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Updated with Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana and EGGCONSOLE Ys II MSX2. Enjoy!
What's the best Ys game on Switch? Falcom's long-running action RPG series has been going for longer than Final Fantasy, and it's a genre-defining franchise, but it's not the most well-known series in the world. But those who love it, absolutely adore it
With the release of Ys X: Nordics in 2024 and Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana this year, we've compiled a list of all Ys games available on Nintendo consoles, including Switch. However, we've excluded import-only titles such as Ys V — one day, perhaps, Falcom will remake that one...
If you're all on deck and ready to sail through a sea of Ys, then let's have a look at the Ys series on Nintendo, ranked worst to best.
13. EGGCONSOLE Ys MSX2 (Switch eShop)
There are very few differences in the MSX2 version of Ys 1 compared to the original PC-88 one. A handful of new musical tracks, new visuals, and changes to boss attacks make this the easiest "retro" version of the game to get into, at least.
However, as with all EGGCONSOLE releases, the game is only available in Japanese, so if you want the Ys 1 experience, then you probably need to pick up the PC release. Otherwise, the MSX2 version here is a pretty solid game.
12. EGGCONSOLE Ys II MSX2 (Switch eShop)
The second Ys release of 2025, the MSX2 version of Ys II is largely the same as the original PC Engine version, but it boasts a brighter, broader colour palette and rebalanced difficulty.
This one is only available in Japanese on Switch, and you'll absolutely want to play Ys I first, but it's a perfectly acceptable way to play the second Ys game. At least until Chronicles gets a port. Please, Falcom.
11. Ys Strategy (DS)
Even as a spin-off with no bearing on the canon, Ys Strategy is berated by series fans. Slow gameplay, overly-easy encounters, and an overabundance of tutorials ruin what could've been a fantastic side entry in the Ys series.
Even if you're not an Ys fan or are looking for strategy and RTS games on the DS, Ys Strategy is the last game you should pick up for your library. But hey, at least the music is great...?
10. EGGCONSOLE Wanderers From Ys PC-8801mkIISR (Switch eShop)
Wanderers from Ys marked a brief departure from the bump combat system in previous Ys games, and for many fans, that's mostly a downside. Adol may move a lot faster, but enemies do a lot of damage, and it takes time to adapt to the side-scrolling Zelda II-style perspective. Overall, it just feels more generic that the first two games.
Often considered the outsider of the series, Wanderers from Ys, while an interesting piece of history, might be the most difficult game to recommend. The Eggconsole version comes with the manual and a gallery, so if you're a die-hard fan, this one might be worth checking out.
9. EGGCONSOLE Ys II PC-8801mkIISR (Switch eShop)
From its epic opening montage to it's larger story, Ys II is a clear step-up in narrative. While it's largely the same in terms of combat and presentation, Ys II does make a few minor changes to make the experience a little smoother. Separate equipment and item menus help declutter the inventory screens, while Adol now has access to magic.
As it's a direct continuation of Ys I, however, you really can't play Ys II without playings its predecessor. And, given that both Ys I and Ys II are only Eggconsole releases on Switch, you might be better off playing this duo elsewhere. If you can't, there's absolutely nothing wrong with these Eggconsole versions, so have at it.
8. EGGCONSOLE Ys PC-8801mkIISR (Switch eShop)
By today's standards the first Ys game is pretty primitive, but this one of the most influential action RPGs of all time. The bump combat system is clever and addictive, putting its peers to shame, and it poses a healthy challenge in the later stages.
Like all other Eggconsole releases, Ys is hampered by a language barrier, but the D$ re-release does explain things where it matters, and it's more than possible to make your way through the game without knowing a lick of Japanese. Some bonus hints to help grind and get better weapons and money, and this isn't a bad way to experience the origin of this series at all
7. Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (SNES)
Just like the PC Engine version, the SNES release of Wanderers from Ys is considered a bit of an outlier. There are very few things that differentiate it from the original release, except for a few name changes and some lovely new visuals.
Unfortunately, it also comes with all of the caveats of the original and is perhaps the most difficult version of Wanderers to play through. Get used to grinding. With The Oath in Felghana coming to Switch in 2025, there are few reasons to pick up this version of Ys III besides as a curio.
6. Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (DS)
If you're limited to Nintendo platforms on your Ys adventures, then Legacy of Ys is a nice little compilation of Adol's first two adventures. Ported by Atlus, you either need to use the stylus to attack or bump into enemies and time your button presses perfectly, resulting in a clunky-feeling adventure without the simplicity of the original.
Legacy of Ys isn't the best way to play them, but it is a way. If you have a PSP or PC, then Chronicles is easily the best version of Ys I & II out there. Otherwise, we might recommend the cheap Eggconsole versions over this.
5. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (Switch)
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox isn’t a massive step up over its tropical predecessor, Ys VIII, but it hits all the right beats it needs to make for an addictive and engaging action RPG. Were it not for the performance issues, we might even be inclined to say this is the best example of the genre on the Switch yet. Given those problems, however, we urge a little bit of caution with Monstrum Nox on the console.
However, fast-paced combat, a memorable setting, and a surprisingly content-rich open world make up for most of the issues and deliver an amazing experience for action RPG fans. While the game is reportedly better on PS4 and PS5, we can guarantee that you're still in for a good time on Switch — just brace yourself for those frame drops.
4. Ys Origin (Switch)
The story in Ys Origin takes a back seat to the brilliant and compulsive dungeon crawling gameplay, which should appeal even to those who don't tend to enjoy action RPGs. No puzzle, no battle and no single room ever outstays its welcome in Ys Origin, resulting in one of the most easy-going and brisk action RPGs on Switch.
Sure, the visuals could be better, the overall length might be too short for hardcore RPG fans and there's a lot of grinding afoot, but this remains a solid choice if you're a fan of this sort of thing. Ys Origin is perfect even if you've never touched a game in the series before.
3. Ys X: Nordics (Switch)
Adol's newest adventure — Ys X: Nordics — stands as another great entry in this long-running action series, bringing in some cool ideas of its own without straying too far from what made its predecessors so beloved.
Enjoyable combat, another excellent soundtrack, and an engaging world to explore all make this easy to recommend to both long-time fans and newcomers, even when some of the new ideas don't totally stick the landing. And, as with the other Ys entries on Switch, it stumbles a bit with its performance. If you're looking for another solid action RPG on Switch, then look no further than Ys X.
2. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana (Switch)
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is hardly a revolutionary RPG, but it stands as an excellent reminder that sometimes less is more. The brisk pacing, thrilling combat, and cutesy visuals all come together in a wonderfully enjoyable and simple action RPG.
This is an experience that makes no compromises and holds nothing back, and even if it’s clearly less ambitious and expansive than many of the later entries in the series, there’s also something very satisfying about playing through a game where its reach did not exceed its grasp.
1. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (Switch)
With fun, fast-paced combat, likeable characters, and an enjoyable story that takes full advantage of its beautiful shipwrecked setting, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a top-shelf action RPG.
Exploring the Isle of Seiren is as rewarding as mastering the character-swapping and hack-and-slash battle system, and both fit into an addictive feedback loop of adventuring that keeps everything moving at a quick clip.
The inconsistent image quality in handheld mode is a small blemish on an otherwise polished production, but this is a fantastic way to play Ys VIII, one of the very best action RPGs on the Switch and a true gem.
And that's every single Ys game available on the Switch, ranked.
Best Ys Games FAQs
Shipwrecked into the Ys series and want to get to know more? We've got some answers for you to help you understand this long-running series.
What was the first Ys game?
Ys started all the way back on 21st June 1987 — that's before even Final Fantasy existed — with the release of Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished for the NEC PC-8801.
That particular game has been ported and remade multiple times over the years, and today, is often commonly paired with its direct sequel, Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished – The Final Chapter. If you have a DS, then you can pick up Legacy of Ys Books I & II
It's actually available on Switch via the Eggconsole release, titled Ys PC-8801mkIISR.
How many Ys games are on Switch?
Currently, there are ten Ys games available to play on Nintendo Switch. Five of these are retro releases thanks to the Eggconsole versions, while the other five are new entries or ports.
