Nine Sols

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,533 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Nine Sols Game Cover
Nine Sols strikes true in everything it does, and stands out among its peers in almost every genre it touches.
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"Nine Sols" is a 2D action-platformer set in a lore-rich Asian fantasy world, where you play as hero Yi on a quest to defeat the nine Sols, the rulers of the forsaken realm of New Kunlun. With Sekiro-inspired combat, the game features a vengeful storyline and unique exploration in a beautifully hand-drawn 2D environment. Your journey will be filled with challenges as you uncover the truth behind this ancient sanctuary and its protectors.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,533 reviews
story1,202 positive mentions
grinding79 negative mentions
  • Incredible art style and visuals that blend traditional and futuristic elements.
  • Satisfying and challenging parry-based combat that rewards skill and timing.
  • Engaging story with well-developed characters and emotional depth.
  • The final boss presents a significant difficulty spike compared to earlier encounters.
  • Frequent loading screens and a lack of fast travel options can disrupt gameplay flow.
  • Some players may find the dialogue-heavy narrative and cutscenes tedious.
  • story2,580 mentions

    The story of "Nine Sols" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and engaging character development, often drawing comparisons to titles like "Hollow Knight" and "Sekiro." Players appreciate the game's unique blend of sci-fi and Taoist themes, with a narrative that unfolds through dialogue, environmental storytelling, and visually striking comic-style cutscenes. While some find the story heavy on exposition and dialogue, many agree that it enhances the overall experience, and the inclusion of a "story mode" allows players to enjoy the narrative without the challenge of difficult combat.

    • “The story is also pretty good; there's a lot of environmental storytelling and bits of lore to find, and you get a lot of the story shown to you through flashbacks, so piecing everything together isn't too crazy.”
    • “What I expected to be a simple tale of revenge turned into a multi-layered and complex storyline where our protagonist is ultimately driven (sometimes unwillingly) by philosophical development and learning to love.”
    • “The story is beautiful and... not sad, per se, but not happy.”
    • “However, I do have to agree with a review I saw where they thought some of the NPCs are a little too dialogue-heavy and just repeat what is already being shown to you, so it can feel redundant and kind of ruin some of the show-don't-tell aspects of the story.”
    • “There is so much exposition that constantly interrupts your gameplay; the story feels very in-your-face and straightforward.”
    • “The story is the most mediocre, nothing-burger plot I might have seen in a game with boring anime-ass personality NPCs with anime grunting and gibberish to boot.”
  • gameplay1,377 mentions

    The gameplay of "Nine Sols" is characterized by its intricate parry mechanics, which are central to combat and require players to master timing and strategy. Many reviewers highlight the game's fluid controls, rewarding combat system, and the gradual introduction of new mechanics that keep encounters fresh and engaging. While the game is praised for its challenging yet fair difficulty, some players note that the reliance on parrying can be frustrating, particularly in multi-enemy scenarios, but overall, the gameplay is seen as a standout feature that combines elements from both metroidvania and souls-like genres effectively.

    • “The gameplay is incredibly fun, although can skew a bit repetitive especially when you are not fighting bosses.”
    • “The parry mechanics are very fun, and the exploration part is done exactly right.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and polished, and the combat mechanics are amazing.”
    • “The overall gameplay is decent, the story okay but the parry system definitely needs more work; it is a little bit too precise which makes it difficult to use on bosses.”
    • “The gameplay is very linear, some maps/bosses require you to get to specific checkpoints so you can proceed, which I'm not really a fan of.”
    • “The parry mechanic is the most important mechanic and one you'll have to master if you want to make it through the game.”
  • music846 mentions

    The music in "Nine Sols" has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and emotional depth, with many reviewers praising the unique blend of traditional Taiwanese elements and electronic styles. Boss themes, in particular, stand out as memorable and impactful, contributing significantly to the intensity of encounters. While some tracks may not be as memorable outside the game, the overall soundtrack is considered a highlight, complementing the stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.

    • “The music is incredible, with hints of horror.”
    • “The soundtrack overall was great too, and the game knows when to cut the music for the quiet emotional parts, which made those moments stick out that much more.”
    • “The music, the story, the art/graphics, the combat, the world, the characters... this game delivers in all aspects.”
    • “I don't know why so many people are raving about the art or the music.”
    • “The art looks like clip art combined with generic Taoist imagery and the music is almost exclusively kept to a single gong sound or standard, uninspired boss music; really forgettable stuff.”
    • “The most underwhelming thing was the music; one of the main reasons I got this game because I loved the trailer music, turns out it was one of the only good tracks in the game.”
  • graphics795 mentions

    The graphics of "Nine Sols" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which blends traditional Chinese aesthetics with cyberpunk elements, referred to as "taopunk." Players have praised the game's vibrant visuals, fluid animations, and unique character designs, often noting that the graphics enhance the overall storytelling and atmosphere. While some critiques mention occasional inconsistencies in enemy animations and performance issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's visuals are a standout feature, contributing significantly to its immersive experience.

    • “Not only is the base character art a lot of fun, but the game aesthetic leads to some downright picturesque scenery to such a degree that I would often stop playing and just look at how pretty it was.”
    • “The stunning visuals, the extremely fluid combat, a way too deep and emotional story... it's insane.”
    • “The visuals are unique and magnificent.”
    • “Game is a scam; graphics are nowhere near what is shown in the trailer, and the game doesn't feel fluid like in the trailer as well.”
    • “The art style can be a little bit inconsistent at times between the game, comic cutscenes, and animated cutscenes, but it still looks very good.”
    • “Some of the visuals and themes may be disturbing for young kids.”
  • emotional187 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has been widely praised, with many players expressing deep connections to the characters and story, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. Reviewers highlighted the game's ability to blend heartwarming and heartbreaking narratives, creating a profound emotional impact that resonates long after gameplay. The combination of stunning visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and well-crafted character arcs contributes to an experience that is both engaging and emotionally charged, making it one of the standout features of the game.

    • “Heartfelt and touching, giving enough to piece together the main details, and build believable relationships between the characters.”
    • “The simple revenge story the game tells is handled beautifully, and the true ending leaves you feeling both emotionally fulfilled and emotionally devastated.”
    • “The story is amazing, I cried at the true ending.”
    • “The emotional impact of the story is completely undermined by the clunky controls and repetitive gameplay, making it hard to connect with the characters or the narrative.”
    • “Despite the beautiful visuals, the lack of engaging storytelling and emotional depth leaves the player feeling disconnected and uninvested in the game.”
    • “The game tries to evoke emotions but fails miserably due to its boring story and tedious mechanics, making it feel more like a chore than an emotional journey.”
  • atmosphere93 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unique blend of aesthetics, combining elements of cyberpunk and eastern mythology, often described as "taopunk." Players appreciate the stunning visuals, hand-drawn art, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth and storytelling. While some find the setting somewhat generic, the overall atmosphere, enriched by engaging worldbuilding and impactful music, captivates players and keeps them invested throughout their experience.

    • “The atmosphere is genuinely immersive.”
    • “The aesthetics, the atmosphere, the gameplay, everything about this game is so dang good.”
    • “The worldbuilding and atmosphere are incredible, the characters are engaging, and the mystery of the world has kept me hooked.”
    • “A bit generic in terms of setting, story, level design, and atmosphere, but the gameplay is pretty solid.”
    • “It can't really touch the likes of Hollow Knight for atmosphere, The Messenger for traversal, or Axiom Verge for power creativity.”
    • “Imo it is better than Hollow Knight in every aspect except atmosphere and music!”
  • grinding85 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Many reviews highlight the excessive backtracking, repetitive combat mechanics, and the need for grinding to unlock upgrades or achievements as significant drawbacks. While some enjoy the exploration and boss battles, the general sentiment leans towards a desire for a more streamlined and less grind-heavy gameplay experience.

    • “Finding items was fun and not tedious.”
    • “Ultimately it just feels unnatural and it is probably a skill issue but having to perfectly time parries all the time becomes tedious.”
    • “The combat feels more tedious than engaging.”
    • “My only complaint is that the true ending requires too much grinding for money, but the ending itself is well worth it.”
  • character development67 mentions

    Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and organic progression, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging arcs of both main and supporting characters. The character designs are noted for their charm and uniqueness, contributing to players' emotional investment in the story. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in dialogue and character backstories, the overall consensus is that the character development significantly enhances the narrative experience.

