Support NeoGAF

[Sept Terrion Of Nothing]

Ok, before going to the essentials I need to give some notes. As per discussion from another thread, I wanted to create a thread both for newcomers and existing fans. These informations are not special or something, I just gather them here and put them altogether. You can also find similar ones on internet. Please note that Trails subserie is a huge one, which is going on for 21 years and I may miss some information here and there. Also please note that there will be spoilers for each game below, therefore you have been warned.

Trails/Legend of Heroes serie belongs to Nihon Falcom. There are some LoH games before Trails in the Sky but they aren't related to Trails subserie. Please note that "The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails" game is also unrelated to the Trails serie. So to make this as simple as possible I'll pass them.

Note: First game's remake "Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter" will be omitted in this post as well because, well, it is a remake.


Let's start with the games. As of today there are total 13 games of Trails games. 12 of them has been released in West. The latest game, "The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon" will be released on January 16/2026. Each of these Trails games are interconnected as storywise. Which means that there are lots of lore and story references to previous games, characters and NPC's returning or mentioned in each game. That also means that there is a big story going on for 21 years. Each arc is building on that front and as I've said above, each game is serving for that purpose. You can see each arc and total game list below:


Liberl Trilogy Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky --> (Ingame Year 1202)
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC --> (Ingame Year 1202-1203)
3. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd --> (Ingame Year 1203)
   

Crosbell Duology Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero --> (Ingame Year 1204)
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure --> (Ingame Year 1204)
   

Erebonia Tetralogy Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel --> (Ingame Year 1204)
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II --> (Ingame Year 1204-1205)
3. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III --> (Ingame Year 1206)
4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV --> (Ingame Year 1206)
   

Intermediate Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie --> (Ingame Year 1207)
   

Calvard (Seemingly) Trilogy Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak --> (Ingame Year 1208)
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II --> (Ingame Year 1209)
3. The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon --> (Ingame Year 1209)

Before we go on to very brief summary for each game, I need to comment about "Can I start from the last game?" or "Should I play previous games?" questions. As I've said above that these games are interconnected. Each plot of every Trails games are connected. I'm not a gatekeeper so you can play whatever game you want, whenever you want. But (and it is a very big BUT) your understanding of these games' stories, characters, lore and the world will be very limited. You will also lose all of the emotional build up from previous games. Remember, the biggest point of Trails serie is it's interconnected stories, it's lore, it's characters and it's world. Each game serve purpose for these aspects.

If someone says "No you don't need to play them", that person couldn't get the core feeling for these games. Like I said, I'm not a gatekeeper but I'd really want everyone to experience this huge saga in full and that road goes through from each game. I'm not saying it isn't time consuming or easy to start this serie. But believe me that there are very few series in the gaming industry that give Trails serie satisfaction. 21 years of continuation is not for nothing. It is the very blood of this serie.


Now, lets give very brief introduction for each game. I'll be using Steam Store Page introductions for quick browsing. I can't go into synopsis for each game because it will really take a long time to make. If you want, you can find these on internet. Again, skipping previous games will hugely diminish your Trails saga experience.

Note: I'll omit The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon below because it's not yet released in West.


The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

Spoiler

Enter, the bracers: an organization established to serve as police and intermediaries alike, holding above all else the peace and safety of the lands under their jurisdiction. Whenever a citizen is in need of assistance, he or she may place a request at the local Bracer Guild -- and be it monster extermination, crime prevention or even peace talks among warring nations, the bracers will do whatever they can to resolve the matter cleanly and efficiently.

Some matters require a gentler touch than others, however. When an orbalship transporting a legendary "S-rank" bracer named Cassius Bright suddenly goes missing, said bracer's daughter, Estelle, and adoptive son, Joshua, must join forces in search of him across the entire Kingdom of Liberl.

And what they find along the way could change both of their lives forever...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC

Spoiler

The coup d'état that threatened to shake the foundation of the Liberl Kingdom has now come to a close and Her Majesty the Queen's birthday celebrations are in full swing throughout the streets of Grancel. During that same night, a boy who vowed to make amends for his past disappeared before the girl he loved. Clutched in the girl's hand was the one thing he left for her to remember him by: a harmonica. Now her journey to find him begins…

Picking up shortly after The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, Estelle travels across Liberl in search of Joshua. The journey involves more than seeking loved ones, however, as the Bracer Guild also tasks her with unraveling the mysteries behind the newly unveiled Society of Ouroboros.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd

Spoiler

Half a year after the events of Trails in the Sky Second Chapter, Liberl has settled into peace once again—but even during peaceful times, there are many among the distinguished and fortunate burning with greed thanks to the influence of ancient artifacts. Most of the population remains unaware of their abuses of power, but to the most enigmatic order of the beloved Septian Church, the Gralsritter, snuffing out these would-be villains and claiming artifacts in their name is as everyday as professing one's faith in the Goddess.

On the eve of another successfully completed mission, high-ranking member Father Kevin Graham is immediately assigned to retrieve one more artifact that rests beneath Grancel Cathedral. What's more, even though this is a task he could easily complete on his own, he must reluctantly do so in partnership with his newest recruit, rookie Gralsritter and childhood friend Sister Ries Argent.

