The Messenger

 PC
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

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Zer0TheHer0
    Aug 1, 2023
    0
    Good at beginning, it becomes incredibly frustrating and irritating after a certain point.
  2. Shnitz
    May 6, 2023
    6
    Good first half, second half is mediocre and gets worse at the end where i actually quit the game because it felt more and more like work and not fun.
  3. Babutto
    Feb 26, 2023
    9
    Pros.:
    - Great characters and dialogues.
    - Great idea of platformer then mutating into mild Metroidvania. - Weapons - not many but effective. - Mechanics mostly are intuitive. - So many Easter Eggs about previous franchises and games (Ninja Gaiden, Battletoads at least). - Friendly to achievement seekers. - Special secret areas. Cons.: - I hated that "hit" jump. Why didn't do    Pros.:
    - Great characters and dialogues.
    - Great idea of platformer then mutating into mild Metroidvania.
    - Weapons - not many but effective.
    - Mechanics mostly are intuitive.
    - So many Easter Eggs about previous franchises and games (Ninja Gaiden, Battletoads at least).
    - Friendly to achievement seekers.
    - Special secret areas.

    Cons.:
    - I hated that "hit" jump. Why didn't do normal double jump? Because of that some seal areas are quite annoying.
    - Phantom and Muse - I found these names quite lame for the characters. But it's personal thing.

    The game is awesome. Buy and play :D    … Expand
  4. Pmstz
    Jan 30, 2023
    7
    Very nice.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  5. Asspull
    Jan 28, 2023
    8
    good game . I can feel the respect . I like the way it changing music version .the walkthrough is smooth and satisfied .
  6. mennybolt
    Oct 21, 2022
    7
    Game is amazing at the start but overall it lacks a challenge, it is way too easy for genre. However, 8-bit to 16-bit switch and humour gives you the fresh blood to keep you going. Unfortunately that is ruined by game's love and passion to make itself longer and longer which ends up with the most boring backtrack. Just give me the content. Why are all the games are so obsessed to make youGame is amazing at the start but overall it lacks a challenge, it is way too easy for genre. However, 8-bit to 16-bit switch and humour gives you the fresh blood to keep you going. Unfortunately that is ruined by game's love and passion to make itself longer and longer which ends up with the most boring backtrack. Just give me the content. Why are all the games are so obsessed to make you waste more time on it? Why are you begging me to hate this game? Why does it matter if I play 3 more hours on it? Really wasted potential. It could easily be Katana Zero or Celeste level game.… Expand
  7. IdleSpace
    Jun 21, 2022
    6
    Ждал от игры хорошей метройдивании, по итогу задушился не дойдя до неё.
    Из плюсов - у авторов неплохое чувство юмора.
  8. Zeneko90
    Jun 2, 2022
    8
    Nettes. Spiel es hat echt viel Spaß gemacht. Mehr davon! Nicht zu lang, nicht zu kurz. Genau richtig.
  9. Leo_Manzano
    May 6, 2022
    7
    Working...........................................................................
  10. Wrathzo
    Mar 24, 2022
    6
    The Messenger is an action-platform video game developed by Sabotage Studio and published by Devolver Digital. The Messenger is a side-scrolling action-platformer, inspired by the classic Ninja Gaiden series. Players control a ninja known as "The Messenger" as he goes on a quest to deliver a scroll. The Messenger initially possesses a technique called "Cloudstepping", which allows him toThe Messenger is an action-platform video game developed by Sabotage Studio and published by Devolver Digital. The Messenger is a side-scrolling action-platformer, inspired by the classic Ninja Gaiden series. Players control a ninja known as "The Messenger" as he