Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 68 | 26 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 90 | 34 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 96% | 92 | 19 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 26, 2025) · 17 reviews sampled · 19 total reviews in window · weighted 10.9 up / 0.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (17)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 64
“Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga is an interesting crossover JRPG attempt. It stays true to the roots of both series while adding new features and a story that flows together in a way that pleases both old and new fans. The pace is just right, the characters are memorable, and the two types of games make for a truly unique experience.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Add in some truly ugly upscaled backgrounds, an absolutely forgettable story, and pretty grindy gameplay loops to get anywhere with unlockables, and while you have a decent port job here, this is still one of Falcom’s weakest games at the end of the day.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Ys Vs Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga isn’t going to be the next big competitive fighter at EVO. It’s a playful, nostalgic crossover that celebrates Falcom’s legacy with a wink and a grin. The combat takes some time to understand, and the story won’t win any awards, but there’s genuine fun to be had once it all clicks. Fans of either series will love the nods and references, while newcomers can enjoy a surprisingly deep action RPG brawler once you get into its rhythm. It’s scrappy, it’s strange, and it’s kind of wonderful that this odd little crossover even exists in 2025.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“If a few years ago someone had told me that in 2025 we would be playing an official version of Ys vs. Trails in the Sky, with functional online play, available on multiple platforms and with a great PC port, I would have called that person crazy. It's a very strange game that represents an era of Nihon Falcom that we are unlikely to see again. The crossover between the company's two flagship series works better than it should, resulting in a very fun fighting game with great interactions.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“The only rival here is Estelle Bright herself. Past a few short moment enjoyments mostly reserved for fans of the series, Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga isn’t a game I would openly recommend going into blindly due to its almost phoned-in concept and experience. Just stick to another crossover fighter if you want a good brawl with your friends, or boot up Power Stone 2 if you still have it. If you really want Trails in the Sky or Ys, new games of both series are released annually.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A wild Nihon Falcom mash-up that brings the hype, the heart, and the classic soundtrack magic!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga isn't a big-budget remake or a complicated fighting system for esports. It's a party. A time capsule from 2010 that fans who grew up with Adol's adventures and Estelle's journeys through Liberl will love.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The biggest barrier to recommending Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga is not really a functional one. The game wasn’t made to be the most balanced experience and it has many of the issues that typically limit crossover titles in their ambition, but it’s still made with the goal of fun in mind, and it’s chock full of goodies. This is also far from a rush job of a port to modern systems, as refint/games did a lot to make the game play well and feel fitting among these franchises’ existing western releases, given the game featuring dual audio, maintaining a consistent English voice cast, and the work that went into its online features. Indeed, as someone who played the original PSP title many moons ago, this is more than I could have hoped for with a 2025 rerelease of this title. Some minor hiccups aside, it is a genuinely excellent remaster of a rather niche game. Rather, it’s the fact that this game conceptually feels made for a fairly small number of people. This one is for Falcom fans specifically, and there’s a lot of appeal to them here, even if it doesn’t break a ton of ground for either series. For anyone outside that space, it’s significantly harder to recommend this game. Which is a bit of a shame, because this game is genuinely quite fun for what it is. The implementation of 3D Ys mechanics into a fighting game works better than it perhaps should, given this is a company not known for making fighting games, and it has perhaps the best assembly of music of the company’s illustrious catalog. If you aren’t already a fan of Ys and Trails, this game can be a tougher sell, much as I recommend getting into those series already with all my heart. If you are a fan of Ys and Trails already, this is a worthy title to fit into your collection. It’s a neat little time capsule of Falcom’s history, and a fun experience on its own for what it is.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“To summarize: my experiences with Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga were pretty positive all around. With the game offering it's crossover nature that can please both fans of the Trails franchise such as myself, and also the Ys fans as well; with a high dosage of fanservice and respect for Nihon Falcom's intellectual properties. If you're looking for a fighting game, however, I wouldn't recommend this game, as it's RPG mechanics make it a hard sell. Although, if you just want a really good action game, the game delivers just that!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga is a fun arena fighter that successfully blends the hectic boss fights the Ys series is known for with classic player-versus-player action. No two fights will ever be the same thanks to the game's vast customization options, and being able to play as fan-favorite characters is a real treat. The game will not be for everyone, but those who are fans of both series and are itching for something different to play should look no further. There is a learning curve to overcome, but once you climb that hill, you will be in for a great time.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga is a fun crossover game, but limited as a fighting game in 2025. Still, for fans of the franchises, the RPG systems the game brings are functional and the fan service is pretty nice.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga is a fighter brought back from the era of the PlayStation Portable. A lot of the enhancements are great but it doesn't stop it from feeling like its still from a handheld from that era.”
read full review ↗
GamesCreed
Seafoam Gaming
LadiesGamers.com
Niche Gamer
PS3Blog.net
NoobFeed
NookGaming
NintendoBoy
Netto’s Game Room
PSX Brasil
The Outerhaven Productions…and 5 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 1.0.6 patch notes - Steam Deck VerifiedNov 26, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.5 patch notesOct 28, 2025
- 1.0.4 patch notesOct 12, 2025