Thus begins the start of a routine mission that becomes anything but, delving into a new and mysterious realm that follows an unnaturally strict set of rules: Phantasma. Therein, the history of the Septian Church and the pasts of the many familiar faces who took up arms for the sake of Liberl's future will be laid bare…and some may have been better off staying forever sealed behind closed doors.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero

Spoiler

The site of an ongoing territorial struggle between the Erebonian Empire and the Republic of Calvard, Crossbell has developed into a prosperous city-state and one of the continent's leading economic centers.

After three years away from his hometown, Lloyd Bannings returns in order to follow his late brother's footsteps and join the Crossbell Police Department. However, when he arrives, he finds he's been assigned to the Special Support Section, a new division that handles odd jobs and minor requests. He meets his new teammates, which include Elie MacDowell, the granddaughter of the city's mayor; Randy Orlando, a womanizing ex-soldier; and Tio Plato, a young tech genius.

Though their department is mocked by the media and looked down on by the rest of the CPD, Lloyd and his friends continue to fight to make their city a better place. As they do, however, they slowly come face-to-face with the criminal corruption gripping their city. Little do they know just how deep the shadows of Crossbell City go...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

Spoiler

Set just a few months after the events of Trails from Zero, a temporary peace has settled over Crossbell and the Special Support Section find themselves with newfound fame and status, thanks to their heroic actions.

However, the peace is soon broken with the rise of multiple organizations with ulterior motives. Framing these growing tensions is the increasing pressure from the Erebonian Empire and the Republic of Calvard, with Crossbell caught between them. With the safety of their home and the foundations of their team now on the line, Lloyd and his allies must gear themselves for the threats that loom ahead.

Little do they know that Crossbell will soon become the stage for a climactic conflict that will determine its future...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

Spoiler

Among the nations on the Zemurian continent, the mighty Erebonian Empire has been quick to outwardly stake its claim militarily; yet politically, ugly bouts of internal conflict between the upper class and commoners attempting to rise to power have been steadily intensifying day by day. The Noble and Reformist Factions have been none too kind to one another over the years, and tensions between the two only stand to worsen if compromises aren't made in the very near future.

Rean Schwarzer, like any other citizen of the Imperial Nation, is no stranger to these rising conflicts: the class system has been deeply embedded into the hearts of every Erebonian since the days of old. As a seventeen-year-old student preparing for his new life at Thors Military Academy, however, he notices that his crimson uniform differs from the standard ones issued to his peers—typically green for commoners, and white for nobles.

Enter, Class VII of Thors Military Academy. For the first time in the prestigious academy's history, rank means nothing and skill means everything. With nine hand-picked students of various backgrounds and abilities, Rean included, Class VII readies itself to dive deep into the political quagmire that threatens not only them, but the Empire as a whole.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II

Spoiler

Peace is but a memory.

In the wake of the Noble Faction's occupation of Heimdallr, civil war has broken out across Erebonia. The provincial armies, loyal to the aristocracy and the Four Great Houses, have claimed many of the nation's great cities in the name of the Noble Alliance. The Imperial Army, called back from the four corners of the Empire, has only just begun its sweeping counterattack.

After Rean managed to escape Trista with Celine and Valimar, he awakens in the mountains near his hometown uncertain what fate befell his friends, who bravely threw themselves in harm's way to buy him time to flee.

Though the road will not be an easy one, Rean decides to take up his sword again, journeying across Erebonia with his Divine Knight, Valimar, in search of his friends from Class VII and a way to end the conflict before its price becomes far too dear…

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III

Spoiler

Nearly a year and a half has passed since the Erebonian civil war, and much has changed since then. From the shifting stances of countries to the internal politics of the Empire, and even the life of Rean Schwarzer, the shadows of the past have given way to the embers of a new chapter. Now graduated from Thors Military Academy, Rean has become an instructor at the Thors Branch Campus, a newly-opened academy that quickly finds itself thrust onto the national stage. It is here that he takes the lead of a brand new Class VII. Though all is calm now, the nefarious Ouroboros organization continues to weave a dark plot that could engulf the entire continent in war...or perhaps something even more sinister.

To face their enemies, Rean Schwarzer must prepare a new generation of heroes as an instructor at a new branch campus and guide them towards victory.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

Spoiler

The long awaited finale to the epic engulfing a continent comes to a head in the final chapter of the Trails of Cold Steel saga!

The Erebonian Empire is on the brink of all out war! Taking place shortly after the ending of Trails of Cold Steel III, the heroes of Class VII find themselves with the full force of the Empire on the path to domination. Further, the hero of the Erebonian Civil War and Class VII's instructor, Rean Schwarzer, has gone missing.

Now, the students of Class VII, old and new, must unite with heroes from all over the continent to create the only chance the world has to be spared from total destruction.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Spoiler

Where one trail ends, another begins...

The intertwining fates of three figures in Zemuria will be decided in this climactic chapter of The Legend of Heroes series! Follow the footsteps of the war hero Rean Schwarzer, the liberator Lloyd Bannings, and the masked enigma "C".

- Lloyd Bannings, leader of the Crossbell Police Department's Special Support Section, finds himself fighting for his city's freedom once again after Crossbell's independence celebrations are interrupted by the sudden reappearance of an old threat.

