Choose Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
Choose Ys IX: Monstrum Nox if you want the Color Alternatives and Save Anytime side of the pairing. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox launched in 2021.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox vs Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga both land in Action, 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, RPG on Steam. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (2021) is 4 years older than Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga (2025). Ys IX: Monstrum Nox scores higher on Steam reviews (95.4% positive) than Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga (92.1% positive). 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 vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga
Choose Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga if you want the Online PvP, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and Online Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga launched in 2025.
Both Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga sit in Action and RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, 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
 Ys IX: Monstrum Nox |  Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, RPG | Action, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 34.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.4% positive (934 reviews) | 92.1% positive (38 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Nihon Falcom, PH3 GmbH, Engine Software BV | Nihon Falcom |
Side by side
- Both share Action, RPG on Steam.
- Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (2021) is 4 years older than Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga (2025).
- Ys IX: Monstrum Nox scores higher on Steam reviews (95.4% positive) than Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga (92.1% positive).
- Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is currently ~14% cheaper on Steam than Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga (29.99 USD vs. 34.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Verified.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox vs Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga — FAQ
- Should I play Ys IX: Monstrum Nox or Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga first?
- If you want chronology, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (2021) came out before Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga (2025). 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 Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Do both Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Ys IX: Monstrum Nox ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Do Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.