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The Messenger

PlayStation, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2018

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Quick resume

As a demon army besieges his village, a young ninja ventures through a cursed world, to deliver a scroll paramount to his clan’s survival. What begins as a classic action platformer soon unravels into an expansive time-traveling adventure full of thrills, surprises, and humor.

Global score

93/100

Genres

Action, Indie, Point-and-click, Adventure

Pros

  • Innovative time travel mechanic
  • Tight and satisfying platforming
  • Engaging humor and writing
  • Excellent soundtrack and art style
  • Balanced difficulty and progression

Cons

  • Tedious backtracking in metroidvania section
  • Some difficulty spikes
  • Limited enemy variety
  • Occasional control frustrations
  • Story tone inconsistency

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    3

    "Players have freedom to explore the metroidvania portion and choose order of progression, but early game is more linear and guided."

  • Competence
    4

    "Gameplay is challenging but fair, with skill-based platforming and boss fights that reward mastery."

  • Competition
    -4

    "Focus is on personal skill improvement and exploration without competitive or ranked modes."

  • Continuation
    4

    "Many players report addictive gameplay and desire to replay, though some find backtracking tedious."

  • Cooperation
    -5

    "Single-player experience focused on individual progression and challenges."

  • Creativity
    4

    "Innovative time travel mechanic switching between 8-bit and 16-bit styles adds creative level design and gameplay variety."

  • Domination
    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative or competitive dominance absent."

  • Escapism
    4

    "Players use the game as a nostalgic, immersive escape with engaging story and humor."

  • Expectation
    -4

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

  • Experimenting
    3

    "Players experiment with new abilities and mechanics, especially the time travel dimension switching."

  • Exploration
    3

    "Metroidvania portion encourages discovering new areas and secrets, though some find backtracking repetitive."

  • Expression
    2

    "Limited character customization but players express style through gameplay choices and exploration."

  • Fantasy
    4

    "Imaginative ninja fantasy with time travel, quirky characters, and meta-narrative elements."

  • Fellowship
    -5

    "Minimal social interaction; primarily a solo experience."

  • Growth
    4

    "Players develop platforming skills and learn new mechanics progressively."

  • Health
    -5

    "Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity elements."

  • Idle
    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not a casual or background game."

  • Intimacy
    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships formed through gameplay."

  • Leadership
    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles present."

  • Progression
    4

    "Players accumulate upgrades, abilities, and collectibles to advance through the game."

  • Relaxation
    2

    "Balanced challenge provides flow and satisfaction, though some sections cause frustration."

  • Sensation
    4

    "Strong sensory appeal through retro visuals, dynamic music, and engaging sound design."

  • Status
    -5

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

  • Story
    3

    "Engaging narrative with humor and meta elements, though some find it inconsistent."

  • Strategy
    3

    "Requires planning and problem solving especially in later metroidvania sections and boss fights."

  • Thrill
    3

    "Platforming challenges and boss fights create suspense and excitement."

  • Value
    4

    "Players perceive strong value for time and money due to quality, content, and replayability."

  • Violence
    3

    "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses, but not gratuitous violence; more stylized action."

  • Survival
    2

    "Players must avoid death and hazards, but game is fair and checkpoints reduce frustration."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026