Ys II NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · RPG

Ys II

Deep cut

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1990 (originally 1988)
GenreRPG
DeveloperNihon Falcom
PublisherMarvelous Interactive
Players1 player
CommitmentEpic journey (20+ hours of adventure)
SeriesYs
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 3

Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, Ys II is a role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom and published by Marvelous Interactive. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1988.

It landed about 5 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1990 include Final Fantasy III, Dr. Mario and Mega Man 3.

It is part of the Ys series; on the NES you can also try Ys I and Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. The series also appears on other systems with Ys I (Master System) and Ys IV: Mask of the Sun (SNES). Nihon Falcom also made Legacy of the Wizard, Asteka II: Templo del Sol and Romancia for the NES.

This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.

Pick it if…

  • you want to get lost in a long quest
  • you have time for an epic journey (20+ hours of adventure)
  • you've played the NES hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you want instant action rather than menus, story and grinding
  • you are looking for something to play with friends
  • you only have a few minutes at a time

What playing Ys II is like

Role-playing games trade reflexes for strategy and story. You build a party, level up, manage equipment and travel across a large world, usually through menu-based battles.

Tip for newcomers: Retro RPGs can require some level grinding and rarely tell you exactly where to go next. Talk to every townsperson, save often and use a guide if you get stuck: there is no shame in it.

Ys II gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

Ys II cheats & codes

20 codes on file (Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Emulator memory codes codes to start with:

Infinite HP009C:FF
Set All Swords053B:7F
Set All Armor053D:7F
Set All Inventory #10565:FF
Set All Inventory #20566:FF
Set All Inventory #30567:FF

See all Ys II cheats

Ys II walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Ys II.

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Playing NES games today

NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.

Ys II FAQ

When did Ys II come out on the NES?

Ys II was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990; the original game dates back to 1988.

Who made Ys II?

It was developed by Nihon Falcom and published by Marvelous Interactive.

Is Ys II multiplayer?

No. Ys II is a single-player game.

How long does Ys II take to play?

As a role-playing game, Ys II typically falls into the "Epic journey" category: 20+ hours of adventure. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Ys II on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you