Of these seven games, six are currently part of the main canon. Wanderers from Ys, the original release of Ys III, has since been remade and is now known as The Oath in Felghana, which got a Switch remake in 2025.
What's the latest Ys game?
The latest release in the Ys series Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, a remaster of the remake of Ys III. The game launched on Switch on 7th January 2025.
If you're looking for the "newest" game in the series, then Ys X: Nordics is the game you want.
How many Ys games are there?
There are 11 main "canon" Ys games, and another three games which are no longer considered a part of the canon. Otherwise, here are all eleven canon Ys games:
- Ys Origin
- YS I: Ancient Ys Vanished: Omen
- Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished: The Final Chapter
- Ys: The Oath in Felghana
- Ys: Memories of Celceta
- Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand
- Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
- Ys Seven
- Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
- Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
- Ys X: Nordics
If you want to play the Ys games in chronological order, they go — Origin, I, II, X, Celceta, Felghana, V, VIII, VI, Seven, and IX. Ys V is the only game to not be officially localised in the West.
Do you need to play the Ys games in order?
Nope, not at all. While there's a clear timeline for Adol's journey, the story of every single entry is more like a standalone adventure.
There are some callbacks to Adol's previous adventures in later Ys games, but these are largely inconsequential and simply act as little nods for fans.
The only exceptions to this are the first two numbered entries — Ys I and Ys II. There's a reason both of these games get repackaged together in rereleases, and it's because their stories are intrinsically linked.
What are the EGGCONSOLE games?
The Eggconsole games are part of D4's Project EGG series, which is an emulation-based distribution service on PC. Eggconsole refers to games that have been ported to Switch that are part of that service.
The three Ys games released in the Eggconsole series — I, II, and Wanderers from Ys — are all only available in Japanese, despite being on the Western eShop storefront. They're easy enough to navigate in Japanese, fortunately, with many weapon names appearing in English, but you'll miss out on some dialogue.
We've got a complete list of every single Eggconsole release on Switch for you — there are some real retro delights here, and the series is a fantastic look at the past.
Which Ys game should I start with?
While only a handful of Ys games are available on Switch, and most of them have different playstyles, we think the most accessible game in the series is Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana.
This is the most popular entry in the series, and for good reason — it's got a fantastic story with a lovable cast of characters. Plus, the combat is absolutely divine. the Switch version has been fixed up since its initial release, too, meaning it runs pretty well and there are no translation errors in sight.
However, Ys X: Nordics is also a pretty good place to start, as it takes place near the beginning of Adol's adventuring timeline. That means there aren't a ton of callbacks that you might be missing out on, either.
Why are there so many versions of Ys IV?
With Ys IV, Falcom originally outsourced the game to two different developers — Tonkin House (the studio behind the Super Famicom release of Ys III) and Hudson Soft (which ported the first three games to the TurboGrafx-16).
Tonkin developed Ys IV: Mask of the Sun for the Super Famicom, while Hudson Soft delivered The Dawn of Ys for the TurboGrafx-16. Dawn of Ys was initially considered canon, but after the PS2 release of Ark of Napishtim, Mask of the Sun became the canon version of Ys IV. It even got a reimagined PS2 remake from Taito and Arc System Works titled Ys IV: Mask of the Sun: A New Theory
As of 2012, however, the canon release of Ys IV is the Falcom-developed Memories of Celceta, which is available on PC, PS4, and PS Vita.
Will Ys V ever get an English release?
We don't know yet. Currently, Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand is the only mainline Ys game to never get an official English localisation. It's a Super Famicom game with a PS2 reimagining that was released in Japan in 2006.
All we can do is hope that Ys V will get the remake treatment — Falcom has already given most of those older games some love, so why not V?
Wait, so what is Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana?
Yep, it's another rerelease! Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a remaster of the PC (and later PSP) game The Oath in Felghana, which is a remake and the canon version of Ys III.
The remaster is out now on Nintendo Switch.
How can I change the ranking in this article?
It's pretty easy! We get you lovely Nintendo Life readers to help us rate all of the Ys games. The list above, that you've just read, is determined by each game's User Rating in our database, and is therefore subject to change after publication, even as you're reading this!
