12 Hardcore games like Ys I & II Chronicles+ that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Ys I & II Chronicles+ does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a top-down view. They part company on visuals: this one brings a third-person camera.

The resemblance to Ys I & II Chronicles+ is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is a third-person camera.

If Ys I & II Chronicles+ worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and an anime aesthetic, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and tone: cozy, relaxing feel and 2D presentation.

The genre is the same as Ys I & II Chronicles+’s, and with it punishing difficulty, melee combat and an anime aesthetic. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and tone: strong narrative focus and a sci-fi setting.

Genre puts it alongside Ys I & II Chronicles+, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and tone: strong narrative focus and a sci-fi setting.

Genre puts it alongside Ys I & II Chronicles+, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and an anime aesthetic. The common ground extends to an isometric view and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: strong narrative focus and a sci-fi setting.

On paper it is what Ys I & II Chronicles+ is — punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and magic-based combat.

It comes from the same genre as Ys I & II Chronicles+ and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and an anime aesthetic. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and visuals: multiplayer gameplay and skill tree progression.

Shelved next to Ys I & II Chronicles+ for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: co-op play and skill tree progression.

Held in common with Ys I & II Chronicles+: deep RPG systems, punishing difficulty and melee combat. Both also lean on an anime aesthetic and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and progression — its own ground is skill tree progression and a third-person camera.

Genre puts it alongside Ys I & II Chronicles+, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and visuals: dark, oppressive atmosphere and historical setting.

Genre puts it alongside Ys I & II Chronicles+, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: dark, oppressive atmosphere and multiplayer gameplay.