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Editors’ Review

Download.com staff

Nine Sols delivers fast-paced 2D action with a unique twist on deflection-based combat, blending slick platforming with precise timing. Set in a world where Taoist mythology clashes with futuristic tech, its reactive story and parry-first mechanics demand attention, rewarding skilled play over strength in every enemy encounter.

Beloved by fans of Soulslikes and Metroidvanias, Nine Sols stands out with its exploration-heavy structure and smart level design. It promotes revisiting areas with purpose, avoiding the repetitive grind. Challenging but fair, the game supports player growth through helpful checkpoints and meaningful upgrades that make progress feel earned across a deeply atmospheric world.

How Nine Sols delivers a unique action experience

Blending classic platforming with Soulslike parrying, the combat in Nine Sols demands timing and precision. Its enemies are readable yet dangerous, ensuring each battle feels earned. Paired with customizable talismans and an evolving skill tree, the game rewards mastery without overwhelming casual players. Fans of Hollow Knight and Salt and Sanctuary will appreciate the game’s deliberate pacing and tense, one-on-one duels.

Outside combat, the game thrives on exploration, offering a semi-open world built around layered secrets and lore-driven areas. Hidden rooms, shortcuts, and story fragments are tucked behind clever paths, urging players to revisit previous areas. While some backtracking may feel repetitive, its fast-travel system and occasional ability upgrades help reduce tedium and enhance flow.

The game leans into its world-building, blending ancient rituals with cyberpunk rebellion and a sense of philosophical weight. Cutscenes are minimal but effective, subtly reinforcing themes of control, revenge, and broken faith. Compared to Blasphemous, the story feels less cryptic and more deeply personal. A few difficulty spikes remain the only real drawback, which may frustrate less experienced or more casual players during key encounters.

Enlarged image for Nine Sols
Nine Sols 0/1
  • Pros

    • Smart, deflection-based combat system
    • Meaningful skill upgrades and build variety
    • Lore-rich world with strong thematic identity
  • Cons

    • Occasional difficulty spikes
    • Some backtracking may feel repetitive

Bottom Line

Tense fights in a world reborn

Nine Sols combines parry-based combat, layered exploration, and a bold fusion of sci-fi and folklore elements. While its difficulty may occasionally challenge some players at times, it offers rewarding depth for fans of thoughtful 2D action games. With satisfying progression, tight gameplay loops, and a rich, immersive game world, it stands out as a must-play for those seeking a challenging, memorable, and skill-driven side-scrolling experience.

What’s new in version demo

  • Added customizable talisman system for expanded builds
  • Expanded skill tree offering new routes and passive abilities
  • New areas in the semi-open world now include more hidden lore
  • Combat improved with more readable enemy patterns for tighter timing


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