Indie Games.

Search games
ActionAdventureIndie by Halberd Studios

9 Years of Shadows

9 Years of Shadows is a Metroidvania action-adventure following Europa, a warrior who wields music and light to restore color to a world consumed by darkness. Developed by Halberd Studios, it blends tight combat with exploration across interconnected areas unlocked through new abilities. The color-restoration mechanic ties aesthetics directly to progression, shifting environments visually as you advance.

Last reviewed

Share: X Reddit HN LinkedIn
9 Years of Shadows

About

Fight to bring beautiful colors back to a hand-crafted world of darkness and discover the story of Europa, a young warrior, and her ghostly childhood companion, Apino.

Games like 9 Years of Shadows

  • Other titles in the same genre
  • Popular indie releases
  • Games with similar mechanics

Good for

  • Players who enjoy ability-gated Metroidvania exploration
  • Those who like narrative-driven indie action games
  • Fans of pixel art with a mythological aesthetic
  • Controller players looking for a sub-20-hour campaign

Avoid if

  • You expect the mechanical depth of genre benchmarks like Hollow Knight
  • You dislike backtracking to re-explore unlocked areas
  • Short runtimes (5-8 hours) feel insufficient for $19.99

FAQ

Is 9 Years of Shadows worth playing in 2026?

If players who enjoy ability-gated metroidvania exploration, 9 Years of Shadows holds up well. Check "Avoid if" above for honest caveats before committing.

How long does 9 Years of Shadows take to beat?

Main story runtime varies — check the HowLongToBeat link in the sidebar for community-reported hours (Main / Main+Extras / Completionist).