Sekiro style Metroidvania Nine Sols is cheaper than ever as we wait for Silksong

Even with all the signs pointing to the launch of Hollow Knight Silksong arriving this year, it’s better not to spend too long thinking about it. Instead, I recommend plunging yourself headfirst into another fantastic 2D Metroidvania with all the action and platforming chops of Team Cherry’s classic. Inspired by Elden Ring developer Fromsoftware’s best game to date, Nine Sols is one of the strongest contenders to the Hollow Knight crown that I’ve played in a while, and you can currently get it cheaper than it’s ever been on Steam.

When I was last away from home for a week, I took the opportunity to dive into Nine Sols, which works fantastically on portable gaming devices like the Steam Deck. I knew that developer Red Candle Games listed Sekiro as a direct influence for its combat, but I was still caught off-guard by just how satisfying landing those deflections and counters feels. It’s tough – even in the early stages, I found myself dying a lot – but that makes Nine Sols an undeniably compelling action game when you begin to master your move set.

Combat aside, this beautiful indie game has a lot going for it. The recent launch of Clair Obscur Expedition 33 has once again emphasized how important a strong opening is, and Nine Sols had me similarly hooked in from the very early stages with its dramatic introduction and a stark reversal of expectations. Its hand-drawn environments are stunning, and there are just enough branching paths to tease you.

So don’t sit around worrying that Silksong isn’t here yet. The original Hollow Knight was a reminder of how games from small teams can surprise you if given a chance, and I’ve had a similar experience this year discovering the weird, technicolor space adventure of Ultros.

Nine Sols deserves to be on that list of the best Metroidvanias in recent years, and you don’t have to simply take my word on that – it also boasts an ‘overwhelmingly positive’ rating of 95% from more than 24,000 user reviews. If you’ve yet to try it out there’s no better time, as an ongoing Steam sale from Red Candle drops the price lower than it’s ever been on the Valve store.

Nine Sols is 40% off on Steam until Monday May 12, so expect to pay $17.99 / £14.99 for your copy if you buy it before then. Find it right here if you think you’ve got what it takes to bring down the gods.

If you love the sensation of supreme mobility, leap into the best platform games for plenty more of that. Alternatively, if challenging combat is what drives you, here are the best soulslikes in 2025.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.