This JRPG offers a unique blend of Metaphor ReFantazio-style combat, but it’s best suited for dedicated fans of the Trails series.
If you’ve been looking for a reason to dive into the Trails series, Falcom’s legendary JRPG saga that has captivated players for over 20 years, then the outstanding Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, hailed as the best remake of 2025, is the perfect starting point. In contrast, jumping straight into The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon after experiencing Estelle and Joshua’s bracer adventure would be akin to watching the first episode of a popular series and then skipping to the final season.
However, the latest installment might actually draw in newcomers with its fresh appeal. Set in the Calvard Republic, the fourth major location on the fictional continent of Zemuria, it presents a more intricate narrative that delves into mature themes. Your main character, Van, operates as a detective and bounty hunter, navigating the shadows in a way that feels more sophisticated compared to the idealistic youth of earlier games.
The story of Trails Beyond the Horizon shifts away from the typical geopolitical drama or world-saving quests, centering instead on Calvard’s newly launched space program and the lead-up to the first manned space flight. The series has explored various technological advancements, and its take on the space race is particularly unique, with the entire nation caught up in the excitement, from news coverage to themed merchandise. But is this mission truly for the greater good, or are there hidden agendas at play?
Unlike previous titles that spanned weeks or months, this RPG is structured around a tighter timeline, constantly reminding you of the upcoming rocket launch. This doesn’t shorten the gameplay, though; expect playthroughs to last anywhere from 50 to over 100 hours, which can lead to pacing issues while feeling like it barely advances the overarching narrative.
Among the most text-heavy JRPGs, Trails often takes longer to localize, and the fact that Horizon is releasing just over a year after its original Japanese launch is impressive. The prologue alone stretches over two hours, filled with exposition, though it does feature a delightful scene where our hardened detective indulges in dessert. The pacing can feel Dickensian, with lengthy dialogues that provide every character a chance to chime in, leaving only a fraction of the text voiced.
As a seasoned Trails player, I appreciate the time spent with familiar characters across multiple installments, including those who have matured over the years. However, Horizon is the third entry in the Calvard arc, and if you’ve played the previous two, you might feel a sense of déjà vu as you revisit familiar locations, with only one new town introduced in the latter half of the game.
That said, the Republic is experienced from fresh perspectives, as you play not only as Van but also two returning protagonists, each with their own motives for being in Calvard. One is Rean from the previous arc (Trails of Cold Steel), while the other, Kevin, is a deeper cut, a priest on a secret mission who hasn’t been playable since Trails in the Sky the 3rd. This results in a lot of reminiscing about past adventures, and even fans of the series’ slow-burn style may find themselves eager for the current plot to progress.
The length of each chapter depends on your completionist tendencies. Trails enthusiasts will likely want to chat with every NPC and complete every side quest, which earns you SP to improve your overall rank and unlock rewards. However, advancing the main story causes time to pass, making some optional missions unavailable. While previous entries involved investigations as part of the narrative, Horizon makes most of these optional, somewhat diminishing their significance, along with the morality alignment system that affects your ranking without impacting the story.
Ultimately, these optional missions add depth, allowing you to uncover richer narratives behind seemingly simple tasks, like tracking down a missing person or solving minor crimes. Connection events, where your protagonists bond with various characters, are also enjoyable, even if they consist of lengthy cutscenes with no player input. Skipping these missions makes the game feel more tedious, as you’ll find yourself merely walking to waypoints to trigger expositional cutscenes before repeating the cycle until the main dungeon opens. Even then, these dungeons can be sprawling labyrinths, making it tempting to speed through them using the high-speed mode.
Combat is where Horizon shines, offering a hybrid system that balances real-time hack-and-slash with traditional turn-based mechanics. You can adjust the difficulty to suit your style or retry tough boss fights with a weakened foe. Since Trails Through Daybreak, the series has introduced real-time combat that can seamlessly switch back to turn-based battles. You can even explore in high-speed mode, which reverts to normal speed during enemy encounters.
This hybrid combat system is more refined than in previous titles, allowing for spellcasting on patrolling enemies and perfect dodges that trigger assist strikes from allies. Awakening skills let characters temporarily power up, while new ZOC mechanics slow down time for combo stacking before transitioning back to turn-based combat. Even in traditional battles, ZOC grants extra actions, enabling strategic shifts during crucial moments.
The enhancements to action combat don’t undermine turn-based encounters, where you can unleash area-of-effect abilities against multiple foes and chain follow-up attacks with guest and support characters. S-rank ultimates, which bypass turn orders, are the game’s flashiest moments, complete with over-the-top animations (though some bosses can retaliate with their own S-ranks). A common frustration in these battles is the trope of cutscene incompetence, where even if you eventually win, the drawn-out sequence can make you feel disconnected from the action.
You can also engage in combat through optional virtual dungeons called Grim Garten, which serve as a great way to grind levels and earn rewards through a gacha-style system, including character cosmetics. For completionists, these dungeons are where you can unlock all Connection events, raising questions about the game’s limited-time structure that prevents you from experiencing every event in a chapter.
Taking a cue from other RPGs, during cutscenes, you can access Timely Terms, which provides concise lore entries on relevant characters, locations, and organizations, indicating whether they are new or updated. This feature is a handy refresher even for veterans of the series.
With plenty of side content, Trails Beyond the Horizon can match the length of any previous game in the series. Yet, much of it feels like a distraction from a plot that marks a significant turning point for both the series and Zemuria. As the game builds suspense toward the launch, hopping between the three protagonists’ paths, you may find yourself wishing certain returning villains had been left out of the mix.
When the finale arrives, with conflicting allegiances leading to clashes on a Civil War scale, Horizon truly pushes the boundaries of the series, culminating in a revelation with far-reaching implications for the future. However, this also results in one of the biggest cliffhangers since the end of Trails of Cold Steel 3, leaving players with an agonizing wait for resolution, especially since the follow-up hasn’t even been released in Japan yet.
Now is arguably the best time to jump into the Trails series, with nearly every entry available on modern platforms, and the first trilogy being remade, with Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter already announced for a 2026 release. There’s a wealth of Trails content to explore, and newcomers are best served starting with the lavish Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter remake. In contrast, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon feels tailored for long-time fans who have been invested in the saga for two decades, ready to see the story through, even as they ponder what truly lies ahead.
