Ys IX -Monstrum NOX-

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. The ninth numbered installment in the Ys series, it was first released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2019. NIS America released the game internationally in February 2021, followed by versions for Windows, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, and PlayStation 5. The game follows adventurer Adol Christin after he is imprisoned in Balduq, a city dominated by a large prison complex. A mysterious woman transforms Adol into a supernatural being known as a Monstrum, whose abilities allow him to traverse the city by teleporting to distant points, running up walls, gliding, and passing through obstacles. Adol joins five other Monstrums in investigating the prison and defending Balduq from creatures that appear within a parallel dimension called the Grimwald Nox. Ys IX retains the party-based combat, Flash Guard, and Flash Move systems of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. It adds character-specific traversal abilities called Gifts, an urban exploration structure, and a headquarters known as the Dandelion whose facilities expand as characters are recruited. Falcom developed the Monstrum concept after deciding to place greater emphasis on vertical movement within three-dimensional environments. The game received generally favorable reviews. Critics praised its combat, traversal mechanics, characters, and exploration, while commonly criticizing its visual presentation and the restricted urban environment in comparison with the natural landscapes of Ys VIII. The PlayStation 4 version sold 45,378 retail copies during its first week in Japan. An official novelization of the game by Anna Kashina was released in 2026.