Nine Sols

Nine Sols is a triumph of parry-focused combat design, proving Red Candle Games can match the storytelling craft of Detention and Devotion with genuinely excellent action. The deflection system is razor-precise, turning every boss encounter into a tense rhythmic duel where reading tells and countering with charged talismans feels earned rather than gifted. Its Taopunk aesthetic, hand-drawn character art fused with Taoist iconography and cyberpunk decay, gives New Kunlun a distinct visual identity that stands apart from the crowded metroidvania field. Yi's journey through guilt and vengeance carries real emotional stakes, elevated by strong voice work and a script that trusts players to sit with ambiguity. Exploration is satisfying if a touch less expansive than genre giants like Hollow Knight, with backtracking occasionally feeling like padding rather than discovery. Difficulty spikes on certain bosses may frustrate players expecting a gentler on-ramp. Even so, this is one of the finest action-platformers of 2024, a confident, focused vision executed with real craft.