- Following the events of the Great Twilight, Erebonian hero Rean Schwarzer and his students return to life at the branch campus. However, this fleeting peace is disturbed by the emergence of a new threat.

- When the former governor general of Crossbell suddenly returns and lays claim to the city state, four figures carry out a secret mission to investigate his actions. Their leader is "C," a masked individual who seems to be using the same codename as the leader of the Imperial Liberation Front. But to what end?

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak

Spoiler

After the war, Calvard is enjoying unprecedented economic prosperity. However, the public grows uncertain as the number of immigrants increases and political reform runs rampant. Follow Van, a young man and local spriggan, on a unique request that will prove more than he bargained for. Will the nation fall into chaos?

The spriggan's life is but one of many professions that has emerged from the Calvard Republic. Be it playing detective, negotiator, or bounty hunter, Van Arkride takes on the kind of work that can't be taken to more legitimate sources. It could be something the police can't handle, work that's best left out of the public eye, or even a request from a criminal of organization in the underworld; so long as it pays and doesn't cross too far over the gray line, he'll accept near-any job that comes across his table.

The year is 1208. A prim-and-proper young lady dressed in the uniform of an esteemed academy visits a dilapidated, multi-tenant building in a downtown district of Edith, the nation's capital. With a most dignified gaze, she looks upon the plague of the door before her. It reads: 'ARKRIDE Solutions Office: Complicated Matters Only.'

Steeling herself, she knocks on the door three times.

"First thing in the morning...?" a relaxed yet surprisingly young voice grumbles with a yawn.

From the moment he opens the door to greet her, a new tale begins.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II

Spoiler

Year 1209 of the Septian Calendar.

The threat posed by Almata has passed. Peace has finally returned to Calvard. And, for a time, that peace goes uninterrupted—until a CID special forces unit is slaughtered by an unknown assailant.

With authorities working to contain the situation, criminal forces take the chance to make their own moves.

Meanwhile, a spriggan by the name of Van Arkride begins his own investigation—after prompting from an unexpected visitor.

Who could be responsible for this massacre? What was their objective? And how does it all relate to Agnès' search for the eighth Genesis?

A crimson beast's roar. A chance meeting with a boy and girl, both embroiled in a mysterious search. These are the circumstances that lure Arkride Solutions down the trail of an inescapable fate.

Now comes the latest part: Which order should I play these games?

Actually it is quite simple but comments differ at some specific section. First of all Liberl Arc should be finished. At this point there are 2 roads to follow. I'm saying 2 roads to simplify things because if we delve too deeper it will just confuse a lot of people.


First Road --> Just follow the release dates and play Crossbell arc and continue with Erebonia arc.

Second Road --> Play the first and second Cold Steel games (Trails of Cold Steel and Trails of Cold Steel II). After that, play Crossbell Duology arc. Continue that with the The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III and Cold Steel IV.


I personally recommend the second road. I played the games this way, way back when by accident at that time, because I was unaware that the Trails games are interconnected. But later I saw that it is much better this way. Some fans prefer the first road and claims it is much better that way. There is no wrong way here. I think both side are correct in their own terms. Just know that whichever road you take, you'll get some degree of spoilers for another arc. Let's continue. After playing Cold Steel IV, the road is straightforward. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie comes next. After that, Calvard arc, starting with The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak.

So here we are at the end for now. I'll try to update this post after each release. For newcomers, hope that this will help you understand the basic things. For the hardcore fans, hope that this will at least jog your memories and spark a new conversations in this thread.

My only humble request is that if you're gonna discuss some deep level story parts please state which game and use spoiler tags to not to spoil other people who didn't reach that game yet.


Thanks in advance and have fun gaming.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Ok, before going to the essentials I need to give some notes. As per discussion from another thread, I wanted to create a thread both for newcomers and existing fans. These informations are not special or something, I just gather them here and put them altogether. You can also find similar ones on internet. Please note that Trails subserie is a huge one, which is going on for 21 years and I may miss some information here and there. Also please note that there will be spoilers for each game below, therefore you have been warned.

Trails/Legend of Heroes serie belongs to Nihon Falcom. There are some LoH games before Trails in the Sky but they aren't related to Trails subserie. Please note that "The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails" game is also unrelated to the Trails serie. So to make this as simple as possible I'll pass them.

Note: First game's remake "Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter" will be omitted in this post as well because, well, it is a remake.


