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9 Years of Shadows

Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Android • 2023

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Quick resume

Fight to bring beautiful colors back to a hand-crafted world of darkness and discover the story of Europa, a young warrior, and her ghostly childhood companion, Apino.

Global score

77/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Platform, Role-playing (RPG)

Pros

  • Beautiful pixel art and vibrant visuals
  • Engaging and varied boss fights
  • Unique elemental armor and traversal mechanics
  • Captivating soundtrack and sound design
  • Tight and responsive controls

Cons

  • Lack of fast travel makes backtracking tedious
  • Some bosses rely on waiting mechanics and can be repetitive
  • Game is relatively short with limited replayability
  • No autosave and unskippable boss cutscenes frustrate players
  • Some bugs and crashes reported

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    3

    "Players can freely explore the castle and choose how to approach combat and traversal with different armors and abilities, though some areas lock armor choice."

  • Competence
    2

    "Combat and boss fights provide skill challenges, but overall difficulty is moderate and some bosses are easy; upgrades are minor numerical buffs."

  • Competition
    -4

    "Focus is on solo play and personal progression without competitive or ranked modes."

  • Continuation
    -3

    "Game is relatively short and linear; some players find it less replayable and easy to disengage after completion."

  • Cooperation
    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity
    3

    "Unique elemental armor system with traversal and combat effects; some player creativity in combat and exploration."

  • Domination
    -5

    "No social dominance or power over others; gameplay is individual and balanced."

  • Escapism
    4

    "Players enjoy immersive fantasy world and story as a form of stress relief and distraction."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation."

  • Experimenting
    2

    "Players experiment with different armors and combat styles, though core gameplay is somewhat routine."

  • Exploration
    2

    "Exploration of castle areas with some secrets and collectibles, though linear and limited backtracking."

  • Expression
    2

    "Character customization limited to armor changes with visual and gameplay effects."

  • Fantasy
    4

    "Strong fantasy setting with magical armors, curses, and imaginative bosses."

  • Fellowship
    -5

    "No social or community features; solo experience."

  • Growth
    2

    "Players learn boss patterns and improve skill; upgrades provide minor progression."

  • Health
    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay without physical activity or rehab elements."

  • Idle
    -3

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during combat and exploration."

  • Intimacy
    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; solitary play."

  • Leadership
    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; individual gameplay."

  • Progression
    3

    "Collecting armors, upgrades, and items to increase power and abilities."

  • Relaxation
    2

    "Generally balanced challenge with moments of flow; some frustration with backtracking and boss fights."

  • Sensation
    3

    "Vibrant visuals and engaging music provide strong sensory stimulation."

  • Status
    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story
    3

    "Narrative immersion with story, characters, and lore integrated into gameplay."

  • Strategy
    2

    "Boss fights and combat require pattern recognition and tactical use of abilities."

  • Thrill
    2

    "Some suspense and challenge in boss fights, but overall moderate tension."

  • Value
    3

    "Good perceived value for price with quality art, music, and gameplay despite some bugs."

  • Violence
    3

    "Combat involves attacking enemies and bosses with melee and ranged attacks."

  • Survival
    2

    "Players manage health and shield resources to avoid death in combat."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026