Ys I & II Chronicles+ similar games & best alternatives

Ys I & II Chronicles+

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2013

Should you play it?

Long, long ago, there was an ancient kingdom called Ys which prospered under the auspices of two heavenly Goddesses. Over time, the kingdom came to be known as Esteria, and its divine history was largely forgotten by all but the descendants of those who once preached the Goddesses’ will.

What works
  • Engaging bump combat system
  • Excellent soundtrack
  • Connected story across two games
  • Short and accessible gameplay
  • Nostalgic classic jrpg experience
Things to keep in mind
  • Archaic and sometimes frustrating design
  • Lack of map system causes confusion
  • Some bosses are very difficult and luck-based
  • Limited combat depth
  • No multiplayer or social features

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Asterigos: Curse of the Stars

  • Onimusha: Warlords

  • Eternal Edge+ Prologue

  • Ys: Memories of Celceta

  • Horizon Forbidden West™ Complete Edition

  • Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

  • The Vagrant

  • Black Myth: Wukong

  • Castlevania Advance Collection
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Pale Abyss - Prototype

  • Flashback

  • Thorne - Death Merchants
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Fantasy

    Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
  • Competence

    Death's Door
  • Escapism

    Broken Age

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Ys I & II Chronicles+: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Creativity.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players can explore freely, engage with NPCs multiple times, and choose how to approach puzzles and combat, reflecting personal freedom in actions."

    Capsule for Judero Judero

    "Players explore dungeons and interact with NPCs with some freedom but progression requires solving puzzles and finding key items, indicating moderate autonomy."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Combat requires skillful timing and pattern recognition; bosses provide satisfying challenges and feedback."

    Capsule for Death's Door Death's Door

    "Combat requires skillful positioning and timing with challenging bosses, especially on higher difficulties, providing a strong sense of competence."

  • Competition

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    -3

    "Focus is on single-player progression and personal challenge rather than competing against others."

    Capsule for Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim

    "Focus is on single-player progression and personal challenge rather than competing against others."

  • Continuation

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    "Engaging story and puzzles encourage replay for achievements and bonus content, though game length is relatively short."

    Capsule for Grim Legends 3: The Dark City Grim Legends 3: The Dark City

    "Short games with engaging music and story encourage playing through both parts and replaying for achievements."

  • Cooperation

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    "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    Capsule for MiSide MiSide

    "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

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    "Players solve predefined puzzles with fixed solutions; limited creative modification or building."

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  • Domination

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    "No social or multiplayer dominance elements present."

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  • Escapism

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    "The immersive fantasy world and engaging story provide strong escapism from real life."

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    "Immersive fantasy world and engaging story provide strong escapism from real life."

  • Expectation

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    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and nostalgia, not obligation."

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    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and nostalgia, not obligation."

  • Experimenting

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    "Players experiment with stealth, combat, and vision mechanics, though overall gameplay follows established patterns."

    Capsule for Apsulov: End of Gods Apsulov: End of Gods

    "Players experiment with combat angles and magic use, though within established mechanics."

  • Exploration

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    "Exploration of randomly generated dungeons and discovery of secrets is a core gameplay element."

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    "Exploration of dungeons and hidden passages is a core part of gameplay."

  • Expression

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    "Limited expression through music customization and choice of play style, but no avatar or environment customization."

    Capsule for 1982 1982

    "Some customization of equipment and choice of soundtrack and character portraits allow limited expression."

  • Fantasy

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    5

    "Strong fantasy setting with mythical creatures, magic swords, and heroic adventure."

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    "Strong fantasy setting with heroic adventure, mythical creatures, and magic."

  • Fellowship

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    "No community or social features; purely solo play."

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  • Growth

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    "Leveling system, equipment upgrades, and skill development support player growth."

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    "Leveling up, acquiring equipment, and learning boss patterns support player growth."

  • Health

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    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

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  • Idle

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    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement, especially during boss fights."

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  • Intimacy

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    "No social or emotional relationship building with other players."

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  • Leadership

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    "No leadership or group management elements."

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  • Progression

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    "Character leveling, skill upgrades, and equipment collection drive progression."

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  • Relaxation

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    "Music and art provide relaxing atmosphere, but challenging puzzles and boss fights create tension and focus."

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  • Sensation

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    "Enjoyable music and fast-paced combat provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

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    "Engaging music and fast-paced combat provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

  • Status

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    "No social recognition or status systems."

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  • Story

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    "Engaging narrative with character interactions and lore integrated into gameplay."

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  • Strategy

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  • Thrill

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  • Value

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  • Violence

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    "Combat involves fighting and defeating enemies with physical and magical attacks."

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  • Survival

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Last update: 01/06/2026