It's an ever-evolving, 'definitive' Ys ranking that we'll keep updated with new entries. And look, if you disagree with the ranking, don't fret — you can search for your favourite Ys game in the box below and rate them to influence the order.
Are you an Ys fan? Are you hoping to see more Ys games on Switch, or a potential future console? As always, let us know in the comments, and feel free to let us know if we've missed something!
And don't forget, the rankings on this list can and will change. If you haven't rated the ones you've played, feel free to get rating.
Comments 53
one game i would love to see would be the vita remake of Ys IV (Memories of celceta) since it did end up making its way to ps4 since i remember really enjoying the game world despite some flaws such as an abrupt ending.
out of the ones on switch i havent played nordics yet but really enjoyed VIII and oath in felghana (i imagine oath counts since its coming to switch)
i am looking forward to seeing if falcom go all in on the "switch 2" from the get go.
I can only say that Origin is another fair option to try the series for the first time.
Very wise to make this article before the release of Ys Oath in Felghana, the other games had a chance of fighting for the first place that way.
Where are the TG-16 ys games? They were released on wii virtual console.... I know it was shut down, but they still deserve at least a mention, if not a ranking
No offense, but this article is really difficult to read. What's with all of the typos and missing sentence particles?
I think this series explainer was super helpful!! I am a fan of the series that I have played (Origins, 8, and 9) but don’t really understand the series yet.
Of course, LoD is at the top - it's one of the finest action RPGs I've ever played. It seamlessly blends the nostalgic feels of the Dreamcast, PS2 & Cube days; old school cool, but just enough modern touches to keep it feeling fresh.
The TGX-CD versions of Y's I & II are amazing due to music and voice over (which was one of the first US console games w/Voice Over - maybe THE first?)
It is playable on the Wii through the VC...but sadly not available on Switch. The EGGCONSOLE versions pale in comparison.
I wish Hudson would do more releases of TGX-16 games.
Looking forward to eventually playing Nordics, but Ys VIII and Felghana are really hard to top. Easily the best representative examples of classic and modern Ys.
Nintendo-focused list of Ys games is a bit awkward considering how many games are missing, and the ones that do come to Nintendo tend to be the worst versions to play from what I've seen and heard.
Here's a quick reiteration of my own rankings of Ys from a previous article.
1. Ys I&II Chronicles - 8.0
Played this on windows through Steam, I hear there's superior versions of this game (would love to hear some recommendations myself if you have any), but this one is still very good and likely better than any version of Ys I&II available on Nintendo systems.
2. Ys IV: Dawn of Ys - 7.0
PC Engine game, high quality fan translation available online, feel free to ask if you need help with PCE emulation.
3. Ys: The Oath in Felghana - 7.0
The remake of Ys III. Also played this on windows through steam, it's getting a remastered port to consoles in a few months, I recommend just waiting for that.
4. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - 7.0
I played the PS5 version, which is most likely the best way to play it. I haven't heard anything too bad about the Switch version though, so don't hesitate to grab it if a switch is all you got. To parrot everyone else, if you're wanting to get into the series start with VIII, it's the fan favorite.
5. Ys III: Wanderers from Ys - 6.0
I emulated the PC Engine version, to my knowledge that's the best one. Do not - I repeat - DO NOT opt for the SNES version, it is the worst way to play Ys III, you will have a miserable time with it. Oath in Felghana is superior in every way but the original is still worth playing and unique from all the others.
6. Ys IV: Mask of the Sun - 3.0
This is the SFC version of Ys IV (there are three unique Ys IVs), not developed by Falcom or Hudson. This and Ys V weren't included on NL's list because they were never officially released outside Japan, there are fan translations available for both however. This one is awful, avoid it and just play Dawn of Ys.
EXTRA
Ys: Memories of Celceta
Falcom's official version of Ys IV. Played it on my PS5 for about 10hrs. Didn't like it much from where I got but I need to actually play it from start to finish before I can reliably place it with the others. I also recommend Dawn of Ys over this one for now, but they are completely different games so there's no harm in trying both.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
I haven't played this one at all yet but I've heard the Switch version is infamous for its performance issues (egad! what a surprise!). Idk how much its improved since launch but the PS4/PS5 versions are the way to go, just to be safe. Ys X seems to not have any issues on Switch from what people say. Anyone feel free to correct me on anything I may of got wrong on this list.
