9 Years of Shadows similar games & best alternatives

9 Years of Shadows

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

Should you play it?

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.

What works

  • 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

Things to keep in mind

  • 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

What to play next

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Last update: 06/10/2026