goes on a quest to deliver a scroll. The Messenger initially possesses a technique called "Cloudstepping", which allows him to perform an extra jump in mid-air after attacking an enemy, object, or projectile. As the game progresses, the Messenger gains new abilities such as climbing walls, gliding in the air, long-range shuriken attacks, and using a grappling hook to propel himself through obstacles and enemies. By collecting Time Shards earned by defeating enemies or hitting lamps, the player can purchase additional upgrades such as health bonuses or extra attack moves. If the player dies, however, a demon named Quarble will appear and automatically claim any Time Shards the player collects as payment for a short amount of time.… Expand
  11. Black_S
    Feb 28, 2022
    10
    For any fan of NES and SNES games. Old School by this meaning. This is your must-buy. Perfection.
  12. pianoguy13
    Jan 12, 2022
    0
    Fantastic 2d platformer/action game. It's not quite the level of polish and perfection that Celeste and Katana Zero are, but it's still an incredible game, with very satisfying gameplay and abilities. One thing with many lesser 2d platformers I see is that they tend to increase difficulty by added cheap tactics and unfair elements to the obstacles. I loved how Messenger was prettyFantastic 2d platformer/action game. It's not quite the level of polish and perfection that Celeste and Katana Zero are, but it's still an incredible game, with very satisfying gameplay and abilities. One thing with many lesser 2d platformers I see is that they tend to increase difficulty by added cheap tactics and unfair elements to the obstacles. I loved how Messenger was pretty straightforward, and you'd know what to expect with everything just by briefly observing it. Every success was earned, and every failure was my fault. If I knew how to clear something, and timed it correctly, I could do it every time without fail.… Expand
  13. a_light
    Dec 19, 2021
    9
    perfecto gameingo. so funninger. mustingo playinger. best platformerinho. muy bien
  14. ylnylmn
    Jul 2, 2021
    7
    Good game but I expected better. The game music is awesome. Pixel art sweet. Dialogues and Bosses are funny. However, the levels are kept very short, you spend your time with the bosses rather than the platform. I didn't like the tower part. Timekeeper Boss this boss design was bad. It was so slow, when you die, it starts to feel like torture to try constantly. Let's come to the part whereGood game but I expected better. The game music is awesome. Pixel art sweet. Dialogues and Bosses are funny. However, the levels are kept very short, you spend your time with the bosses rather than the platform. I didn't like the tower part. Timekeeper Boss this boss design was bad. It was so slow, when you die, it starts to feel like torture to try constantly. Let's come to the part where I got stuck in the game, I went down the lasers from the door before the Timekeeper Boss to collect more crystals and accidentally saved the game below and could not go up again. Because lasers were blocking the road and there was no platform. And the game got stuck like this, so I had to quit the game :D. The game was good until this part, but I realized that the game is not for me. I like metroidvania and soulslike more. But I recommend it to platform lovers. If you say you are a master, you will enjoy it.… Expand
  15. VooDoo1349
    Jun 9, 2021
    10
    ..........Nice Platformer..........
    ..........Awesome Metroidvania.........
  16. SamiReyiz
    Mar 10, 2021
    10
    This game is really complete. Songs sense of humor storyline dialogues and the most important gameplay. I think this game is master of indie games
  17. Luigichief
    Feb 18, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is a game that takes advantage of the best of the old games bringing some more modern and better mechanics.

