ref name=":0"/> The game had some minor changes to the PC version such as longer loading times between rooms and the removal of The Hall of Records area.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Munchy |title=The Neverhood |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/neverhood-the/ |website=[[Hardcore Gaming 101]] |access-date=May 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626031958/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/neverhood-the/ |archive-date=June 26, 2018 |date=May 2, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Japanese release of ''[[Skullmonkeys]]'', in turn, was titled ''Klaymen Klaymen 2''.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Munchy |title=Skullmonkeys |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/skullmonkeys/ |website=[[Hardcore Gaming 101]] |access-date=May 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903153902/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/skullmonkeys/ |archive-date=September 3, 2018 |date=May 2, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2011, it was announced via [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]] that some of the original developers of ''The Neverhood'' were negotiating for exclusive rights to release the game on modern platforms such as iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android phones, Android tablets and Windows Phones.<ref>{{cite web|author=Neverhood MobileAboutTimelineAbout |url=http://www.facebook.com/NeverhoodMobile?sk=info |title=Neverhood Mobile - Résumé |publisher=Facebook |access-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/NeverhoodMobile |title=Klaymen (@NeverhoodMobile) op Twitter |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref>

As official [[End-of-life product|support had ceased]], e.g. [[Patch (computing)|updates]] for modern OS and hardware, a fan group created new [[Unofficial patch|compatibility fixes]] in the "Neverhood restoration project" in 2013.<ref>[https://theneverhood.sourceforge.net/# Neverhood restoration project] on sourceforge.net (accessed August 2015)</ref>

On July 21, 2014, [[ScummVM]] version 1.7.0 was released by the ScummVM project which added support for ''The Neverhood'', allowing it to run on [[ScummVM#Ports|many supported platforms]] including Linux, OS X, Windows and Android OS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scummvm.org/news/20140721/ |title=ScummVM 1.7.0 "The Neverrelease" is out! |publisher=ScummVM |date= July 21, 2014}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Sales ===
According to Leslie Helm of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', ''The Neverhood'' "won rave reviews" but was commercially unsuccessful.<ref name=37k/> In early 1997, that paper's Greg Miller reported that the game's "sales have been slow and [it] isn't even carried by all of the largest stores, including [[Target Corporation|Target]]". This came at a time when [[big-box store]]s were increasingly important for securing sales, as many specialized [[Video game industry#Retail|video game retailers]] had closed due to competition with these outside companies.<ref name="slow">{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Greg |date=March 3, 1997 |title=''Myst'' Opportunities: Game Makers Narrow Their Focus to Search for the Next Blockbuster |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-03-fi-34360-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518142834/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-03-03/business/fi-34360_1_pc-game |archive-date=May 18, 2016 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> By August 1997, ''The Neverhood'' had sold 37,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="37k">{{cite news |last=Helm |first=Leslie |date=August 18, 1997 |title=Have CD-ROMances Run Their Course? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-18-fi-23584-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107053439/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/aug/18/business/fi-23584 |archive-date=January 7, 2015 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Sales in the region had risen to 41,073 copies by April 1999, a figure that [[CNET Gamecenter]]'s Marc Saltzman called "embarrassing".<ref name="10bought">{{cite web |last=Saltzman |first=Marc |date=June 4, 1999 |title=The Top 10 Games That No One Bought |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Notbought/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000616082501/http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Notbought/index.html |archive-date=June 16, 2000 |work=[[CNET Gamecenter]]}}</ref>

