I’ve always liked the idea of the Ys series more than I actually played it. For years it sat on my backlog, one of those long-running RPG franchises I respected from afar but never fully committed to. That changed over the last few years when I finally started working through some of the modern entries. I played Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, then Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, and eventually went back to Ys: The Oath in Felghana. Each one hooked me in different ways, especially with their fast action combat and straightforward adventure stories centered around the series’ red-haired wanderer, Adol Christin.
One game I somehow missed along the way was Ys X. So when Ys X: Proud Nordics arrived as a recrafted, expanded version of the game, it felt like the perfect opportunity to jump in. Rather than being a simple port or bundle of DLC, Proud Nordics positions itself as the definitive edition of the experience, adding new story content, new characters, extra gameplay systems, and expanded areas. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of the way Atlus handled Persona 5 Royal or Catherine: Full Body. It’s the same core game, but rebuilt and expanded so the additional material feels like it was always meant to be there.
As always, the story follows Adol Christin, the endlessly curious adventurer who somehow manages to stumble into a new crisis every time he sets foot somewhere new. This time, the setting takes inspiration from Nordic culture and mythology, which gives the game a slightly different flavor compared to previous entries in the series.
Early on, Adol finds himself entangled in a conflict involving seafaring raiders, ancient powers, and mysterious enemies threatening the region. A key part of the story revolves around Karja Balta, a proud warrior of the Normans who becomes one of the central characters of the adventure. Her dynamic with Adol ends up being one of the strongest parts of the narrative.
Karja starts off blunt, confident, and fiercely independent, which contrasts nicely with Adol’s more quiet, observant personality. Over time, the two develop a bond built on mutual respect and shared battles. Their partnership is more than just a story element, too. It feeds directly into the game’s combat mechanics and exploration systems, making the relationship feel important both narratively and mechanically.
The larger story revolves around uncovering the truth behind a mysterious force threatening the region while gathering allies and exploring scattered islands across the sea. Like many Ysstories, it’s not overly complicated, but it’s well paced and driven by a sense of adventure. There’s always another destination on the horizon, another mystery to dig into, or another threat to confront.
What I appreciated most was how consistently the story moves forward. This is still a lengthy RPG, but it rarely felt like it was spinning its wheels. The game does a good job building toward its bigger plot moments while introducing new areas and characters at a steady pace. I was almost always looking forward to the next story beat or location to explore.
One of the more interesting things about Ys X: Proud Nordics is how it handles its additional content. Instead of simply attaching new material onto the end of the base game or separating it into optional DLC menus, everything is woven directly into the main experience. New characters appear naturally during the story, new quests and encounters are integrated into existing areas, and the expanded content feels like part of the original design rather than something tacked on later.
This approach works really well. It gives the game the feeling of a true “director’s cut,” restoring ideas or scenarios that might have originally been planned for the base release. For someone like me who never played the original version of Ys X, it simply feels like a very complete RPG. But even from the outside looking in, it’s clear that a lot of effort went into making sure the additions fit smoothly into the structure of the game.
If there’s one thing the Ys series consistently nails, it’s combat. Ys X: Proud Nordicscontinues that tradition with fast-paced, action-based battles that reward quick reflexes and smart positioning. Unlike turn-based RPGs where you have time to plan each move, fights here play out in real time. Enemies attack aggressively, bosses hit hard, and you’re constantly dodging, blocking, and striking back.
The core system revolves around controlling Adol and Karja in battle. Sometimes you fight separately, switching between characters, and other times you combine their abilities for powerful joint attacks. Learning when to fight independently and when to link up becomes an important part of the strategy.
Combat is quick and satisfying, but there’s still a strong tactical layer underneath it. Tough enemies require you to learn their attack patterns and look for openings. Charging in recklessly usually ends badly, especially during the tougher encounters.
I found myself really enjoying the rhythm of battles. There’s something satisfying about recognising a boss pattern, dodging at the last second, and landing a series of well timed counterattacks. It keeps fights engaging even late into the game.
One of the biggest new ideas in Ys X is the inclusion of naval gameplay. Since the story leans into its Nordic seafaring theme, you spend a lot of time sailing between islands on your ship. These sections aren’t just for travel either. Naval combat plays a significant role in the game, with ship battles against enemy vessels. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual on-foot exploration. Steering the ship, positioning yourself for cannon attacks, and managing distance from enemies adds a different type of strategy to the overall gameplay loop. It also reinforces the sense of adventure. Instead of simply moving between land-based maps, you’re navigating a broader world, discovering islands and secrets scattered across the sea.
The Proud Nordics version adds several notable pieces of content, with one of the biggest being a new area called Oland Island.