    Gameplay is the charm of the game, it is very fluid and fast. It also has several checkpoints and its penalty when dying and just go without receiving money for a while, original, good and functional. The level design is very good and has a very nice progression. The first half of the game is completely linear, but out of nowhere the game sank a bit for me, it went from a hack & slash platform to a Metroidvania (which I like a lot less in general). The exploration of most items through the prophecies was really boring, but the new linear areas / areas and boss fights are still very good.

    The story begins with a very simple premise but expands a lot. When the game seems to be getting lukewarm, you arrive at the temple of the 3 wise men (or something) and that 'time-skip' and the graphics are in 32 bits. Then we found out that everything is cyclical and gives a really cool twist, changing the gameplay more to Metroidvania. All the lore in the world and that story of the Messengers that appears before entering the 'final dungeon' is very interesting.

    The dlc despite having a much inferior history it has a very good gameplay and more challenging than the main campaign in general.

    Good old style soundtrack.

    It has quite satires of the classic 8, 16 and 32 bits.    … Expand
  18. IMR707
    Feb 13, 2021
    7
    8/10 great game but later on game were a drag and the late game difficulty spike is baffling it's frustrating
  19. LuanV
    Feb 12, 2021
    9
    The Messenger no geral não inova em praticamente nada, porém, ele realiza com maestria aquilo que se propõe: ser um jogo de plataforma de ninja bem humorado. Os controles são muito precisos, as mecânicas apresentadas apesar de não serem inovadores, são extremamente divertidas e funcionais, a dificuldade está no ponto certo, o level design é perfeito, a história e as conversas são escritasThe Messenger no geral não inova em praticamente nada, porém, ele realiza com maestria aquilo que se propõe: ser um jogo de plataforma de ninja bem humorado. Os controles são muito precisos, as mecânicas apresentadas apesar de não serem inovadores, são extremamente divertidas e funcionais, a dificuldade está no ponto certo, o level design é perfeito, a história e as conversas são escritas de forma genial e os gráficos e trilhas sonoras são genuinamente muito bons. Ainda por cima há uma DLC gratuita onde acrescenta um novo mapa, novos cenários, novos bosses, novas trilhas e uma ponta solta para continuação.

    Recomendo fortemente para quem curte um bom jogo de plataforma e metroidvania.    … Expand
  20. yertre
    Feb 6, 2021
    10
    For the price, this game is unbelievably good. The platforming is challenging, the music and story are great, but the game's humour is what sells it. It's much more light-hearted than I expected, but it was a welcome surprise. The indie market is rather oversaturated with retro styled platformers, but this one really stands out. I don't think it's a 10/10, but I'll give it one anyway.For the price, this game is unbelievably good. The platforming is challenging, the music and story are great, but the game's humour is what sells it. It's much more light-hearted than I expected, but it was a welcome surprise. The indie market is rather oversaturated with retro styled platformers, but this one really stands out. I don't think it's a 10/10, but I'll give it one anyway.

    The game's up there with Dead Cells and Shovel Knight. What else can I say?    … Expand
  21. Frost_Cube
    Feb 1, 2021
    7
    Lacks a little something.
    Soundtrack is great but nothing more.
    Story is great but nothing more.
    Gameplay is fine.
    Metroidvania elements underex
  22. eraybeycik
    Dec 31, 2020
    7
    Not bad....................................................................
  23. Oshiri_Maeda
    Nov 5, 2020
    9
    GOD, IT'S SO GOOOOOD!
    It seems just nice, simple and short at the beginning. However, after 5-6 hours you realise this game is so much more than just a simple platformer! 22 hours (with DLC) of pure joy :D
    Simple, but challenging; perfected gameplay mechanics, great music, humour and awesome design!
  24. omerulas25
    Oct 16, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game would have been better when you killed that red monster, but when it continued it got really awful.… Expand
  25. Marco_1UP
    Sep 24, 2020
    10
    este juego es asombroso la musica es una de las mejores que escuche no me esperaba que cambiara de 8 bits a los 16 este juego al principio pense que no iba a ser la gran cosa pero resulto ser asombroso las mecanicas divierten bastantre hacer parkour todo el tiempo el personaje es algo genereico hast que sae transforma o cambia de aspecto con ese genial sombrero un gran juego
  26. PlayerFoxy
    Sep 18, 2020
    10
    jogo que joguei ele ja zerei e vou zerar a dlc bom dms gráficos bonitinhos e jogabilidade melhor com controle mas mt bom tmb no teclado
  27. juanfrandegea
    Sep 15, 2020
    8
    No es tan difícil como lo parece, quizá si lo sea conseguir todos los coleccionables pero se puede hacer. Lo he disfrutado mucho, conversaciones divertidas, luchas con bosses interesantes y la promesa de un nuevo juego que ya quiero probar.
  28. Relkad
    Sep 5, 2020
    7
    It can get boring pretty easily but the humor and the music keeps you going.
  29. Haeder
    Aug 12, 2020
    10
    This game is a hidden gem, That I didn't know existed.

    Especially the final boss.
  30. BobbyTarantino
    Aug 8, 2020
    8
    a man goes to the doctor. says he's depressed. he says life seems harsh and cruel. says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. the doctor says "the treatment is simple. the great clown pagliacci is in town tonight. go and see him, that should pick you up." the man bursts into tears. he says "but doctor... i am pagliacci."
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. 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]
  2. 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.
    Read full review
  3. Eurogamer Italy
    Sep 13, 2018
    80
    Devolver Digital and Sabotage Studio propose a game that could innovate its genre.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »