Nine Sols

Nine Sols PC is a hand-drawn 2D action-platformer and combat-focused Metroidvania from RedCandleGames, the Taiwanese studio also known for Detention and Devotion. The current PC storefront name remains Nine Sols; there is no verified rebrand, renamed edition, or replacement title to distinguish from the original listing. Its identity comes from precise deflections, brutal boss encounters, interconnected exploration, and a science-fiction world shaped by Taoist imagery.

You play as Yi, a long-forgotten Solarian warrior awakened in New Kunlun, a sanctuary built by an ancient alien civilization. His goal is direct: confront the nine Sols who rule the abandoned realm. The story combines revenge, hidden history, Eastern mythology, and questions about humanity's survival without reducing the setting to a conventional fantasy kingdom.

Combat Built Around Deflection

Nine Sols is best understood as a Metroidvania where defense-first combat matters more than button-mashing. Yi can slash, evade, jump, dash, and deflect attacks, but the safest route through many encounters is to read enemy timing and answer with a properly timed parry.

A successful deflection does more than prevent damage. It supports the game's Qi and Talisman loop, allowing Yi to mark enemies and detonate Taoist talismans for substantial damage. This creates a deliberate rhythm: observe an attack, deflect it, create an opening, then convert that opening into an aggressive counterattack.

Early parries and ordinary strikes help players learn the language of each enemy, while later battles demand stronger control of distance, timing, aerial movement, and attack patterns. The result is closer to a side-scrolling interpretation of Sekiro's pressure-and-response philosophy than to a traditional hack-and-slash platformer.

Yi also carries a godly bow, giving the combat system a ranged option alongside sword attacks, deflections, and Talisman detonations. Bosses are designed as major tests of recognition and execution rather than simple health-bar checks, so improvement comes from understanding patterns instead of relying only on character power.

Exploration Across New Kunlun

The world is divided into interconnected regions rather than isolated stages. Progress involves moving through hostile facilities, ancient spaces, and technology-filled ruins, then returning to earlier areas after gaining new abilities or discovering a previously hidden route.

Exploration supports the combat instead of competing with it. Shortcuts reduce repeated travel, secrets reward attention, and NPC encounters can provide upgrades, abilities, and useful technology. The map's purpose is not simply to collect scenery; it gradually reveals how New Kunlun functions and why its rulers maintain control.

Movement expands as Yi gains access to abilities that improve traversal and combat positioning. Jumping, dashing, wall movement, grappling, and other mobility tools make familiar rooms more readable on later visits, while environmental hazards and platforming sequences test whether the player can apply those tools under pressure.

Players looking for a more open-ended exploration structure may prefer hand-drawn Metroidvania adventures such as Hollow Knight, but Nine Sols places noticeably more weight on deliberate combat timing and boss mastery than on wandering through an enormous map with minimal guidance.

Taopunk Style And Storytelling

RedCandleGames describes the setting as Taopunk, a fusion of cyberpunk technology, Taoism, Eastern mythology, and science-fiction worldbuilding. New Kunlun therefore shifts between industrial machinery, ritual imagery, biological technology, ancient symbols, and ruined sanctuary spaces without settling into a standard medieval or futuristic template.

The presentation is built from hand-drawn environments, sprite-based animation, anime-influenced cutscenes, and manga-style visual storytelling. Yi's silhouette and movement remain readable during busy fights, which is important when the combat depends on recognizing an incoming strike in a fraction of a second.

The narrative is delivered through conversations, environmental details, character relationships, and discoveries made while pushing farther into New Kunlun. The world is not just a backdrop for boss fights; its technology, rituals, and social order explain the conflict between Yi, the Sols, and the inhabitants caught under their rule.

Content, Purchase Model, And Replay Value

The core product is a paid single-player game rather than a free-to-play service or an episodic release. The PC storefront lists the base game separately, with the Nine Sols Soundtrack and Digital Art Book sold as optional extras rather than gameplay expansions.

There is no verified paid season pass or collection of gameplay DLC required to access the main adventure. Players buying the standard PC version are choosing the complete combat-and-exploration experience, while the Deluxe Edition bundle adds the soundtrack and art book as supplementary content.

Its long-term appeal comes from boss rematches, achievement hunting, hidden discoveries, alternate story outcomes, and combat refinement. Nine Sols does not use a procedural run-based structure; the main world is handcrafted, and the mastery loop is built around learning routes, improving execution, and uncovering more of Yi's story.

For a darker fantasy comparison with weapon variety, NPC quests, and interconnected 2D exploration, brutal Metroidvanias such as Blasphemous 2 share some structural DNA. Nine Sols differs through its parry-centered combat, science-fiction setting, and emphasis on converting defensive timing into explosive counterattacks.

Who Nine Sols Suits

Nine Sols is a strong fit for players who want precise parry combat, readable boss patterns, hand-drawn 2D animation, and a story-rich world with a distinctive cultural foundation. It rewards patience, repetition, and the willingness to change familiar action-game habits.

It is less suitable for players who mainly want relaxed platforming, low-pressure exploration, or combat that can be solved through constant attacking. The game offers adjustable difficulty, but its central design still asks players to engage with deflection timing and enemy behavior.

Players who enjoy the atmosphere of Metroidvanias but dislike opaque progression may find Nine Sols more approachable than some exploration-heavy alternatives because its major path is supported by clearer objectives and more structured encounters. The tradeoff is that its combat asks for greater precision.

PC Features And Controls

The Steam version is single-player and includes Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Leaderboards, and Family Sharing. Steam also marks the game as Steam Deck Verified, making it a practical choice for handheld PC play as well as desktop sessions.

Nine Sols has full controller support for Xbox and PlayStation controllers, and the developer recommends playing with a controller. Steam Input can extend compatibility to additional devices, including the Switch Pro Controller. A keyboard-only option is also listed among the game's accessibility features.

Other documented accessibility options include adjustable difficulty, color alternatives, custom volume controls, and stereo sound. These options do not remove the game's combat identity, but they give players more control over presentation, input, and challenge.

The PC release is available through Steam, while RedCandleGames also distributes a DRM-free PC version through its own storefront. The game supports interface text and subtitles in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Italian, European Spanish, and Polish. Full audio is not listed for these languages.

Nine Sols FAQ

Is Nine Sols still the official PC name?

Yes. The current PC storefront listing uses the name Nine Sols. No verified rebrand, definitive-edition rename, or renamed successor listing replaces that title.

What genre is Nine Sols?

It is a 2D action-platformer with Metroidvania exploration and Soulslike-inspired combat. Its defining mechanic is precise deflection, followed by Talisman-based counterattacks and aggressive damage conversion.

Does Nine Sols have multiplayer or co-op?

No. The PC version is a single-player adventure with no official online co-op, local co-op, split-screen, or competitive multiplayer mode.

Is the soundtrack included with the base game?

No. The soundtrack and digital art book are optional extras, and the Deluxe Edition bundle combines them with the base game. They do not add a separate campaign or gameplay system.

Can the difficulty be adjusted on PC?

Yes. Steam lists adjustable difficulty as an accessibility feature. The game remains centered on learning attacks and using deflections, but players can select a challenge level that better matches their experience.

Does Nine Sols support controllers?

Yes. Steam lists full controller support for Xbox and PlayStation controllers, while the developer documents Steam Input support for most controllers. Keyboard-only play is also available.

How does progression work?

Progression combines exploration, movement abilities, combat upgrades, NPC assistance, technology discoveries, and boss victories. The main mastery loop is to enter a new region, learn its hazards and enemies, improve Yi's tools, and return with better options for blocked routes and difficult encounters.