Ys X: Proud Nordics (v1.0.3)

Adol Christin’s latest voyage trades familiar ruins for the windswept Obelia Gulf, where islands, monster-haunted waters, and Viking-inspired clans give the adventure a brisk seafaring identity. After becoming magically linked to fierce pirate warrior Karja Balta, Adol must fight alongside her against the immortal Griegr, a threat that turns the region’s bright coastal scenery into a battlefield. Ys X: Proud Nordics keeps the series’ trademark momentum intact: it is an action RPG built around speedy encounters, upbeat exploration, and a story that balances ancient mysteries with the growing bond between its two leads. The mood is adventurous rather than grim, with colorful anime presentation, rousing music, and enough danger to give its cheerful travelogue real stakes.

Combat centers on the Mana Chain binding Adol and Karja, letting players switch between controlling either hero alone or combine them in a two-person mode for stronger attacks and defensive options. Battles reward movement, timing, and recognizing enemy attacks rather than simply mashing through crowds, while character growth comes through equipment, skills, and steadily expanding combat tools. The Sandras serves as both mobile base and vessel for naval exploration, allowing players to recruit a crew, sail between islands, uncover side content, and engage threats across the gulf. Proud Nordics also adds the Öland Island storyline, new allies Canute and Astrid, Mana Hold environmental interactions, and Muspelheim, a demanding timed dungeon aimed at players who want a sterner endgame-style test.

What separates this entry from many action RPGs is how naturally its sailing, party-focused combat, and compact island exploration feed into one another. Rather than offering a vast empty ocean, the game favors a focused chain of discoveries and set-piece encounters, making it closer in spirit to modern Ys and lighter, faster-paced action adventures than an open-world epic. The enhanced visuals and quality-of-life refinements make this expanded edition the strongest version for first-time players, while the added story and challenge content give returning fans a meaningful reason to revisit Obelia Gulf. Anyone who enjoys the combat rhythm of Tales, the exploration cadence of earlier Ys, or energetic anime adventures with little downtime should find plenty to like here.