# Games like The Messenger

> The closest matches to The Messenger: Cyber Shadow, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, Katana ZERO, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, and Timespinner. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.

## Similar games, ranked

The full ranked list, 24 games, best match first (the HTML page shows the top 8 as cards).

1. [Cyber Shadow](https://imho.run/games/861250/cyber-shadow) — Also Ninja and Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 637 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/861250/)
2. [NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound](https://imho.run/games/2542120/ninja-gaiden-ragebound) — Also Ninja, like The Messenger. 1,103 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2542120/)
3. [Katana ZERO](https://imho.run/games/460950/katana-zero) — A frequent pick in The Messenger players' libraries, and another Action. 22,408 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/460950/)
4. [SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance](https://imho.run/games/2361770/shinobi-art-of-vengeance) — Also Ninja and Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 1,343 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2361770/)
5. [Timespinner](https://imho.run/games/368620/timespinner) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 1,643 Steam reviews, 85% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/368620/)
6. [Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight](https://imho.run/games/428550/momodora-reverie-under-the-moonlight) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 4,102 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/428550/)
7. [Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon](https://imho.run/games/838310/bloodstained-curse-of-the-moon) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 1,951 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/838310/)
8. [Celeste](https://imho.run/games/504230/celeste) — A frequent pick in The Messenger players' libraries, and another Action. 58,812 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/504230/)
9. [Death's Gambit: Afterlife](https://imho.run/games/356650/death-s-gambit-afterlife) — A frequent pick in The Messenger players' libraries, and another RPG. 2,088 Steam reviews, 80% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/356650/)
10. [Blasphemous](https://imho.run/games/774361/blasphemous) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 18,415 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/774361/)
11. [Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider](https://imho.run/games/1942010/vengeful-guardian-moonrider) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 294 Steam reviews, 85% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1942010/)
12. [Axiom Verge](https://imho.run/games/332200/axiom-verge) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 4,057 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/332200/)
13. [VVVVVV](https://imho.run/games/70300/vvvvvv) — A frequent pick in The Messenger players' libraries, and another Action. 4,463 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/70300/)
14. [Pepper Grinder](https://imho.run/games/2076580/pepper-grinder) — A frequent pick in The Messenger players' libraries, and another Action. 753 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2076580/)
15. [BLADECHIMERA](https://imho.run/games/2671230/bladechimera) — Also Ninja and Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 694 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2671230/)
16. [Dead Cells](https://imho.run/games/588650/dead-cells) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 43,598 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/588650/)
17. [Cave Story+](https://imho.run/games/200900/cave-story) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 3,688 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/200900/)
18. [ScourgeBringer](https://imho.run/games/1037020/scourgebringer) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 1,214 Steam reviews, 89% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1037020/)
19. [KUNAI](https://imho.run/games/1001800/kunai) — Also Ninja and Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 175 Steam reviews, 76% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1001800/)
20. [MIO: Memories in Orbit](https://imho.run/games/1672810/mio-memories-in-orbit) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 1,328 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/)
21. [Alwa's Legacy](https://imho.run/games/1205900/alwa-s-legacy) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 279 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205900/)
22. [Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo](https://imho.run/games/2870350/pipistrello-and-the-cursed-yoyo) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 881 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2870350/)
23. [Horace](https://imho.run/games/629090/horace) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 276 Steam reviews, 85% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/629090/)
24. [The Mummy Demastered](https://imho.run/games/630310/the-mummy-demastered) — Also Metroidvania, like The Messenger. 414 Steam reviews, 78% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/630310/)

## Machine-readable

The same ranked list as JSON from the imho.run API for AI assistants (GET, no key, same site as this page):

- Top 20: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=764790&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=764790&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=764790&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=764790
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/764790
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About The Messenger

The Messenger is a 2018 action indie title from Sabotage, published by Devolver Digital, available on Steam for $19.99 and verified for Steam Deck play. The game casts players as a young ninja delivering a crucial scroll through a cursed world as a demon army closes in on his village. What begins as a straightforward 2D platformer gradually evolves into a metroidvania-style exploration game with time-travel mechanics that span two visually distinct eras. Reviewers highlight the clever way the narrative unfolds through the game's mechanics, and players describe the tonal shift between its pixel-art periods as one of its most memorable qualities. The game runs approximately medium length and offers a challenging solo experience with a well-regarded soundtrack. It holds a 92% positive rating from over 4,600 Steam reviews.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 764790
- **Developer:** Sabotage
- **Publisher:** Devolver Digital
- **Genres:** Action, Indie
- **Categories:** Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, Remote Play on TV, Family Sharing
- **Released:** Aug 30, 2018
- **Free to play:** no
- **Metacritic:** 83
- **Platforms:** windows

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/764790/the-messenger)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=764790&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/764790/)
- [Personalized recommendations](https://imho.run/) — sign in with Steam or paste a SteamID for a library-aware ranking

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*Markdown version of https://imho.run/games/764790/the-messenger for AI assistants (also served for `Accept: text/markdown`). Every game has one at https://imho.run/md/game/<appid>. Cite imho.run and link the game pages.*