The Messenger

Pristine character movement combines with excellent levels and great humor for a must-have Switch game.

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The Messenger is a challenging platformer with retro-inspired pixel art. As a demon-slaying ninja, traverse a cursed land, switch between time periods, and discover the truth behind a mysterious scroll. With precise controls, clever level design, and a witty narrative, this game offers a unique and satisfying experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,001 reviews

music862 positive mentions

grinding105 negative mentions

Witty and immensely playable retro fun.
Fantastic love letter to Ninja Gaiden with its own identity.
Great art design, nice story, superb gameplay.

The game can feel tedious due to excessive backtracking in the second half.
Some players find the transition to Metroidvania elements jarring and less enjoyable.
Limited enemy variety and some bosses can be too easy.

music
1,425 mentions
60 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in "The Messenger" has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and nostalgic appeal, featuring a dynamic soundtrack that shifts between 8-bit and 16-bit styles as players progress through the game. Many reviewers highlight the catchy and memorable tracks, with some even stating that the soundtrack is among the best they've encountered in gaming. The integration of music with gameplay elements, such as changes in sound when transitioning between environments, further enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The soundtrack is full of absolute bangers that sound fantastic in both versions; each track is very memorable and the soundtrack as a whole is worthy of being listened to on its own.”
- “The music is phenomenal, I mean banger after banger.”
- “The music, composed by rainbowdragoneyes, is a predominantly upbeat, catchy affair, taking the triumphant 12-16 bar midi loops of yesteryear and suffusing them with a nice modern synthwave touch.”
- “The music feels too Halloween themed.”
- “The music is quite appropriate, but dare I say in a few boss fights it was a bit grating.”
- “The enemy variety isn't that great and the environments get quite dull after the 2nd time which makes the backtracking feel like a nuisance, and this alone wouldn't even be that bad if it wasn't for the soundtrack which straight up gives you a headache after a couple hours of play.”
gameplay
1,321 mentions
46 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Messenger" is widely praised for its tight controls, fluid mechanics, and engaging platforming that combines retro aesthetics with modern design elements. Players appreciate the unique "cloudstep" mechanic, which allows for mid-air jumps after hitting enemies, enhancing the platforming experience. However, some critiques highlight that the game can lose momentum during its metroidvania phase due to backtracking and repetitive elements, though many still find the overall gameplay enjoyable and rewarding.
- “The gameplay is a delightful mix of old-school platforming and modern-day humor.”
- “With a charming pixel art aesthetic and gameplay that mixes the best of retro games with modern elements, The Messenger is a successful tribute to the genre, offering a fun and innovative experience.”
- “The level design is clever and varied, with each stage offering new challenges and mechanics that keep the game fresh and engaging.”
- “For players looking for action platformers, enough of a gameplay loop is established that when the metroidvania structure is finally revealed and significant amounts of backtracking are required, the game can lose momentum.”
- “Its worth a purchase if you like platformers but it would have been better if they got rid of the metroidvania gameplay or at least reduced the amount of back and forth.”
- “The gameplay runs a bit thin and you'll see most of what it has to offer a couple of hours in, even padded as it is.”
story
1,001 mentions
46 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "The Messenger" is a charming blend of humor and adventure, featuring quirky dialogue and unexpected plot twists that keep players engaged. While it begins with a classic "save the world" premise, it evolves into a more complex narrative that incorporates time travel and self-referential humor, often breaking the fourth wall. The writing is praised for its wit and creativity, although some players note that the pacing can falter in the latter half, leading to a more linear and fetch-quest-heavy experience. Overall, the story is considered a highlight, enhancing the gameplay with its entertaining characters and engaging plot.
- “The story is quirky and doesn't take itself seriously, and the game is chock-full of humor. This is one of the few games that makes me laugh every time I fall into a pit or get crushed by a moving pillar, and the game itself makes fun of me because of that.”
- “The story is told with a combination of witty dialogue and intriguing events, with a plot that mixes elements of fantasy and adventure.”
- “The plot kicks off with the usual 'save the world' shtick, but it’s peppered with so many jokes and fourth-wall breaks that you can’t help but laugh.”
- “The only thing I didn't like all that much about the story was how so much of the mystery of what's going on is left totally unexplained, with no or very few clues, until the game's '11th hour' where you get this whole massive lore dump all at once explaining the why behind the whole game's story.”
- “The story is supposed to be serious, but no character seems to take it seriously.”
- “The story seemed basic and the motivation for the quest seemed basically non-existent, which was fine.”
