11 Hardcore games like Ys Origin that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Ys Origin does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and an anime aesthetic. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and progression — its own ground is cozy, relaxing feel and 2D presentation.

It shares the essentials of what Ys Origin does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and single-player focus. It sets itself apart with magic-based combat and a top-down view.

Shelved next to Ys Origin for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and an anime aesthetic. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is tone and progression: strong narrative focus and a sci-fi setting.

It comes from the same genre as Ys Origin and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is strong narrative focus and a sci-fi setting.

Shelved next to Ys Origin for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and an anime aesthetic. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings a sci-fi setting and pixel art.

Shelved next to Ys Origin for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and progression — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and historical setting.

Genre puts it alongside Ys Origin, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and an anime aesthetic. Both also lean on single-player focus and a third-person camera. The distance is in progression and game mode — its own ground is multiplayer gameplay and skill tree progression.

On paper it is what Ys Origin is — punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in game mode and progression — its own ground is co-op play and skill tree progression.

What brings it close to Ys Origin is deep RPG systems, punishing difficulty and melee combat, and the two track each other on combat, game mode and tone. The common ground extends to an anime aesthetic and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression: skill tree progression.

Same family as Ys Origin: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is progression and game mode: dark, oppressive atmosphere and historical setting.

It comes from the same genre as Ys Origin and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds single-player focus and a third-person camera. They part company on game mode and tone: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and multiplayer gameplay.