The Messenger
Released Aug 2018
As a demon army besieges his village, a young ninja ventures through a cursed world, to deliver a scroll paramount to his clan’s survival. What begins as a classic action platformer soon unravels into an expansive time-traveling adventure full of thrills, surprises, and humor.
92% positive · 13K reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $19.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
The Messenger launched on August 30, 2018 as a complete action platformer with a full soundtrack. Sabotage then released a major free expansion — Picnic Panic — on July 11, 2019, adding three new levels, new boss fights, and 18 new music tracks. This appears to have been the studio's planned post-launch content for the game: it was followed by no further content announcements or updates for The Messenger itself. By April 2020, Sabotage had shifted focus entirely to their next project, Sea of Stars, launching a Kickstarter campaign. The most recent developer communication touching The Messenger (a cross-promotional discount post in January 2021) contained no development signals. All five DLC items — three soundtrack packs and the Picnic Panic expansion with its soundtrack — are released. There are no unreleased DLC entries and no developer statements indicating further content is planned. The game launched as a finished product and received one free expansion; Picnic Panic marks the end of Sabotage's post-launch support for The Messenger.
Evidence
Picnic Panic, a free DLC expansion with three new levels, unique bosses, and 18 new music tracks, released July 11, 2019
Picnic Panic free expansion launched — described as a new island adventure with three levels, unique boss fights, and all-new music
Content
5 of 5 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Devolver Digital
Achievements
48
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player
About this game
As a demon army besieges his village, a young ninja ventures through a cursed world, to deliver a scroll paramount to his clan’s survival. What begins as a classic action platformer soon unravels into an expansive time-traveling adventure full of thrills, surprises, and humor.
- Dynamic, acrobatic gameplay and ultra tight controls worthy of an epic ninja adventure.
- Character upgrades, new abilities, hidden levels, and branching paths to discover.
- Meticulously designed 8-bit and 16-bit sprites, animations, and backgrounds in the spirit of the classics.
- A memorable cast of offbeat villains, bosses, and associates.
- Original soundtrack by renowned chiptune composer Rainbowdragoneyes, handmade using Famitracker.
Last evaluated Jun 16, 2026
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