Let's start with the games. As of today there are total 13 games of Trails games. 12 of them has been released in West. The latest game, "The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon" will be released on January 16/2026. Each of these Trails games are interconnected as storywise. Which means that there are lots of lore and story references to previous games, characters and NPC's returning or mentioned in each game. That also means that there is a big story going on for 21 years. Each arc is building on that front and as I've said above, each game is serving for that purpose. You can see each arc and total game list below:


Liberl Trilogy Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky --> (Ingame Year 1202)
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC --> (Ingame Year 1202-1203)
3. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd --> (Ingame Year 1203)

Crosbell Duology Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero --> (Ingame Year 1204)
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure --> (Ingame Year 1204)

Erebonia Tetralogy Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel --> (Ingame Year 1204)
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II --> (Ingame Year 1204-1205)
3. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III --> (Ingame Year 1206)
4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV --> (Ingame Year 1206)

Intermediate Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie --> (Ingame Year 1207)

Calvard (Seemingly) Trilogy Arc:

1. The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak --> (Ingame Year 1208)
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II --> (Ingame Year 1209)
3. The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon --> (Ingame Year 1209)

Before we go on to very brief summary for each game, I need to comment about "Can I start from the last game?" or "Should I play previous games?" questions. As I've said above that these games are interconnected. Each plot of every Trails games are connected. I'm not a gatekeeper so you can play whatever game you want, whenever you want. But (and it is a very big BUT) your understanding of these games' stories, characters, lore and the world will be very limited. You will also lose all of the emotional build up from previous games. Remember, the biggest point of Trails serie is it's interconnected stories, it's lore, it's characters and it's world. Each game serve purpose for these aspects.

If someone says "No you don't need to play them", that person couldn't get the core feeling for these games. Like I said, I'm not a gatekeeper but I'd really want everyone to experience this huge saga in full and that road goes through from each game. I'm not saying it isn't time consuming or easy to start this serie. But believe me that there are very few series in the gaming industry that give Trails serie satisfaction. 21 years of continuation is not for nothing. It is the very blood of this serie.


Now, lets give very brief introduction for each game. I'll be using Steam Store Page introductions for quick browsing. I can't go into synopsis for each game because it will really take a long time to make. If you want, you can find these on internet. Again, skipping previous games will hugely diminish your Trails saga experience.

Note: I'll omit The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon below because it's not yet released in West.


The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

Spoiler

Enter, the bracers: an organization established to serve as police and intermediaries alike, holding above all else the peace and safety of the lands under their jurisdiction. Whenever a citizen is in need of assistance, he or she may place a request at the local Bracer Guild -- and be it monster extermination, crime prevention or even peace talks among warring nations, the bracers will do whatever they can to resolve the matter cleanly and efficiently.

Some matters require a gentler touch than others, however. When an orbalship transporting a legendary "S-rank" bracer named Cassius Bright suddenly goes missing, said bracer's daughter, Estelle, and adoptive son, Joshua, must join forces in search of him across the entire Kingdom of Liberl.

And what they find along the way could change both of their lives forever...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC

Spoiler

The coup d'état that threatened to shake the foundation of the Liberl Kingdom has now come to a close and Her Majesty the Queen's birthday celebrations are in full swing throughout the streets of Grancel. During that same night, a boy who vowed to make amends for his past disappeared before the girl he loved. Clutched in the girl's hand was the one thing he left for her to remember him by: a harmonica. Now her journey to find him begins…

Picking up shortly after The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, Estelle travels across Liberl in search of Joshua. The journey involves more than seeking loved ones, however, as the Bracer Guild also tasks her with unraveling the mysteries behind the newly unveiled Society of Ouroboros.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd

Spoiler

Half a year after the events of Trails in the Sky Second Chapter, Liberl has settled into peace once again—but even during peaceful times, there are many among the distinguished and fortunate burning with greed thanks to the influence of ancient artifacts. Most of the population remains unaware of their abuses of power, but to the most enigmatic order of the beloved Septian Church, the Gralsritter, snuffing out these would-be villains and claiming artifacts in their name is as everyday as professing one's faith in the Goddess.

On the eve of another successfully completed mission, high-ranking member Father Kevin Graham is immediately assigned to retrieve one more artifact that rests beneath Grancel Cathedral. What's more, even though this is a task he could easily complete on his own, he must reluctantly do so in partnership with his newest recruit, rookie Gralsritter and childhood friend Sister Ries Argent.

Thus begins the start of a routine mission that becomes anything but, delving into a new and mysterious realm that follows an unnaturally strict set of rules: Phantasma. Therein, the history of the Septian Church and the pasts of the many familiar faces who took up arms for the sake of Liberl's future will be laid bare…and some may have been better off staying forever sealed behind closed doors.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero

Spoiler

The site of an ongoing territorial struggle between the Erebonian Empire and the Republic of Calvard, Crossbell has developed into a prosperous city-state and one of the continent's leading economic centers.

After three years away from his hometown, Lloyd Bannings returns in order to follow his late brother's footsteps and join the Crossbell Police Department. However, when he arrives, he finds he's been assigned to the Special Support Section, a new division that handles odd jobs and minor requests. He meets his new teammates, which include Elie MacDowell, the granddaughter of the city's mayor; Randy Orlando, a womanizing ex-soldier; and Tio Plato, a young tech genius.

Though their department is mocked by the media and looked down on by the rest of the CPD, Lloyd and his friends continue to fight to make their city a better place. As they do, however, they slowly come face-to-face with the criminal corruption gripping their city. Little do they know just how deep the shadows of Crossbell City go...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

Spoiler

Set just a few months after the events of Trails from Zero, a temporary peace has settled over Crossbell and the Special Support Section find themselves with newfound fame and status, thanks to their heroic actions.

