Play it if
You want Sekiro-like combat in a 2D adventure with a strong story.
Skip it if
You dislike challenging boss fights.
Fact sheet
- Players
- Single-player
- Online play
- No
- Cross-play
- No
- Solo
- Single-player only
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Typical playtime
- ~30 hours
- Steam Deck
- Verified
1The pitch
Yi awakens to fight the nine Sols who rule the land of New Kunlun. The story is mature and surprising, mixing Eastern philosophy with science fiction.
2How it plays
Like Sekiro, it is about deflection: you parry attacks to build up charges and unleash talismans. It adds metroidvania exploration and skill upgrades.
3Where it beats its rival
Against Sekiro it wins on story and price, and it is a little more forgiving thanks to difficulty options. It is the better choice if you want deflection combat in 2D.
4Look & sound
The hand-drawn art is rich, and the world feels unique. The soundtrack is excellent.
5Setup & value
It lists at $29.99, runs on Windows and macOS and is Verified on Steam Deck.
Best bits
- Excellent deflection combat
- Memorable story
- Unique art direction
Watch out
- Some difficulty spikes
- Slow start
Score sheet
- Depth 25%
- 92
- Feel 25%
- 92
- Easy to start 15%
- 80
- Replay 20%
- 82
- Value 15%
- 92
92 × 25% + 92 × 25% + 80 × 15% + 82 × 20% + 92 × 15% = 88.20 → 88
The judges' verdict
Verdict
“Nine Sols is one of the best 2D action games of recent years. It loses the rematch to Sekiro on intensity, but not by much.”
By the Bet Compare Guide editorial desk · Updated 20 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
