Nine Sols Reviews
Nine Sols is an engaging metroidvania that proves Red Candle Games can tackle more than just horror (though they still manage to sneak a little of it into this latest title.) Combat is fast and fluid, paired with a setting that I genuinely wanted to learn more about. Hollow Knight fans that are waiting for Silksong should really be checking out Nine Sols instead.
Nine Sols gives you everything you want from metroidvania, with excellence and style.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Arriving at the conclusion of the experience Nine Sols offers, what lingers most powerfully is not simply the sensation of having played an excellent metroidvania or a particularly refined action-platformer, but of having traversed a work built with creative awareness and design maturity rare in the contemporary independent landscape. Nine Sols is not only a well-made game: it clearly results from a clear, coherent vision its authors have profoundly understood — a title that knows perfectly what it wants to be and builds every element to serve that precise identity without ever losing compactness along the way. What strikes most is the confidence with which Red Candle Games managed to reinvent itself. Moving from creating narrative and psychological horror to designing a technical, demanding, and heavily mechanical action-platformer would have represented an enormous challenge for any studio, yet the Taiwanese team confronts this change of direction with surprising naturalness. They not only demonstrate an extraordinarily solid understanding of the genre’s rules, but also manage to reinterpret them without sacrificing their own authorial identity. This is perhaps the most admirable aspect of the entire production. On the gameplay front, the title represents probably one of the most accomplished recent interpretations of combat design built on technical precision and rhythm. The combat system achieves the not simple feat of being simultaneously deep, satisfying, readable, and spectacular, offering a demanding but extraordinarily rewarding learning curve. Every important victory, every defeated boss, every finally understood pattern returns that sensation of real growth that only the best skill-based games manage to provide. This is not simply a matter of advancing through statistics or upgrades, but of improving personally as a player, understanding and internalizing the very language of the system. In parallel, Nine Sols also excels in everything that productions of this type normally consider “secondary.” The narrative, for example, surprises through maturity, depth, and relevance, offering an emotional and reflective component that one rarely encounters in titles belonging to this lineage. The game does not settle for being mechanically brilliant: it also wants to tell something, to interrogate itself on larger themes, to build credible characters and moral conflicts. This narrative ambition adds weight and meaning to every clash, transforming Yi’s journey into something far more personal and engaging than simple boss-to-boss progression. Artistically too, Nine Sols manages to leave a very strong impression. Its Taopunk aesthetic is not only an excellent exercise in style, but one of the most original and coherent artistic directions seen in recent years in the indie landscape. Every environment, every character, every architectural structure contributes to building a unique and immediately recognizable imaginary, capable of imprinting itself in memory well beyond the actual duration of the adventure. In a sector where many titles risk resembling each other visually, Nine Sols emerges with a sharp and distinct visual personality. Naturally, this is not a universal game, and I think it right to recognize that openly. Its difficulty, the rigidity of the combat system, and the strong demand for technical adaptation make it a relatively selective experience. Not everyone will enter its gameplay philosophy, and those seeking a more relaxed metroidvania, more oriented toward simple exploration or more permissive, may find the title less welcoming than expected. Similarly, the strong narrative presence might not suit those who prefer an exclusively action rhythm without more reflective interruptions. But precisely here, paradoxically, resides one of its greatest qualities: Nine Sols never seeks to dilute its identity to become universally appealing. It attempts no compromises in chasing all possible audiences, does not simplify its vision out of fear of seeming too demanding, does not renounce complexity to appear more immediate. It is a work that prefers to remain deeply itself rather than to become generically pleasing to everyone. And in a market increasingly dominated by cautious formulas, this kind of creative confidence is something extremely valuable. If I were to summarize my final impression, I would say that Nine Sols is one of the best recent examples of how the indie landscape can still surprise — not only through conceptual originality, but through pure executive excellence. It does not completely reinvent the genre, but takes known elements and assembles them with such competence, personality, and refinement that it manages to elevate them to a higher level. It is a game that demonstrates how quality does not necessarily derive from inventing something never seen before, but from profoundly understanding what one wants to do and executing it with extraordinary precision. We are talking about a title that stands out as one of the most complete, mature, and artistically successful productions of its genre in recent years. An intense, refined, demanding, and memorable experience, capable of leaving a mark both on the gameplay front and on the emotional and visual one. It will not suit everyone, but for those willing to embrace its philosophy it represents without doubt one of the most gratifying and brilliant experiences the landscape has recently offered. Absolutely recommended.
