Ys IX: Monstrum Nox

When it gets good

Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.

before it gets good opening up fully opened up

Based on all 1,953 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 296 reviews: 37.5h for positive, 21.9h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.

Where players quit

Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (92.1% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.

Story milestones aren't labeled yet; all achievements are listed below.

All achievements (54)

• To Freedom Begin your escape from the prison. 100%
• Adol, the Fugitive Clear the prologue. 95%
• Zenith of the Grimwald Achieve an S in a Grimwald Nox. 91%
• Monstrum Nox Clear Chapter 1. 90%
• The White Cat's Melancholy Clear Chapter 2. 78%
• The Feral Hawk's Fury Clear Chapter 3. 71%
• Crimson King, the Radiant Explore Balduq with the Crimson King as leader. 67%
• The Doll's Search Clear Chapter 4. 64%
• The Raging Bull's Treasure Clear Chapter 5. 60%
• Lemures Exterminator Defeat 1,000 Lemures. 60%
• Culling the Herd Defeat 2,000 monsters. 59%
• The Renegade's Secret Clear Chapter 6. 56%
• Capriccio of the Prison Clear Chapter 7. 54%
• Thus Spoke the Alchemist Clear Chapter 8. 52%
• Heartbreaker Inflict Break 1,000 times. 52%
• Material Girl Attain 100% of all "Materials" entries in your Journal. 52%
• Monstrum Nox Clear the Final Chapter. 50%
• I Would Walk 300 Krimelye Travel a total distance of 300 krimelye. 49%
• Art Critic Attain 100% of graffiti discovered. 49%
• Conqueror of the Nox Clear all Grimwald Nox. 48%
• Overdrive Use Boost Mode 100 times. 46%
• Shopaholic Attain 100% of shops discovered. 45%
• Hermetic Bastion Attain 100% of Ritual Relics enhanced. 43%
• Untouchable Use Flash Move 100 times. 42%
• Intrepid Tourist Attain 100% of landmarks discovered. 42%
• Fields of Blue Attain 100% of Azure Petals found. 42%
• Dressed to Kill Forge an Ultimate Armor. 38%
• Vanquisher of the Nox Achieve an S on all Grimwald Nox. 37%
• Showstopper Use Extra Skills 100 times. 37%
• Haute Cuisine Unlock all 13 recipes at the Dandelion. 35%
• Impervious Use Flash Guard 100 times. 35%
• Banisher of Dawn Defeat the ultimate Lemures, Vakh Medios (excludes Time Attack). 34%
• Golden Anvil Forge Ultimate Weapons for all Monstrums (6 in total). 31%
• White Cat, the Nimble Explore Balduq with the White Cat as leader. 28%
• Twilight Guardian Have obtained a total of 2,000 NOX points. 27%
• Good Samaritan Attain 100% of all quests. 27%
• Ambassador of the Dandelion Attain 100% of Affinity with all characters. 25%
• Doll, the Resplendent Explore Balduq with the Doll as leader. 24%
• Cartographer Complete the map of Balduq. 23%
• Seeker of Fortune Attain 100% of all treasure chests. 22%
• Raging Bull, the Unyielding Explore Balduq with the Raging Bull as leader. 22%
• Debonair Socialite Attain 100% of all "People" entries in your Journal. 21%
• Hawk, the Peerless Explore Balduq with the Hawk as leader. 18%
• Apex Predator Reach level 99 with any character. 18%
• Errant Millionaire Have 1,000,000 Gold in possession. 16%
• Monster Zoologist Attain 100% of all "Monsters" entries in your Journal. 16%
• Renegade, the Cunning Explore Balduq with the Renegade as leader. 14%
• Virtuoso Reach max level with all skills. 13%
• Greased Lightning In Time Attack, defeat the boss in 30 seconds or less. 12%
• Fleeting Mirage In Time Attack, defeat the boss without taking damage. 12%
• Nightmare Survivor Clear the game on Nightmare difficulty or above. 12%
• Paragon Complete Boss Rush. 9.2%
• Indomitable Champion Complete Boss Rush without retrying. 9.2%
• King of the Monstrums Finish "Balduq Prison" by Adol Christin in its entirety by earning all achievements. 6.6%