''The Neverhood''{{'}}s total sales ultimately surpassed 50,000 copies, and "hundreds of thousands" of [[OEM]] copies were purchased by Gateway and pre-installed on its line of computers, according to Mike Dietz.<ref name="neverhoodsales">{{cite web |last=Zellmer |first=Dylan |date=June 18, 2013 |title=Exclusive – The ''Neverhood''{{'}}s Mike Dietz 'The Industry Is Stuck In A Rut' |url=http://www.igameresponsibly.com/2013/06/18/exclusive-the-neverhoods-mike-dietz-the-industry-is-stuck-in-a-rut/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808090034/http://www.igameresponsibly.com/2013/06/18/exclusive-the-neverhoods-mike-dietz-the-industry-is-stuck-in-a-rut/ |archive-date=August 8, 2013 |work=iGame Responsibly}}</ref> It also received a huge fan base in Russia and Iran as a result of the massive [[Bootleg recording|bootleg copying]] and distribution of pre-installed games on computers.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/nFDj-YsZODU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130629020300/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFDj-YsZODU&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFDj-YsZODU&t=11m50s |title=Funny Interview with Doug Tennapel! Armikrog on Kickstarter! |date=June 26, 2013 |publisher=WelovegamesTV |access-date=October 6, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Critical reviews ===
{{Video game reviews
| CGW = 4/5<ref name=cgwrev>{{cite magazine | last=Hedstrom |first=Kate | title=Klay Time | date=December 1996 | page=304 | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | issue=149 }}</ref>
| Fam = 29/40 (PS)<ref name=":0"/>
| NGen = 3/5<ref name="NGen24"/>
| PCGUK = 29%<ref name=pcguk>{{cite magazine | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001207205400/http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=1229 | url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=1229 | title=Pastic | last=Davies |first=Jonathan | issue=36 | magazine=[[PC Gamer UK]] | archive-date=December 7, 2000 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| GSpot = 4.9/10<ref name="GSrev">{{cite web |last=Hutsko |first=Joe |date=October 24, 1996 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/the-neverhood/reviews/the-neverhood-review-2543926/ |title=The Neverhood Review|publisher=[[GameSpot]] |accessdate=September 2, 2013}}</ref>
| PCGUS = 40%<ref name=pcgus>{{cite journal | last=Vaughn |first=Todd | title=Reviews; ''The Neverhood Chronicles'' | date=December 1996 | volume=3 | number=12 | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | page=258 }}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''
| rev1Score = 5/5<ref name=cgm>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030523213843/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/004/143/neverhood_review.html |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/004/143/neverhood_review.html |title=''The Neverhood'' | last=Yans |first=Cindy |work=[[Computer Games Strategy Plus]] |archive-date=May 23, 2003 | date=1996 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Dengeki PlayStation]]''
|rev2Score = 65/100, 50/100 (PS)<ref name="DPS">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/play-station-vol.-74-1998-5-8-22/page/108/mode/1up|title=DPSソフトレビュー The Deeper Part 2: クレイマン・クレイマン 〜ネバーフットの謎〜|magazine=[[Dengeki PlayStation]]|volume=74|publisher=[[MediaWorks (publisher)|MediaWorks]]|date=May 8-22, 1998|page=106|language=ja}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = A<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Cheng |first=Kipp |date=November 29, 1996 |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,295189,00.html |title=PC Game Review: 'The Neverhood' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=September 2, 2013 |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522105035/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,295189,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[PC Magazine]]''
| rev4Score = 4/5<ref name=pcmag>{{cite journal | last=Mooney |first=Shane | journal=[[PC Magazine]] |date=February 4, 1997 |title=Looking for Adventure? | issue=3 | volume=16 | pages=366, 368 }}</ref>
| award1Pub = ''[[Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''
| award1 = Adventure of the Year<ref name="cgmawards1996"/>
| award2 = Best Adventure Game<ref name=gamecenter1996/>
| award2Pub = [[CNET Gamecenter]]
| award3 = Special Award for Artistic Achievement<ref name=cgwpremier1996/>
| award3Pub = ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''
| award4 = Best Animation (finalist)<ref name=spotlightnoms1996/><ref name=spotlight1997/>
| award4Pub = [[Computer Game Developers Conference]]
}}

A ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' critic was pleased with both the visual style (which he said is essentially unprecedented on PC) and the execution of the graphics, but found the game is held back by unexciting puzzles and a generally slow pace.<ref name=NGen24>{{cite magazine|title=The Neverhood|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=24|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=December 1996|pages=268, 272}}</ref> ''[[GameSpot]]'' likewise stated that the game has endearing visuals but is held back by the puzzles. However, rather than being dull, they judged the puzzles to be unfairly difficult and frustrating, remarking that "Clues are so abstract they will lead you to despair."<ref name=GSrev/> ''[[GamePro]]'' contradicted, "While some of the puzzles are perplexing, none of them have solutions so obscure that you'll burst a blood vessel trying to solve them." However, they agreed that the graphics and the personality of the characters are the highlights of the game.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Major Mike | title=PC GamePro Review Win 95: The Neverhood |magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=99|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=December 1996|page=95}}</ref> ''[[Weekly Famitsu]]'' gave the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] version a score of 29 out of 40.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=クレイマン・クレイマン 〜ネバーフッドの謎〜 [PS] / ファミ通.com |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?a=page_h_title&title_id=17041 |access-date=November 4, 2018 |website=famitsu.com}}</ref>

''The Neverhood'' was named the best adventure game of 1996 by ''[[Computer Games Strategy Plus]]'' and [[CNET Gamecenter]],<ref name="cgmawards1996">{{cite web |date=March 25, 1997 |title=''Computer Games Strategy Plus'' announces 1996 Awards |url=http://www.cdmag.com/news/0325971.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970614161401/http://www.cdmag.com/news/0325971.html |archive-date=June 14, 1997 |work=[[Computer Games Strategy Plus]]}}</ref><ref name="gamecenter1996">{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205013139/http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards96/indexa.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/Features/Exclusives/Awards96/indexa.html | title=The Gamecenter Awards for 96 | work=[[CNET|CNET Gamecenter]] | archive-date=February 5, 1997 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and was nominated for the latter publication's overall "Game of the Year" prize, which ultimately went to ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]''. Gamecenter's editors wrote that it "went beyond anything seen so far in this genre".<ref name=gamecenter1996/> The game also won the 1996 "Special Award for Artistic Achievement" from ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'', whose staff called it "the coolest-looking game of the year."<ref name=cgwpremier1996>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | title=The ''Computer Gaming World'' 1997 Premier Awards |date=May 1997 | issue=154 | pages=68–70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 }}</ref> While ''The Neverhood'' was nominated for the [[Computer Game Developers Conference]]'s "Best Animation" [[Spotlight Awards|Spotlight Award]],<ref name="spotlightnoms1996">{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970605172050/http://www.next-generation.com/news/041597e.chtml | url=http://www.next-generation.com:80/news/041597e.chtml | title=And the Nominees Are... | date=April 15, 1997 | work=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] | archive-date=June 5, 1997 | url-status=dead }}</ref> it lost in this category to ''[[Tomb Raider (1996 video game)|Tomb Raider]]''.<ref name=spotlight1997>{{cite press release | url=http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/spotlight_1997.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703083042/http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/spotlight_1997.html | archive-date=July 3, 2011 | title=Spotlight Awards Winners Announced for Best Computer Games of 1996 | publisher=[[Game Developers Conference]] | url-status=live | location=[[Santa Clara, California]] | date=April 28, 1997 }}</ref>

''[[Animation Magazine]]''{{'}}s film festival "World Animation Celebration" awarded the game "Best Animation Produced for Game Platforms" in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213117/awards?ref_=tt_awd |title=WAC Awards for 1997|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>

In 2011, [[Adventure Gamers]] named ''The Neverhood'' the 35th-best adventure game ever released.<ref name=top100>{{cite web | author=AG Staff | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604021011/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 | url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 | title=Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games | date=December 30, 2011 | archive-date=June 4, 2012 | work=[[Adventure Gamers]] | url-status=usurped }}</ref>

== Sequels ==
A sequel to ''The Neverhood'' was released in 1998 for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], entitled ''[[Skullmonkeys]]''. It was not a point-and-click adventure game like the first installment, but rather a [[platform game]].

