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Game Title
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon

Platforms
PC (Jan 15, 2026)
PlayStation 5 (Jan 15, 2026)
PlayStation 4 (Jan 15, 2026)
Nintendo Switch 2 (Jan 15, 2026)
Nintendo Switch (Jan 15, 2026)

Developer
Nihon Falcom

Publisher
NIS America

Analog Stick Gaming - Jeff M Young - 8.5 / 10

Trails Beyond the Horizon is a solid sequel to a saga that showed great potential in its first outing. The stakes are wildly impressive and goes places I simply didn't see the series reaching. While the non-critical elements of the story do drag on, with several pointless and boring side quests, the core narrative told across three different paths, each with several of the series' best characters, results in a climactic finale that shows why this series is one of the best JRPG's out there.

COGconnected - Nicola Kapron - 84 / 100

All in all, The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon is a great entry in the franchise. It sounds good, looks good, and the narrative is truly kicking into gear. New players will definitely be confused, but this is the thirteenth game in the series. Just play the rest, I promise they're good too.

Console Creatures - Matt Sowinski - 8 / 10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon comes out swinging after a largely divisive previous entry in Daybreak 2, where so much of the story was tied up in time travel shenanigans. However, the main narrative is compelling despite a slow start.

DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 9 / 10

While Trails Beyond the Horizon excels especially in its combat and RPG systems, it also succeeds with its main story and side content, such as the Grim Garten, character relationship system, and side quests that all tell unique stories worth listening to. Trails Beyond the Horizon is a game that deserves recognition and is up there with some of the best the genre has to offer.

Game Lodge - Pedro Ladino - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Trails Beyond the Horizon paves the way for the end of the Trails franchise. It's not a perfect game, but it incorporates everything good and bad about the series, resulting in the most Trails game possible. Combined with more polished combat, it was the right recipe to make it one of the best games in the series.

Gamer Guides - Ben Chard - 85 / 100

Trails Beyond the Horizon finally moves the series' main plot forward in a satisfying way, despite leaving off with a massive cliffhanger. With fantastic combat refinements, not even a slow first Act can dull our excitement about where the series goes from here.

GamesRadar+ - Alan Wen - 3.5 / 5

It's an excellent hybrid combat system that offers a good balance between both styles, certainly more so than Metaphor: ReFantazio.

IGN - George Yang - 8 / 10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon's compelling journey into space builds an exciting launchpad for what will come next.

Nintendo Life - Mitch Vogel - 8 / 10

Trails Beyond the Horizon is another solid new entry in the long-running series and feels like a firm step forward, even if it's not quite as big a step as some may have hoped. Though the story can be uneven, it's buoyed by a strong and diverse cast that keeps you invested and reminds you how all the work Falcom has been putting in over the years has ultimately been pushing towards something.Couple its engaging (if sometimes slow) narrative with polished graphics, deep character customisation, and a dynamic combat system, and you've got a great and ambitious JRPG that especially stands out in these relatively early days of the Switch 2 library. I'd give this one a strong recommendation to series fans, as it really does feel like a step up from Daybreak II. Newcomers, though, will want to give this one a pass until they've played the previous two Daybreak games, at least.

PSX Brasil - Thiago de Alencar Moura - Portuguese - 95 / 100

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon is an incredible success that puts the franchise back on track. With excellent combat, a (nearly) flawless story, and only a few technical issues that don't detract from the experience, it's a must-have game for fans of one of the best JRPG franchises of all time.

Push Square - Robert Ramsey - 8 / 10

Trails beyond the Horizon is one of the most impactful games in Falcom's series to date, dealing in world-altering revelations and truly dramatic story developments. For Trails fans who have come this far, Horizon has the potential to blow you away - but you need to be ready for hours of character recaps and exposition before things really start to ramp up.

RPG Site - 8 / 10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is the latest entry in the Calvard Arc, bringing some of the biggest twists and surprises of the series to date, and delivers a standout Trails title that will leave us theorizing for a long time.

Restart.run - Hayes Madsen - 4 / 5

More than anything, it's great to see Trails Beyond the Horizon take steps to answer some of the series' longstanding questions, and set the stage for the grand finale of the entire epic. There's still nothing else out there quite like Falcom's series, and Trails Beyond the Horizon is a strong reminder that those hundreds of hours it takes to play all these games is well worth it. And perhaps more importantly, picture proof that Falcom is willing to learn from its past, and I've more hope than ever that it might truly be able to stick the landing for the wild experiment that Trails has become.

