Leon Armstrong
TheXboxHub9 Years of Shadows Review
Published 8/25/2025
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+16 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCritic Atlas
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Series X|S / PS4 / Android / PC / iOS / PS5 / XONE / Switch - 3/27/2023
9 Years of Shadows
9 Years of Shadows is an emotionally-driven Metroidvania, enhanced by healing music that tells the story of Europa, a young woman of noble birth tasked with ending the curse that plagues her people and restoring color to all lands.
- Developer
- Halberd Studios
- Publisher
- Freedom Games
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Critic average
74
Average of 15 scored external reviews.
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Reflex / execution-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Exploration-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Combat / action-focusedDefining · Curated baseline
Atmosphere-driven / aesthetic identityDefining · Curated baseline
Whimsical / playful / lightheartedStrongly · Curated baseline
Highly replayableStrongly · Curated baseline
Story / character-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Systems / mechanics-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Show 12 more descriptors
Punishing / high-pressureStrongly · Curated baseline
Buildcraft / customization-heavyStrongly · Curated baseline
Loot / progression-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Side-content richStrongly · Curated baseline
Unconventional / experimentalStrongly · Curated baseline
Serious / dark / groundedModerately · Curated baseline
Strategic / planning-heavyModerately · Curated baseline
Cozy / low-pressureModerately · Curated baseline
Puzzle / logic-focusedSlightly · Curated baseline
Run-based / proceduralNot present · Curated baseline
Multiplayer / socialNot present · Curated baseline
Short / focusedNot present · Curated baseline
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Review coverage
Critic signal strength
Numeric critic scoring uses full scored reviews once available. Review-in-progress scores act as temporary early signal only until full review scores exist. Unscored reviews still count as coverage, but they are not included in the critic average.
High confidenceMixed response
Critic avg
74
15 scored reviews
Total coverage
15
All coverage currently scored
Score range
60–90
Lowest to highest scored review
Signal shape
Mixed response
Score range is 21–30 points
Critic landscape
The critic average is 74 across 15 scored reviews, with a 30-point spread. That suggests a mixed critic response rather than a single clear read.
How to read this
The average may hide important disagreement. Check the individual review cards and score deltas to see which critics landed above or below the pack.
Most scored reviews currently sit in the 80–89 band.
Score distribution
Shows how included scored reviews are clustered across the normalized 100-point scale.
15 included scored reviews
90–1001 review · 7%
80–895 reviews · 33%
70–794 reviews · 27%
Below 705 reviews · 33%
Showing 1-10 of 15 matching critic reviews. 15 total critic reviews. Page 1 of 2.
Nick Erl
Final Weapon9 Years of Shadows Review – A Visual Beauty Entangled in Genre Flaws
Published 8/12/2025
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
60
-14 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPhilip Watson
CGMagazine9 Years of Shadows (PS5) Review
Published 8/9/2025
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
70
-4 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalKrystle Lim
Gamer Social Club9 Years Of Shadows Review
Published 8/5/2025
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
65
-9 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalRichard Seagrave
GameSpew9 Years of Shadows review
Published 8/4/2025
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
+6 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalEdEN
PS4Blog.net9 Years of Shadows Review
Published 7/31/2025
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
85
+11 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalKirk Hiner
Pure NintendoReview: 9 Years of Shadows (Nintendo Switch) - Pure Nintendo
Published 12/14/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
75
+1 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalWill Silberman
Digital Chumps9 Years of Shadows Review (Nintendo Switch)
Published 12/14/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
+6 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalJustin Nation
Nindie SpotlightNindie Spotlight 9 Years of Shadows Review
Published 11/20/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
76
+2 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalTom Massey
Nintendo LifeReview: 9 Years Of Shadows - Unique Ideas Elevate This Scrappy Metroidvania
Published 11/13/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
+6 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPlayer reviews
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