9 Days is an Honorary Dragon Ball Z Game, But There’s a Catch

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Nine Days exudes a deceptively captivating charm. It’s the superhero/Dragon Ball Z-esque game that enthusiasts have eagerly anticipated for years, but there’s one glitch that has led to its historically mixed ratings on Steam (however, more recent reviews tend to be favorable).

For those not in the know, the game named “9 Days” takes its title from the time constraint within the game. Over the course of 9 days, players are tasked with readying themselves for a battle against Afan, a villain similar to Frieza, Cell, or Majin Buu. The players need to utilize this time to enhance their abilities, boost their power levels (essentially), and train themselves. Exploration plays an essential role in this process, as players must decide where to go to build up their power. This setup will likely remind Dragon Ball Z fans of the series’ premise.

9 Days Channels the Best of Dragon Ball Z

In Dragon Ball Z, the characters often need to train before facing their next opponent, much like Goku training under King Kai to battle Nappa and Vegeta, or while traveling to Namek to fight Frieza. However, the training isn’t as straightforward as just using the Hyperbolic Time Chamber; it involves intense action and complex strategies.

For nine days, players start off with humble beginnings, gradually learning to harness power from surrounding objects, starting with rocks and progressing to stars. They have the freedom to follow a villainous path and destroy entire planets if they wish. Along this training odyssey, they’ll master flying techniques, uncover new Ki abilities, develop melee attacks, and even discover blast abilities—all mirroring Dragon Ball Z’s legendary moves. By the end of their journey, players must be powerful enough to vanquish Afan, a symbol of all the adversaries Goku has battled. This game perfectly captures that classic Dragon Ball Z fantasy.

Everything You Need to Know About 9 Days

  • Budget Price: $14.99
  • Available on Steam; future console release possible
  • Time-gated open world
  • High-stakes narrative
  • Custom Combat Styles
    • Ki Abilities
    • Unique Melee Abilities
    • Unique Blast Abilities
    • Unique Traversal Abilities
    • Unique Transformations
  • Unique planets, exploration, biomes, and traversal (including flight and space travel)
  • Highly-replayable concept as players learn to make the most of their 9 days
  • Continued support targeting narrative and gameplay additions

But 9 Days is Rough Around the Edges

9 Days is an intriguing game with a distinctive concept, and it’s evident that it has great potential, but it’s currently labeled as a super indie game. It appears to be the brainchild of a solo developer named MVR, and some reviewers have pointed out bugs, unclear systems, and noticeable rough edges in the game’s current version. Nonetheless, it’s clear that 9 Days is a diamond waiting to shine brighter. MVR is continuously refining and enhancing 9 Days, as recent positive reviews indicate. Moreover, at just $14.99, this game can be yours, with a current 30% discount available on Steam.

If someone is willing to be patient and understands that the game may not be perfect at first, approaching it with reasonable expectations, they might find satisfaction in playing 9 Days. This game’s concept is typically associated with a Bandai Namco-published Dragon Ball Z title, but surprisingly, an indie developer has created it. The end result is quite impressive. Although 9 Days only offers gameplay for nine days, it has managed to survive for a year and could potentially make a significant impact in the community in the future years.

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2025-07-04 19:04