Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is an action RPG from Nihon Falcom that originally launched on PlayStation Vita and is often called the series' high point. Adol Christin is shipwrecked off the shores of the forbidden island of Seiren, from which, according to legend, no one returns. Alongside exploring the unknown land full of prehistoric wildlife, the game is also about building a castaway camp. You gradually find more survivors, who open shops, workshops, and services in the settlement, turning it from a few tents into a small functioning town.

Combat is fast and action-driven, built around switching between three characters with distinct attack types, dodging with time slowdown, and a counterattack that rewards reading enemy animations. Beyond the standard story progression, the game offers defense battles where the camp fends off monster assaults, exploration runs for resources, and even fishing and cooking. In parallel, a second storyline unfolds around a girl named Dana, whose chapters take place in an entirely different era and gradually reveal what really happened on the island long ago. The map opens up progressively based on what gear and abilities the camp acquires, so exploration has a clear rhythm and payoff, and finding a new survivor can feel just as satisfying as finding a better sword.

On the Vita this is a technically ambitious game, with sprawling outdoor areas, plenty of enemies on screen, and decent draw distance, though at the cost of softer graphics than on home consoles. Falcom's music is a highlight here too: energetic rock tracks during battles alternate with melancholic themes accompanying Dana's chapters. Critics praised the pacing, the joy of discovery, and an unexpectedly powerful resolution, though the western release was accompanied by debate over the quality of the first translation, which was later reworked. Today Ys VIII is one of the best action RPGs of its generation and practically the flagship title of the Vita.