The Messenger Reviews

The Messenger is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Aug 28, 2018

For those who spent hours playing the original Ninja Gaiden or Castlevania on NES and are looking for a bit of nostalgia, The Messenger will be a near perfect fit.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2018

The Messenger is easily one of the best indie games in recent years where you can see the passion of the developer in nearly every aspect of the gameplay, complete with some unique twists along the way.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Aug 28, 2018

Games that are so clearly terrific and special in many ways, but that have a degree of difficulty that makes me concerned not everyone will get a chance to appreciate it, always pose a scoring challenge for me. Unlike, say, a roguelike where some mild progression and sheer luck can give you good runs every once in a while here there are no tricks, shortcuts, or luck to be had. Your options are merely to “git gud” or to stop playing. It’s an approach I find admirable, and given the generally generous spacing of checkpoints I think it’s as fair as it can be without completely compromising. If you’re up to the challenge, or to give it a serious try, this is absolutely a rewarding experience and one that pays off more and more the further in you’re able to go. The evolution of its visual style and gameplay are something I’ve simply never seen before and I think will inevitably be copied, they’re so impressively done. What will be far tougher to have any hope of replicating, and what really sets The Messenger apart, is the game’s tremendous sense of humor and poking fun at itself. The result is one of the most deserving titles of “the hype” I’ve seen in quite some time.

Read full review

Evan Norris
Top Critic
8 / 10
Sep 3, 2018

Arguably the finest 2D action-adventure of 2018, a year that has seen an influx of well-crafted Metroidvanias.

Read full review

8.7 / 10.0
Sep 8, 2018

The Messenger is an almost entirely well-made Genremix, which has his issues with the difficulty in the second half, but thanks to the humour, the flawless gameplay, the lovely artwork and the score the title manages to succeed in every discipline. Jump N`Run and Indiegaming Fans can`t go around this one

Review in German | Read full review

10 / 10
Aug 27, 2018

The Messenger is a prime example of how to study the fundamental rules of a genre that has been replicated a million times before. To then follow these rules, bend them and eventually break them into something of its own calibre of quality is something quite special indeed.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2018

The Messenger is a fascinating exercise in genre reinvention, a showcase for two radically different approaches to homage.

Read full review

9.1 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2018

Sabotage created a game filled with nostalgia in a very positive way. This is one of the best game of the year so far! Every gamer who's played retro classics like Ninja Gaiden or Strider, should give this one a try.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 10, 2018

The Messenger has all the necessary elements to become the indie of the year or at least to fight it with arguments of weight. A design of outstanding levels, battles with bosses very satisfactory, plot with a lot of chicha and fun to tons. So tie your sword to your belt and jump without fear of adventure.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 25, 2018

The Messenger is simple, it has near to no challenges and it's non-widespread levels make it's diverse platforming mechanics undervalued. so if you haven't experienced The Messenger yet, you didn't miss a great title.

Review in Persian | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 10, 2018

The Messenger goes beyond paying its respects to the games of the past, effectively using the time shifting as a homage to the 8- and 16-bit eras. It’s more than a gimmick, acting as both a game mechanic and a storytelling tool. The interesting narrative draws you in while the clever writing breaks the fourth wall to make you laugh. The tight controls keep you playing, despite the slight tedium of the Metroidvania segments. The Messenger toes the line between being a tribute to old-school games and being a modern game with a fresh feeling.

Read full review

Dec 3, 2018

The Messenger has a unique spin that sets it apart from other games and yet, ironically, it lacks an identity of its own. As a modern Ninja Gaiden game it’s excellent, but it only maintains that for half the game. The other half is a faint-hearted attempted at a Metroidvania that never quite works. I thoroughly enjoyed eight to nine hours of my twelve-hour playthrough. The other three or four were a little more tedious than I would have liked but that shouldn’t entirely negate a brilliant platformer with plenty to offer even in a year that’s been chock full of throwback retro platformers.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2018

The Messenger is a game that, despite being heavily influenced by the classics, should be played by all. It has very few flaws and is good through and through. Its art direction is stunning, its soundtrack is exceptional, its level design is marvellous and its gameplay is intuitive, but it's not as innovative as it should be.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Nov 1, 2018

The Messenger is one of the most successful contemporary takes on 80s and 90s platforming I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Where many games attempt to cash in on easy nostalgia plays and fall short of impressing anybody, The Messenger wholeheartedly embraces the design philosophies from the era of its inspiration and uses them as a framework for experimentation rather than a set of guidelines to be ignored as often as they're followed.

Read full review

Aug 28, 2018

"One of the best looking and sounding retro-inspired games, but its difficulty curve is like a roller coaster."

Review in Finnish | Read full review

Aug 28, 2018

The gameplay, while simple, is incredibly enjoyable. It does make you think a little with what you have to conquer each boss and monster, but that’s what makes The Messenger a game of its own right.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Mar 21, 2019

Just go out and buy this amazing game now. It’s brilliant, funny, well made and nostalgic. Its soundtrack is to die for, it’s gameplay simple yet technical and the whole presentation on offer deserves the highest praise. Its characters and dialogue are well written and comical, it points fun at itself, at video game culture and it’s delightful.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Mar 26, 2019

The Messenger is a retro-styled old school challenge that starts off easy but will soon test any player's hidden ninja skills. This is a multi-genre homage to some real classics that manages to feel like a long lost gem.

Read full review

9 / 10
Mar 25, 2019

After several hours of dying and dying again the game gives you reason to think it’s all over before it just isn’t, and this could throw some people off. It certainly did me, whilst it’s no bother at all to keep playing The Messenger the pacing felt a little strange in the closing moments, and there’s a fair amount of backtracking to be getting on with. Fortunately this allows you to head back to old levels that have a 16-bit remix that you wouldn’t have seen before, which makes it worthwhile all the more.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Mar 25, 2019

The Messenger is without a doubt a game that gamers should not pass up on. I very much enjoyed every aspect of the game from the hilarious banter between the Messenger and the shopkeeper to the platforming and the boss fights. I cannot see any one aspect of the game I did not enjoy. If this is the first game made by Sabotage Studio, then I would say that they have a bright future ahead of them in the games industry.

Read full review