humor
867 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Messenger" is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging dialogue, and self-aware, fourth-wall-breaking jokes that often elicit genuine laughter. Many players appreciate the comedic interactions with the shopkeeper and the light-hearted tone that complements the game's challenging platforming mechanics. However, some find the humor hit-or-miss, with occasional jokes feeling forced or overly reliant on meta-commentary, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The story is quirky and doesn't take itself seriously, and the game is chock-full of humor. This is one of the few games that makes me laugh every time I fall into a pit or get crushed by a moving pillar, and the game itself makes fun of me because of that.”
- “The gameplay is a delightful mix of old-school platforming and modern-day humor.”
- “The shopkeeper in particular had dialogue that made me laugh out loud and kept me coming back for more.”
- “Tedious, unfunny, boring.”
- “Of course there's always time for humor even in a serious story, and it's not like the jokes are unfunny, but it sometimes feels like the balance here is off.”
- “The dialogue is crammed with unfunny jokes.”
graphics
564 mentions
49 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of *The Messenger* are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, effectively transitioning between 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics to enhance gameplay and storytelling. This duality not only evokes nostalgia but also serves as a clever mechanic that influences level design and music, creating a visually engaging experience. Overall, the game's art direction is considered a standout feature, combining retro influences with modern polish to deliver a captivating visual experience.
- “The graphics switch between 8-bit and 16-bit, which is both a nostalgic trip and a clever way to keep things fresh.”
- “The pixel art graphics pay homage to classic platformers of the past, while the gameplay mechanics offer a fresh twist on the genre.”
- “The graphics are stunning for a game that goes with 8-bit and 16-bit designs, and the sprite work is especially fantastic.”
- “The 8-bit graphics along with the dull looking character/enemies and bland combat bored the hell out of me.”
- “The levels aren't changed at all save for art style which makes it feel mostly tedious and while you get access to a few new parts of the levels it is not enough to compensate for the time you have to spend backtracking.”
- “I think the developers didn't understand that a lot of what connected people to these old style graphics and games was that they had to be more engaged with them because there was less there.”
grinding
107 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious, particularly due to excessive backtracking in the latter half, which detracts from the overall experience. Many reviewers note that while the initial gameplay is enjoyable, the repetitive nature of revisiting areas without significant changes or fast travel options leads to a sense of boredom and frustration. Overall, the grinding is seen as a way to artificially extend gameplay time, making it feel more like a chore than a rewarding challenge.
- “For completionists, the achievements aren't grindy; in fact, you can complete all of them in a single playthrough if you're smart enough, except for one or two that require a new game plus.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I understand that the player needs to backtrack and visit the older areas in this game, but I felt the backtracking very tedious and boring.”
- “The primary issue with the game is how it handles backtracking; it is tedious and wears you down because there's a lot of it.”
- “The only con is the second half can get a bit too tedious with the backtracking.”
emotional
42 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its nostalgic charm, heartfelt storytelling, and engaging characters, which evoke a range of feelings from joy to sadness. Players appreciate the meticulously crafted soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, alongside moments of humor and philosophical depth that resonate deeply. Overall, the game is described as a wholesome journey that successfully combines fun gameplay with emotional weight, leaving a lasting impact on players.
- “What a gem, this game has so much love and dedication put into it that I could not stop having this wholesome feeling while playing it and when I finished it.”
- “The depth of the characters, the humor, the philosophical stories, and the vulnerability of the writer was truly touching, unexpected, and inspirational.”
- “The story and dialogues are pretty funny and neat, each boss has a different personality where after you defeat them some of them become your friends and they once got me emotional.”
replayability
41 mentions
29 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly enjoyable and infinitely replayable due to features like New Game Plus and speedrunning challenges, others criticize it for lacking depth in replay value. Many appreciate the polished level design and additional content, such as free DLC, which enhances the overall experience, but some feel that replayability is limited unless players are completionists or speedrunners. Overall, the game offers a solid replay value for those who enjoy its mechanics and aesthetics.
- “It's amazing with the platforming, the music is a 10 out of 10 for me. The metroidvania aspect made me love the game more because every level is replayable. Just because of that, I bought this for a second time on Steam.”
