# Ys (イース) (series)

**Ys** (イース, Īsu) is a Japanese action role-playing game series created by [Nihon Falcom](https://www.edgepedia.org/nihon-falcom), beginning on the NEC PC-8801 in 1987 under director-programmer Masaya Hashimoto and scenario writer Tomoyoshi Miyazaki, and starring the red-haired adventurer Adol Christin.<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup> The first game, *Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished*, was released in Japan on June 21, 1987, combining experience-based RPG progression with real-time action combat.<sup>[2](https://store.nisamerica.com/blogs/news/the-legacy-of-ys-and-its-milestone-10th-installment)</sup> Falcom, then a six-year-old company, built the series around episodic adventures framed as entries from Adol's journal.<sup>[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2017/03/09/whats-a-ys-a-quick-history-of-the-rpg-series-in-the-runup-to-ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana)</sup> Nintendo marks the series as having run for 38 years since its 1987 debut.<sup>[4](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/topics/article/f80919b4-ea87-4b34-b9bc-a933cfed1206)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Debut | *Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished*, PC-8800, Japan, June 21, 1987<sup>[2](https://store.nisamerica.com/blogs/news/the-legacy-of-ys-and-its-milestone-10th-installment)</sup> |
| Creators | Masaya Hashimoto (director, programmer, designer) and Tomoyoshi Miyazaki (scenario writer), Nihon Falcom<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup> |
| Mainline count | Several games in the main series have been replaced in the canon timeline by newer versions<sup>[5](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/List_of_Ys_games)</sup> |
| Signature combat | The buttonless "bump" system of the early games, later replaced by dedicated attacks, party combat (Ys Seven, 2009), and the dual-character Cross Action system (Ys X, 2023)<sup>[6](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/13/ys-evolution-of-an-action-rpg/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.falcom.co.jp/ysx/)</sup> |
| Best seller | *Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana*, over 700,000 copies worldwide as of April 14, 2025<sup>[8](https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana-a-depasse-les-700-000-exemplaires-vendus-3050863234.html)</sup> |
| Music | Early scores by Yuzo Koshiro, Mieko Ishikawa, and Hideya Nagata; in-house Falcom Sound Team jdk scores every entry<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2017/03/09/whats-a-ys-a-quick-history-of-the-rpg-series-in-the-runup-to-ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana)</sup> |
| Western history | Only the first three games reached North America until 2005; consistent English releases began with the XSEED partnership from 2010<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup> |

## Games and chronology

Several games in the main series have been replaced in the canon timeline by newer versions, alongside re-imaginings and spin-offs.<sup>[5](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/List_of_Ys_games)</sup> A Dengeki Online timeline runs from *Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished Omen* (PC-88, June 21, 1987, Adol aged 17) to *Ys IX -Monstrum NOX-* (PS4, September 26, 2019, Adol aged 24), and orders the games by Adol's adventure journal (冒険日誌) rather than release date; each story is self-contained, so the games can be played in any order.<sup>[9](https://dengekionline.com/articles/64991)</sup>

**The 2003 canon adjustment.** With the production of *[Ys VI](https://www.edgepedia.org/ys-vi-the-ark-of-napishtim)* (2003), Falcom officially announced an overall adjustment of the series' world setting, dividing the games into an original-setting group, comprising *Ys* (1987), *Ys II* (1988), *Ys III* (1989), *Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys* (1993), and *Ys V* (1995), and a new-setting group.<sup>[10](https://shizuoka.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/14647/files/S18-0099.pdf)</sup> Two versions of *Ys IV* exist: *MASK OF THE SUN* (Super Famicom, November 19, 1993) and *The Dawn of Ys* (PC Engine, December 22, 1993).<sup>[9](https://dengekionline.com/articles/64991)</sup> *Ys Origin* is a prequel set in Darm Tower 700 years before the first game, and *Ys V: Lost Kefin* is the only main entry never released outside Japan or remade.<sup>[5](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/List_of_Ys_games)</sup>

*Ys X: Nordics*, the tenth mainline installment,<sup>[11](https://doi.org/10.34382/0002005773)</sup> depicts 16-year-old Adol's adventures in Obelia Gulf after his first adventure in Esteria, en route to Celceta with Dogi, with dual protagonists Adol and Karja and a new graphics engine.<sup>[2](https://store.nisamerica.com/blogs/news/the-legacy-of-ys-and-its-milestone-10th-installment)</sup> Chronologically, *Ys: Memories of Celceta* immediately follows the events of *Ys X*.<sup>[12](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/jrpg/after-16-jrpgs-across-37-years-the-long-running-ys-series-is-finally-localizing-the-nintendo-switch-remaster-of-its-overlooked-ps-vita-gem-next-year/)</sup>