VIII was fantastic! But everyone seems to agree that it’s the series’ best so I’m curious whether I’ll care for any of the others.
The campy “gothic” aesthetic of IX failed to capture my interest, and I’m excited to play X soon!
Seems like such a random game series. I needed a new game to play and it was either YS X Nordics or Romancing Saga 2; another random game I came across. Saga 2 has been excellent so maybe I’ll give this one a try as well.
I think nox is terrible. Nordics is great so far.
PC is the best place to play YS games..
Ys seven, celceta, felghana, origins. Nordics, nox, Dana, Play them on PC.
@fenlix 100% this, lol.
@Dark_Isatari check out Oath in Felghana when it comes out
Ys is easily one of the best JRPG series of all time
YS 6 and YS 7 remake it
Yeah but the music in Ys III snes is so good, you’ll almost enjoy the grind.
@Hero-of-WiiU huh? How is any of this random? They didn’t fall out of the sky.
@AlanaHagues The number of Y's IV games gets even better. That was originally going to be yet another game in development for the Mega Drive in Japan but it was canceled.
I don't recall if Falcom itself was involved in its development (I recall reading Falcom made the SFC game, but the PCE-CD game was entirely Hudson's creation). However, I can only imagine the fact the MD lagged behind its competition in the Japanese market was one factor.
I think VIII is slightly overrated personally.
Origin and Oath in Felghana are tops for me
TG-16 Ys 1&2 is my all time favorite. Played it through many times back in the day. Never liked Wanderers. Played Mask of the Sun and Dawn of Ys some when they were new, but don’t remember much about them. 30 years ago I never would have thought this series would have as many fans in English speaking countries as it does now.
Yeah also going to throw in that the TG16 version of 1&2 are the tops. I played the hell out of that on the Wii VC, and again recently on the Analogue Duo. Surprised it hasn't gotten a Switch port but it would probably be some lackluster LRG affair anyway. VIII is getting a bit overpraised lately, it's a great game but definitely shows signs of being a Vita port.
Been an Ys fan since the PSP days. Mostly a solid list, but I'd rate Ys X a bit lower and Monstrum Nox higher.
Playing through Ys X currently on PS5, and finding it a bit underwhelming tbh. Combat and exploration both feel weaker than earlier entries, though I'm only about halfway, so that could change. Also we need Ys Seven on the Switch.
What good are those eggconsole releases if nobody in America can play them? They put them on the NA Eshop and didn't bother translating them. Seriously?
Anyway it sure would be nice if the switch 2 finally got a propper collection of the first two entries as well as YS IV, V, VI and VII.
As for the rest I'm really interested in origins and plan on getting Oath to Felghana at some point. I started YS VIII a while back but got sidetracked playing other stuff. I should really get back to that but i kinda want to play them in order.
After playing some old Falcom games last month, I got back into Y's. Picked up Oath in Felghana when it released, along with Origins and IX when they were on a sale. Only one I hadn't actually played before was IX.
I really wish the TurboGrafx CD games were ported over; those were a lot of fun. Still, I may pick up the EggConsole PC88 versions
An amazing action RPG series IMO, even if some Switch releases don't quite stick the landing. To echo others, I'd like a shot at the TG-16 Ys I & II variants. The Chronicles+ version I played on Steam was fine, but I find something very charming about the game aesthetics from that era.
I played VIII on PC a few years back, and loved every bit of it! Fantastic game from the beginning to the end. One of my favorite RPGs of all time.
I then played Origins and Felghana, and didn't click with me... They're a different genre. I think IX and X could be more my cup of tea, but IX is unpayable on Switch, and X will get a revamp later this year.
I think I'll wait for the Switch 2 to get back to the series, hopefully the games will run and look better on the new console. I would buy VIII, IX and X all together to play them portable, if that was the case.