Shacknews - Lucas White - 6 / 10

But I wish so much time wasn't wasted on achingly boring expository setup, non-optional side content with next to no substance, and a combat system that's in the middle of an identity crisis. Falcom has done a lot more with a lot less in the past, and all this excess is wearing me down.

SmashPad - Danreb Victorio - 4 / 5

Trails Beyond the Horizon is a game that feels like it's setting up the foundation to pay off the fandom with a conclusion that's set to surprise people, for better or for worse. Five years ago, I likened Trails of Cold Steel IV to Avengers Endgame. Trails Beyond the Horizon might as well be Avengers Doomsday, and there's no telling what to expect when the sequel comes out.

The Outerhaven Productions - Scott Adams - 5 / 5

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is the pinnacle of Trails storytelling alongside the best evolution of the hybrid action turn-based combat.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8.5 / 10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through the Horizon is the franchise's first step into its endgame, and for the most part, it sticks the landing admirably. The gameplay hasn't changed much from the previous entries, but the overall storytelling and character beats are a massive step up from Daybreak 2. Its biggest flaws are some overall slow pacing and the fact that you'll need a lot of prior Trails knowledge to feel invested in the game. It's nothing that would stop longtime fans from having fun. The whole franchise is available now, so it's the best time to catch up - until the next main game comes out, that is.

​

 

[mayham2199]

I'm ready for this shit. Not playing anything right now just patiently waiting.

 

[jshackles]

I feel like I'm never going to fully catch up with this series.

 

[Punished Miku]

It's not a perfect game, but it incorporates everything good and bad about the series, resulting in the most Trails game possible.

The most JRPG review of all time.

 

[Poppinfresh]

Can't wait!

 

[IFireflyl]

I feel like I'm never going to fully catch up with this series.

Thank you for confirming I'm not the only one feeling overwhelmed.

 

[jshackles]

Thank you for confirming I'm not the only one feeling overwhelmed.

For the last two years, I've finished two games in the series (quite a feat since they're 60ish hours long each) both years. If I can keep up that pace, and they keep releasing 2 games per year on average, then I'll be caught up exactly never.

 

[mayham2199]

For the last two years, I've finished two games in the series (quite a feat since they're 60ish hours long each) both years. If I can keep up that pace, and they keep releasing 2 games per year on average, then I'll be caught up exactly never.

I really don't know how I caught up because I kind of play the same amount. I think they were slower than this at one point though.

 

[DarkShadowXI]

I feel like I'm never going to fully catch up with this series.

I'm getting so overwhelmed to start this series. Making my way through 1st Chapter and seeing these is making my head spin.

I thought Trails through Daybreak was the latest arc?

Are they running two separate new arcs simultaneously or is Trails Beyond the Horizon a sequel for Daybreak 2? Or is a remaster to something else??

 

[jshackles]

Are they running two separate new arcs simultaneously or is Trails Beyond the Horizon a sequel for Daybreak 2?

Yes it's the third game in the Daybreak arc

 

[DarkShadowXI]

Yes it's the third game in the Daybreak arc

Jesus, I feel like the second one just came out. I bought the 1st one to try the series, which also felt like it just came out.

At least it's the same arc! Daybreak 3 would've been a bit clearer lol

Maybe I'll just save this series for when I'm stuffed into a retirement home and RAM is extinct.

 

[Mitsurux]

Just saw that there is a demo available on nintendo eshop. Game looks great.

 

[PonyStation4]

 

[touchfuzzy]

I played Daybreak 1 and liked it, didn't get to Daybreak 2 yet but would kind of like to. However, I then played Sky FC Remake and liked it too, so now I'm not sure what to do. Should I just wait and see how much of the series they decide to do remakes on, or continue on with Daybreak 2 (and this one eventually) in the meantime? It doesn't help that I've heard Daybreak 2 isn't the best.

 

[graywolf323]

I feel like I'm never going to fully catch up with this series.

same, I really need to get back to and finish Reverie I'm near the end but I got distracted by other games and it's been months

 

[Arsic]

If I complete trails in the sky FC remake, can I jump into this arc without spoiling myself stupid of needing all the other 96 games of lore to enjoy?

 

[jshackles]

If I complete trails in the sky FC remake, can I jump into this arc without spoiling myself stupid of needing all the other 96 games of lore to enjoy?

The first game in each arc is kind of designed to be a "starting point". So Sky FC, Trails from Zero, Cold Steel 1, and Daybreak 1 are all meant to be pretty accessible to newcomers.