    • “The exploration is fantastic, and the character development feels completely natural.”
    • “Very enjoyable cast and story; I was impressed by how well written and organic the character development was.”
    • “The story is interesting, the character development is engaging, the art looks great, and the sound effects and music are enjoyable.”
    • “No character development, no backstory, nothing.”
    • “Although the overall world-building is decent, the weakest aspects of the game are probably the dialogue and character development.”
    • “Fair warning to people drawn in by the charming character designs - the game has some dramatic tone shifts, and you will go from picking up bubble tea rations to exposed intestines in the span of a room.”
  • humor51 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending clever dialogue and whimsical character interactions with darker themes, creating a unique contrast that resonates with players. Many reviews highlight the memorable and funny NPCs, as well as the amusing banter that adds levity to the intense gameplay. Overall, the humor is described as both entertaining and heartwarming, enhancing the game's engaging narrative and character development.

    • “The NPCs themselves are also interesting, funny, and memorable.”
    • “The bits of conversation Yi has with his companions at the pavilion are very funny, clever, and full of heart.”
    • “It's always great how those darkest games have the brightest humorous moments as if it is to say: 'no matter how bad it is outside, between friends, all is well.'”
  • optimization30 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and high frame rates, even on older hardware. However, some users experienced minor issues such as stuttering, flickering, and frame drops in specific areas, particularly during intense combat scenarios. While the game is polished and visually appealing, there are calls for further optimization, especially regarding loading times and certain environmental hazards.

    • “Unlike many other promising-looking games, this game is actually very well optimized in my experience.”
    • “The performance was also rock solid, with the game running at 170+ fps at 1080p on a 1660ti and 500+ fps at 1440p on a 4070 on the highest settings with uncapped fps.”
    • “Controls are air-tight, performance is peak, music slaps, story is captivating, progression feels deeply rewarding.”
    • “I'm playing on a somewhat older laptop, and playing with the default resolution sometimes made for sluggish game performance.”
    • “To many delayed attacks, gang fights, unclear animations combined with some stuttering makes it really good looking frustration simulator.”
    • “At the fifth boss area, the game starts stuttering a lot.”
  • replayability26 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with many players expressing a desire for additional content such as challenge modes or new game+ features to enhance the experience. While some enjoy the combat system and customization options, the lack of significant side content and unskippable cutscenes detracts from the incentive to replay. Many reviewers feel that, despite the game's strengths, it could benefit from updates to improve its long-term replay value.

    • “I love the combat system, and the customization options make it very replayable as I'm curious to try various strategies.”
    • “I hope in the future they add a boss rush, hard mode, DLC, more bosses, etc. to make it a little more replayable.”
    • “Besides that, very good metroidvania, very fun game with replay value.”
    • “Especially because I don't consider the game to have much replay value.”
    • “I would say the game has some minor replayability, but outside of getting all achievements and speedrunning, you can fully experience everything the game has to offer in one go.”
    • “Only negative thing to say is that it has little replay value since the combat isn't deep and backtracking a lot through the same areas is tedious.”
  • stability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and minimal glitches, several have experienced significant freezing issues, particularly during hacking and map interactions. Despite these bugs, the game is generally well-received for its gameplay and visuals, with developers actively addressing problems. Players on platforms like PC and Steam Deck have noted varying degrees of stability, with some needing to adjust graphics settings to improve performance.

    • “I encountered few/no glitches, and played on the PC version using a Nintendo Switch Pro controller perfectly smoothly. The only non-trivial glitch I encountered was if you get hit by an enemy while using a rest point, your UI becomes non-responsive, but this was easy enough to avoid.”
    • “It runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck too, which is a huge bonus.”
    • “Sometimes when you go to hack something, the game just freezes and forces you to quit out of it completely, which could lead to tons of progress loss.”
    • “Only issue is that I've now been getting a problem where the game freezes super bad sometimes when I open the map, and I have to close and restart.”
    • “I have had a few freezes/glitches that wouldn't let me progress unless I turned the graphics down to low.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players frustrated by intrusive ads and microtransactions that detract from the experience. However, many appreciate the game's reasonable price of $30, considering it a worthwhile investment despite the industry's trend towards excessive monetization practices. Overall, players recommend avoiding additional spending on microtransactions to fully enjoy the game.

    • “I highly recommend this game; don't spend your $40 on microtransactions.”
    • “Overall, in a dying industry with games listed for $70 that are infested with microtransactions and other issues trying to suck every penny out of your wallet for unfinished content, this game at only $30 manages to push through its many shortcomings to make a really fun combat experience coupled with a standout story.”
    • “I highly recommend this game, don't spend your $40 on microtransactions.”
    • “Some bosses (2-3) are hard because of the unnecessary ads/environment problem.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

88% average critic score

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Play time

25hMedian play time
25hAverage play time
10-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 32 analyzed playthroughs

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