Nine Sols similar games & best alternatives

Nine Sols

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S • 2024

Should you play it?

Nine Sols is a lore rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer featuring Sekiro-inspired deflection focused combat. Embark on a journey of eastern fantasy, explore the land once home to an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero’s quest to slay the 9 Sols, formidable rulers of this forsaken realm.

What works
  • Challenging and rewarding combat
  • Unique and beautiful art style
  • Deep and engaging story
  • Rich world-building and lore
  • Meaningful progression and customization
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep difficulty curve may frustrate some
  • Some ui and map navigation issues
  • Punishing death mechanics
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Loading times and occasional minor bugs

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Aeterna Noctis

  • Zexion

  • Cookie Cutter: Overkill Edition

  • Vernal Edge

  • Lone Fungus

  • Lost Ruins

  • Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

  • Guns of Fury

  • BIOMORPH
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Zexion

  • Vernal Edge

  • BIOMORPH
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Nine Sols: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Leadership.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have control over combat style, time manipulation usage, and exploration order within a Metroidvania framework."

    Capsule for Touhou Luna Nights Touhou Luna Nights

    "Players have significant control over combat style, skill upgrades, and exploration order within a mostly linear but somewhat open metroidvania structure."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "The game is challenging with a steep learning curve, rewarding skill mastery and precise timing."

    Capsule for OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood

    "The game is challenging with a steep learning curve, requiring mastery of timing-based parrying and combat mechanics, rewarding skill development."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than competing against other players."

    Capsule for Lost Ruins Lost Ruins

    "Focus is on personal mastery and overcoming game challenges rather than competing against other players."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report long play sessions, multiple playthroughs, and high engagement with the game world and story."

    Capsule for The Outer Worlds 2 The Outer Worlds 2

    "Players report long play sessions, repeated boss attempts, and high engagement with the game’s combat and story."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    Capsule for Blasphemous Blasphemous

    "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can customize skill builds, experiment with attack combos, and explore a richly detailed world with many interactable elements."

    Capsule for LunarLux LunarLux

    "Players customize combat builds via skill trees and charms, and explore a richly designed world, though within predefined structures."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control over others; gameplay is solo and focused on self-improvement."

    Capsule for Eldest Souls Eldest Souls

    "No evidence of exerting control over others; gameplay is solitary and focused on self-improvement."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game for immersive storytelling, exploration, and emotional engagement, escaping real life."

    Capsule for OCTOPATH TRAVELER II OCTOPATH TRAVELER II

    "Players use the game’s immersive world, story, and challenging gameplay as a form of escape and engagement."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Last Train Home Last Train Home

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with different characters, abilities, and upgrade paths to find preferred playstyles."

    Capsule for Renegade Ops Renegade Ops

    "Players experiment with different combat styles, charms, and upgrades to find preferred playstyles."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Metroidvania-style exploration with backtracking and discovering collectibles and secrets."

    Capsule for LostWinds 2: Winter of the Melodias LostWinds 2: Winter of the Melodias

    "Metroidvania exploration with some freedom in area order and backtracking to discover secrets and upgrades."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Customization of gear and combat builds allows some self-expression, though character appearance is fixed."

    Capsule for Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

    "Customization of combat abilities and charms allows some self-expression, though character appearance is fixed."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strong fantasy elements with imaginative digital creatures, cyber worlds, and fictional narratives."

    Capsule for Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition

    "Strong fantasy elements with Taoist mythology, cyberpunk aesthetics, and imaginative narrative."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

    Capsule for Griptape Backbone Griptape Backbone

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Players develop skills, learn enemy patterns, and improve combat proficiency over time."

    Capsule for FIGHT KNIGHT FIGHT KNIGHT

    "Players develop skills, learn enemy patterns, and improve combat proficiency over time."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Requires sedentary play with intense focus; no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for DEADBOLT DEADBOLT

    "Requires extended sedentary play with intense focus; no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires constant attention and focus due to fast-paced, challenging combat."

    Capsule for Bayonetta Bayonetta

    "Requires constant attention and focus due to challenging combat and precise timing."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of forming close relationships; interactions are with NPCs in a narrative context."

    Capsule for Twinsen's Little Big Adventure 2 Classic Twinsen's Little Big Adventure 2 Classic

    "No evidence of forming close relationships; interactions are with NPCs in a narrative context only."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player focused."

    Capsule for Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player focused."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players accumulate new abilities, spells, and upgrades that enhance combat and traversal."

    Capsule for Vernal Edge Vernal Edge

    "Players accumulate upgrades, skill points, charms, and abilities to enhance combat and traversal."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -3

    "High difficulty and punishing combat create tension and challenge rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for Unworthy Unworthy

    "High difficulty and tension in combat create sustained challenge rather than relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

    "Enjoyable audiovisual presentation with detailed sprites, music, and satisfying combat feedback."

    Capsule for MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA

    "Rich audiovisual presentation with striking art, music, and satisfying combat feedback."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or ranking systems; focus is on personal achievement."

    Capsule for Dead Man's Draw Dead Man's Draw

    "No social recognition or ranking systems; focus is on personal achievement."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative focus with rich character development, multiple endings, and immersive lore."

    Capsule for Open Sorcery Open Sorcery

    "Strong narrative emphasis with deep lore, character development, and immersive storytelling."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

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

    Capsule for Ys: The Oath in Felghana Ys: The Oath in Felghana

    "Combat and boss fights require strategic timing, pattern recognition, and tactical use of abilities."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "High tension and challenge in boss fights and combat encounters provide suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Hollow Knight: Silksong Hollow Knight: Silksong

    "Combat tension and boss encounters provide suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players perceive high value due to abundant content, replayability, and quality gameplay."

    Capsule for Rayman® Legends Rayman® Legends

    "Players perceive high value due to quality, length, and engaging gameplay."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat involves intense melee fighting, swordplay, and defeating enemies through violence."

    Capsule for Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition

    "Combat involves intense fighting, parrying, and defeating enemies with graphic violence."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must avoid death and manage health and resources to progress."

    Capsule for OTXO OTXO

    "Players must avoid death and manage resources like health and currency under threat of loss."

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Last update: 01/06/2026