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If you want another game after 9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil, start with Exiled Kingdoms for the closest old-school, free-roaming RPG structure. Choose Cat Quest for a lighter open world, Drova: Forsaken Kin for denser classic-fantasy atmosphere, or Minishoot’ Adventures if exploration matters but you are happy to replace top-down RPG combat with twin-stick shooting. For a bigger change toward movement and boss fights, HAAK and Blasphemous are the strongest 2D action alternatives.
What makes 9th Dawn III difficult to replace
9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil is a 2D open-world action RPG built around breadth. Its appeal is not one isolated feature; it is the way exploration, fighting, collecting, trading, crafting and leveling operate in the same adventure. You can roam a large world, follow quests, talk with non-player characters, search for secrets, solve puzzles and improve a character while also spending time on optional activities.
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The feature list is unusually wide for a 2D game. It includes melee and ranged weapons, magic, loot, crafting, cooking, fishing, alchemy, monster taming and a collectible card game. That combination creates a particular rhythm: a combat encounter can lead to new equipment, a crafting ingredient can send you exploring, and an apparently optional activity can become part of how you build your character.
That means “similar” can describe several different experiences. A game may match the free-roaming map but offer a gentler tone. Another may preserve pixel-art fantasy and character development while using a more authored world. A third may keep secrets, puzzles and two-dimensional action but replace role-playing systems with platforming. The recommendations below identify exactly which part of 9th Dawn III each game preserves and which part it changes.
#1 Best Overall
- A Tale of Emotion Versus Reason - Follow the journey of Velvet as she embarks on a journey of vengeance towards the murderers of her brother, torn between the person she was and the path her rage has set before her. Can she hold onto who she was, or will vengeance consume all that remains?
- Exhilarating Battle System - Customize your skills to create unique playstyles and defeat your foes by unleashing a flurry of attacks. Engage in exhilarating battles by stealing “Souls” from your enemies to empower your combos.
- A Modern, High-Quality Retelling - Play with new quality-of-life updates, including destination icons, the ability to toggle encounters, early grade shop access, and more.
- An All-Around Experience - Enjoy the immersion with the DLC*, which was launched alongside the original release, including costumes, useful items, and other fun extras.
Quick comparison
| Game | World structure | Combat shape | Progression emphasis | Tone | Best match for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exiled Kingdoms | Free-roaming, open-world RPG structure | Traditional RPG combat | Character development, quests and equipment | Old-school fantasy | Players who want the closest systems-first follow-up |
| Cat Quest | 2D open-world exploration | Accessible action combat | Straightforward equipment and character growth | Light, playful fantasy | Players who want open-world roaming with less friction |
| Drova: Forsaken Kin | Dense, authored fantasy world | Classic-RPG-oriented action | World discovery and traditional role-playing progression | Pixel-art classic fantasy | Players who value atmosphere and a more deliberate setting |
| Minishoot’ Adventures | Exploration-led interconnected world | Twin-stick shooting | Exploration and upgrades shaped by shooter movement | Adventure-focused | Players willing to trade RPG combat for fast aiming and movement |
| HAAK | Connected 2D zones rather than a conventional open world | Action-platform combat | Movement abilities, secrets and upgrades | Post-apocalyptic | Players who prioritize traversal, puzzles and discovery |
| Blasphemous | Connected 2D areas | Demanding action-platform combat and boss fights | Skillful combat and exploration | Dark gothic | Players seeking a darker, harder atmosphere |
These are directional comparisons, not a claim that the games are interchangeable. Before buying, check the current store listing for the platform you use; availability can vary between PC, console and mobile editions and can change after release.
1. Exiled Kingdoms: the closest old-school RPG follow-up
Why it fits
Choose Exiled Kingdoms when the part you want to keep is the traditional role-playing framework: free roaming, quests, character development and a world that rewards investigating places away from the main path. It is the strongest recommendation for someone who describes 9th Dawn III primarily as an open-world RPG rather than as a collection of side activities.
The match is structural rather than visual. Both games appeal to players who want to decide where to travel, which tasks to pursue and how to develop a character instead of moving through a strictly linear sequence. Equipment and progression remain central, so exploration has a practical purpose beyond sightseeing.
What changes
This is a systems-first alternative, not a promise of the same activity list. The broad combination of fishing, cooking, alchemy, monster taming and a collectible card game that defines 9th Dawn III should not be assumed here. Approach Exiled Kingdoms as a more focused traditional RPG: its value is in roaming, quests and character building.
Pick it if
- You want another free-roaming fantasy RPG before anything else.
- You enjoy planning character development and equipment choices.
- You prefer an old-school role-playing feel over a lighter or more arcade-like presentation.
Look elsewhere if
Your favorite part of 9th Dawn III is the sheer number of optional pastimes. In that case, none of the listed alternatives is a one-for-one replacement; choose based on the specific activity you miss most.
