Nihon Falcom has announced that Ys X: Proud Nordics will be released in Japan on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 31, 2025, in physical and digital formats.
Story Additions
This upgraded version of Ys X features a new explorable area, Aland Island, located north of Obelia Gulf. Amid battling Griegr, Adol and Karja reach this location, which is comprised of countless ruins. Moreover, the two encounter the new Shield Siblings, Canute and Astrid, from the Kingdom of Danmorc.
Aland Island is where one of the arks from the final days of the Norgard Duchy washed ashore. Further, Grimson Balta once surveyed this area as a potential home base.
A kingdom of Normans in the northern part of the Eresia continent, facing the Northern Sea. It is the largest stronghold of the Norman people, and maintains hostile relations with the Romun Empire and Britai.
The Balta Seaforce is a branch of the Kingdom of Danmorc, bound to it by a mutual non-aggression pact. In the event that the Balta Seaforce is unable to govern the Obelia Gulf, control will be relinquished to the Kingdom of Danmorc.
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Why have the Normans—who are supposedly bound by a non-aggression pact with the Balta Seaforce—appeared in Obelia Gulf now? And what lies hidden on this island, once surveyed by Balta Seaforce leader Grimson?
The story of the Normans, and their pursuit of the origin of the mysterious power known as “mana,” unfolds through two pairs of Shield Siblings.
Gameplay Additions
Players can anticipate new Cross Actions, Mana Actions, and bosses, as well as new implementations like Mana Ride races and arena battles.
Mana Hold is a new Mana Action that lets players lift or launch certain objects at a targeted location. This will be a key aspect in dungeon exploration, both for mechanic-based objects in combat and for creating footholds for navigation.
Aland Island also has a locale named the Bergen Arena, where you can take on Norman-style training. Solo play with Adol or Karja is also available here, and various rewards can be earned. The Mana Ride races have rewards of their own, too, gained from defeating rival racers.
By meeting certain conditions, the sizeable dungeon Muspelheim Shrine will become accessible. It’s described as extremely difficult, with limited acting time, specific mechanics, and challenging foes. However, rare items called Deepcrystals can lift some of the shrine’s restrictions, such as extending action time and altering enemy abilities.
Lastly, a Golden Symbol may appear at sea while on the Sandras, and reaching it causes a special naval battle. Achieving victory will grant a Sea Breeze, significantly increasing the Sandras’ sailing speed.
Thanks to Gematsu for sharing these translations.
Ys X: Nordics features a new mechanic called Mana Actions, which essentially consists of movement skills. Mana String lets you swing to faraway areas, move objects, and activate switches. Mana Ride enables you to hover with the Gullinboard, encouraging travel atop water surfaces, skating on Mana Rails, and riding wind streams.
Mana Burst is a charged attack that uses the element of fire for Adol and ice for Karja. Besides dealing damage, these maneuvers can unlock new pathways. Lastly, Mana Sense uses the Druid’s Monocle item to detect enemy locations, traps, switches, and hidden items. Plus, time slows down when the Monocle is activated, letting you cross time hazards.
Character growth in Ys X: Nordics uses the new Release Lines, a collective skill tree of sorts that uses Mana Points earned from level-ups to gain new abilities. Mana Seeds placed in the Release Lines can trigger Adol or Karja-specific abilities, too.
Ys X: Nordics is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG.
