All Ys games are listed in chronological order

The Ys series remains one of the best kept JRPG secrets. Nihon Falcom has been making Ys games since the 8-bit days of yore. However, despite the popularity of more recent entries like Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, the series still remains niche. Maybe that's partly because of how confusing the Ys timeline is.

Gamers can easily be forgiven for not knowing where to start with the Ys series. The games were not released in chronological order. Additionally, most of the Ys games received remakes where even the name of the game was changed.

Despite the relative obscurity of the Ys franchise, it has endured. Fans love the Ys games for their amazing storylines, strategic combat, and the lore that ties each game to the well-crafted Ys universe.

10

Yes Origin

Ys Origin was originally released in 2006 for PC, but has since been available on most modern platforms. It takes place approximately 700 years before the events of Ys I&II (and before the introduction of the series' main protagonist, Adol).

Ys Origins sees the floating land of Ys attacked by demons trying to build a tower to reach it. The story centers around three playable characters and provides a lot of backstory to recurring characters and locations in the series, such as the Twin Goddesses, the Six Priests, and Darm Tower.

Ys Origins was a fast-paced entry that required the player to beat it with multiple characters to see the true origin story in its entirety. Despite the fact that the entire game took place in a giant maze, the environments were varied and the gameplay is as addictive as any Ys game.

9

Yes I and II

Ys I and II are often lumped together because they are essentially one continuous game and have been remade countless times. The TurboGrafx-16 version, Ys Book I&II was a landmark RPG in 1989 thanks to CD technology. It allowed for fully animated sequences and richer sound quality. Gamers looking for a more modern experience might want to check out Ys Chronicles I & II.

The plot of Ys I and II introduced Adol and had him collect the history books of Ys and travel to the floating land of Ys to escape the land of evil.

Ys I and II feature the famous (or infamous) “bump” system where players bump directly into enemies instead of using a dedicated attack button. These games are still surprisingly playable and really put Nihon Falcom on the map.

8

Ys X: Nordics

The latest game in the Ys series, Ys X: Nordics pulls the timeline back to one of Adol Christin's earliest stories. Set right after the first and second games, this title sees a younger and edgier Adol on a naval adventure that brings the world of Ys to life in fresh and lively ways.

Great bosses round out a robust ship upgrade system, proving once again that Nihon Falcom can bring new tricks to an old series. There are even full-fledged naval battles. While it will be interesting to see if Falcom chooses a more seasoned point in Adol's timeline for the eleventh entry, a prequel push has its own rich rewards.

7

Ys IV: Memories from Celcelta

Ys IV has probably the most confusing history in the franchise. Two versions were released in 1993 (both outsourced), Mask of the Sun by Tonkin House and The Dawn of Ys by Hudson Soft. In 2012, Nihon Falcom remade Ys ​​IV for PSP (it was also ported to PS4 and PC) and renamed it Memories of Celceta. This version merged the stories from both previous versions of Ys IV.

Takes place one year after the events of Ys II. Adol has amnesia and begins to regain his memories as the story progresses. The plot largely revolves around a powerful item called the Mask of the Sun, which can be used to absorb mysterious powers.

Gameplay-wise, Memories of Celceta borrows from Ys Seven and features multiple playable characters. Fans are divided on Amintiri din Celceta. While the game is generally praised, the outdated graphics and thin plot didn't please everyone.

6

Ys III: The Oath of Felghana

Ys III was originally released as Ys III: Wanderers from Ys in 1989. The gameplay was completely different, instead featuring 2D gameplay with a dedicated attack button. Issues like the framerate drop and high difficulty kept it from being as well-liked as the first two Ys games.

Fortunately, Nihon Falcom remade Ys ​​III from scratch in 2005 and retitled it The Oath of Felghana. Graphically, Oath of Felghana resembles Ys Origin, but the battle system comes from Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim.

Takes place one year after the end of Ys IV. While the plot is very simple, revolving around Adol and Dogi protecting the city of Felghana, the remake was a huge improvement over the original game. Additional cutscenes were added to expand the plot and add news.

5

Ys V: Kefin, The Lost Kingdom of Sand

Ys V: Kefin, The Lost Kingdom of Sand is probably the most forgotten Ys game. It was released in 1996 on the Super Famicom. It never got a remake or a western release. Additionally, the franchise took a long hiatus after the release of Ys V.

Ys V takes place several years after Oath of Felghana. The plot revolves around exploring Xandria to find a lost desert kingdom called Kefin.

One reason Ys V might be so forgettable is that it took so few risks. It didn't really build on the battles established in the previous Ys games, which were all experimental. Worse yet, some consider Ys V to be nothing more than a decent Zelda clone.

Perhaps one day Nihon Falcom will bless fans with a proper remake, just like the other early Ys games.

4

Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana

Ys VIII was released in 2016 and is available on most modern platforms. Takes place shortly after Ys V (Adol even starts the game with gear from Kefin). After a shipwreck, Adol finds himself stranded on Seiren Island. He works with his allies to escape while helping the locals build a safe settlement. Players can switch between six playable characters that specialize in certain types of attacks.

What really separates Ys VIII from the pack is the shift in perspective between Adol and Dana (a mysterious girl who is the last of her kind). Decisions made with Dana can affect Adol's adventure and the landscape itself.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana catapulted the popularity of the Ys series (and is a great introduction to action RPGs). It's the biggest Ys game to date and focuses more on a central plot and the emotional stakes of its main characters.

3

Ys VI: Ark of Napistim

Ys VI was released in 2002 and broke the nearly ten year hiatus between Ys games. Takes place after Adol's escape from Seiren Island. Once again, Adol has some bad luck at sea and finds himself stranded on a mysterious island.

Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim marked a huge change in the direction of the series. It was the first 3D Ys game and featured a brand new battle system. No more shooting, 2D action or Zelda style gameplay. Instead, combat has been made more frenetic with the addition of jumps and magic spells.

Most fans look favorably on Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim for a multitude of reasons. But its historical significance is largely due to the creation of a new identity for the series and the modernization of Y.

2

Yes seven

Ys Seven was released in 2009 for the PSP. It takes place about six months after the Ark of Napistim. Ys Seven sees Adol and Dogi finally arrive in the Altago Capital (their destination after escaping in Ys VIII).

Adol and Dogi are tasked with investigating the recent earthquakes. This leads to a great adventure where they must try to awaken the five dragons to prevent a horrible calamity.

Ys Seven is generally praised, but it was a massive departure from the older games, dividing some older fans. Ys Seven has several playable characters that can be turned on and off. The AI ​​controlled the other characters, and the combat system revolved around using weapon types and items to match enemy weaknesses.

1

Ys IX: Monster Nox

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is the latest in the timeline. It takes place in a prison city under Romanian control. Beings known as “Monstrums” (supernatural beings) appear and cause trouble for the locals.

Adol is falsely accused of a serious crime and becomes a Monster himself. He must escape the prison city with the help of both new and old allies.

Falcom built from Ys VII and continued with the use of multiple party members and different types of attacks. Monstrum abilities like wall climbing and gliding also add a new layer to exploration and combat.