@Kingy If you own the Wii at the time when it was still active then you could buy the Turbo CD versions of Ys I, II, III, and IV on the Wii's Virtual Console so in a way a lot of the better games are already on Nintendo's platform. If you miss out on them then you miss out on them. Also in terms of Ys, all the mainline Ys games are on Nintendo's platform one way or another except Ys VI and VII, both which aren't really nothing to wrote home about as both are just decent action style RPGs. The Ys games didn't really get good until Ys VIII and the remakes.
You make it sound like Nintendo ruin the series not knowing that in Japan this series sell better on Nintendo's platform. This series started as a luck base dungeon crawler RPG, it was never meant to have modern gameplay, those versions you claim to be superior are actually the worst versions since they use modern gameplay which ruin the original experience of the what the games series was meant to be. It's like Chess but you take out the most important aspect about it and add modern rules to it and then claim they are superior. Ruining a beloved series is not superior.
I hope we get a Ys Memoire for Napishtim!
@TechaNinja
I'm confused about that one. I heard ark of whatever it's called is supposed to be an MMO type game. Is that right or can you play single player?
@Truegamer79
Ark of Napishtim was originally a singleplayer game released on PC in Japan, later ported to PS2 and PSP by Konami, later released on Steam.
There was indeed also an MMO based on the game which closed in 2023. I don't know much about it though other than it was a microtransaction kinda game, so I don't have much interest in it.
@Truegamer79 Y's VI? Definitely not a MMO. It is absolutely a single-player action-RPG.
Might be one of the first games I've played which I think has entirely voice-acted dialogue (even the random NPCs).
I’ll certainly bet that Johnny from the Happy Console Gamer is happy to see that this list exists here!
@KingMike
Yeah i don't do MMOs. That's why i skipped Final fantasy 11 and 14. Big mistake making main games MMOs. Should've been spin offs.
@Serpenterror Ngl not really getting what it is you're trying to say. My favorites in the series are I, II, & IV, which all feature the earliest style of gameplay this series had to offer. Are you saying Ys I & II Chronicles, and Dawn of Ys are the worst versions of their respective numbers? And how do they "ruin the original experience with modern gameplay"? Dawn of Ys isn't even a remake, it's the ORIGINAL Ys IV along with Mask of the Sun (which is a horrid game).
This is of course even more confusing coming from someone who says "Ys wasn't good until VIII (2016) and the remakes". Which remakes? Oath in Felghana (2005)? Ys I & II Chronicles (2009)? Memories of Celceta (2012)? All of the remakes predate Ys VIII by quite a bit and two of them offer completely different gameplay experiences.
Please clarify your argument here, because right now it just sounds like you're saying Nintendo = better, which is not compelling to me whatsoever.
Seriously, do y'all have a Discord where you just pitch puns all day?
@AlanaHagues The bump system is really just rogue, mystery dungeon, other ASCII games, etc, right?
@Gryffin
No, classic Rogue and Mystery Dungeon games are turn-based.
Ys is realtime. Imagine Zelda 1-style enemies just walking around. They're all 1 tile big, but movement is not strictly tile-based like in a ASCII rogue or Mystery Dungeon
The bump combat in Ys I, II, and IV is all about positioning. If you walk into an enemy head-on, you will trade blows with them and most likely die. But if you come into them from off-centre, then you can hit them safely. You can also attack them safely from the side or from behind. And if you're playing the Saturn versions or the "Chronicles" remake version of I and II, then diagonal movement is implemented, and allows for even more angles of approach.
Bump combat is about approaching safely, and reacting to the enemy movement. It's skill based, rather than strategy based.
Adol has absolutely no damage invulnerability, so if an enemy hits you wrong, if you don't react fast enough, all your HP can be drained in a single moment. (And that's why they let you save anywhere)
Very thorough! Thank you. I encountered bump combat thru Fairune and find it intriguingnad satisfyingly efficient. Perhaps a resurgence of it could help 2D RPGs be shorter games and more story focused.