## Gameplay and design

**The bump system.** The early games stripped out turn-based battles: attacking was automatic when Adol collided with enemies.<sup>[13](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/06/ys-introduction-and-history/)</sup> The player literally runs Adol into enemies, hitting them on the side, back, or slightly off-center of the front, a design created with accessibility in mind; Falcom staff compared it to popping bubble wrap.<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup> Damage is calculated from the angle and trajectory of the impact.<sup>[14](https://classic.rpgfan.com/features/Ys_I_and_II_Chronicles_QA/index.html)</sup> The bump system was used in *Ys I* and *II*, skipped in *Ys III* (which adopted a side-on, platform-style perspective and a dedicated attack button), returned for both *Ys IV* versions, then was abandoned for good.<sup>[6](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/13/ys-evolution-of-an-action-rpg/)</sup>

**Party combat and the camera.** *Ys SEVEN* (2009, PSP) introduced the party system, changing the series from a single-character action RPG to one with three characters at a time, and added slashing, striking, and piercing damage types, with enemies strong against a type taking single-figure or no damage.<sup>[6](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/13/ys-evolution-of-an-action-rpg/)</sup> From *Ys VI* the series adopted a quarter-view perspective inherited by later works.<sup>[9](https://dengekionline.com/articles/64991)</sup> *[Ys VIII](https://www.edgepedia.org/ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana)* (July 21, 2016, Japan) was the first entry with a fully controllable camera; *Ys IX* features an open prison city and superhero-like powers.<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup>

**Ys X.** *Ys X: Nordics* removes the party system in favor of a dual-character combat system called "Cross Action," set in Obelia Gulf.<sup>[5](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/List_of_Ys_games)</sup> In ground combat, the player switches between Solo Mode and Combo Mode depending on battle conditions.<sup>[4](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/topics/article/f80919b4-ea87-4b34-b9bc-a933cfed1206)</sup> The story follows Adol and Karja Balta, a Norman girl feared as a "pirate princess," aboard the ship Sandras, with Mana Actions and naval exploration.<sup>[15](https://www.cloudedleopardent.com/en/news/5937/)</sup> The game adds sailing operations of a ship across the open sea to the series' adventure elements.<sup>[7](https://www.falcom.co.jp/ysx/)</sup>

## Story and recurring elements

The series chronicles the adventures of Adol Christin, a young man with a zest for adventure and an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the wrong time; the story of the games is based on the travelogues he wrote, with the fighter Dogi as a frequent companion. He has visited Esteria, Ys, Felghana, Celceta, Xandria, the Canaan Islands, Altago, the Isle of Seiren, Balduq, and Obelia Gulf.<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup> In a post-*Ys II* interview, Miyazaki explained that the many characters appearing throughout that game were an introduction to the humans appearing at the ending, and that an invisible party is implied.<sup>[16](https://transcribed.neocities.org/posts/Post-Ys-II-interview-with-the-core-development-team)</sup> The winged beings introduced in *Ys IV* became an increasingly important motif; in the 1998 *Ys I* remake, the goddesses Feena and Reah appear with wings.<sup>[10](https://shizuoka.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/14647/files/S18-0099.pdf)</sup>

## Music and Falcom Sound Team jdk

The series' music by Yuzo Koshiro, Mieko Ishikawa, and Hideya Nagata, remixed by Ryo Yonemitsu for the PC Engine CD-ROM, is regarded as among the most influential video game scores, alongside *Dragon Quest* and *Final Fantasy*.<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup> Falcom's in-house JDK Sound Team creates the music for each *Ys* game,<sup>[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2017/03/09/whats-a-ys-a-quick-history-of-the-rpg-series-in-the-runup-to-ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana)</sup> and the soundtracks by Falcom Sound Team jdk are named by the series' Western publisher among the elements central to every entry, alongside the red-haired protagonist and the action RPG gameplay.<sup>[2](https://store.nisamerica.com/blogs/news/the-legacy-of-ys-and-its-milestone-10th-installment)</sup>

## By the numbers

*Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana* surpassed 700,000 copies sold worldwide per a Falcom announcement dated April 14, 2025, having passed 500,000 in October 2018 and 600,000 in August 2019; Gamekult identifies it as the best-performing entry in the series.<sup>[8](https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana-a-depasse-les-700-000-exemplaires-vendus-3050863234.html)</sup> In Japan, *Ys Seven* (September 2009, PSP) became the highest-selling *Ys* game at the time with over 70,000 domestic copies; *Ys: Memories of Celceta* later took that position at 82,000 copies, and *Ys VIII*'s Vita version alone sold 90,000, the biggest-selling entry in the franchise at that point. *Ys: The Oath in Felghana*'s PSP port sold about 30,000 in Japan.<sup>[17](https://www.vgchartz.com/article/393637/a-look-back-at-the-ys-series-on-playstation-handhelds/)</sup> No cumulative *Ys* series sales figure has been published since the franchise began in 1987; Falcom's sibling *[Trails](https://www.edgepedia.org/trails-series)* franchise totaled 8.5 million as of September 2024.<sup>[8](https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana-a-depasse-les-700-000-exemplaires-vendus-3050863234.html)</sup> *Ys VIII* itself launched on [PlayStation Vita](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-vita) in Japan on July 21, 2016, then PS4 (May 25, 2017), PC (April 16, 2018), Switch (July 26, 2018), and PS5 (November 15, 2022).<sup>[8](https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana-a-depasse-les-700-000-exemplaires-vendus-3050863234.html)</sup>

