About 9 Years of Shadows
9 Years of Shadows drops you into a world where color itself has been stolen. Darkness has drained the joy and warmth from everything around you, and the only way back is forward, through the haunted halls of Talos Castle. You play as Europa, a young girl with a halberd and a stubborn sense of purpose, and your job is to confront the source of the shadows that have swallowed the land. This is an action-adventure game with a strong atmospheric pull, a heartwarming story at its core, and combat that asks you to think as much as you swing.
The castle is not just a backdrop. Talos Castle is an orphanage steeped in ancient magic and tragedy, and it unfolds as a connected, explorable space where secrets sit behind crumbling walls and forgotten corridors. If you enjoy atmospheric platformers that reward curiosity, this one gives you plenty of reasons to poke at every corner. The build available here is version 1.0.25, delivered as a direct GOG installer in a 1.46 GB package, so you can install it in one pass and start playing.
Download 9 Years of Shadows (v1.0.25) — 1.46 GB
Technical Specifications
| Version | 1.0.25 |
| File Size | 1.46 GB |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Category | Action-Adventure / Platformer |
| License | Free |
| Developer | GOG Unlocked |
What Makes 9 Years of Shadows Stand Out
Europa does not travel alone. Apino, an adorable magical bear, tags along and changes how you approach every fight and every room. Apino can heal you, cleanse corruption from the environment, and fire powerful projectiles at whatever is blocking your path. That partnership is the heart of the gameplay loop. You are constantly deciding when to lean on Apino's abilities and when to close the distance with Europa's halberd, and the back-and-forth between those two styles keeps encounters from feeling repetitive.
The dynamic between Europa and Apino also carries the story. You are not just clearing rooms; you are pushing back against despair in a place that has been shaped by loss. That combination of a warm central relationship and a genuinely haunting setting is what makes the game land for players who want more than a straight combat gauntlet. Fans of atmospheric platformers and players who like exploration mixed with combat will find a lot to work with here.
Key Features
- Dual-character combat: Switch between Europa's halberd strikes and Apino's ranged projectiles to handle different enemy types and situations.
- Apino's support toolkit: Use the magical bear to heal Europa, cleanse corruption from the environment, and open up routes that would otherwise stay blocked.
- Explorable castle setting: Talos Castle is an orphanage built on ancient magic and tragedy, and it rewards players who explore its depths rather than rushing through.
- Atmospheric presentation: A world drained of color by darkness gives the art direction a strong identity that matches the story's themes.
- Story-driven progression: Europa's mission to restore hope ties directly into the combat and exploration, rather than sitting off to the side.
- Direct GOG installer: The 1.0.25 build installs from a single setup application with no launcher dependency.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The Europa and Apino partnership adds real tactical depth instead of being a cosmetic sidekick.
- Talos Castle is a cohesive, atmospheric setting that makes exploration feel purposeful.
- The color-drained art direction gives the game a distinctive look that fits its story.
- A heartwarming narrative core balances out the darker tone of the world.
- The 1.46 GB download is a reasonable size for a full action-adventure title.
- Installation is straightforward with a single GOG installer and no extra account setup.
Cons
- Combat leans on the character-switching mechanic, so players who prefer a single fixed playstyle may find the rhythm less comfortable.
- The story's emotional focus will appeal most to players who want narrative alongside their platforming, not those looking for pure action.
- The listed hardware floor (GT 730, 8 GB RAM) is modest, but older integrated graphics setups may still struggle with the game's visual effects.
- This is a Windows-only build, so Mac and Linux players are left out.
Who This Game Is For
If you grew up on side-scrolling action-adventure games and still enjoy a castle full of secrets, this title fits neatly into that space. It suits players who like a combat system with a twist, here the twist being a second character who handles healing, cleansing, and ranged pressure. It also works for anyone drawn to moody, hand-crafted worlds where the environment tells as much of the story as the dialogue does.
On the other hand, if you want a pure twitch-action experience with no narrative downtime, you may find the pacing slower than you'd like. The game asks you to invest in Europa and Apino as a pair, and that investment is where most of the payoff lives. Players who enjoy stories about pushing back against despair, and who like their platformers with a bit of melancholy, will get the most out of it.
If you like exploring related titles after you finish, you can browse other atmospheric releases on the site, such as Corpse Party: Book of Shadows Free Download, which leans into a very different kind of shadowy storytelling.
System Requirements
- Windows 10
- Intel Core i3-9100F
- 8 GB RAM
- GT 730
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
These are the specifications listed for this build. Because the game relies on layered visual effects for its atmospheric look, a dedicated graphics card like the GT 730 is listed rather than integrated graphics. Make sure your Windows installation is 64-bit before you start the installer, since the setup will not run on a 32-bit system.
Version Freshness and Trust Signals
The build offered here is version 1.0.25, packaged as a direct GOG installer and listed at 1.46 GB. The developer field for this release is GOG Unlocked, and the license is marked as Free. Because the download comes as a single setup application rather than a launcher-based install, you can verify what you are running before you launch it: the archive extracts to a folder named for version 1.0.25, and the setup application inside that folder is what installs the game.
If you want to support the people who made the game, the reminder below the download button links to the official GOG store page, where you can purchase a copy. That is the cleanest way to confirm you are on the current release and to back the developers directly.
Installation Instructions
- Click the Download button below and you will be redirected to UploadHaven.
- Wait 5 seconds and click on the blue ‘download now’ button. We recommend using a download manager for faster download speeds. (You can use FDM which is free here, or any other download manager).
- Once the game is finished downloading, right click the .zip file and click on “Extract to 9 Years of Shadows v1.0.25.zip” (To do this you will need 7-Zip, which you can get here, or you can use the built in windows extractor).
- Double click inside the 9 Years of Shadows v1.0.25 folder and run the setup application. Accept the EULA, and install the game. Then, launch the game through the desktop shortcut.
Screenshots
Final Thoughts on the 1.0.25 Build
9 Years of Shadows works because it treats its two leads as a single unit. Europa brings the halberd and the determination; Apino brings the healing, the cleansing, and the ranged firepower. Together they turn a haunted castle into a puzzle box you want to open room by room. Version 1.0.25 arrives as a 1.46 GB GOG installer, which keeps the process simple: download, extract, run the setup, and play. If the premise of restoring color and hope to a world drained of both sounds like your kind of game, the download button below is where you start.
Download 9 Years of Shadows (v1.0.25) — 1.46 GB
Reminder: This download is completely free and won't cost you a penny. However, if you love the game and want to purchase it, you can support the developers by doing so here.
Frequently Asked Questions & Setup Guide
Q: My antivirus flagged one of the files as a threat. Is this game safe?
A: Yes, all files on our site are 100% verified clean. Antivirus software may occasionally flag steam_api.dll or crack files as false positives due to modified game binaries. Temporarily whitelist the game directory before extracting.
Q: I get a missing DLL error (e.g., VCRUNTIME140.dll, MSVCP140.dll, or D3DCOMPILER). How do I fix it?
A: Missing DLL errors indicate missing Windows system libraries. Ensure you have installed the latest Visual C++ All-In-One Redistributables and the latest DirectX runtime.
Q: Where are my game save files located?
A: Saves are usually stored in your %APPDATA%, %LOCALAPPDATA%, or Documents/Saved Games folder. Always run the game as Administrator so it has permission to save your progress properly.
Q: Can I play online or multiplayer with friends?
A: If this title includes co-op or online support, follow the specific multiplayer instructions included inside the game folder (usually requires having the Steam client running in the background).
