By Crunchyroll
Report updated Apr 17, 2026
Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows
For anime fans and gamers who value high-quality, narrative-driven action games and are already engaged in the Crunchyroll ecosystem.
Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows is an established games app that is available. With a 3.2/5 rating from 174 reviews, it shows polarized user reception.
What is Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows?
Current Momentum
v1.0 · 13mo ago
ZombieNo major updates recorded. The app has been stagnant since a minor improvement patch in February 2025.
Active Nemesis
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
By NetEase Games
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸
GamesNo ranking data
Rating Pulse 🇺🇸
What makes this app unique?
How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?
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What Are The Key Features?
Switch between lightning, water, earth, and fire armors on the fly to gain unique traversal abilities and exploit enemy weaknesses.
Collect musical notes to perform a healing lullaby, integrating the game's soundtrack directly into gameplay and health management.
Control a floating bear companion to cleanse corruption, shield the player, and fire projectiles at enemies.
Exclusive access to a library of premium games included with Crunchyroll Mega and Ultimate Fan memberships.
How much does it cost?
- Mega/Ultimate Fan Membership: Required for full access to the Game Vault library
Uses a 'value-add' subscription model where the game library serves as a retention incentive for existing anime streaming subscribers, removing the upfront cost barrier common in the genre.
Who Built It?
Crunchyroll
Providing a centralized hub for anime streaming and curated mobile gaming experiences for global fans of Japanese pop culture.
Portfolio
13
Apps
Who is Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll has transitioned from a pure-play streaming service to a lifestyle platform by leveraging its massive subscriber base to distribute a 'Game Vault' of premium mobile titles. Their moat is the vertical integration between Sony Pictures and Aniplex, granting them exclusive access to top-tier anime IP and a built-in distribution channel that bypasses traditional user acquisition costs. The strategic shift toward bundling games as a retention tool for premium tiers signals a move to compete with other media giants for the attention of niche-specific audiences.
Who is Crunchyroll for?
- Anime enthusiasts
- Fans of Japanese pop culture who prioritize timely access to new content
- Interactive experiences tied to their favorite series
Portfolio momentum
With 111 releases in the last 6 months and 83 active apps, the publisher is aggressively expanding its library and maintaining a high update frequency.
What other apps does Crunchyroll make?
What do users think recently?
Analysis in progress, available soon
What is the competitive landscape for Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows?
How's The Games Market?
Market outlook for this category
Available very soon
The rivals identified
The Nemesis
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
NetEase Games
The most direct gameplay rival, sharing the specific 'Igavania' DNA, high-fidelity gothic art style, and a soundtrack by the same legendary composer, Michiru Yamane.
Head to Head
Bloodstained holds the edge in depth and brand recognition, but 9 Years of Shadows is a superior strategic choice for anime fans already in the Crunchyroll ecosystem who want a high-quality Metroidvania without an additional purchase.
What sets Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows apart
Unique musical healing mechanic that integrates the soundtrack directly into the core gameplay loop
Included at no extra cost for existing Crunchyroll Mega/Ultimate Fan subscribers, providing high value-add
What's Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night's Edge
Established legacy brand with a massive, dedicated fanbase and significantly higher rating count
Deeper RPG systems including crafting, cooking, and extensive equipment customization
Contenders
The industry standard for the genre, offering a pure, nostalgic experience with zero modern filler
Features the 'Inverted Castle' twist, providing a level of map complexity rarely matched by modern indies
Roguelite structure provides near-infinite replayability compared to the fixed narrative of 9 Years of Shadows
Available via Netflix Games, making it a direct competitor in the 'subscription-based mobile gaming' space
Afterimage — Mystery Novel
0Taiwan1996
A modern, visually stunning Metroidvania that matches 9 Years of Shadows in its focus on hand-drawn aesthetics and elemental powers.
Features a massive non-linear world with over 15 distinct areas and a heavier focus on lore-heavy storytelling
Offers a wider variety of character builds through a complex talent tree system
Peers
Isometric roguelike combat rather than side-scrolling exploration
Heavy focus on character relationships and procedural narrative delivery
Grimvalor
★4.7 (129.1K)Direlight
🔧A highly-rated mobile-first action platformer that shares the dark, atmospheric tone and challenging boss encounters.
More linear, combat-focused progression compared to the backtracking-heavy Metroidvania style
Optimized specifically for mobile touchscreens from the ground up
New Kids on the Block
Unique head-swapping mechanic that changes the entire playstyle mid-run
Faster, more chaotic combat rhythm compared to the methodical pace of 9 Years of Shadows
The outtake for Crunchyroll 9 Years of Shadows
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Soundtrack composed by Michiru Yamane (Castlevania) and Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear)
- Unique musical healing mechanic integrated into core gameplay
- High-value inclusion for existing Crunchyroll premium subscribers
Critical Frictions
- Gated behind a non-gaming media subscription
- Lower depth in RPG systems compared to nemesis Bloodstained
- Low initial market visibility (4 ratings on iOS)
Growth Levers
- In-app cross-promotion within the Crunchyroll anime streaming player
- Positioning as the premier narrative Metroidvania in the 'Vault' space vs Netflix's roguelites
- Expanding the Game Vault library to increase subscription stickiness
Market Threats
- Netflix Games' aggressive acquisition of top-tier indies like Hades
- Standalone premium titles offering permanent access without recurring fees
- Established genre leaders like Dead Cells dominating mobile action-platformer mindshare
What are the next best moves?
Highlight composer pedigree in all user acquisition creative
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is the primary nemesis and shares the same composer; leveraging this name targets their core audience directly.
Implement in-app prompts within the Crunchyroll streaming app
The app has only 4 ratings despite being part of a massive ecosystem, indicating a disconnect between the streaming audience and the Game Vault.
Evaluate character build depth for future content updates
Competitors like Afterimage and Bloodstained offer talent trees and shard systems that provide more long-term engagement than the current elemental armor system.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Shard system for stealing enemy powers (available in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night)
- Inverted Castle map complexity (available in Castlevania: SotN)
- Roguelite replayability structure (available in Dead Cells)
- Complex talent tree system (available in Afterimage)
Key Takeaways
9 Years of Shadows is a strong strategic asset for Crunchyroll's retention efforts, but it faces a significant depth gap compared to standalone rivals like Bloodstained. If I were the PM, I would prioritize aggressive cross-promotion within the anime player and focus future updates on RPG-lite systems to match the depth expectations of core Metroidvania players.
Where Is It Heading?
Stable
v1.0.2 release (Feb 2025) focused on initial mobile port stability, no new feature expansion yet.
High rating (4.5) on initial launch, though based on a very low sample size (4 ratings).