Ys is a groundbreaking series. Not only is it one of the most vital RPG series in the entire gaming medium, but it is also one of the more obscure, at least outside of Japan. For whatever reason, Ys never ful💮ly took off in the west, even in the face of consistent localizations throughout most of its run.
As a result, the Ys games are beloved by fans but ignored by the general populace. This is a shame, as multiple entries in the series make up some of the best RPGs to ever be developed. Looking at only the canonical and non-canonical games, let's dive into and rank the Ys games.
Updated November 22, 2022, by Michael Llewellyn: The Ys series may not have the largest budget compared to some of the AAA efforts from Square Enix, but the heart and soul of a classic JRPG have always been present. Based on the legends surrounding a mythical city in France, the Ys series' combination of Zelda and Metroidvania mechanics remain timeless over thirty years after its launch. This list has been updated to include title availability and an obscure real-time strategy game set in the same universe.
12 🐎 ꦏ Ys Strategy
- Launched: 2006
- Developer: Future Creates
- Platform: DS
Ys Strategy received mixed reviews at launch, but the real-time strategy game does have some merit as a solid tactical RPG. While it stꦰrays far from the classic Ys formula, Ys Strategy is a traditional RTS that makes good use of the Nintendo DS control system and touchscreen.
The story switches between the campaign's protagonists and antagonists in an attempt to tell an epic tale, but there's little in the way of character development. However, Ys fans looking for something different, but set in the same universe, may still have fun with this tactical effort.
11 Ys 4: Me🙈mories Of Celceta ♛
- Launched: 2013
- Developer: Falcom
- Platform: PC, PS Vita, and PS4
Memories of Celceta has some fairly specific issues that other entries in the series lack. While it tells a generally decent story — one that adds a layer of intimacy to protagonist Adol Christin’s character — there’s a rushed quality that can’t exactly be ignored. Memories of Celceta don't so much end, as it stops, leading to a very uninspired finale.
That said, the dungeons are generall💫y well-designed, the gameplay is as 🅠solid as ever, and Celceta stands out as one of the more interesting settings in the series. In an ideal world, Memories of Celceta would be more refined, but it goes to show that even at its worst, the Ys series is worth experiencing.
10 🐓 Ys 5: Lost Kefin, Kingdom Of Sand
- Launched: 1995, Japan-only
- Developer: Falcom and Arc System Works
- Platform: PS2 and Super Famicom
Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand wasn’t the only Ys game to be released on the Super Famicom, but it’s the only one that remains canon to this day. Where both Wanderers from Ys and Mask of the Sun have been retconned, Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand still s🐬tands out in its glorious obscurity.
That said, Kefin is a bit of a mixed bag. As a Ys game, it’s on the underwhelming side, lacking in many of the series staples. As a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Nintendo action RPG, it’s gripping, exciting, and in the upper echelon. Lost Kefin is pitifullyꦚ easy for the♐ series, but the released Ys 5 Expert does help balance the game considerably.
9 ღ Ys 2: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter
- Launched: 1988, Japan-only
- Developer: Falcom
- Platform: Famicom, FM-7, i-mode, MSX2, MS-DOS, PC-8801, and PC-9801
Although Ys 1 & 2 are more often than not bundled togetherꦛ, they are two distinct games. What keeps II from reaching its predecessor’s success mainly comes down to gameplay specifi♚cs.
The first game focuses on melee combat, whereas the second focuses on magic. As a result, Ys 2 isn’t nearly as tight a game. With ♛that in mind, however, II is still an excellent continuation of the first game, if a bit underwhelming at times. 𝄹The whole downgrade is worth it if only to experience one of the most important endings in video game history.
8 Ys Seven
- Launched: 2010
- Developer: Falcom
- Platform: PC and PSP
Ys Seven wasn’t the first game to feature playable characters who weren’t Adol, but it was the first to feature a party system rather than the solo adventures the series had become known for. Frankly, it shows, as S♔even is a bit rough around the edges while dedicating itไs first half to a cliché-driven plot.
