Nine Sols Review – A Near Masterpiece Metroidvania
Nine Sols is a 2D hand-drawn Metroidvania that masterfully blends exploration with intense, Sekiro-style parry-based combat. The developer, Red Candle Games, describes the setting as “taopunk,” combining elements of Asian mythology and Taoism with a futuristic cyberpunk-like world. I’ve previously written about why you should play Nine Sols, now I’m here with a formal review. I can confidently say: Nine Sols is not only one of the best games of 2024, but it’s one of the best modern 2D games ever made.
Developer & Publisher // Red Candle Games
Platforms // PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, Nintendo Switch
MSRP & Release Dates // $29.99, May 29th 2024 (PC), November 26th (Console)
Reviewed On // PS5

Premise – The World of Nine Sols
While the combat is the true star of Nine Sols, its story is equally moving and impactful. The game is set on New Kunlun, a massive island spaceship where players control Yi, a Solarian and one of the Ten Sols, essentially the ruling elite of this world. The Solarians are an anthropomorphic cat-like race of intelligent beings, and for the last few centuries they have been affected by a disease known as the Tianhuo virus.
At the beginning of the game, Yi is betrayed and nearly killed by his mentor. However, he is saved and slowly healed over time by Fusang, a plant used by the Solarians to power their advanced technology. Upon awakening a couple centuries later, Yi sets out to overthrow the remaining Nine Sols, uncovering the truth behind his betrayal and the deeper mysteries behind what has happened while he was asleep.
Story & Narrative
The story unfolds through a mix of character dialogue, scattered lore items, and flashbacks to Yi’s past. I won’t spoil anything here, but the game does an exceptional job of slowly peeling back the layers of its mystery. Each defeated Sol reveals a glimpse of their past, their role in the group, and their connection to Yi. This gradual storytelling makes each victory feel meaningful beyond just the gameplay rewards from beating a boss.
The supporting cast further enriches the world. Shuanshuan, a curious human boy under Yi’s care, provides a lighthearted contrast to his stoic mentor. Kuafu, Yi’s close friend, supplies weapon upgrades, while Abacus, Yi’s AI companion, offers some additional insight into what’s happened in the world while Yi was asleep. The dialogue is often funny and engaging, making these characters feel alive and integral to the journey. I think there are some small pacing issues with the story, specifically with the flashbacks that are just dialogue cutscenes, but it’s very minor.

Combat & Gameplay – Sekiro Meets 2D Metroidvania Action
I’m always on the lookout for a new soulslike experience, and Nine Sols is hands down the best 2D soulslike I’ve ever played. Combat is an intricate dance of parrying enemy attacks, building up Qi charges, and executing devastating talisman explosions.
Parrying, performed by pressing L1 on a controller, is the core of the combat system. A perfectly timed parry produces a satisfying clang, negates damage, and grants a Qi charge—represented by small circles beneath the health bar. A slightly mistimed parry still builds Qi but causes internal damage, which appears as a red overlay on the health bar and slowly recovers over time if you avoid further damage. Once Qi charges are built up, R1 initiates a talisman explosion, which, depending on the enemy’s health, can instantly kill them. This mechanic is crucial for efficiently killing the enemies, especially when overwhelmed. To heal, Yi relies on a medicine pipe, which can be upgraded by finding special items.
Yi’s moveset includes a standard three-hit melee combo done by pressing Square and a charged attack (holding Square). He also wields the Azure Bow, initially used for crowd control but later enhanced with different arrow types that provide new tactical options. Mastering the interplay between melee strikes, parries, talisman explosions, and ranged attacks is the key to success.
Like many soulslikes, patience is essential. Studying enemy patterns, timing parries perfectly, and waiting for the right moment to unleash a talisman explosion makes Nine Sols’ combat feel incredibly rewarding. It’s sublime, and I genuinely can’t find a single flaw in it.
Exploration & Level Design – A Metroidvania Done Right
A great Metroidvania thrives on exploration, and Nine Sols delivers with an expansive world. Itis split into multiple zones, each one rich with secrets. As Yi gains new traversal abilities, previously inaccessible areas become reachable, in true Metroidvania fashion. The game also features challenging platforming sections, which, while never overwhelming, are still pretty fun and add another layer to exploration.
Unlike some Metroidvanias with convoluted layouts, Nine Sols keeps things clear and accessible in my opinion. Each zone has a map data chip vendor, allowing you to track collectibles like weapon upgrades, jades, and minibosses. This system is invaluable for completionists but remains manageable for casual players. Zones strike a perfect balance—expansive enough to encourage exploration but never tedious to traverse.