## Localization and platform history

The Sega Master System version, released in 1988, marked the first time the series came to the West and was enormously well received.<sup>[13](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/06/ys-introduction-and-history/)</sup> *Ys I & II* was released in 1989 as a compilation for the PC Engine CD-ROM, localized in 1990 for the [TurboGrafx-16](https://www.edgepedia.org/turbografx-16), adding animated cutscenes, Red Book CD audio, and voice acting; *Ys II* did not see an official release outside Japan until that 1990 compilation.<sup>[13](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/06/ys-introduction-and-history/)</sup> Until 2005, only the first three *Ys* games were available in North America; Konami's 2005–2006 English releases of *Ys VI* marked the first English release in thirteen years, XSEED localized several titles from 2010, and NISA published *Ys VIII*, *IX*, and *X*.<sup>[1](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))</sup>

The remake lineage is dense. *Ys Eternal* (1997) and *Ys I & II Complete* (2001) were Windows remakes that formed the basis of the [Chronicles](https://www.edgepedia.org/chronicles) versions for PSP in 2009 and Windows PC in 2013; *Ys VI* (2003) replaced the bump system with dedicated attack and jump buttons; and *Ys: The Oath in Felghana* (2005) re-tells *Ys III*'s story and is regarded by many as one of the best entries.<sup>[13](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/06/ys-introduction-and-history/)</sup> A 1989 Hudson PC Engine remake had already merged *Ys I* and *Ys II* into a single game, *Ys I・II*, realizing the originally planned combined form.<sup>[10](https://shizuoka.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/14647/files/S18-0099.pdf)</sup> *Ys I & II Chronicles* was developed in-house by Falcom, and its release marked the first time Falcom's own versions of *Ys I & II* were officially released in English; the TurboGrafx-16 versions had been ported and slightly altered by Hudson, while the DS versions were heavily altered by Interchannel.<sup>[14](https://classic.rpgfan.com/features/Ys_I_and_II_Chronicles_QA/index.html)</sup> Falcom cited persistent English-fan requests and a partnership with XSEED Games as the pathway enabling consistent English releases of *Ys SEVEN*, *I & II Chronicles*, and *Oath in Felghana*.<sup>[18](https://hg101.kontek.net/ysinterviews/ysinterviews.htm)</sup>

## What has changed since 2023

*Ys X: Nordics* was released in Japan on September 28, 2023 for [Nintendo Switch](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch), PlayStation 5, and [PlayStation 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-4) as a single-player action RPG.<sup>[7](https://www.falcom.co.jp/ysx/)</sup> An enhanced version, *Ys X -Proud NORDICS-*, launched on [Nintendo Switch 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch-2) on July 31, 2025 at 7,800 yen, physically and digitally.<sup>[4](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/topics/article/f80919b4-ea87-4b34-b9bc-a933cfed1206)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[19](https://www.gematsu.com/2025/04/ys-x-proud-nordics-launches-july-31-in-japan)</sup> Falcom's archive also lists other releases in the series.<sup>[20](https://www.falcom.co.jp/archives/games_title/ys)</sup> Publisher NIS America announced that the enhanced re-release skips PS5 in favor of Switch 2 and PC, drawing criticism from Western fans, with a Western release confirmed for early 2026.<sup>[21](https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/08/ys-x-nordics-controversial-re-release-skips-ps5-for-switch-2-and-pc)</sup> Clouded Leopard Entertainment released the Asian localized version on August 21, 2025 for Switch 2 and Steam.<sup>[15](https://www.cloudedleopardent.com/en/news/5937/)</sup>

Falcom's archive also lists *Ys vs. Sky no Kiseki Alternative Saga* (October 11, 2025), PS5 versions of *Ys IX* and *Ys VIII* (both July 31, 2025), *Ys Memoire: Celceta no Kaikai* (May 22, 2025), and *Ys I&II&III* for the X68000 Z (April 23, 2026).<sup>[20](https://www.falcom.co.jp/archives/games_title/ys)</sup> XSEED Games announced *Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta*, an English localization of the Switch remaster of the PS Vita game, for early 2026 on Switch and Switch 2 with a $60 Day One Edition.<sup>[12](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/jrpg/after-16-jrpgs-across-37-years-the-long-running-ys-series-is-finally-localizing-the-nintendo-switch-remaster-of-its-overlooked-ps-vita-gem-next-year/)</sup>

