Nine Sols

“A masterful metroidvania that builds on Sekiro-style combat and tells a great sci-fi story too. Unmissable.”

“Nine Sols raises the bar and sets a new standard for Indie games. It's engaging and full of emotion and tells a deep and meaningful story through its stunning art design, once again proving that big ideas are better than big budgets.”

“Whether you seek an addictive platformer, a substantial action experience with incredible presentation, or a new challenge, Nine Sols offers all this and more.”

“Nine Sols will test you, but the atmosphere is stunning, the combat is thrilling, and the story is a fascinating mix of mysticism and sci-fi — so you'll meet the challenge happily. This is the best Metroidvania out there right now. Don't miss it.”

“Nine Sols as a whole was such a delightful experience that it is quickly moving up my Game of the Year list as I take further reflection on my time with it. I, of course, would have preferred a waypoint system or some stronger writing with the handling of some character NPCs, but I'm finding myself largely still thinking about how much I enjoyed Nine Sols. Its overall score is firmly planted in my brain, but where it stands in the larger Metroidvania hall of fame is yet to be seen. I think I need to take some time to meditate on it.”

“Combat and progression are the best parts of Nine Sols, and they manage to rub away the blemishes occasionally found in the game's map design and exploration. It's a really great blend of systems from other games with a fantastic revenge narrative. While aspects of the world design and 'Taopunk' style feel mismatched, there is always another enemy around the corner to fight, reminding you just how good the core gameplay is.”

“In a genre as crowded as the metroidvanias, Nine Sols shines with rewarding combat mechanics, challenging battles, and a gripping story that unites concepts of religion and science to create a unique setting.”

“This atmospheric Metroidvania is mechanically, emotionally, and philosophically electrifying.”

“Nine Sols offers a polished action experience at its best, but at times clouded by overly long and tedious fights. Combat that feels like an endurance test, but with mechanics so precise that it's a joy to get smacked by the bosses over and over again”

“In any other universe, I would balk at Nine Sols’ difficulty. Yet, I gave it a chance, and it more than rewarded me for giving it a moment of my time. Over 20 hours later, I came out of it bruised, battered, and wanting more Taopunk goodness.”

“Despite a few minor issues, Nine Sols has a compelling, addictive and highly explorable world, and a slick, responsive combat system.”

“Nine Sols is a well-made game with great platforming, excellent combat, and a strong visual style. While I have quibbles about some elements, it nails the fundamentals. The moment-to-moment gameplay is simply fantastic, it looks great, and weaves its cutscenes into the gameplay deftly. Red Candle Games has really shown its creative range here, as its first foray into the Metroidvania genre is a triumph. There is no question that Nine Sols is entering a crowded market, but even with so much competition, I have no doubt that it will find an audience and take its place among the titans of the genre. Quality bears out.”

“Nine Sols is an enthralling combat gauntlet with death-defying moves and sleek systems for a rapturous experience, let down only slightly by its somewhat lacklustre pacing and focus, and tired fat-shaming quips.”

“Nine Sols mixes platform and metroidvania elements with a Sekiro-lite combat system. The result is a game that does many things well without excelling at anything.”

“Nine Sols is a masterfully crafted 2D Sekiro-like Metroidvania that explores a lore-rich Taoism fantasy setting through science fiction elements.”

“Nine Sols is a Metroidvania that does what many have failed to do within the genre and actually creates an experience that feels like an authentic, grueling, atmospheric and unique 2D Souls game. Artistically, it's hard to find any fault with it as the blend of Tao Tradition and Cyberpunk dystopia is captivating. The narrative is gritty, mature and uncompromising, which leads to an engaging story from start to end, and the gameplay is a refined showcase of combat, platforming and puzzle-solving. The difficulty settings may be a little askew, and some may feel that the central themes are too graphic and unsettling at times. But all in all, Nine Sols, in a stacked year, as far as Metroidvanias are concerned, does more than enough to force itself into the conversation, as it could be a contender for indie game of the year.”