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MONSTER
9 Years of Shadows
9 Years of Shadows is an emotionally-driven Metroidvania, enhanced by healing music that tells the story of Europa, a young woman of noble birth tasked with ending the curse that plagues her people and restoring color to all lands.
Game analysis
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Reviews
43 reviews found80
Shindig
Apr 14, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Curse of the Sea Rats delivers on its captivating atmosphere and art style, but the gameplay struggles to stand out in a crowded genre. It has some odd design choices, clunkiness, and less-than-stellar writing. While there is still fun to be found, it may not leave a lasting impression.
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70
TouchArcade
Nov 28, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Praised for being a faithful recreation with fun gameplay and improvements, receiving a score of 4.5/5.
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90
TheXboxHub
Aug 25, 2025
9 Years of Shadows is a love letter to the 90s, amalgamating classics such as Metroid, Zelda, Castlevania, Altered Beast – the list goes on and on. But never once does it feel as though it is plagiarising these games, rather paying homage and rejuvenating their ideas for a modern audience.
90
90
Gamer Escape
Mar 27, 2023
If any part of 9 Years of Shadows looks appealing to you, you owe it to yourself to pick it up. This is an amazing game made by a heretofore unknown team, and I can only hope that Halberd Studios has plans for a follow-up. They deserve to be showered in praise, and this game deserves your time and attention. ~ Final Score: 9/10 ~ Game provided by Freedom Games for purposes of review.
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85
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85
NPR
Apr 21, 2023
9 Years of Shadows is an approachable pickup for anyone interested in a light and charming metroidvania. If you want some colorful and thoughtful action in your life, this one's for you.
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85
PS4Blog.net
Jul 31, 2025
Summary and quote unavailable.
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