## Reception and legacy

Alongside Nintendo's *Legend of Zelda* series, Falcom's *Ys* was instrumental in helping to establish and refine the Japanese take on the action RPG genre,<sup>[6](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/13/ys-evolution-of-an-action-rpg/)</sup> and GameRant describes its adventure pedigree as perhaps rivaled only by *Zelda*.<sup>[22](https://gamerant.com/ys-game-timeline/)</sup> An academic comparison notes that the *Ys* series has roughly the same lifespan as the *Dragon Quest* and *Final Fantasy* series but did not achieve their global-scale recognition.<sup>[10](https://shizuoka.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/14647/files/S18-0099.pdf)</sup> Within the series, *Ys VIII* is the commercial peak at over 700,000 copies,<sup>[8](https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana-a-depasse-les-700-000-exemplaires-vendus-3050863234.html)</sup> while *Ys: The Oath in Felghana* is widely regarded as one of the best entries.<sup>[13](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/06/ys-introduction-and-history/)</sup>

## References

1. [Ys (series) – Falcom Wiki](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/Ys_(series))
2. [The Legacy of Ys and Its Milestone 10th Installment – NIS America](https://store.nisamerica.com/blogs/news/the-legacy-of-ys-and-its-milestone-10th-installment)
3. [What's a Ys? A quick history of the RPG series – PlayStation.Blog](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2017/03/09/whats-a-ys-a-quick-history-of-the-rpg-series-in-the-runup-to-ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana)
4. [『イースX -Proud NORDICS-』がNintendo Switch 2 で本日発売 – Nintendo](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/topics/article/f80919b4-ea87-4b34-b9bc-a933cfed1206)
5. [List of Ys games – Falcom Wiki](https://falcom.wiki/wiki/List_of_Ys_games)
6. [Ys: Evolution of an Action RPG – MoeGamer](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/13/ys-evolution-of-an-action-rpg/)
7. [イースX -NORDICS- – 日本ファルコム](https://www.falcom.co.jp/ysx/)
8. [Ys VIII : Lacrimosa of Dana a dépassé les 700 000 exemplaires vendus – Gamekult](https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana-a-depasse-les-700-000-exemplaires-vendus-3050863234.html)
9. [日本RPGの金字塔『イース』シリーズの歴史と物語を振り返る！ – 電撃オンライン](https://dengekionline.com/articles/64991)
10. [『イース』I・IIのインスピレーションをめぐって – Shizuoka University](https://shizuoka.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/14647/files/S18-0099.pdf)
11. [What Is This Skítr? : Viking Authenticity in Ys X: Nordics – DOI](https://doi.org/10.34382/0002005773)
12. [Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta localization – GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/jrpg/after-16-jrpgs-across-37-years-the-long-running-ys-series-is-finally-localizing-the-nintendo-switch-remaster-of-its-overlooked-ps-vita-gem-next-year/)
13. [Ys: Introduction and History – MoeGamer](https://moegamer.net/2016/07/06/ys-introduction-and-history/)
14. [Ys I and II Chronicles Q&A – RPGFan](https://classic.rpgfan.com/features/Ys_I_and_II_Chronicles_QA/index.html)
15. [Ys X: Proud Nordics Asian Localized Version – Clouded Leopard Entertainment](https://www.cloudedleopardent.com/en/news/5937/)
16. [Post-Ys II interview with the core development team – transcribed primary source](https://transcribed.neocities.org/posts/Post-Ys-II-interview-with-the-core-development-team)
17. [A Look Back at the Ys Series on PlayStation Handhelds – VGChartz](https://www.vgchartz.com/article/393637/a-look-back-at-the-ys-series-on-playstation-handhelds/)
18. [Ys History Interviews – Hardcore Gaming 101](https://hg101.kontek.net/ysinterviews/ysinterviews.htm)
19. [Ys X: Proud Nordics launches July 31 in Japan – Gematsu](https://www.gematsu.com/2025/04/ys-x-proud-nordics-launches-july-31-in-japan)
20. [イース – 日本ファルコム 公式アーカイブ](https://www.falcom.co.jp/archives/games_title/ys)
21. [Ys X: Nordics' Controversial Re-Release Skips PS5 – Push Square](https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/08/ys-x-nordics-controversial-re-release-skips-ps5-for-switch-2-and-pc)
22. [Every Ys Game's Story In Chronological Order – GameRant](https://gamerant.com/ys-game-timeline/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Franchises and series › Japanese RPG and adventure franchises*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

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