Helped by the massive success of Sea of Stars and the scarcity of previous physical runs, the official European re-release of The Messenger (or its pre-order) has skyrocketed in many EU Amazon sales charts. Each country has its own top-sellers list, but the game is holding its ground against all-time hits like Minecraft and Just Dance in our region (Benelux), as well as many others.
A new physical retail release of The Messenger has been a long time coming. Sabotage Studio’s 2018 gem has cultivated a dedicated group of fans who have been quite vocal about their love for the game. Previously, the title saw a numbered physical release through Limited Run Games, with prices on eBay now averaging €/$230. A low-print ‘Special Reserve’ edition even surpasses that, fetching roughly €/$30 more on average.
It’s no surprise that the pre-order for this new retail release, which includes the Picnic Panic DLC, is in such high demand. For collectors and gamers alike, FOMO is undoubtedly driving the rush to secure a copy, given the limited nature of earlier runs. Economics may also play a role in its success, as speculative collectors hope this release will prove to be another strong return on investment.
About The Messenger
The Messenger is a retro-inspired action-platformer developed by Sabotage Studio, blending 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics to tell the story of a ninja tasked with delivering a scroll to save his village from destruction. The gameplay features tight platforming, combat mechanics, and a time-traveling twist that transitions between graphical styles and expands the game’s scope. It incorporates elements of linear platforming and open-ended exploration, supported by a narrative with humor and self-awareness.
Sea of Stars
Apart from its scarcity and original demand, tying last years hit Sea of Stars to the Messenger must have contributed to the renewed interest. Sea of Stars has, from the get-go been advertised as a direct prequel to The Messenger. While a connection between the two is not that obvious many of the stories of the shopkeeper refer to proceedings in Sea of Stars. So the connection is bound to lore and a shared universe, more than actually story continuation. But this and further interest in Sabotage Studio’s game library definitely cannot be set aside.
There is no set number of pre-orders available, indicating these the initial batch could be reprinted based on demand. You can now pre-order the game on European Amazon sites among others, for €/$29,99. The game is set to be officially released on March 21st, 2025. The game is physical game is available for Nintendo Switch and Playstation 5.