- “Voodoo heart runs and particularly speed boost wingsuit gliding will entice you, while new game + and the DLC will give you endless replayability.”
- “The icing on the cake is there are several areas of the game you cannot get to on the first playthrough, granting this game solid replay value.”
- “Let's not even talk about the replayability, it's horrible!”
- “Replayability: 2/5”
- “There's not much in the way of replayability.”
atmosphere
23 mentions
43 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with many praising its captivating music, stunning pixel art, and immersive sound design that enhance the overall experience. However, some players feel that the inconsistent tone—balancing serious moments with silliness—detracts from immersion, and repetitive level design can lead to a lack of variety. Overall, while the game offers a charming and nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic platformers, it may not satisfy those seeking a more cohesive and serious environment.
- “The captivating music and sound design created an immersive atmosphere, heightening the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The visual art of this game is astounding; even with the '2 worlds' theme, it manages to match with the soundtrack, which is perfect. On every stage, there isn't a moment where you don't feel inside of the game; the atmosphere is perfect.”
- “The humor, the action, the worlds, atmosphere, and soundtrack are all amazing!”
- “But everything else is not: the overall silly tone ruins the atmosphere; the end bosses even have cute faces, etc. The levels are merely forest, temple, forest, temple, forest... the music feels too Halloween-themed.”
- “If you're looking for well-built worlds with heavy atmosphere, this will probably disappoint you.”
- “For me, it destroys the 'immersion' and otherwise rather serious look and atmosphere of the game.”
stability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
70 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting minor glitches and bugs that do not significantly hinder gameplay, while others highlight a generally smooth experience. While some players experienced graphical issues and bugs, many noted that these did not detract from the enjoyment of the game. A few reviews mentioned that certain bosses could be buggy under aggressive play, but overall, the game runs well on various platforms.
- “This game runs great on the GPD Win, allowing you to play like on the Switch, both portably and on the big screen.”
- “Bug free.”
- “Wonderful, hilarious, difficult, fair, tight, and bug free.”
- “Right down to grating music and graphical glitches.”
- “The level design is poor, but it is also extremely buggy.”
- “The game also suffers from some weird bugs and glitches which the developer seemed to have overlooked, but they don't hinder the game at all.”
optimization
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting severe performance issues in the second half and a lack of support for 144hz monitors. While it is optimized for speedrunning, the metroidvania elements suffer from level designs that do not facilitate efficient exploration. Overall, the optimization appears inconsistent, leading to frustration among players.
- “The game is optimized for speedrunning, so there's that.”
- “Maybe I'll take a note from the game's shopkeeper and realize that 'happiness is not a goal... you don't need to defer any joys, because you optimized the present moment.'”
- “So that every day you're just stoked to live your own life, and you don't need to defer any joys, because you optimized the present moment.”
- “The second half has severe performance issues.”
- “The metroidvania part of the game is not exactly excellent due to the level designs not optimized for efficient exploration.”
- “This game is not optimized for 144hz monitors.”
character development
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting superb dialogue and well-executed character arcs that enhance the deeper narrative. The characters, bosses, and enemies are described as original and inspired, contributing to an immersive experience that goes beyond typical retro-style storytelling. Overall, the combination of humor, fluidity, and engaging mechanics further enriches the character development aspect.
- “The development team has crafted a wonderful world to inhabit with great character design, awesome platforming, stellar music score, fun mechanics, and a sprawling narrative that is far deeper than you are set up to believe.”
- “The dialogues are superb and character development is executed perfectly, and the humor is great.”
- “A nod to the franchise 'Ninja Gaiden,' this game goes above and beyond in terms of fluidity, storyline, music, character development, controls, enemies, etc. I am in love with its art style, the characters, bosses, and enemies, each of which are all inspired and original.”
- “The plot is something I'll pass on because retro style games are low-hanging fruit when it comes to story or character development criticism.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's approach to monetization, highlighting its absence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and pay-to-win mechanics, which contrasts sharply with many recent AAA titles. This refreshing focus on delivering a pure gaming experience rather than a cash grab has been well-received.
- “After a litany of AAA games that pump their titles full of microtransactions, loot boxes, and pay-to-win mechanics, it's frustrating to see this trend continue.”
- “It's finally so refreshing to play a game that is just a game, not a cash cow, not a greedy cash grab, and not a live service.”