Nine Sols for macOS

Description

Check hardware before you download

The game needs 15 GB of free space and 8 GB of RAM. Steam lists M1 as the minimum GPU, and the developer recommends an M1 Pro. It runs on Intel 64-bit Macs too, back to macOS 10.13, but the real test is an Apple Silicon chip.

Get the controls right

This isn't a button-masher. Deflection is everything — parry timing decides whether you survive the boss battles. A controller with good d-pad response makes a difference, though the keyboard works if you're stubborn.

Expect solid performance

The macOS build was tested on a 2024 M4 Mac mini running macOS Tahoe. Hand-drawn art and manga-style cutscenes stay crisp, and the platforming feels responsive on a modern Mac. Older Intel machines will chug during particle-heavy fights.

Parry timing vs. Hollow Knight’s dodge-and-slash rhythm

If you’ve played Hollow Knight, the interconnected region map in Nine Sols will feel familiar. Both games lock paths behind new abilities and reward you for backtracking. The difference is combat tempo. Hollow Knight leans on dodging and swiping at openings. Nine Sols wants you standing your ground, deflecting blow after blow until the counter window appears.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the obvious comparison — parry-first combat, posture-like systems, bosses who punish panic-dodging. Nine Sols translates that into 2D without losing the tension. What Sekiro doesn’t offer is the hand-drawn, almost painterly look Red Candle Games brought over from their previous title, Detention. That visual identity sets it apart from anything else you’ll download nine sols for mac and boot up on a Friday night.

Next to Ender Lilies, another 2D action game with a sombre mood, Nine Sols feels faster and more aggressive. Ender Lilies gives you ranged spirit attacks and a slower, methodical pace. Nine Sols pushes you into melee range and keeps you there.

Bluetooth lag makes parry windows feel tighter than they are

Parry timing feels off. The game defaults to a generous window on normal difficulty, but wireless controller latency can eat into it. If you’re on Bluetooth, switch to a wired connection or use the controller’s USB mode. The difference is immediate.

Frame drops during boss fights. On Intel Macs with integrated graphics, particle effects from charged attacks can tank the frame rate. Drop the resolution one notch in the game’s display settings and disable screen shake. It won’t fix everything, but it keeps the deflect timing consistent.

Stuck with no clear path. Nine Sols doesn’t hold your hand with waypoints. If you’ve just gained a new ability — double jump, air dash, a new talisman — revisit earlier regions. The map marks unexplored corridors in a different shade. Check those edges first.

Boss difficulty spike. Some bosses act as gear checks for your upgrades. Before bashing your head against one for an hour, go back to the hub, talk to every NPC you’ve rescued, and make sure your health, damage, and equipped jades are current. A single upgrade can turn a fight from impossible to manageable.

Requirements

• macOS 10.13 or later
• Intel 64-bit or Apple Silicon Mac
• 8 GB RAM
• 15 GB available storage