However, the peace is soon broken with the rise of multiple organizations with ulterior motives. Framing these growing tensions is the increasing pressure from the Erebonian Empire and the Republic of Calvard, with Crossbell caught between them. With the safety of their home and the foundations of their team now on the line, Lloyd and his allies must gear themselves for the threats that loom ahead.

Little do they know that Crossbell will soon become the stage for a climactic conflict that will determine its future...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

Spoiler

Among the nations on the Zemurian continent, the mighty Erebonian Empire has been quick to outwardly stake its claim militarily; yet politically, ugly bouts of internal conflict between the upper class and commoners attempting to rise to power have been steadily intensifying day by day. The Noble and Reformist Factions have been none too kind to one another over the years, and tensions between the two only stand to worsen if compromises aren't made in the very near future.

Rean Schwarzer, like any other citizen of the Imperial Nation, is no stranger to these rising conflicts: the class system has been deeply embedded into the hearts of every Erebonian since the days of old. As a seventeen-year-old student preparing for his new life at Thors Military Academy, however, he notices that his crimson uniform differs from the standard ones issued to his peers—typically green for commoners, and white for nobles.

Enter, Class VII of Thors Military Academy. For the first time in the prestigious academy's history, rank means nothing and skill means everything. With nine hand-picked students of various backgrounds and abilities, Rean included, Class VII readies itself to dive deep into the political quagmire that threatens not only them, but the Empire as a whole.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II

Spoiler

Peace is but a memory.

In the wake of the Noble Faction's occupation of Heimdallr, civil war has broken out across Erebonia. The provincial armies, loyal to the aristocracy and the Four Great Houses, have claimed many of the nation's great cities in the name of the Noble Alliance. The Imperial Army, called back from the four corners of the Empire, has only just begun its sweeping counterattack.

After Rean managed to escape Trista with Celine and Valimar, he awakens in the mountains near his hometown uncertain what fate befell his friends, who bravely threw themselves in harm's way to buy him time to flee.

Though the road will not be an easy one, Rean decides to take up his sword again, journeying across Erebonia with his Divine Knight, Valimar, in search of his friends from Class VII and a way to end the conflict before its price becomes far too dear…

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III

Spoiler

Nearly a year and a half has passed since the Erebonian civil war, and much has changed since then. From the shifting stances of countries to the internal politics of the Empire, and even the life of Rean Schwarzer, the shadows of the past have given way to the embers of a new chapter. Now graduated from Thors Military Academy, Rean has become an instructor at the Thors Branch Campus, a newly-opened academy that quickly finds itself thrust onto the national stage. It is here that he takes the lead of a brand new Class VII. Though all is calm now, the nefarious Ouroboros organization continues to weave a dark plot that could engulf the entire continent in war...or perhaps something even more sinister.

To face their enemies, Rean Schwarzer must prepare a new generation of heroes as an instructor at a new branch campus and guide them towards victory.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

Spoiler

The long awaited finale to the epic engulfing a continent comes to a head in the final chapter of the Trails of Cold Steel saga!

The Erebonian Empire is on the brink of all out war! Taking place shortly after the ending of Trails of Cold Steel III, the heroes of Class VII find themselves with the full force of the Empire on the path to domination. Further, the hero of the Erebonian Civil War and Class VII's instructor, Rean Schwarzer, has gone missing.

Now, the students of Class VII, old and new, must unite with heroes from all over the continent to create the only chance the world has to be spared from total destruction.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Spoiler

Where one trail ends, another begins...

The intertwining fates of three figures in Zemuria will be decided in this climactic chapter of The Legend of Heroes series! Follow the footsteps of the war hero Rean Schwarzer, the liberator Lloyd Bannings, and the masked enigma "C".

- Lloyd Bannings, leader of the Crossbell Police Department's Special Support Section, finds himself fighting for his city's freedom once again after Crossbell's independence celebrations are interrupted by the sudden reappearance of an old threat.

- Following the events of the Great Twilight, Erebonian hero Rean Schwarzer and his students return to life at the branch campus. However, this fleeting peace is disturbed by the emergence of a new threat.

- When the former governor general of Crossbell suddenly returns and lays claim to the city state, four figures carry out a secret mission to investigate his actions. Their leader is "C," a masked individual who seems to be using the same codename as the leader of the Imperial Liberation Front. But to what end?

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak

Spoiler

After the war, Calvard is enjoying unprecedented economic prosperity. However, the public grows uncertain as the number of immigrants increases and political reform runs rampant. Follow Van, a young man and local spriggan, on a unique request that will prove more than he bargained for. Will the nation fall into chaos?

The spriggan's life is but one of many professions that has emerged from the Calvard Republic. Be it playing detective, negotiator, or bounty hunter, Van Arkride takes on the kind of work that can't be taken to more legitimate sources. It could be something the police can't handle, work that's best left out of the public eye, or even a request from a criminal of organization in the underworld; so long as it pays and doesn't cross too far over the gray line, he'll accept near-any job that comes across his table.

The year is 1208. A prim-and-proper young lady dressed in the uniform of an esteemed academy visits a dilapidated, multi-tenant building in a downtown district of Edith, the nation's capital. With a most dignified gaze, she looks upon the plague of the door before her. It reads: 'ARKRIDE Solutions Office: Complicated Matters Only.'

Steeling herself, she knocks on the door three times.

