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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchYs IX: Monstrum Nox is a fast action RPG whose combat, traversal and character-led story make it an appealing entry for fans of the series and action RPGs. Reviews are broadly positive about its combat, exploration and music, but the presentation is less consistent: Switch reviews note performance or visual compromises, and a PS4 review also criticizes image quality. The right version depends on whether portability, technical presentation or a particular edition matters most to you.
What is Ys IX: Monstrum Nox?
Developed by Nihon Falcom, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is the ninth numbered game in the Ys series, according to Falcom. Adol Christin arrives in Balduq, a prison city, where a curse turns him into a Monstrum. He joins five other Monstrums and faces the Grimwald Nox. Their supernatural Gifts are useful in both combat and exploration: abilities include teleporting, gliding, running along walls and diving. The publisher and Nintendo’s US listing describe it as an action RPG.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Ys Ix: Monstrum Nox Pact Edition - PlayStation 4 (PS4) | $61.73 | Buy on Amazon |
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Ys IX: Monstrum Nox – Limited Edition (PS4) | $103.07 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Ys IX: Monstrum Nox [Korean Edition] for PS4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61iHqTnEIaL._SL160_.jpg)
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Ys IX: Monstrum Nox [Korean Edition] for PS4 | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
That setup gives the game more to do than string together battles. The Monstrums’ powers make moving through Balduq part of the action, while the city’s mystery and the party’s stories provide the narrative thread.
What do reviews praise?
Combat and party play
Reviewers commonly single out the fast combat and the ability to switch between characters. MeriStation’s PS4 review, updated June 22, 2021, praises responsive character switching and party combat. Nintendo Life’s Switch review also highlights the combat. These are review judgments, not a claim that every player or platform will feel identical.
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#1 Best Overall
- Feared protectors: Play as any of the six notorious Monstrums, each with their own unique Gifts that grant abilities such as scaling sheer walls or detecting hidden objects to protect the city from shadowy creatures.
- The World Within The Walls: Explore the massive city, accept quests to aid the townsfolk, and enter the Grimwald Nox to vanquish the threats to Balduq.
- Strength of the Night: Familiar mechanics such as Flash Dodge and Flash Guard allow you to outmanoeuvre your foes, while new additions such as Gifts and Boost Mode further augment your ability to fight
Exploration and traversal
The Monstrums’ Gifts give exploration a distinctive role: abilities such as gliding and wall-running open up ways to move around the prison city, alongside their uses in fights. MeriStation praises the exploration, and Falcom’s description emphasizes the traversal abilities as part of the game’s design.
Story, characters and music
The critical picture is positive on the character-led story, setting and soundtrack. MeriStation says the story grows more interesting as its chapters progress, while Nintendo Life highlights the music. Metacritic’s indexed critic excerpts also reflect favorable views of the story, characters, combat and setting; they are not a stable basis here for quoting an aggregate score.
What are the main drawbacks?
Visual presentation
Technical criticism is platform-sensitive. MeriStation’s PS4 review notes limitations in texture and shadow quality and says Balduq feels comparatively sparsely populated. Switch coverage from Nintendo Life also flags performance issues and visual compromises. These reviews do not amount to a controlled hardware comparison, so they should not be read as a guarantee of how the game will run on every system or setup.
Rank #2
- Feared Protectors: Play as any of the six notorious Monstrum, each with their own unique Gifts that grant abilities such as scaling sheer walls or detecting hidden objects to protect the city from shadowy creatures.
- The World Within the Walls: Explore the massive city, accept quests to aid the townsfolk, and enter the Grimwald Nox to vanquish the threats to Balduq.
- Strength of the Night: Familiar mechanics such as Flash Dodge and Flash Guard allow you to outmanoeuvre your foes, while new additions such as Gifts and Boost Mode further augment your ability to fight.
The practical takeaway is that the game’s strongest review themes are its systems and content, rather than uniformly polished visuals. If smooth performance or image quality is your top priority, check coverage for the specific version you intend to play.
Which version should you choose?
| Version | What the sources establish | Best fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Western Switch release dates listed by NIS America are July 6, 2021 (US), July 9 (EU) and July 16 (ANZ). Nintendo’s US listing says it is supported on Switch 2 with behavior consistent with Switch. | Players who want the portable-console option. | Switch reviews note performance or visual compromises. Confirm your regional listing and edition. |
| PlayStation 4 | NIS America lists PS4 release dates of February 2, 2021 (US), February 5 (EU) and February 12 (ANZ). MeriStation reviewed the PS4 version. | Players buying the western PS4 release or its documented editions. | MeriStation notes image-quality limitations; its review is not a comparison across platforms. |
| PC | NIS America lists a July 6, 2021 release. Metacritic’s indexed critic excerpts include a favorable PC assessment. | Players who prefer the PC version. | The cited reviews do not establish a controlled technical comparison or hardware-specific performance results. |
| PlayStation 5 | Falcom announced a Japanese PS5 package and download release for July 31, 2025. At launch in Japan, the package edition was ¥4,800 before tax and the download edition ¥4,400 before tax. | Players considering the Japanese PS5 release. | Those are Japanese launch prices, not current global prices. Confirm local language, format and availability. |
| Stadia | NIS America’s game information page lists Stadia and a July 6, 2021 release. | Not enough information in these sources to recommend it as a current option. | Check whether the service and a playable copy are available to you; the cited listing does not establish present access. |
NIS America’s release data is on its official game page; Switch 2 support is stated on Nintendo’s US listing. Falcom’s PS5 announcement covers Japan specifically. Storefront offerings, languages and physical editions can vary by territory, so check the listing for your region before buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the collector editions worth considering?
NIS America documents Pact and Limited Editions for Switch and PS4. The Limited Edition contains the game, Monstrum Memoirs mini art booklet, a digital Melodies of the Macabre sampler, reverse coversheet, Chains and Chansons one-disc official soundtrack, Nails in the Coffin hardcover art book, the prequel short novel The Lost Sword, a Crimson King chibi figure, Monstrums of Balduq art cards, Balduq’s Most Wanted keychains and a Monstrum Box. These are listed contents, not evidence of current stock or standalone availability; see the publisher’s edition information and Limited Edition product page.
Rank #3
- 100% Official, Genuine Product. This is Korean Version released by Falcom Korea.
- Only Korean Edition supports Korean subtitles. Voice is Japanese.
- Encounter the likes of the Monstrum, individuals who possess superpowers, with whom you’ll uncover mysteries hidden in the prison at the start of a new adventure
- Face Intense fights against giant bosses, to the various skill attacks, free dashes, and jumps we’ve seen in its speedy action
- Awaits new elements involving Ys IX’s setting including the “Supernatural Action” of the Monstrum that can be used while exploring the field, the “Guild Management” feature in the Prison City,” and more!
For collectors interested in a PS5 physical copy, Falcom’s announcement concerns the Japanese package edition. Do not assume its language, extras or availability match western PS4 or Switch editions; confirm those details with the seller.
Is Ys IX: Monstrum Nox worth playing?
Based on the reviews cited here, it is a strong choice if you want quick party combat, traversal-focused exploration and a story that develops across chapters. Its main qualification is technical presentation: Switch reviews flag compromises, and the PS4 review is not free of image-quality criticism. Choose the version and edition by your platform priorities and local availability, rather than assuming every release has identical presentation or extras.
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