Choose The Golden Cross
Choose The Golden Cross if you want an Indie and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 96% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Golden Cross launched in 2021.
The Golden Cross vs Ys X: Nordics
The Golden Cross and Ys X: Nordics both land in Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam. The Golden Cross (2021) is 3 years older than Ys X: Nordics (2024). The Golden Cross is currently ~96% cheaper on Steam than Ys X: Nordics (1.99 USD vs. 47.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Ys X: Nordics
Choose Ys X: Nordics if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Ys X: Nordics launched in 2024.
Both The Golden Cross and Ys X: Nordics sit in Action, Adventure, and RPG on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Golden Cross |  Ys X: Nordics | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG, Casual | Action, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 1.99 USD | 47.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 3 reviews | 76.2% positive (673 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Jam Entertainment | Nihon Falcom, PH3 GmbH |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- The Golden Cross (2021) is 3 years older than Ys X: Nordics (2024).
- The Golden Cross is currently ~96% cheaper on Steam than Ys X: Nordics (1.99 USD vs. 47.99 USD).
- Ys X: Nordics has co-op; The Golden Cross does not.
- Ys X: Nordics is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; The Golden Cross has no Deck rating yet.
The Golden Cross vs Ys X: Nordics — FAQ
- Should I play The Golden Cross or Ys X: Nordics first?
- If you want chronology, The Golden Cross (2021) came out before Ys X: Nordics (2024). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The Golden Cross and Ys X: Nordics similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does The Golden Cross have multiplayer like Ys X: Nordics?
- No. Ys X: Nordics supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while The Golden Cross is listed as single-player only.