That being said, there are definitely references you'll miss since these games happen (more or less) chronologically based on their release order. For example, if you played this new game without playing Sky SC and 3rd Chapter then you'll miss a huge amount of context for the game's second playable character, Kevin, even if you finish Daybreak 1 and 2 first. Another character in this game people are excited about is the main character from the Cold Steel arc. Presumably, playing this game before any of those others would more or less spoil you on events from the previous titles.

 

[Poppinfresh]

I played Daybreak 1 and liked it, didn't get to Daybreak 2 yet but would kind of like to. However, I then played Sky FC Remake and liked it too, so now I'm not sure what to do. Should I just wait and see how much of the series they decide to do remakes on, or continue on with Daybreak 2 (and this one eventually) in the meantime? It doesn't help that I've heard Daybreak 2 isn't the best.

I'm not sure I'd wait around for remakes. I mean, we know SC is coming but beyond that it's anyone's guess.

You can comfortably play Daybreak 1 and Horizon and you've got SC to look forward to too. Once you're done there, you can decide if you want to continue with 3rd, Crossbell, and Cold Steel, or wait to see if there are any further remakes.

I'd expect a 3rd remake, but who knows about Crossbell, and Cold Steel.

I can tell you that Crossbell is my personal favorite Arc, so I'd urge you to play that remake or not.

If I complete trails in the sky FC remake, can I jump into this arc without spoiling myself stupid of needing all the other 96 games of lore to enjoy?

Up to you. If you don't play the games in order, you're going to run into some spoilers, no matter what.

Remember, though, those of us who played these games in the West originally got the Cold Steel Arc before the Crossbell Arc was officially released in English. There were fan translations, but if you didn't play them, you ran into a lot of spoilers.

 

[mayham2199]

I played Daybreak 1 and liked it, didn't get to Daybreak 2 yet but would kind of like to. However, I then played Sky FC Remake and liked it too, so now I'm not sure what to do. Should I just wait and see how much of the series they decide to do remakes on, or continue on with Daybreak 2 (and this one eventually) in the meantime? It doesn't help that I've heard Daybreak 2 isn't the best.

In your position yea I would just wait. There's no rush and plenty to play. I'm positive they'll remake the Sky arc and Crossbell arc. Coldsteel is possible since it was the most popular.

 

[Skifi28]

If I complete trails in the sky FC remake, can I jump into this arc without spoiling myself stupid of needing all the other 96 games of lore to enjoy?

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

So excited to see your guys reactions

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

If I complete trails in the sky FC remake, can I jump into this arc without spoiling myself stupid of needing all the other 96 games of lore to enjoy?

 

[KàIRóS]

Will wait for a discount just to support Falcom even though I already played this, I do like some of the english VAs so I'll probably replay it in english, I'm kinda interested to see how Van's VA handles the insane cliffhanger in this game.

 

[falling into hell]

Awesome, awesome looking forward to play it in 2030 once I caught up with the series.

 

[PonyStation4]

Will wait for a discount just to support Falcom even though I already played this, I do like some of the english VAs so I'll probably replay it in english, I'm kinda interested to see how Van's VA handles the insane cliffhanger in this game.

 

[JayK47]

Come on. Another one?! I haven't even started Daybreak.

 

[mèx]

Come on. Another one?! I haven't even started Daybreak.

 

[rkofan87]

Game Title
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon

Platforms
PC (Jan 15, 2026)
PlayStation 5 (Jan 15, 2026)
PlayStation 4 (Jan 15, 2026)
Nintendo Switch 2 (Jan 15, 2026)
Nintendo Switch (Jan 15, 2026)

Developer
Nihon Falcom

Publisher
NIS America

Analog Stick Gaming - Jeff M Young - 8.5 / 10



COGconnected - Nicola Kapron - 84 / 100



Console Creatures - Matt Sowinski - 8 / 10



DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 9 / 10



Game Lodge - Pedro Ladino - Portuguese - 9 / 10



Gamer Guides - Ben Chard - 85 / 100



GamesRadar+ - Alan Wen - 3.5 / 5



IGN - George Yang - 8 / 10



Nintendo Life - Mitch Vogel - 8 / 10



PSX Brasil - Thiago de Alencar Moura - Portuguese - 95 / 100



Push Square - Robert Ramsey - 8 / 10



RPG Site - 8 / 10



Restart.run - Hayes Madsen - 4 / 5



Shacknews - Lucas White - 6 / 10



SmashPad - Danreb Victorio - 4 / 5



The Outerhaven Productions - Scott Adams - 5 / 5



Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8.5 / 10

​

86 shit 26 is off to kick ass start