2. Cat Quest: open-world roaming with a lighter touch
Why it fits
Cat Quest is a 2D open-world RPG designed around accessible exploration. Its cat-themed setting and playful presentation make it a good follow-up when you want the open-world loop—travel, discover locations, take on encounters and improve your character—without the heavier tone or steeper friction of a traditional RPG.
The useful similarity is the map-level freedom. You can approach the world as a place to wander rather than as a corridor between mandatory fights. That makes it suitable for shorter, lower-pressure sessions while still retaining the satisfaction of finding something new and becoming stronger.
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What changes
The tone is much lighter, and the overall experience is more approachable. Do not select it expecting the same density of crafting, cooking, fishing, alchemy, taming and collectible systems. Cat Quest is the choice when you want the broad shape of exploration and progression with fewer barriers, not when you want every subsystem replicated.
Pick it if
- You want a friendly, easy-to-enter open-world RPG.
- You prefer playful presentation to grim or demanding fantasy.
- You want to roam and complete activities without mastering a complex build first.
Look elsewhere if
You are specifically searching for a deep crafting economy, extensive life-skill activities or a serious old-school RPG mood. Exiled Kingdoms or Drova: Forsaken Kin will be closer in those respects.
3. Drova: Forsaken Kin: authored pixel-art fantasy
Why it fits
Drova: Forsaken Kin suits players who want to stay near the pixel-art and classic-RPG tradition while moving into a denser, more deliberately authored fantasy world. Instead of treating the map as an invitation to sample many unrelated systems, it emphasizes the feeling that the setting has its own history, factions and discoveries.
This makes it a strong choice if the memorable part of 9th Dawn III for you was leaving the road, finding a secret or meeting a character whose situation made the world feel larger. The appeal is discovery within a coherent setting rather than maximum mechanical variety.
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The experience is less about reproducing every optional activity and more about atmosphere and classic role-playing structure. Expect a different balance between authored content and sandbox experimentation. The world can feel denser even when it offers fewer distinct side systems.
Rank #2
- Traverse a vibrant world, assemble units and direct them into exquisitely animated battles.
- Perform heroic deeds and grow renown throughout the five nations.
- Cultivate a grand army with over 60 unique characters, from humans and elves to massive beasts and heavenly angels.
Pick it if
- You want pixel-art fantasy with a stronger sense of place.
- You prefer a focused world to a deliberately broad menu of activities.
- You enjoy classic-RPG inspiration and discovering how the setting fits together.
Look elsewhere if
You mainly want a cheerful, low-friction adventure or a shooter-style combat loop. Cat Quest and Minishoot’ Adventures are better aligned with those priorities.
4. Minishoot’ Adventures: keep exploration, change the combat
Why it fits
Minishoot’ Adventures is the clearest structural change-up in this list. Exploration remains central, but movement and fighting use a twin-stick shooter format. You investigate an open world while aiming, dodging and positioning in real time rather than relying on the usual top-down RPG combat expectations.
That makes it valuable for a reader who says, “I want the feeling of discovering a world and unlocking more of it, but I am ready for a faster control scheme.” The world remains the reason to continue, while combat gives every encounter a different physical rhythm.
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What changes
Build planning, loot breadth and life-skill activities are not the point of the comparison. The defining trade is between systemic RPG variety and responsive shooter movement. If you enjoyed 9th Dawn III because every new area supplied ingredients, equipment or optional tasks, this may feel more streamlined. If you enjoyed moving through an unknown map and opening new routes, the change can be energizing.
Pick it if
- You want exploration to remain the main reason to push forward.
- You enjoy aiming, dodging and twin-stick movement.
- You want a fresh combat structure without abandoning a world-led adventure.
Look elsewhere if
You want a traditional RPG where equipment, quests and character development are the primary organizing systems. Start with Exiled Kingdoms instead.
5. HAAK: secrets and movement over open-world simulation
Why it fits
HAAK is a 2D action-platform RPG for players whose favorite moments in 9th Dawn III involved finding a hidden route, solving a puzzle or reaching a place that initially seemed inaccessible. Its world is organized as connected platforming zones rather than one conventional open-world map, and traversal itself becomes the main form of progression.
The comparison works through curiosity. You move through an area, notice a blocked path or suspicious gap, gain a new capability and return with a better understanding of the space. Secrets are not merely collectibles placed beside the route; they shape how you read the environment.
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Combat is built around action-platform challenges, and movement precision matters far more than in a broad top-down RPG. The familiar loop of trading, crafting, fishing, alchemy and monster taming is not what this recommendation preserves. Choose it for traversal, puzzles, secrets and a focused two-dimensional action structure.
Pick it if
- You value movement abilities and discovering hidden passages.
- You want puzzles and platforming to matter as much as combat.
- You prefer a directed network of areas to a large free-roaming map.
Look elsewhere if
You want relaxed wandering, extensive inventory management or a sandbox full of unrelated activities. HAAK is a change in priorities, not a content-equivalent sequel.