"First thing in the morning...?" a relaxed yet surprisingly young voice grumbles with a yawn.

From the moment he opens the door to greet her, a new tale begins.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II

Spoiler

Year 1209 of the Septian Calendar.

The threat posed by Almata has passed. Peace has finally returned to Calvard. And, for a time, that peace goes uninterrupted—until a CID special forces unit is slaughtered by an unknown assailant.

With authorities working to contain the situation, criminal forces take the chance to make their own moves.

Meanwhile, a spriggan by the name of Van Arkride begins his own investigation—after prompting from an unexpected visitor.

Who could be responsible for this massacre? What was their objective? And how does it all relate to Agnès' search for the eighth Genesis?

A crimson beast's roar. A chance meeting with a boy and girl, both embroiled in a mysterious search. These are the circumstances that lure Arkride Solutions down the trail of an inescapable fate.

Now comes the latest part: Which order should I play these games?

Actually it is quite simple but comments differ at some specific section. First of all Liberl Arc should be finished. At this point there are 2 roads to follow. I'm saying 2 roads to simplify things because if we delve too deeper it will just confuse a lot of people.


First Road --> Just follow the release dates and play Crossbell arc and continue with Erebonia arc.

Second Road --> Play the first and second Cold Steel games (Trails of Cold Steel and Trails of Cold Steel II). After that, play Crossbell Duology arc. Continue that with the The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III and Cold Steel IV.


I personally recommend the second road. I played the games this way, way back when by accident at that time, because I was unaware that the Trails games are interconnected. But later I saw that it is much better this way. Some fans prefer the first road and claims it is much better that way. There is no wrong way here. I think both side are correct in their own terms. Just know that whichever road you take, you'll get some degree of spoilers for another arc. Let's continue. After playing Cold Steel IV, the road is straightforward. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie comes next. After that, Calvard arc, starting with The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak.

So here we are at the end for now. I'll try to update this post after each release. For newcomers, hope that this will help you understand the basic things. For the hardcore fans, hope that this will at least jog your memories and spark a new conversations in this thread.

My only humble request is that if you're gonna discuss some deep level story parts please state which game and use spoiler tags to not to spoil other people who didn't reach that game yet.


Thanks in advance and have fun gaming.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Van > Estelle > Lloyd >>>>>>>> Rean

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Van > Estelle > Lloyd >>>>>>>> Rean

Rean/Van > Estelle >>>>>>> Lloyd

 

[saintjules]

I wanted to get into this franchise so bad. I never finished Cold Steel I.

I guess I'm at the age that these long ass games are something I'll never get to finish.

 

[Mister Wolf]

I wanted to get into this franchise so bad. I never finished Cold Steel I.

I guess I'm at the age that these long ass games are something I'll never get to finish.

You gonna try out the Remake? I got my best friend into them buy convincing him to just start with the Daybreak/Calvard story arc. There is nothing critical in the past games that you need to know going into Daybreak.

 

[SantaC]

Van > Estelle > Lloyd >>>>>>>> Rean

Rean >>>> Estelle >>>> Van >>>> Lloyd

 

[SantaC]

The end of Cold Steel III is peak JRPG

 

[Mister Wolf]

The end of Cold Steel III is peak JRPG

By the end of Cold Steel 4 and Reverie I prayed to the Falcom God that I would never have to see Rean again and he would just stay his ass in Erebonia.

 

[SantaC]

By the end of Cold Steel 4 and Reverie I prayed to the Falcom God that I would never have to see Rean again and he would just stay his ass in Erebonia.

i thought daybreak was worse than cold steel series. I havent played daybreak 2 yet, how it is?

 

[saintjules]

You gonna try out the Remake? I got my best friend into them buy convincing him to just start with the Daybreak/Calvard story arc. There is nothing critical in the past games that you need to know going into Daybreak.

There's going to be a CS1 remake? Maybe I could try it.

I guess there's some feeling about missing on lore if I don't play all of them. But maybe I'll look into Daybreak then.

 

[Mister Wolf]

i thought daybreak was worse than cold steel series. I havent played daybreak 2 yet, how it is?

So far so good. Since I like Daybreak, it's like continuing a comic book i already know I like. I'm only about 20 hours into it right now.

 

[Mister Wolf]

There's going to be a CS1 remake? Maybe I could try it.

I guess there's some feeling about missing on lore if I don't play all of them. But maybe I'll look into Daybreak then.

Trails in the Sky Remake releases this month.

 

[Kazdane]

Started playing the whole saga earlier this year (in february) and I'm currently halfway through Cold Steel 1 (playing in release order). Great series to play, but as in every series with such a long list of titles, some of them will narratively be brilliant, and others not so much. Cold Steel I is definitely the one (of those I've played so far) taking the longest time to set up everything going on in that arc.

 

[jshackles]

Love these games, but damn they're long. I played through the Trails trilogy, starting last year with the first game and finishing 2 and 3 this year. Currently, I'm about halfway through Trails from Zero with 25 hours on the clock there. Really enjoying the characters, but it was hard to come to terms with them being an almost totally different cast from the first trilogy.

