Posted on: August 2, 2025
ShadowLadyEX
Verified ownerGames: 280 Reviews: 2
fun enough
easy to get lost and some powers are a pain but it's a fun time
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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 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:
Time to beat
6.5 hMain
9 h Main + Sides
9.5 h Completionist
9 h All Styles
Game length provided by HowLongToBeat
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audio
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Critics reviews
Softpedia
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 »CGMagazine
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.
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User reviews
Posted on: August 17, 2025
ChrisXdreamer
Verified ownerGames: 166 Reviews: 1
great game
great ost very good game art .
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Posted on: September 11, 2025
Feral_Bacon
Verified ownerGames: 154 Reviews: 2
Metroid stick it to ya
There's always a boss in every Metroidvania I can't beat, typically because of some dumb jumping combo you have to get perfect. This is another one.
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Posted on: September 17, 2025
GroneXCat
Verified ownerGames: 177 Reviews: 1
Very good adventure game
It's a very good metroidvania, a little more arcadeish. The graphics are nice, like PS1 style and it's well balanced. I recommend it if you like platforms, adventure and exploration. It has a few RPG things, nothing that could overwhelm you.
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Posted on: September 22, 2025
marc2215
Verified ownerGames: 48 Reviews: 1
Beautiful Metroidvania
The gorgeous pixel art and soundtrack really elevate this game in my mind. The gameplay is solid and the story has heartfelt themes. However, there are a few bugs that soured me just a bit! A great work of art overall.
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Last 30 daysLast 90 daysLast 6 monthsWheneverAfter releaseDuring Early Access