Oland serves as a new location filled with additional story content and new characters to meet. The area feels substantial rather than just a small side addition, and it fits naturally into the broader adventure. Exploring the island adds more context to the world and expands the journey in a meaningful way.
There’s also Muspelheim, a challenging post-game dungeon that opens up after finishing the main story. This area focuses on tougher encounters and serves as a kind of ultimate test for players who want to push the game’s combat systems further.
Beyond those major additions, Proud Nordics includes several smaller features as well. There are new upgrades to unlock, additional gameplay modes, and a collection of cosmetic DLC items bundled into the package.
One addition I particularly enjoyed was the boost feature for the Grimbleboard. This board can be used to move quickly across certain terrain, and the boost mechanic makes it even more fun to use. The game also introduces dedicated races that take advantage of the system, creating fast-paced challenges that feel very different from the main exploration. It’s a small feature overall, but it adds a bit of variety and helps traversal feel more dynamic in larger areas.
Boss fights have always been a highlight in Ys, and Proud Nordics delivers some really memorable ones. Many of these encounters feel carefully designed to test your understanding of the combat mechanics. Bosses have multiple attack patterns, environmental hazards, and phases that change the flow of the battle.
I actually found several of them legitimately challenging. It’s been a while since I played Ys VIII and Ys IX, but the bosses here felt both more varied and more demanding than the ones I remember from those games.
Victory often came down to patience and observation. Learning how a boss moves, figuring out when it’s safe to attack, and managing your resources properly made a big difference. When everything clicked, those fights were some of the most satisfying moments in the game.
Another mechanic that stood out to me was the Mana Hold ability. This system lets you interact with the environment in ways that go beyond basic platforming. You can use magical energy to manipulate objects, create traversal paths, and solve environmental puzzles. It leads to some genuinely creative moments while exploring the world. Certain areas require careful use of the ability to navigate vertical spaces or reach hidden sections of the map.
It also keeps exploration interesting. Instead of simply running from one location to the next, you’re occasionally stopping to figure out how to interact with the environment in clever ways. It’s not something I remember seeing used quite like this in previous Ys games, and it adds a nice layer of variety to the overall gameplay.
Visually, Ys X: Proud Nordics looks good on the Nintendo Switch 2. Character models are particularly impressive during cutscenes. Adol, Karja, and the rest of the cast are expressive and detailed, which helps the story moments land more effectively.
The environments are generally strong as well, especially in more structured locations like towns and story-focused areas. That said, some of the larger open environments can look a little sparse at times. I occasionally noticed lower resolution textures or areas that lacked environmental detail.
It’s not something that constantly stands out, and longtime fans of the series will probably recognize it from earlier entries. I remember noticing similar things on parts of the island in Ys VIII. Still, the overall presentation here is an improvement over earlier games.
Performance on the Switch 2 is also solid. I didn’t notice any major frame rate issues during combat or exploration, and the game runs smoothly in handheld mode. That’s always a big plus for a lengthy RPG like this since it makes it easy to pick up and play on the go or in shorter sessions.
One of the few downsides to Proud Nordics isn’t really about the game itself but how it’s being released. At the moment, there doesn’t appear to be a direct upgrade path for players who already own the original version of Ys X. That means fans who want the new content will need to purchase the game again entirely.
If you’re a huge fan of the series, the expanded content might still make it worthwhile. But for players who already finished the original release, it’s probably worth taking a close look at what’s new before deciding to double dip to make sure it’s of value to you. For newcomers like me, though, that issue doesn’t really apply.
Final Thoughts
After finally playing Ys X through the Proud Nordics edition, I’m glad this ended up being my first experience with the game. It feels like a complete version of the adventure. The added content blends naturally into the story, the combat is fast and satisfying, and the Nordic inspired setting gives the game its own identity within the series.
The boss fights are memorable, the naval exploration adds variety, and mechanics like Mana Hold introduce creative twists to traversal and puzzles. Even with a few visual rough spots in some environments, the overall experience remains engaging from beginning to end.
For players who never picked up the original release, Ys X: Proud Nordics is easily the definitive way to experience the game. It captures everything that makes the series enjoyable while expanding on it in meaningful ways. And for me personally, it’s another reminder of why the Ys series has built such a loyal following over the years. Once you start one of Adol’s adventures, it’s pretty hard not to get pulled along for the ride.
A Nintendo Switch 2 review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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9
- + A Nordic inspired adventure with an engaging story
- + The new segments and mechanics feel naturally worked in
- + A fast paced and fun combat system
- + Challenging boss fights that require strategic thinking
- - Some larger areas lack detail and have visible low res textures
- - Lack of an upgrade path for existing owners of the original release