Following the sequel, another Japanese PlayStation game set in the Neverhood universe called ''Klaymen Gun-Hockey'' was made. A Japan-only sports action game, it was based on the characters of the Neverhood, but was not developed by the designers of the original games; it also did not feature the previous releases' distinctive Claymation design techniques. The game is a variation on [[air hockey]], only played with [[gun]]s instead of mallets. It was developed and published by [[Riverhillsoft]], the publisher of Japanese releases of the Neverhood series.

Klaymen is featured as a secret fighter for the PlayStation game ''[[BoomBots]]'', also developed by The Neverhood, Inc.

On March 12, 2013, TenNapel announced that he had partnered with former ''Neverhood'' and ''Earthworm Jim'' artists/animators Ed Schofield and Mike Dietz of Pencil Test Studios to develop a "clay and stop-motion animated point and click adventure game".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/TheNeverhoodGame|title=The Official Neverhood Facebook Page|publisher=Facebook.com |access-date=March 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mountspace.net/eng/news/the-neverhood-game-will-get-a-worthy-successor-2013-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327044905/http://www.mountspace.net/eng/news/the-neverhood-game-will-get-a-worthy-successor-2013-03-22|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 27, 2013|title=The Neverhood Game Will Get a Worthy Successor|publisher=Mountspace.net |access-date=March 22, 2013}}</ref> While stating that the game would not be a sequel to ''The Neverhood'', TenNapel reiterated that the game would consist of his unique art style and sense of humor, and have an original soundtrack by [[Terry Scott Taylor]]. The game was titled ''[[Armikrog]]'', which was released on September 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-15-the-neverhood-creator-working-on-a-new-claymation-point-and-click-adventure|title=The Neverhood creator working on a new claymation point-and-click adventure|date=March 15, 2013|publisher=Eurogamer.net |access-date=March 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/03/14/neverhood-stop-motion-adventure/|title=Neverhood creator developing a full, stop-motion animated adventure game|date=March 14, 2013|publisher=PCgamer.com |access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref>

==''Return to the Neverhood''==
In 2012, the authors of the original ''Neverhood'' released a musical novel, ''Return to the Neverhood''. The story and soundtrack were written by [[Terry Scott Taylor]], and the illustrations were drawn by [[Doug TenNapel]].<ref>[http://www.danielamos.com/tst/returntotheneverhood/ Return to the Neverhood - Daniel Amos]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgvSqlNRi8k Return To Neverhood - Promo video]</ref>

== Cancelled film ==
On June 25, 2007, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that one of [[Frederator Films]]' first projects would be a claymation feature film adaptation based on ''The Neverhood''. [[Doug TenNapel]], the creator of the video game, signed on to write and direct the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McNary |first=Dave |author-link=Dave McNary |date=June 26, 2007 |title=Toon trio starts Frederator |url=https://variety.com/2007/digital/markets-festivals/toon-trio-starts-frederator-1117967622/ |access-date=October 25, 2018 |work=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
However, the movie was cancelled due to a lack of funding.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2010 |title=Some sad news |url=https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/neverhoodcommunity/some-sad-news-t634.html |access-date=August 2, 2024 |website=tapatalk.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Comedy|Video games|Animation|1990s}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19970221222314/http://dreamworksgames.com:80/Games/Neverhood/ Official site] (archived)
* {{moby game|id=/neverhood|name=''The Neverhood''}}
* [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/neverhood/neverhood.htm Hardcore Gaming 101: The Neverhood / Klaymen Klaymen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323150054/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/neverhood/neverhood.htm |date=March 23, 2018 }}
* {{IMDb title|id=0213117|title=The Neverhood}}
* [http://www.neverhood-tv.tk The Neverhood TV]
* [http://doo.nomoretangerines.com/nevhood/allabout.htm All About the NeverhoOd]

{{Doug TenNapel}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neverhood}}
[[Category:1996 video games]]
[[Category:Claymation video games]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Interactive games]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts games]]
[[Category:PlayStation (console) games]]
[[Category:Point-and-click adventure games]]
[[Category:Riverhillsoft games]]
[[Category:ScummVM-supported games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in castles]]
[[Category:Video games with digitized sprites]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Works by Doug TenNapel]]