In a year with great metroidvanias appears this Nine Sols to stand out with a demanding combat based on our skills as a player, it does not come with stories of farmeo to increase health or damage. You either get into the rhythm or you're dead. And in that sense it's very challenging, if you're up for it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
At its best, it’s the kind of action adventure game that you can point to as a high point of the genre. The kind of game that in the future others will use as an influence for their own projects. A work of art that emerges from the shadow of its predecessors and takes its place alongside as if it always belonged there.
Nine Sols is a unique Metroidvania that combines challenging combat, exploration, and a story about revenge and redemption. The hand-drawn visuals and mix of Taoist and cyberpunk elements create an engaging world. While the story can be hard to follow at times and some gameplay can be frustrating, the sense of accomplishment and rewarding progress make it worth playing. If you want a tough, visually impressive Metroidvania, Nine Sols is a great choice.
Whether you’re a fan of Metroidvania games, Soulslike combat, or gripping stories, Nine Sols offers something for everyone. With its stunning world, unforgettable characters, and masterful storytelling, this is a game I highly recommend you don’t glance over.
Nine Sols isn’t just one of my favorite games of 2024—it has secured a spot in my all-time top ten. As a fan of both Metroidvanias and Soulslikes, I’ve played countless entries in these genres, but few have captured my attention and challenged me as much as this game. With a gripping story, memorable characters, breathtaking art, and some of the best 2D combat I’ve played, Nine Sols is an absolute must-play. If you love deep, challenging gameplay, rewarding exploration, and narrative-driven action, do not sleep on this game. Red Candle Games has created something truly special, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
From the moment you take control of the feline protagonist Yi, you can feel the polish in its deep combat system, beautifully designed environments and expertly crafted storytelling.
Nine Sols is one of the best indie games of 2024! The title excellently blends mechanics from Hollow Knight and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Warning! It's very demanding, so expect sweat and tears...
Review in Polish | Read full review
Nine Sols is a game that deserves our attention, regardless of whether we already enjoy the genres that make it up or not. Everything was done with so much care, and skill I must say, that the title easily manages to captivate and hold us until the end.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Nine Sols is an almost perfectly executed game. The story and its narrative may be a bit lacking in places, but that's made up for by the absolutely brilliant combat system, map design and stunning visuals and soundtrack. If you like a proper challenge, this 2D Dark Souls is a must play!
Review in Czech | Read full review
Among the many controversies raised by fans regarding The Game Awards, the absence of Nine Sols in any category is undoubtedly the one that should spark the most outrage. An excellent metroidvania that deserves a place of prominence, a recognition that platform games have increasingly lost. It’s an experience worth playing, no matter which console you choose.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Nine Sols is an experience that shines with narrative depth, top-tier art direction, and above all, damned satisfying and varied gameplay. Every aspect of the game seems to reflect the eternal dance between opposites that characterizes Taoism: light and shadow, tradition and modernity, action and reflection. Get ready for a harmonious, perfectly balanced storm.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Red Candle Games makes a comeback with an unusual entry in its repertoire, stepping away from the horror genre in favor of a metroidvania enriched with a world steeped in mythology and mechanically complex enough to satisfy those seeking a true challenge.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With an incredible narrative, complex and charming characters, and a unique and well constructed aesthetic that's as captivating as them, I ended up a fan of this universe.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Brutal in both its narrative and combat, Nine Sols stands out for its aesthetic richness and for allowing harmony between game and player by allowing for meticulous difficulty adjustments, establishing a flexible experience that can be memorable depending on each player's skill and disposition, without overshadowing the numerous qualities of this exquisite work.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A fantastic metroidvania offering one of the genre's most interesting combat systems and surprisingly human characters set in a brutal world.
Review in German | Read full review
A new leading exponent of metroidvanias and the indie scene, RedCandleGames' latest work fully convinces with its high but still challenging difficulty, engaging narrative and attention to detail by a mature team that seems capable of telling all kinds of stories.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Nine Sols masterfully combines 2D action with Souls-like mechanics, paying tribute to games like Hollow Knight and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The unique "Taopunk" setting creates a fresh and original world, while the bosses serve as standout moments, enhancing the game’s deep, though occasionally inconsistent, narrative. Nine Sols is well worth your attention with its distinctive world, thrilling combat, and unforgettable boss battles.