The Best Game Reccomendations Based On Ys Memoire: The Oath In Felghana

The first Ys title was published in 1987, making the series as storied — if not as famous — as Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. As far as RPGs go, Ys is one of the more niche series. However, it is also one of the most steadfast. The Oath In Felghana, itself a 2005 remake of 1990s Ys 3, was remastered in 2025 for a Switch and PS5 release.

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A good 35 years in the making, Ys Memoire: The Oath In Felghana is a hardcore action RPG. Its reckless, relentless gameplay is sure to leave you wanting more. Here are some other games that will scratch that itch.

8

The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Systems

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

September 20, 2019

Developer(s)

Grezzo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

This game features a silent protagonist disembarking from a ship. There are isometric puzzle platforming and real-time combat sections set in dungeons. The hero can collect power-ups to make certain segments easier, and there is a focus on boss fights to cap off each dungeon.

In case you’re wondering, we were talking about Ys Memoire: The Oath In Felghana, but we could have just as easily been discussing Link’s Awakening. Fans of one game tend to enjoy the other due to the similar dungeon-crawling action-adventure gameplay they offer.

7

Cuphead

Ys Memoire: The Oath In Felghana and Cuphead share a major commonality: the boss fights are the star. Cuphead has its run ‘n’ gun levels, and Ys Memoire has its dungeons, but they aren’t really the focus of the game. No, the focus is the boss battles that make you want to tear your hair out.

Expect to die a lot to the bosses in both games, but that’s what makes them so much fun: once you learn the boss’ patterns and get the best of them, it’s immensely satisfying.

6

Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy

You might be saying to yourself, “There’s no way these games are similar.” Think again. While the challenge factor is a running theme for almost every recommendation, one of the major reasons Felghana fans may enjoy Crash Bandicoot is the two titles share similar platforming gameplay.

Ys Memoire errs on the forgiving side, as no fall in the game will insta-kill you: it’ll just set you back so far you’ll wish it had. Other similarities: spin-jumps that gain you extra height, a dungeon that seems to be a direct tribute to Crash Bandicoot’s Stormy Ascent and an ice level. An ice level, ladies and gentlemen. Just like in Crash 2.

5

Dink Smallwood

Here’s an obscure recommendation for the indie fans out there. Dink Smallwood is an isometric action RPG developed by a team of three people. The game was originally released in 1997, before going freeware. Today, the game’s HD re-release is offered for free on GOG and mobile stores.

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Much like Felghana, Dink is an action RPG where progression centers on unlocking new areas, but you can still revisit old ones. Both games also share a similar time frame for beating them: while they may take a few days for newcomers, veterans can polish them off in under five hours.

4

Tomb Raider 3: Adventures Of Lara Croft

Ys Memoire: The Oath In Felghana is very much the Tomb Raider 3 of its series. Both are considered the hardest titles in their respective chronology, and their loyal fanbases treat the difficulty as a matter of fact.

As you clear the final dungeons of Ys Memoire, the game starts throwing all manner of traps at you: rolling boulders, spike walls, and swinging scythes. All of these traps are right out of Tomb Raider. If you enjoyed those platforming sections, give the TR series a try — particularly the third one.

3

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure

Indie

Action

Adventure

RPG

Systems

Released

December 25, 2004

Developer(s)

Nihon Falcom, Mastiff

Publisher(s)

Mastiff

Much like The Oath In Felghana, Gurumin is a mid-2000s Falcom game for PC that found its audience when it was localized for the PSP. The two games may very well share a large portion of their development staff.

Gurumin features action-RPG combat alongside an incredibly cute story. Like Ys Memoire, there’s only one town in the game, from which the protagonist ventures forth to explore dungeons. It’s not difficult unless you want the true ending, but its bubbly spirit will keep you occupied for a happy afternoon or two.

2

The Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

Systems

Franchise

Trails

Released

June 24, 2004

Developer(s)

Nihon Falcom

Publisher(s)

Nihon Falcom, XSEED Games, Ghostlight

Despite being completely different in gameplay, The Legend Of Heroes and Ys have come to be seen as sister series, going so far as to have a crossover fighting game. Part of it is due to the Falcom pedigree they share: both series started in the late 1980s, were focused on PC rather than console even in Japan, and struggled to find their audience in the West for decades before garnering a niche audience on the PSP.

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Of course, there’s another, simpler reason: the isometric Trails and Ys titles share essentially the same art style. While Trails In The Sky is a turn-based game, fans of Ys tend to love the game. Give it a try: you might end up playing the entire trilogy.

You’ll have noticed by now that our recommendations focus not on superficial resemblances — anime art styles or RPG classification — but rather on the vibe of the gameplay.

By that metric, Ys Memoire and Metal Slug 5 are as alike as Jesse James and the coward Robert Ford. Both have stunning heavy metal soundtracks. Both have great boss fights. Both, despite not being shoot ’em ups, have a bullet hell ethos. If what you loved about Ys Memoire was its hectic combat, know this: Metal Slug 5 is basically Ys Memoire with guns.

Systems

Released

January 7, 2025

Developer(s)

Nihon Falcom

Publisher(s)

Nihon Falcom, XSEED Games