9 Years of Shadows vs Dust: An Elysian Tail
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
9 Years of Shadows wins 7 of 13 head-to-head metrics. 9 Years of Shadows is $3.16 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | 9 Years of Shadows | Dust: An Elysian Tail |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Wait for Sale × Maybe | 53 | 65 |
| Quality | 65 | 76 |
| Value | 59 | 74 |
| Popularity | 27 | 34 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $1.18 | $4.34 |
| Steam Review Score | 79.3% positive | 95.1% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 11 | 11 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Side by side over time
9 Years of ShadowsDust: An Elysian Tail
Details and requirements
| Item | 9 Years of Shadows | Dust: An Elysian Tail |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | March 27, 2023 | May 24, 2013 |
| Developers | Halberd Studios | Humble Hearts LLC |
| Publishers | indie.io | Xbox Game Studios |
| Platforms | Windows | Linux, Windows, MacOs |
| OS (minimum) | Windows 10 | Windows 7 |
| Processor (minimum) | Intel Core i3-9100F | Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ |
| Memory (minimum) | 8 GB RAM | 2 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | GT 730 | NVIDIA® 9600GT or ATI Radeon™ HD 5000+ or better |
| Direct X® (minimum) | — | 10, Windows Media Player |
| Hard Disk Space (minimum) | — | 1.5 GB HD space |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: 9 Years of Shadows or Dust: An Elysian Tail?
9 Years of Shadows won the comparison against Dust: An Elysian Tail based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is 9 Years of Shadows worth buying over Dust: An Elysian Tail?
Based on the metrics, 9 Years of Shadows won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Dust: An Elysian Tail currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 04:12 PM UTC