I played through Cold Steel 1 first, started it years ago on the Vita but never really got into it, then played through it recently on the Switch and got stuck in. Decided to backtrack and play the first set of games first, then I'll probably watch a CS1 recap video and dive in to 2. The new games look awesome, so I can't wait to catch up.

I'm picking up the remake and plan on playing through that too. Seriously, I'd probably have years of gaming ahead of me if all I played were these games.

 

[saintjules]

Trails in the Sky Remake releases this month.

Yeah that I saw. So essentially the very beginning. I'll look into it.

So many games out. It's a great time to be a gamer.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Yeah that I saw. So essentially the very beginning. I'll look into it.

So many games out. It's a great time to be a gamer.

I've told myself not to buy anything else this year............besides Metroid.

 

[NanaMiku]

Just finished Cold Steel last month. I feel like finishing an arc of an anime/manga series. I tried playing Sky several years ago but I felt the beginning was too slow and long. I need to revisit it again. Currently playing Cold Steel 2, but on a break by playing other games.

 

[saintjules]

Just finished Cold Steel last month. I feel like finishing an arc of an anime/manga series. I tried playing Sky several years ago but I felt the beginning was too slow and long. I need to revisit it again. Currently playing Cold Steel 2, but on a break by playing other games.

The franchise feels like it's the Yakuza of JRPGs. Long storytelling. If these games came out when I was 14 I'd play them all day and night.

 

[NanaMiku]

The franchise feels like it's the Yakuza of JRPGs. Long storytelling. If these games came out when I was 14 I'd play them all day and night.

Yakuza is still a finished story for each game. I was pretty bummed by the ending of Cold Steel 1, it's not a finished story.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

I can't wait for when you guys are able to play Trails Beyond The Horizon. That ending was something is all I'm saying

 

[Thief1987]

Yakuza is still a finished story for each game. I was pretty bummed by the ending of Cold Steel 1, it's not a finished story.

Well, at least you have access to all games now. After finishing ToCS 3 we were forced to wait a whole year with a cliffhanger the size of the moon.

 

[Hector Hall]

Wasn't there already a thread about Trails/Kiseki?

This series is the hidden gem of gaming.

One note, though, it's not totally clear Nayuta is out of the series. It could be shoehorned still. The surname of Nayuta is Herschel, the same as Towa, whose grandfather was an astronomer with a mysterious past and who came from abroad. Won't spoil anything about Trails Beyond the Horizon, but it could be arranged thay Nayuta islands are beyond the area subject to the Divergent Laws.

 

[yurqqa]

Liberal and Crossbell games are very good. Living, breathing world, characters that are really great and not your typical cliche one-dimensional dummies.

And then came Cold steel - and it's just a chore to play. Like watching typical school harem anime with typical tropes, whiny teenagers and stupid antagonists that have no development whatsoever. And it's long that is downside when the plot and characters are irritating.

What a pity that such a nice series list it's souls and became a standard JRPG like many others.

 

[Shadowstar39]

My first game in Legend of heroes was before this, A Tear for Vermillion, which was on the psp and was a good story but had boring combat and a ton of text. I loved the aesthetics of the game though, it was oozing style and felt like a continuation of old school snes/early ps1 jrpgs.
I then trials in the sky later on.

I loved Trials in the sky 1 The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (FC? I don't remember that, I played it on psp and transitioned to the vita when I got one).

I tried to play the cold steel game next on vita and hated it. It was some military school like persona. The charm of the characters was gone. It looked like typical modern anime faire and not like the the first game. The first game was more a traditional anime or 90s anime look (well I guess that looks sense as it was made in the early 2000s)

Maybe i didn't like it because I had fast forwarded into the time line and didn't know it. I never played the other games in trial in the liberl trilogy.

Whelp there it is. The PSP/Vita games of Trials in the sky sc English release happened the same year as cold steal 2015 (only 2 months apart) Cold steel was being hyped and I am sure I played that.
Aparently the trails in the sky 3rd never came to psp according to google.
No wonder the cold steel series I didn't get into.

IS there any place to play the liberl trilogy outside of pc? I would love to play them on switch, and I have the remake of the first game pre-ordered. I am hoping the rest get done too, as I loved that first game.

 

[Shadowstar39]

Liberal and Crossbell games are very good. Living, breathing world, characters that are really great and not your typical cliche one-dimensional dummies.

And then came Cold steel - and it's just a chore to play. Like watching typical school harem anime with typical tropes, whiny teenagers and stupid antagonists that have no development whatsoever. And it's long that is downside when the plot and characters are irritating.

What a pity that such a nice series list it's souls and became a standard JRPG like many others.

My expeirence as well. Total different look and attitude. Like they had different writers. I dropped the series after going from FC to cold steel (sc came out on psp in English like 1-2 months before cold steel but cold steel was hyped as it was a vita game) I never got to play SC and the 3rd never made it to psp apparently.

 

[zokie]

i got almost all except for Reverie and Kai no Kiseki -Farewell, O Zemuria- aka Beyond the horizon

i am juggling between Azure , Cold Steel 1 and Daybreak 1

Music and Humour is so good in the series that i played

Side Topic
i followed and sub to a female youtuber and made some new online friend
i told this new friend called Doctor Goon to play " The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie " with a tagline saying " there are more waifus than males "
P.S i told him to google about Agnes Claudel

 

[Mister Wolf]

Liberal and Crossbell games are very good. Living, breathing world, characters that are really great and not your typical cliche one-dimensional dummies.

