The Messenger

 PC
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. CGMagazine
    Aug 28, 2018
    100
    The Messenger’s intricate platforming and charming world make for a surprising journey that must be played.
  2. Jeuxvideo.com
    Sep 9, 2018
    90
    Twist after twist, The Messenger turns out to be an amazing game. Everything looks and feels perfect, from its sense of humor to its level-design. It’s a must-have for every retro games lover.
  3. Everyeye.it
    Sep 3, 2018
    86
    Competent action-platform, curious "double-face" metroidvania, of ancient origins but with exceptional and unpredictable flickers of contemporaneity.
  5. 3DJuegos
    Sep 3, 2018
    85
    An amazing tribute to retro gaming like Ninja Gaiden saga. The Messenger is a great, funny and surprising action platform game with a beautiful art style and clever level design.
  6. IGN Italia
    Aug 28, 2018
    83
    The Messenger is a brilliant action platformer (...or is it a metroidvania?), full of irony and pretty difficult jumps. The time shift between the 8-bit past and the 16-bit "future" is what makes the game shine - even with its low replayability.
  7. CD-Action
    Jan 9, 2019
    80
    It’s a tribute to the original Ninja Gaiden released in 1988, so the game obviously borrows a lot from genre’s progenitors, but it also adds a lot to the mix and its platforming mechanics are superb. Even though it gets less exciting in the second half, I have to recommend it. [11/2018, p.73]
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  8. Eurogamer Italy
    Sep 13, 2018
    80
    Devolver Digital and Sabotage Studio propose a game that could innovate its genre.
  9. GameCrate
    Sep 5, 2018
    80
    The Messenger is a game that makes no effort to hide who its intended audience is, and its clever combining of two distinct gameplay genres ensures that it casts a rather wide net. Whether you’re a die-hard retro gaming fan or a genre newbie eager to dive into the deep end, Sabotage’s debut title is one adventure worth embarking on.
  10. Gameblog.fr
    Aug 31, 2018
    80
    Even if it tends to be a bit frustrating in its second half, as it opens up a bit, The Messenger is still a magnificent and really great to play independent action platformer with some clever ideas and a lovable personality.
  11. GameSpot
    Aug 28, 2018
    80
    The Messenger takes the best parts of the action-platformers it takes influence from and reinterprets them well. With clever writing, well-designed levels, and balanced difficulty curve, the game continuously hooks you with enticing skill-based challenges and satisfying payoffs. Your character might have an immediate imperative to delivering a world-saving scroll, but the journey there definitely one to savor.
  12. New Game Network
    Aug 29, 2018
    79
    Less a Gaiden successor and more a general love-letter to its look and style, The Messenger allows fans to hop gleefully between cheery gaming memories without being bound by the rigid controls and punishing precision of a prior era, while somehow managing to remain entirely accessible to newcomers as a fun, unmistakeably wholehearted 2D platformer.
  13. GameOver.gr
    Sep 14, 2018
    75
    Creating both an 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetic is a genius idea and a very meta way for depicting the world in the past and future eras. It’s also commendable that Sabotage introduced a clever alternative to the usual double jump function we usually see in the platform genre. Though it’s filled with charm and highly competent gameplay it’s marred by exhausting backtracking (even for the genre), few enemy types and a lack of challenge.

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best PC Game of 2018
54
#54 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 197 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 142 out of 197
  2. Mixed: 38 out of 197
  3. Negative: 17 out of 197
  1. willmckasson
    Sep 7, 2018
    3
    Average game controls, average retro graphics. Annoyingly challenging at times for no reason to be able to advance the story/game (lava timedAverage game controls, average retro graphics. Annoyingly challenging at times for no reason to be able to advance the story/game (lava timed jumping death room, chased by dragon for minutes on floating clouds). Traversing any part of a level your avoiding laser beams, spikes, instant death pitfalls and that dunce quarble whos just a knock off of the Whammys from press your luck. Not too mention theres like a dozen enemies in the game. Very repetitive and boring seeing the same enemies every two steps. Turns into a wanna-be metroid style game but again, every other area has pitfall deaths and getting from A - B is not fun, its work. Ditch instant death. Ditch "quarble", get better item progressions or more useful items. Plant a seed, get a thistle, get a candle to light up a dark area??? So glad i fell through a hundred instant pit deaths to do a 3 item quest to find a candle to go to another poorly designed same enemies, same layout dungeon. An even better one is when you find Ruxxins staff and think its going to be something awesome maybe a new power, but you need to find the amulet first, then you get the amulet find out it just activates a warp..... they both dont do anything cool it was just an errand so you can teleport to yet another poorly designed, enemy repetitive fail zone..... Lame, whack, lazy.

    A mild saving grace was a slight plot twist that was kind of fun but they could have done more. The boss battles are fun and just challenging enough to make you want to win. It brings back some rememberberries looking like Ninja Gaiden too.

    All in all The Messenger was a promising overhyped retro 2-d metroidvania platformer that falls short really everywhere. A Jack of some trades and definitely didn't master anything.

    This game is a perfect reason of why i download before i buy. Waste of hard earned money. Check out shovel knight for examples on how to do a platforming 2-d sidescroller correct. OR check out axiom verge. A great example of what a metroidvania game should be like, and it doesn't have instant death pitfalls. Both are much better games in every way.    … Full Review »
  2. Darktalon
    Sep 12, 2018
    10
    This was one of the greatest 2D platformers I have played. And it is a really funny game too, like really great job with that! Great balanceThis was one of the greatest 2D platformers I have played. And it is a really funny game too, like really great job with that! Great balance of gameplay and storytime if you want to talk to the shop keep.… Full Review »
  3. chrispaulmhd
    Sep 3, 2018
    10
    Almost through the game. An amazing game that lives up to the likes of Celeste and moreso Shovel Knight because it is more combat driven. TheAlmost through the game. An amazing game that lives up to the likes of Celeste and moreso Shovel Knight because it is more combat driven. The game has levels but turns into a metroidvania, with a sprawling map later in the game. It is an interesting mechanic, and along with the 8-bit to 16-bit changing mechanic, this game has more than enough original game mechanics to add to the platformer genre. Because of this, and what it has done to advance platforming mechanics in general. This game deserves nothing but a 10.… Full Review »
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