Onl൲y to break away from said clichés and spectacularly in the second half. It doesn’t make up for the rather underwhelming first half, but Seven is a 🐠unique game that tried something new at a point where Ys was arguably at its peak. Seven is a bold game that may not succeed in all the ways it hopes to but stands strong regardless.
7 ꦡ Ys 1: Ys Vanished
- Launched: 1987 Japan only
- Developer: Falcom
- Platform: Famicom, FM-7, i-mode, Master System, MSX2, MS-DOS, PC-8801, and PC-9801
The game that started it all, Ys can be a bit off-putting, given how archaic its overall level design is. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great game that proudly stands the test of time. In many respects, Ys 1 is reminiscent of the original 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Legend of Zelda, perhaps even sharing inspiration with t🐭h𒐪e Nintendo classic.
More importantly, Ys 1 is ahead of its time, featuring a well-told story that only increases in scope, outstanding boss fights, anꦺd an incredible score. The RPG is a bit on the short side, and the bump combat can be frustrating for newcomers, but Ys 1 is a legendary game that deserves more love.
6 Ys 6: The Ark Of Napishtim ﷽
- Launched: 2003
- Developer: Falcom
- Platform: Android, iOS, PC, PSP, and PS2
The Ark of Napishtim might not have the same legacy as Ys 1, but it’s just as i𒆙mportant a gam👍e. Following the release of Lost Kefin, Ys took a nearly decade-long hiatus. It was only broken with the release of The Ark of Napishtim, a game that took influences from every single entry in the series while radically changing the gameplay.
Instead of bump or traditional combat ala Zelda, The Ark of Napishtim emphasized high-octane hack-and-slash action with an overhead view, all while telling one of the most classically epic stories in Ys history. It’s the game that saved Ys and ushered in a golden a🍬ge of gamepla♊y for the series.
5 Ys 9: Monstrum Nox 🐎
- Launched: 2019
- Developer: Falcom
- Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, and Switch
The latest installment, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ys 9: Monstrum Nox, is chronologically the last game in the timeline (for now). Monstrum Nox focuses on Adol's reputation as an adventurer, as well as themes of identity. While Ys 9 is held back by denser storytelling than any of its predecessors – in turn, hurting the pace – the dungeon design and combat are arguably the best in the SEVEN Engine.
Ys still isn't back to its glory days as far as difficulty is concerned, but 9's Monstrum abilities add a layer of verticality to boss fights and exploration that's greatly redefined the gameplay loop for the better.
4 Ys Origin
- Launched: 2012
- Developer: Falcom
- Platform: PC, PS Vita, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
The first𓄧 canonical game in the series without Adol, Ys Origin takes place 700 years before the 🉐events of the first game. A love letter to all things Ys, Origin was the last game to use the Napishtim Engine, and it goes out on an absolute bang, featuring three distinct play styles and some of the best bosses in the series.
With an equally compelling story to boot, Origin is one of the series' high points. Playing through the same game three times for the full experience can be a bit tedious, but Origin paces itself well enough that this is only ever an issue when starting up a new playthrough. As soon as the first boss hits, it’s smooth sailing.
3 ꦑ Ys 4: The Dawn Of Ys 🔜
- Launched: 1993 Japan only
- Developer: Hudson Soft
- Platform: PC Engine CD ROM
The Dawn of Ys is the only non-canon Ys game that compares to the rest of the seri❀es, even outshining most entries in the series. The “fourth” game, The Dawn of Ys was retconned by Memories of Celceta (technically by Mask of the Sun in the olden days), but it’s nonetheless a triumph in game design.
Any fan who likes the first two games or just bump combat, in general, owes it to themselves to seek The Dawn of Ys out. Dawn has some of the best music, dungeons, and boss fights in the series. The story is simple for Ys but executed so well that it hardly matters. In many respects, this is the Return of the Jedi to Ys 1 & 2, if Return of𒆙 the Jedi were retconned years later.