I'm a longtime fan and Ys series veteran, but more of an old school one. New games haven't clicked for me after 8 (Celceta was still a good remake though). For the classics I've actually played extensively ...I & II are just magical, all time classics. III is just OK to me. Both versions of IV are decent enough ...and V, while requiring a fanmade translation for most, is a true hidden gem in the Super Famicom library that deserves way more love and attention. Ys VI (original version), Origin and Seven are all peak though and absolute banger masterpieces. No question my favourites in the series and just plain fun, wonderful games in general. Love them dearly. Shame only Origin is on Switch ...Give me all of 'em, Falcom!
Thank you for reminding me that there are some of the really early ones on the eshop!
I’ve played I & II and let’s say that was fun for once, but more as a history lesson.
Origin is one of my favourite games of all time, especially when played on hard. I just love to get my palms sweaty with this one.
Celceta is also ‘ok’. It’s hard to go back to this after playing the other games.
VII I haven’t finished for that same reason.
VIII is another one of my favourites. It’s an island full of dinosaurs. That’s what got me into the series in the first place. We need more dinosaur island games.
IX was decent fun, but too repetitive for me. I don’t have this problem with Origin, but the environment was too monotonous for me.
X was fine but not very memorable and I really wish they’d make a smaller world with more detail instead of this big world with lazy art direction.
Playing Oath in Felghana now and this seems to be the perfect mix of Origin’s combat and more diverse environments.
Wait, hang on… you mean to tell me the numbered games are not in chronological order? They jump around the timeline? It’s already hard to believe this Adol guy chronological encounters more and more difficult threats, such that whatever level he finishes one adventure at, ends up being equivalent to level 1 in the next adventure…?
The Egg games are lousy. Ys 1 needs a proper release on Switch. Not this choppy Egg Console version.
My first experience with Ys was the Turbo CD ports on the Wii. Fun little game.
@EarthboundBenjy ah, thank you so much for the clarification. That is very different. I picked up an eShop title on 3DS before I was blasted to oblivion. I'm forgetting the name, started with an F. But it's the same concept, and I really enjoyed it for a couple hours.
Fairune! Scrolled up and read more haha. Thanks @Thomystic
@Kingy I've "Chronicles" was largely an iteration of the same remake since... was Eternal the version from like 1996, for Windows?
I want to say Falcom made Eternal versions of I and II and then Chronicles was the two games bundled together? So I would've guessed.
I do recall playing a fair part of V, before the fan translation patch even, and it was pretty fun.
Though I'm pretty sure I grinded up to get the powerful sword available at the beginning.
@KingMike I think you're right, Chronicles I believe is an enhanced port of Eternal made for the PSP, which then got re-released on Steam. There's a lot of versions of Ys I&II, it's hard to keep track lol. But yeah, the Ys I&II remake is even older than I said it was.
The guy I was responding to didn't and still hasn't explained how Chronicles ruined the original gameplay. And tbh considering he described it as a "luck based dungeon crawler RPG", I can only assume he has Ys confused with something else.
I never played a bad Ys game. Even the first two are still enjoyable, because the games run fast, the combat is simple, leveling is fun, the puzzles are innovative, locations have atmosphere, characters are interesting, and the music is fantastic.
If you like retro RPGs you can't go wrong with the old Ys games. And if you want a great modern Ys game, Ys 8 is an awesome entry point.
My ranking:
1) (Ys III) Oath in Felghana (PC)
2) Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana (PS5)
3) (Ys IV) Memories of Celceta (PSP)
4) Ys X Nordics (Switch)
5) Ys VI Ark of Napishtim (PS2)
6) Ys 7 (PSP)
7) Ys IX Monstrum Nox (PS5)
8) Ys IV Dawn of Ys (Super Nintendo)
9) Ys 1&2 Chronicles (PSP)
10) Ys III Wanderers from Ys (Sega Genesis / MegaDrive)
@Kingy what makes the snes version of Wanderers so bad? I was recommended it by a friend and it's only like $20 for an original copy. Looking around on YouTube, seems people are split on it. People who love Ys hate it, people who don't play the Ys games seem to be into it.
@Corvus96 Worst performance out of the all the versions, highest difficulty out of all versions (which can get insanely *****). And lacks the presentation that the PCE version has (cutscenes / cheesy voice acting / insanely fantastic soundtrack).
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