Do I have to play Ys in timeline order?
No. Apart from playing Ys I immediately before Ys II, the adventures are written so a new player can start at VIII, IX, or Proud Nordics. Timeline order is for a second pass or a completionist run.
All series / Ys
Series guide · 1987–2026
Ys
Adol Christin's travelogue was not published in the order he lived it. Most games still stand alone.
At a glance
- Version to play
- Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, or Ys I & II Chronicles+
- Number of games
- 11
Which version should I play today?
You do not need the whole series before any one adventure. Ys I and Ys II are the exception: they are one continuous trip. A friendly modern start is Ys VIII, or Ys X: Proud Nordics if you want the newest game. Proud Nordics is the edition of Ys X to buy.
When an older adventure has a remake, play that. Chronicles+ for I and II, The Oath in Felghana for III, and Memories of Celceta for IV. Ys V has no confirmed official English release.
- Ys I and II: Ys I & II Chronicles+ on PC.
- Ys III: Ys: The Oath in Felghana on PC. Ys IV: Ys: Memories of Celceta on PC and PlayStation 4.
- Ys X: Ys X: Proud Nordics (February 20, 2026) on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
- Ys Origin is a prequel with other heroes. It is optional before Adol's trips.
- Ys V: no official English release confirmed.
Release order
Adventures in the order they first appeared. Later remakes are the recommended editions, not new trips. The 1993 Ys IV games were earlier takes. Memories of Celceta is the Ys IV to play.
- 01
- 02
- 03 Ys III
Play The Oath in Felghana, not the 1989 original.
- 04 Ys IV
1993 saw two earlier Ys IV games. Play Memories of Celceta.
- 05 Ys V
No official English release confirmed.
- 06
- 07
- 08 Adol Ys Seven
- 09
- 10
- 11 Ys X: Nordics
Play Proud Nordics.
Story timeline
Falcom's simplified travelogue order puts Origin about 700 years before Adol. Adol's own trips then run I and II, Ys X, Celceta, Felghana, V, VIII, VI, Seven, and IX. Ys VI and Ys Seven share a year, with VI first.
- 01 Ys Origin
Centuries before Adol. Three playable routes.
- 02 Ys I
Adol's first journey. Play straight into Ys II.
- 03
- 04 Ys X: Nordics
Soon after Ys II. Same year on Falcom's simplified timeline.
- 05 Ys IV
The following year. Play Memories of Celceta.
- 06 Ys III
Play The Oath in Felghana.
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10 Ys Seven
Same year as Ys VI, after it.
- 11
Platforms and where to buy
Years are the first release. The play-today column is the version to look for now. Store listings change, so treat the Amazon link as a search, not a stock promise.
Affiliate disclosure. Where to buy opens an Amazon search. The affiliate tag in the site config is empty, so these are ordinary search links and do not pay a commission yet. Full disclosure.
| Game | Year | First platforms | Play today | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ys I Adol's first adventure. It only makes sense played directly into Ys II. | 1987 | PC-88 | Ys I & II Chronicles+ on PC, bundled with Ys II. | Where to buy |
| Ys II The immediate sequel to Ys I, sold with it in Chronicles+. | 1988 | PC-88 | The second half of Ys I & II Chronicles+ on PC. | Where to buy |
| Ys III Adol's Felghana journey. The Oath in Felghana is the version to play. | 1989 | PC-88 | Ys: The Oath in Felghana on PC. That 2005 remake replaces Wanderers from Ys. | Where to buy |
| Ys IV The Celceta adventure. Memories of Celceta is Falcom's version to play today. | 1993 | PC Engine, Super Famicom | Ys: Memories of Celceta on PC and PlayStation 4. The 1993 Mask of the Sun and Dawn of Ys were earlier, separate takes. | Where to buy |
| Ys V Adol's Kefin journey. Left in Japanese for this guide because no official English edition was confirmed. | 1995 | Super Famicom | No official English release confirmed. There is a Super Famicom original and a later Japan-only PlayStation 2 version. | Where to buy |
| Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim A later Adol voyage, set after Ys VIII on the travelogue timeline. | 2003 | Windows | PC. | Where to buy |
| Ys Origin A prequel set centuries before Adol, with three playable characters. | 2006 | Windows | PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. | Where to buy |
| Ys Seven Adol's Altago journey, set in the same year as Ys VI and just after it. | 2009 | PlayStation Portable | PC. | Where to buy |
| Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana A castaway story that works well as a first Ys game. | 2016 | PlayStation Vita | PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. | Where to buy |
| Ys IX: Monstrum Nox The latest point in Adol's travelogue among the released games. | 2019 | PlayStation 4 | PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. | Where to buy |
| Ys X: Nordics A seafaring adventure set shortly after Ys II. Proud Nordics is the expanded edition. | 2023 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch | Ys X: Proud Nordics (February 20, 2026 worldwide) on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. The 2024 base Nordics release remains on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC. | Where to buy |
FAQ
Which version of Ys I, II, III, IV, and X should I play?
Chronicles+ for I and II, The Oath in Felghana for III, Memories of Celceta for IV, and Proud Nordics for X. Those replace the 1980s originals, the 1993 Ys IV games, and the base Nordics release for a first play.
What about Ys V?
No official English release was confirmed. The game exists on Super Famicom and as a Japan-only PlayStation 2 version. This guide does not link to unofficial translations.
Is Ys Origin required?
No. It is set centuries before Adol and follows other characters. It is worth playing, and it can go first if you like prequels, but it does not set up a specific later game's opening.
Does Proud Nordics replace Nordics?
For a new player, yes. Proud Nordics adds story scenes and systems on top of Ys X. Buy that edition on PC, PlayStation 5, or Switch 2 unless you already own the 2024 release and only want to finish it.
Sources
Last verified: October 29, 2026
- Falcom Wiki: Ys timeline — Simplified in-universe order from Origin through Ys IX.
- Ys X: Nordics (Wikipedia) — 2023 Japanese release, 2024 worldwide Nordics, and the 2026 Proud Nordics dates.
- NIS America: Ys X Proud Nordics — Publisher page for the expanded edition.
- Nihon Falcom — Developer of record for the series.