Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 74 | 42 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 77% | 72 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 82% | 76 | 554 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Apr 21, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 554 total reviews in window · weighted 179.5 up / 38.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (36)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 75
“9 Years of Shadows' pixel graphics are gorgeous, its story is compelling, and its boss battles are worth the slower moments you have to wade through to get there. It's a fun adventure that offers enough surprises to keep Castlevania fans engaged throughout.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Halberd Studios has crafted a Metroidvania with a really encouraging number of unique elements. We have no issue in declaring it A Good Game™ and a great time thanks to its careful crafting and implementation of a number of original ideas that elevate the gameplay, rather than stifle it. It is just another Metroidvania at heart, yes, and it doesn't revolutionise the genre; but, while there are a few scrappy bits where you can see a thinning of the budget compared to works by larger studios, it holds its own as an inventive, pretty, and consistently enjoyable adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“9 Years of Shadows is a straightforward Metroidvania with some incredible theming, unique narrative lessons to pass on, and healing, or, at the very least, beautiful, music. It keeps things simple, sometimes to a fault, but manages to keep one thing at the forefront from beginning to end. Fun. It's a shame then that, at least at launch, the game's smattering of technical issues get in the way of letting its real art shine.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“9 years of shadows is a visually stunning game with amazing pixel art and a great soundtrack that employs some unique gameplay ideas, but their execution leaves a lot to be desired and the game remains more of a "what could've been".”
read full review ↗ - 90
“If it weren’t already clear from the review up to this point, I adored this game. 9 Years of Shadows is a rare delight in a subgenre that has become a bit overstuffed of late, a careful and fun romp that speaks to the best of its genre by at once feeling almost effortlessly engrossing and yet impossible to put down. Every time I stopped playing I couldn’t wait to get back into the castle, and even though I saw where the major plot twists were very early on I was still happy as they unfolded.”
read full review ↗ - 76
“Undoubtedly giving off a feel of earlier days of grand environments, hacking, and slashing, but missing a spark to go next level”
read full review ↗ - 79
“I had a lot of fun with 9 Years of Shadows. Furthermore, I'd say it has the potential to please genre fans and, more than that, be an excellent gateway for those who are new to metroidvanias.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“It's pretty and it plays well, but this is a short, underwhelming Metroidvania with no exploration and uninteresting level design.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“9 Years of Shadows may not shake up the world of indie games, but it comes as a metroidvania with quality, personality and a lot of good ideas. Recommended for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“9 Years of Shadows is a Metroidvania with beautiful pixel art, a memorable soundtrack, and solid gameplay. Its poetic story and elemental armors enhance the exploration. The level design and artistic direction are standout features. A great choice for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“9 Years of Shadows, a Metroidvania game influenced by classic anime and Greek mythology, is coming to new platforms.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“9 Years of Shadows is an artful blend of fluid, challenging gameplay, beautiful environments, animations and user interface, and music that gets your blood pumping.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
video games are good
Fun Factor
Gamer Escape
Nindie Spotlight
Pizza Fria
PC Invasion
LevelUp
Manual dos Games
Enternity.gr
GameLuster…and 24 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Build Update #9: 1.1.41Apr 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Build Update #8: 1.0.98Feb 1, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Build Update #7: 1.0.72Aug 22, 2023
- Build Update #6: 1.0.56Jul 21, 2023
- Build Update #5: 1.0.54Jul 19, 2023
- Build Update #4: Performance and OptimizationJul 11, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Update #42: Improving PerformanceJun 11, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Build Update #3: New languagesMay 1, 2023
- Build update #2 - 1.0.19Apr 6, 2023
- Build update #1 - 1.0.16Apr 1, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Update #41 : We're Live!!Mar 28, 2023
- Update #39 The ReleaseFeb 20, 2023
- Update #38: The CountdownFeb 13, 2023
- Dev Update #13: A Final RequestNov 4, 2022
- Demo Update #2Oct 6, 2022
- Demo Update!Oct 4, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Dev Update #12 - The Last StretchSep 29, 2022
- Dev Update #11: The RevealAug 26, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Dev Update #10: The GenesisJul 26, 2022
- Dev Update #9: Our Latest ShowcaseJun 29, 2022
- Dev Update #8: Creatures of the DeepJun 2, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Dev Update #7 - A Trip Down Memory LaneApr 26, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Dev Update #6 - The Journey ContinuesMar 30, 2022
- Dev Update #5 - A Peek At TalosFeb 24, 2022
- Dev Update #4 - New BeginningsJan 18, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Dev Update #2 - InsidesOct 5, 2021
- Dev Update #1 - Elemental CombatAug 24, 2021significant · resets scoring window