And then came Cold steel - and it's just a chore to play. Like watching typical school harem anime with typical tropes, whiny teenagers and stupid antagonists that have no development whatsoever. And it's long that is downside when the plot and characters are irritating.

What a pity that such a nice series list it's souls and became a standard JRPG like many others.

Cold Steel is definitely the worst Arc.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

Just played trails in the sky fc for the first time and really liked it. Gonna play em all, in release order and the remake!

So might take like 3 or 4 years...

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Finally. Took me too long to discover this brilliant series.

 

[jshackles]

Just played trails in the sky fc for the first time and really liked it. Gonna play em all, in release order and the remake!

So might take like 3 or 4 years...

I started in earnest last year, and I'm now on my 5th of 13 games. Somehow some fans will tell you these can all be binged in a year, but they have to be 100% nolife-ing it to get that done. Each game is 40-70 hours in length. Just looking at How Long To Beat's "Main" length (no side content) you're looking at 630 hours to beat every released game. If you do "Main + Extras" (good amount of side content, but not 100% complete) it jumps up to 894 hours of playtime. Wanna get that 100%? A whopping 1,177 hours.

For the four games in the series I've finished so far, I've done a good amount of the side content - but not nearly all of it.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

I started in earnest last year, and I'm now on my 5th of 13 games. Somehow some fans will tell you these can all be binged in a year, but they have to be 100% nolife-ing it to get that done. Each game is 40-70 hours in length. Just looking at How Long To Beat's "Main" length (no side content) you're looking at 630 hours to beat every released game. If you do "Main + Extras" (good amount of side content, but not 100% complete) it jumps up to 894 hours of playtime. Wanna get that 100%? A whopping 1,177 hours.

For the four games in the series I've finished so far, I've done a good amount of the side content - but not nearly all of it.

I also want to spread them out and play different types of games in between so I think I'll probably finish liberl arc by 2027

 

[mayham2199]

Sad to see so many didn't enjoy the cold steel arc which is interesting because I think that was their highest selling arc. I personally loved them all except Crossbell arc was just ok. It wasn't bad but I don't know I didn't get attach to the main cast as much.

Cold Steel was great but I just thought it had to many characters even for this series and 3 games was more than enough to finish that arc.

 

[mèx]

Finally NeoGAF is complete.

All arcs are peak. Just saying.

By the end of Cold Steel 4 and Reverie I prayed to the Falcom God that I would never have to see Rean again and he would just stay his ass in Erebonia.

I have some bad news for you.

i told this new friend called Doctor Goon to play " The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie " with a tagline saying " there are more waifus than males "
P.S i told him to google about Agnes Claudel

What did you tell him to google about specifically...

 

[Skifi28]

Sad to see so many didn't enjoy the cold steel arc which is interesting because I think that was their highest selling arc. I personally loved them all except Crossbell arc was just ok. It wasn't bad but I don't know I didn't get attach to the main cast as much.

Cold Steel was great but I just thought it had to many characters even for this series and 3 games was more than enough to finish that arc.

Cold Steel was great, but it really did overstay its welcome. I thought 3 was peak trails, but 4 felt like they just recycled the exact same game for no reason. I was very hyped after the cliffhanger 3 ended on, but it was so bloody boring and nothing really happened until the very end. Just a waste of a game as far as I'm concerned, almost like Daybreak 2. Almost.

 

[Mister Wolf]

I have some bad news for you.

I'm aware of Horizon.

 

[Krafter]

Tremendous thread, thank you for this. I will reference this often in the future, for sure.

Kinda getting into Falcom stuff just the last few years, have only played 2 Ys games and the first two Cold Steel games, and will likely just follow the recommended Second Road.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Bestelle being Bestelle, what a great job both by Falcom and by XSEED. Yes, I'm trying hard to sell you on playing SC in the year of Our Lord 2025.

 

[Danjin44]

I can finally get in to series with Trails of the Sky 1st Chapter and I hope they also remake the 2nd and 3rd game.

 

[ThisIsMyDog]

I love redheads

 

[Madjaba]

Love the series, excellent world building and great character growth.

 

[Hector Hall]

Sad to see so many didn't enjoy the cold steel arc which is interesting because I think that was their highest selling arc. I personally loved them all except Crossbell arc was just ok. It wasn't bad but I don't know I didn't get attach to the main cast as much.

Cold Steel was great but I just thought it had to many characters even for this series and 3 games was more than enough to finish that arc.

Cold Steel is the more popular arc and Rean wins most polls on favorite character (all polls) but in the internet bubble there's a bunch of weirdos that each time they hear Rean or Cold Steel start screaming crazy shit like harem or isekai shit.

And they are always the same. I have localized both in YouTube and Gematsu 4/5 users that in each news or video about the series they profit to put a comment that's always the harem idiocy or saying how great was Trails until Azure and how bad afterwards. I call them the Chibi Bros.

They are a minority, very loud and persistent but a minority.

I myself enjoy all arcs, all have amazing things for them.