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9 Years of Shadows

in library

4.2/5

( 449 Reviews )

4.2

449 Reviews

English & 1 more
Offer ends on: 10/20/2025 09:59 EEST
Offer ends in: d h m s
19.997.99
Lowest price in the last 30 days before discount: 7.99
Why buy on GOG.COM?
DRM FREE. No activation or online connection required to play.
Safety and satisfaction. Stellar support 24/7 and full refunds up to 30 days.
9 Years of Shadows
Description
A fateful night of sorrow and ancient magic changed the life of a young child forever, and with it, everything else as mankind knew it. For 9 long years, the world has been submerged in the deepest of shadows, robbing every object and living creature of their color, their joy, and most impor...
Genre:
Action - Adventure - Metroidvania
Tags:
Adventure, Action, Indie, Fantasy, Story Rich, show 8 more... Atmospheric, 2D, Exploration, Female Protagonist, Pixel Graphics, Platformer, Magic, Metroidvania
Critics reviews
64 %
Recommend
Softpedia
8.5/10
CGMagazine
7/10
User reviews

4.2/5

( 449 Reviews )

4.2

449 Reviews

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Product details
2023, Halberd Studios, ...
System requirements
Windows 10, Intel Core i3-9100F, 8 GB RAM, GT 730, Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system...
Time to beat
6.5 hMain
9 h Main + Sides
9.5 h Completionist
9 h All Styles

Game length provided by HowLongToBeat

Description




A fateful night of sorrow and ancient magic changed the life of a young child forever, and with it, everything else as mankind knew it. For 9 long years, the world has been submerged in the deepest of shadows, robbing every object and living creature of their color, their joy, and most importantly, hope.


Many brave souls have tried to venture inside the corrupting depths of Talos Castle, a long-abandoned orphanage from which the curse stemmed. All have failed, except for one. Armed with little other than her halberd and sheer nerve, Europa’s daunting quest is clear: enter the castle, find the source of darkness, and return color to the lands before it is too late.



However, this adventure is not for Europa to face alone. In her most desperate hour, Europa encounters Apino, a cute magical bear with the ability to heal, cleanse the corruption and protect his allies.


While exploring the castle, Apino can shoot powerful projectiles at enemies, open locked doors and shield Europa from ranged attacks.




Enhance your battle prowess by acquiring elemental armors. Master the might of lightning, water, earth and fire to defeat a vast assortment of enemies.


Use the elements to your advantage to travel the map dynamically, surprise bosses while you change armors on the fly and perform strong combos. Obtain special abilities to swim against waterfalls, travel underground tunnels or glide through warm air currents to access hidden locations and uncover their secrets.





Meet enigmatic composers that will aid you in your mission. With the special appearance of Michiru Yamane and Norihiko Hibino, both as NPCs and composers of several tracks tuned to 432hz, a soothing frequency used in what’s known as healing music. And there is more to music than meets the eye. Hidden bosses with musical attack patterns lurk in the shadows ready to strike. In fact, music is the binding thread that brings gameplay and storytelling together; from collecting musical notes, to performing a healing lullaby to restore your health, music is all but the soul of the game.

© Halberd Studios & Freedom Games. All Rights Reserved.

System requirements
Minimum system requirements:
Recommended system requirements:
Recommended system requirements:
Why buy on GOG.COM?
DRM FREE. No activation or online connection required to play.
Safety and satisfaction. Stellar support 24/7 and full refunds up to 30 days.
Time to beat
6.5 hMain
9 h Main + Sides
9.5 h Completionist
9 h All Styles

Game length provided by HowLongToBeat

Game details
Genre:
Action - Adventure - Metroidvania
Tags:
Adventure, Action, Indie, Fantasy, Story Rich, show 8 more... Atmospheric, 2D, Exploration, Female Protagonist, Pixel Graphics, Platformer, Magic, Metroidvania
Works on:
Windows (10, 11)
Release date:
{{'2023-03-27T00:00:00+03:00' | date: 'longDate' : ' +0300 ' }}
Company:
Halberd Studios / indie.io
Size:
1.3 GB
Links:
Forum discussion
Game features
Cloud saves
Controller support
Overlay
Single-player
Languages
English
audio
text
Español (AL)
audio
text
Critics reviews
74
Top Critic Average
64 %
Critics Recommend
OpenCritic Rating
Softpediaby Andrei Dumitrescu
8.5/10
Nine Years of Shadows is a good Metroidvania with an impressive presentation and intriguing world. Gameplay mechanics will be instantly familiar to any genre fans and easy to understand for newcomers. There aren’t too many surprises in the narrative but it is imbued with a sense of optimism that kept me engaged.
Read full review »
CGMagazineby Philip Watson
7/10
9 Years of Shadows is a solid 2D action-adventure title that is very pretty to look at, and could be recommendable to those who don't focus on combat.
Read full review »
Reviews powered by OpenCritic
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User reviews

Posted on: April 17, 2025

Ton_Silva68

Verified owner

Games: 335 Reviews: 2

Excellent game!

This game was a grateful surprise for me. If you like Castlevania simphony of the night, just buy this awesome game. High quality art, very creative scenarios and fluid and dinamyc combat system. Excellent in every way

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Posted on: April 22, 2025

Kaztigo

Verified owner

Games: 153 Reviews: 1

excellent!

fast pace, good mechanics, great music, I like the main character. From all the metroidvania out there, this is one of the best I've ever played

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Posted on: April 23, 2025

kmilocoGNR

Verified owner

Games: 178 Reviews: 2

It's so beautiful

Despite having some bugs and not having much content, this game is one of the best Metroidvania-style gaming experiences I've had. The fluidity of combat is one of its strongest points, and the pixel art quality is quite good, as are the illustrations. The difficulty is somewhat easy, but that means you can play and relax with a decent soundtrack. Despite not being one of the best of its kind, it's a recommended experience.

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Posted on: April 30, 2025

ARDRIEL

Verified owner

Games: 75 Reviews: 1

VERY GOOD GAMEPLAY

It was so amusing and easy but the final boss is hard

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Posted on: May 5, 2025

William_Alicea

Verified owner

Games: 106 Reviews: 3

Beautiful pixal art, excellent controls

If you like Metriodvania. That is an action platformer with environmental puzzles, hidden secrets, and a explorable map that grows vaster the more power ups and upgrades you unlock.

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