Review | Nine Sols

A Sols review

I love the Metroidvania genre—though, to be honest, that term is kind of irritating. Still, it perfectly sums up these types of games, where you blend 2D, 2.5D, or even 3D side-scrolling action gameplay with collecting power-ups to progress through an intricately connected map full of secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Nine Sols was recommended for Sekiro (parry) lovers, with a pinch of Soulslike influence alongside the usual genre staples. I’m so glad I played this one—it's already one of my favorites. It’s one of those games that simply has soul and truly rewards players for investing their time.

Nine Sols is a 2024 action-platformer developed and published by Red Candle Games, an independent Taiwanese studio based in Taipei. Their previous two games, Detention and Devotion, are horror titles, though I have no clue what they’re about—maybe I’ll check them out later.

The game takes place in an Asian fantasy-inspired futuristic world, which Red Candle Games describes as "taopunk": a fusion of Taoism and cyberpunk, blending sci-fi elements with Eastern mythology. It was released for Microsoft Windows and macOS on May 29, 2024, followed by home console ports on November 26. With the console release, a patch introduced a boss rush-style mode called Battle Memories.

If you’re up for a challenge and love parrying, Nine Sols is one of the best in the genre. Let’s find out why.

At first I've hated the facility-like setting, but it grew on me. The game also offers beautiful art style, many colorful locations, and comic stlye cutscenes. I love everything about this game.

Story and the characters

Hundreds of years ago, the Solarians—a feline-like race—were struck by the deadly Tianhuo virus. In a desperate attempt to survive, their leaders, the Ten Sols, created the Eternal Cauldron Project, a virtual reality system meant to keep their people alive while searching for a cure. But maintaining this simulation required immense processing power—harvested from human brains. So, the Solarians abandoned their home planet, Penglai, and set course for Earth to capture its native "apemen" (humans).

Yi, the Tenth Sol and mastermind of the project, was betrayed by his mentor and left in suspended animation, only to awaken centuries later in a remote human village aboard New Kunlun, the island-ship carrying the last of the Solarians. As he discovers the horrors of his people's past, he befriends a human named Shuanshuan and saves him from a ritual sacrifice, unknowingly reawakening the other Nine Sols in the process.

Determined to reclaim his lost power and confront his old comrades, Yi embarks on a journey across New Kunlun, battling former allies while uncovering the dark truths behind the Eternal Cauldron. 

This journey is truly one of a kind—where NPCs have depth, personality, and well-written backgrounds. Shuanshuan is one of the most interesting and lovable characters I’ve seen in recent video games, and the game’s lore is top-notch. It’s rare for me to be this invested in everything a game has to offer.

It’s worth mentioning that the scenes don’t have voice acting. Instead, you get to enjoy a beautiful OST while reading the dialogue, just like in older games. There’s something special about that—I often struggle with bad voice acting, so being able to read and fully absorb the game’s atmosphere made me love it even more. This studio pours so much passion into their work, and it shows in every scene.

Hub (Pavillion) in this game is one of a kind. It holds many interesting conversations and events that will make you remember what the gaming is all about, and how good writting and awesome music takes the win.

Game design, exploration

If you’re familiar with the genre, you know the drill. This is a side-scrolling adventure where you overcome challenges to reach boss areas—and, of course, win. Your main objective is to find and defeat all the Sols—easier said than done. Every boss fight is a unique experience, and honestly, a breath of fresh air in the industry. I love the challenge and how you have to learn attack patterns to improve—to master the game the way it’s meant to be played. The final boss fight is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life—challenging, fun, and truly one of a kind in every way.

Exploration is all about reaching new areas while mastering new powers, and it works well. Most games in this genre require a lot of backtracking, and while this one does too, it never feels excessive—the level design is simply in the player’s favor. Fast travel isn’t available right away, but you unlock it a bit later. Collecting map shards while progressing through questlines helps you track what you might have missed, and finding everything is simple, efficient, and never feels tedious. I loved the exploration, the fluid movement, and the powers you gain. Everything is smooth, and progress always feels natural. I never had pacing issues.

The only downside for me is the abundance of facility-like locations and the somewhat simplistic design of certain areas. On the other hand, some locations are absolutely stunning, and the balance is just right. I’ve seen better-crafted worlds, but this one is well-rounded if you ask me.

How can you not love the style when they shuffle nature with dreams? I'm a big suckers for such style.

Combat

You either love it or hate it. This game is hard. Not easy, not normal—hard. There’s an easy mode, sure, but my advice (which I strongly stand by) is to play on Normal difficulty. It’s the best way to experience the game, though be prepared to spend hours retrying certain fights. To me, the learning curve is what makes the combat so satisfying—you gradually master everything you’ve learned and push through the challenge. Whether it’s a boss, a mini-boss, or a brutal platforming section filled with enemies, the goal remains the same: survive and overcome.

When you finally beat certain sections, the sense of accomplishment is incredible. You will be happy. I know some players hate dying repeatedly, but with such brilliant combat design, it would be a shame to miss out on the full experience.

The core mechanic revolves around parrying attacks. Parrying fills your Qi gauge, which you can then use for Talismans or other special moves. I relied heavily on exploding Talismans after parrying, and it made a huge difference for me. You can also mix things up with three different arrow types for a bit of side-tactic gameplay. By collecting money, you can purchase upgrades for your weapons and Yi, while gaining experience allows you to level up and unlock important skills. Just be careful—if you die, you lose the experience tied to your current skill point and your money. You’ll need to retrieve your remains before dying again, or it’s gone.

I think the progression makes a lot of sense—everything matters. For example, Jade slots let you equip different modifications (kind of like accessories), and while simple, they can completely change your strategy.

I've really felt the emotions between Yi and his sister. The story is great, every character has its own unique personality and doing quest for them all felt like a reward, not like a chore.

Side Content

Side content mainly comes in the form of collecting upgrades and completing quests for NPCs in the hub. Every NPC has an interesting backstory and personality, so going for 100% completion felt like a reward. I love the lore, I love the humor. This is one of those games where the closer you get to the end, the more depressing it feels—because you know it’s all about to be over.

There are also two different endings, which is honestly great. It takes some effort to replay the final section (since beating the game sends you back to the point where you make the final decision), but it’s worth it. I’m even considering replaying it on easy just to see how different the difficulty feels.

Don’t expect tons of hidden secrets—there are some, but if you’re hoping for hidden walls and similar tricks, you won’t find them here. I don’t mind, though—the simplicity keeps everything feeling natural, and the pacing is solid. When you combine a good variety of enemies, mini-bosses, and main bosses, you’re in for a treat—a brutal one, but a satisfying one.

Yi, you are one of a kind. The rest of the Solarians, thank you for being unique and great.

Conclusion

Nine Sols is a rare gem—challenging, rewarding, and full of heart. Its fluid combat, engaging exploration, and well-written characters make for an unforgettable experience. The difficulty is tough but fair, pushing you to master its mechanics and truly earn every victory. While some areas feel a bit too industrial and secrets are kept to a minimum, the world design remains strong, with smooth pacing and satisfying progression. The story, humor, and lore keep you invested until the very end, making it one of those games you don’t want to finish. If you're up for a challenge and love a game with soul, Nine Sols is absolutely worth your time.