The Rare PS2 Remake of the Ys Series’ Most Divisive Entry Is Now Playable in English

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Official character artwork from the PlayStation 2 remake of Ys 5

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After decades of being considered a cult curiosity even among JRPG enthusiasts, the storied Ys series has finally cemented its place in the global spotlight. While almost every chapter of Adol Christin’s saga is now accessible in English, one major outlier remained: Ys 5. Long considered the most polarizing entry in the franchise, it is finally being rescued from obscurity by a dedicated team of fan translators.

Ys 5: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand made its debut on the Super Famicom in 1995. At the time, developer Nihon Falcom made a controversial pivot, abandoning the series’ iconic “bump” combat system in favor of manual attack and guard mechanics similar to The Legend of Zelda. This shift led many fans to label it the “sluggish black sheep” of the family, though its unique atmosphere and mechanical charms have earned it a loyal following over the years.

While the original 16-bit version has enjoyed an English fan translation for over a decade, its elusive PlayStation 2 remake remained a mystery to Western audiences. Released in 2006 and developed by Arc System Works—the studio now legendary for fighting games like Guilty Gear—this 3D reimagining never saw an official localized release.

That has finally changed. As reported by the Video Game Esoterica YouTube channel, a complete fan translation for the PS2 version of Ys 5 is now available. This patch, which can be found on GitHub, makes the game fully playable from the opening cinematic to the final credits. While technically labeled a beta, all the essential dialogue and systems have been translated.

“This past year has been a journey of highs and lows, but working on Lost Kefin helped keep me grounded,” project lead Kaisaan shared in a Bluesky post. “I am deeply grateful for the overwhelming support I’ve received in bringing this quirky title to an English-speaking audience!”

Looking for more adventures? Dive into our list of the best JRPGs you can play right now.