The Messenger review — more than a simple Ninja Gaiden tribute

The Messenger is another indie game taking inspiration from the action-platformers of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. But while the likes of Shovel Knight and Sundered borrow most from Castlevania and Super Metroid, The Messenger is a tribute to ninja-based games like Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi.

But this PC and Switch release (which comes out on August 30) is more than a spiritual successor. The Messenger has clever mechanics and some big twists that help make it one of the best retro side-scrollers of the modern era.