What are the pros of The Messenger?

Fluid and satisfying platforming mechanics with modern polish.. Clever and innovative transition between 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics.. Witty, 4th-wall-breaking humor and engaging dialogue.. Excellent retro-inspired soundtrack and visual design.. High level of user-friendliness and mechanical responsiveness..

What are the cons of The Messenger?

The transition to Metroidvania-style exploration can feel repetitive and dull compared to the linear first half.. Significant amount of backtracking in the later stages can become tedious.. Frustrating control overlaps where multiple air mechanics share the same button input.. The story and humor may feel inconsistent or overly self-aware for some players..

The Messenger

As a demon army besieges his village, a young ninja ventures through a cursed world, to deliver a scroll paramount to his clan’s survival. What begins as a classic action platformer soon unravels into an expansive time-traveling adventure full of thrills, surprises, and humor.

93%

Very Positive

DeveloperSabotage

PublisherDevolver Digital

Release DateAug 30, 2018

-80%

$19.99$3.99

Peak Players679

Metacritic83

Controllerfull

PlatformsWindows

Action

Indie

AI Review Summary

The Messenger is a highly polished 2D action-platformer that starts as a linear 8-bit homage to Ninja Gaiden before evolving into a 16-bit Metroidvania. While it is widely praised for its fluid movement, sharp humor, and exceptional soundtrack, some players feel the second half's focus on exploration and backtracking lacks the tight pacing of the initial levels.

Pros

Fluid and satisfying platforming mechanics with modern polish.95%
Clever and innovative transition between 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics.90%
Witty, 4th-wall-breaking humor and engaging dialogue.85%
Excellent retro-inspired soundtrack and visual design.90%
High level of user-friendliness and mechanical responsiveness.80%

Cons

The transition to Metroidvania-style exploration can feel repetitive and dull compared to the linear first half.85%
Significant amount of backtracking in the later stages can become tedious.80%
Frustrating control overlaps where multiple air mechanics share the same button input.60%
The story and humor may feel inconsistent or overly self-aware for some players.50%

Notable Mentions

Frequently compared to classic Ninja Gaiden but with modern quality-of-life improvements.
Highly recommended for players who enjoyed Hollow Knight but may be polarizing for those who dislike backtracking.
Strong performance and appeal for Steam Deck users.

Confidence: 60%

Based on the 200 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Oct 12, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

Peak · last 90 days

134

All-time peak

679

Price

Current price

$19.99$3.99-80%

Lowest tracked

$3.99since Jun 12, 2026

Review Sentiment

Launch week

89%

Last 30 days

89%

All-time positive

93%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews13.3K

Positive: 12.3K (93%)Negative: 986 (7%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

18h

Avg Playtime at Review

93%

Credible Reviews