6. Blasphemous: dark atmosphere and demanding 2D combat
Why it fits
Blasphemous is the recommendation for atmosphere and challenge. It offers dark gothic presentation, connected 2D areas, demanding action-platform combat and boss fights. If the appeal of 9th Dawn III was entering a dangerous fantasy world and overcoming threats through careful play, this is the most intense option in the shortlist.
The connection is emotional rather than systemic. Both can satisfy a desire to explore a hostile world, but Blasphemous concentrates that desire into combat encounters, environmental discovery and boss battles.
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What changes
It is not a conventional open-world RPG and should not be chosen for broad crafting or life-skill simulation. The tone is substantially darker, and the combat expects more precision. Progress comes from learning enemy patterns, improving execution and uncovering the setting rather than from collecting a wide range of activities.
Rank #3
- Signs of the end times draw powerful heroes from all over sanctuary to rise up and defeat an evil reborn
- Challenge death itself as maltha-angel of death-attempts to harness the infernal powers of the black soul stone
- Commanding the powers of blood, bone, and armies of undead, the Necromancer joins the fight
- Supported play modes-TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode. Game file size:15.7 GB
Pick it if
- You want a darker tone and stronger atmosphere.
- You enjoy difficult 2D action and memorable boss fights.
- You are comfortable exchanging open-world breadth for focused challenge.
Look elsewhere if
You want a gentle, playful adventure or a flexible character-building sandbox. Cat Quest and Exiled Kingdoms are safer choices.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose by the part of 9th Dawn III you miss
When several recommendations sound plausible, identify the feature that made you continue playing. The following decision path avoids choosing by genre label alone.
If you miss free roaming and quests
Start with Exiled Kingdoms. It keeps the traditional open-world RPG structure most directly. Choose Cat Quest instead if you want the same broad freedom with a lighter presentation and lower friction.
If you miss pixel-art fantasy atmosphere
Choose Drova: Forsaken Kin. Its appeal is a denser, more authored world that remains close to classic-RPG and pixel-art traditions.
If you miss secrets and puzzles
Choose HAAK. You will give up the single large open-world format, but you gain a game in which traversal, blocked routes and environmental problem solving are central.
If you want faster, more physical combat
Choose Minishoot’ Adventures for twin-stick aiming and movement, or Blasphemous for demanding action-platform combat and bosses. The former changes the control model; the latter changes both the control model and the tone.
If you miss having many optional activities
None of these games is established as a direct replacement for the full combination of crafting, cooking, fishing, alchemy, monster taming and card collecting. In that case, decide which activity mattered most and use the closest structural match rather than expecting a duplicate.
How the games differ in session feel
| When you sit down to play | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want to wander, accept quests and improve a character at your own pace | Exiled Kingdoms | Its old-school RPG structure supports open-ended progression. |
| You have a short session and want immediate, approachable exploration | Cat Quest | The lighter presentation reduces entry friction. |
| You want to become absorbed in a specific fantasy setting | Drova: Forsaken Kin | Its denser authored-world emphasis rewards attention to place. |
| You want constant movement and aiming | Minishoot’ Adventures | Twin-stick combat makes positioning part of every encounter. |
| You want to map routes and return for secrets | HAAK | Traversal abilities and connected zones drive progress. |
| You want a serious challenge and boss-focused goals | Blasphemous | Demanding action combat supplies the main test. |
Platform and purchase checks
Availability should be verified for your specific device rather than inferred from a genre list. The relevant question is not simply whether a game exists on PC, console or mobile, but whether the edition you can access has the controls, save behavior and performance you expect.
- Check the current store page for your exact platform before purchasing.
- Read the control description when moving between touch, controller and keyboard input.
- Confirm that the edition is the full game rather than a trial or limited listing.
- Check recent player notes for device-specific performance issues if you are using mobile hardware.
- Do not assume that a feature described for one edition appears identically on every platform.
The comparison here deliberately avoids fixed prices and platform promises because those details change by region, edition and sale period.
A practical order for trying the shortlist
If you are undecided, use this order to minimize the risk of choosing a game whose core loop is wrong for you:
- Try Exiled Kingdoms first if “open-world RPG” is the most important phrase in your search.
- Move to Cat Quest if you want that freedom with a lighter, more accessible tone.
- Choose Drova: Forsaken Kin if atmosphere and classic pixel-art fantasy outrank mechanical variety.
- Choose Minishoot’ Adventures if you want exploration but are excited by twin-stick shooting.
- Choose HAAK if your best memories are secrets, puzzles and movement challenges.
- Choose Blasphemous if you want the darkest mood and the most demanding action combat.
This sequence moves from the closest structural comparison to the largest deliberate departures, so you can identify whether it was the map, the RPG systems, the atmosphere or the action that kept you engaged.
Bottom line
Exiled Kingdoms is the best first recommendation after 9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil for most players because it preserves free-roaming, quest-driven RPG structure. Cat Quest is the approachable alternative, Drova: Forsaken Kin the atmosphere-led alternative, and Minishoot’ Adventures the exploration-led combat change. Pick HAAK for traversal and secrets or Blasphemous for dark, demanding 2D action.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