Boss Fights – The Ultimate Challenge
As with any soulslike, Nine Sols’ boss fights steal the show. The Nine Sols are the centerpiece encounters, each uniquely designed with what I think is a steady increase in difficulty. The first Sol you face is a good introduction, but by the final boss, you’re in for the fight of your lfie.
I can confidently say the final boss is one of the coolest, longest, and most challenging fights I’ve ever experienced. The last time a boss tested me this much was the final boss in Sekiro, which is fitting given this game’s inspiration. I spent five hours of my nearly thirty-hour playthrough battling this final boss. Though it took me dozens of tries to finally overcome, I kept coming back. I never gave up. Because it was fun. Learning the pattern, nailing six perfect parries back to back, then counter attacking when there was an opening, was absolutely exhilarating. I understand that this type of intense gameplay isn’t for everyone, and certainly not every boss is like that, but if you are the type of person that loves a challenge and a thrill when playing games, I think you’ll love the bosses of Nine Sols.
Outside of the main bosses, each zone features one to two minibosses—often elite versions of standard enemies with additional attacks. They offer a solid challenge and reward valuable upgrades, making them well worth seeking out.
Visuals & Soundtrack – Stunning Hand-Drawn Art & Music
Nine Sols is visually stunning. Its hand-drawn art and animations burst with color, and environments range from lush grottos and neon-soaked cityscapes to sterile industrial corridors. Now I am not a pixel counter, but playing on a PS5 Pro the game looks incredibly sharp with a nice resolution and a smooth frame rate with no drops that I noticed. I believe Red Candle Games also released an update in December to allow the game to run at 4K/120fps on PS5 Pro with supported TVs.
The soundtrack is equally fantastic. Each zone and boss fight has its own unique musical theme, enhancing the experience. Perfect parries are punctuated with a crisp, satisfying audio cue, reinforcing their impact. Sound design is top-notch, making every battle feel intense and rewarding.

Difficulty & Accessibility – Customizable Options for All Players
There aren’t many accessibility options, but Red Candle Games does a excellent job at implementing accessibility in the difficulty modes. Nine Sols offers two difficulties: Standard and Story Mode. In Story Mode is where things become a bit more customizable. Story Mode includes adjustable damage multipliers, accessible anytime in the Gameplay options menu (only when difficulty is set to Story Mode). By default, these are set to 150% Attack Multiplier and 25% Injury Multiplier.
Attack Multiplier: Ranges from 100% to 1000% (up to 10x damage). The Azure Bow is affected twice, allowing up to 100x damage. Injury Multiplier: Ranges from 1% to 100% (damage taken). Continuous low damage (e.g., fire damage) remains noticeable as its duration is unchanged.
These sliders can be adjusted freely within their limits. Players can still earn trophies in Story Mode but are locked out of the “Fight Through Hardship” trophy, which is awarded for completing Nine Sols in Standard Mode.
Final Thoughts
Nine Sols isn’t just one of my favorite games of 2024—it has secured a spot in my all-time top ten. As a fan of both Metroidvanias and Soulslikes, I’ve played countless entries in these genres, but few have captured my attention and challenged me as much as this game.
With a gripping story, memorable characters, breathtaking art, and some of the best 2D combat I’ve played, Nine Sols is an absolute must-play. If you love deep, challenging gameplay, rewarding exploration, and narrative-driven action, do not sleep on this game. Red Candle Games has created something truly special, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
Note – The publisher provided a PlayStation 5 key for the purpose of this review.
Final Score: 9 out of 10
Pros
- Masterful combat mechanics
- Engaging story with great characters
- Outstanding boss fights
- Gorgeous presentation and performance
Cons
- Minor story pacing issues
- Not many accessibility options beyond difficulty tweaks