| Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter | |||
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| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Review Overview
What is Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter?
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the 2025 remake of the original 2004 role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. It is scheduled for a worldwide release on September 19, 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, and the Nintendo Switch.
In the Kingdom of Liberl, a small nation on the continent of Zemuria, players follow Estelle Bright and her adoptive brother, Joshua, as they embark on a journey to become Bracers—members of an organization dedicated to maintaining peace and aiding civilians. Their quest takes a turn when their father, Cassius Bright, goes missing, leading them to uncover a conspiracy that threatens the stability of their homeland.
This remake introduces several enhancements to the original’s gameplay. The Liberl Kingdom has been recreated in full 3D with updated visuals and character models. The combat system now features a hybrid model that allows players to switch between "Field Action" and "Command Battle" modes.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter features:
⚫︎ Full 3D World and Character Models
⚫︎ Real-Time Action and Turn-Based Combat
⚫︎ Expansive World-Building
⚫︎ Voice Acting and New Localization
⚫︎ Customizable Orbment System
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter’s gameplay and story.
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 Switch |
 Switch 2 |
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| $59.99 | $60.99 | ||||||
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Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Still the Same Fun Turn-Based Combat High-Speed Mode is a Gift From the Heavens Expressive and Likeable Characters Infectious Soundtrack with Standout Battle Themes |
Story Pacing is Sloooooow Some Environments Look and Feel Similar English Voice Acting Can be Uneven |
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Story - 8/10
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter takes its time with its reveals, sometimes to a fault, with Estelle and Joshua’s journey often nudging the plot forward at a glacial pace. That slow burn, though, gives room for the characters to shine, and it’s easy to grow attached to their dynamic as the world of Liberl gradually opens up. The story feels smaller in scale compared to later Trails arcs, but it keeps the narrative approachable for newcomers. There are, too, some localization changes that might bewilder longtime fans who care about consistency across the series, though they don’t take away from what remains a heartfelt opening chapter.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Gameplay - 9/10
The remake's combat systems are both enjoyable, but the turn-based style clearly stands out as the superior of the two. Fights reward players for intelligent positioning and clever skill use, even if the real-time elements aren't as deep as I would've liked. Grinding does become an issue sometimes, especially on higher difficulties. That’s typical for JRPGs, but quality-of-life additions like high-speed mode help smooth out this rough patch to a degree.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Visuals - 9/10
The remake does a great job of bringing this once 2D game to life in a 3D space. The towns and fields feel warm and inviting, and the characters are more expressive than ever, with little touches like cartoonish expressions during dialogue that really sell the charm. However, some locations tend to blend together; early towns and dungeons, for example, share similar aesthetics and layouts that can feel repetitive over time.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Audio - 9/10
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter’s soundtrack is infectious, so much so that I sometimes picked fights just to hear its battle music again and again. Its jazz-influenced orchestral tracks give each encounter a lift, and I like how the music even shifts depending on your party’s condition. The English voice work, though, doesn’t always hit the same highs. Despite a talented cast, some performances feel uneven, likely more a result of direction than the actors themselves. It can leave certain scenes feeling a little inconsistent, with a few characters not quite matching the energy of their scenes.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Value for Money - 8/10
There’s a lot of game here, with a main story that can take anywhere from forty to sixty hours depending on how much side content you dive into. At the same time, it isn’t the kind of massive, sweeping epic that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the bigger JRPGs at a similar price point. As a result of this more focused scope, some players might leave wanting more. It’s a solid game overall, inside and maybe even outside its niche. Being the first part of a larger arc, though, means that playing it almost comes with the unspoken agreement to play the 2nd and 3rd chapters when they come out in a couple of years.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Overall Score - 86/100
The remake of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter thrives not because it reinvents the wheel, but because it delivers a grounded and approachable opening chapter to a much larger saga. Its slower pace and simpler scope might not win over everyone, yet it gives room for Estelle and Joshua’s story to breathe in a way that feels genuine. The updated visuals and presentation, too, help bridge it to modern Trails games. What it may lack in spectacle, it makes up for in heart, as it sets the stage for what’s still one of the most beloved arcs in the entire franchise.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Review: A Strong Beginning to Something Greater
The Trail that Started It All
Full disclosure: I’ve never actually played the original Trails in the Sky FC. Not on the PlayStation Portable, not on PC, not on any of its earlier releases in Japanese. But even then, I know how much it means to Trails fans. Ask anyone deep into the series, and a good number will tell you that the Trails in the Sky trilogy is one of their favorites. That reputation carries a lot of weight because the Trails series is enormous. With so many arcs and games spanning different nations in Zemuria, people can jump in at all sorts of entry points.
I personally started with the Cold Steel series before moving on to Trails through Daybreak, and while I never regretted that path, I’ve always had the feeling that I’ve been missing out on something after all these years. Fortunately, the 2025 remake feels like the perfect starting point not just for newcomers, but for anyone curious about where this whole journey kicked off.
The original Trails in the Sky was first released back in 2004 in Japan. We wouldn’t be getting it until 2011 when it finally got localized for the PSP, a wait justified by the amount of text in this dialogue-heavy game.
At the time of its release in Japan, it was simply the first chapter of a story that would expand into a trilogy. Few could have guessed that it would also grow into a massive franchise spanning decades and nations. Later arcs even like Crossbell, Cold Steel, and especially Daybreak push into sprawling political webs with dozens upon dozens of characters.
By comparison, Trails in the Sky is smaller in scope. By no means, though, is this a small game. Its world is still massive when compared to many JRPGs out there. But it is—the 1st Chapter, at least—more focused, and that focus makes it easier to follow and easier to connect with than the heavier arcs that followed.
The Worldbuilding Here is Solid
The Trails series is one of those sagas that seems to have an endless supply of stories to tell. Every game in the franchise fits into a larger whole, weaving together arcs that span across the continent of Zemuria. Each arc sets its focus on a different nation, a new cast of characters, and conflicts that not only affect their local region but also ripple out into the grander picture of the world. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter starts that tradition with the Liberl Kingdom, and its story feels like the beginning of something much larger while still being small enough to stand on its own.
The protagonists here are Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua. Both of them have just earned their Junior Bracer certifications, which means their days are filled with odd jobs, like fixing broken road lamps, chasing down missing cats, or clearing out the occasional sewer monster. These aren’t glamorous tasks, but they fit the role of Bracers, who exist to support the people of Liberl by solving problems big and small. Their lives change when their father, Cassius Bright, a renowned Bracer with a long history of accomplishments, suddenly disappears. With that, Estelle and Joshua set out across the Liberl Kingdom, taking on requests from different Bracer branches to become Senior Bracers while searching for answers about what happened to Cassius.
It’s a rather simple premise. However, because this is a Trails game, it doesn’t stay that straightforward. Military organizations, secret groups that tie into the larger Trails franchise, and ancient artifacts with world-destroying potential all play a role here. These elements show up as breadcrumbs laying the groundwork for bigger stories that stretch across multiple games. At the same time, the game never loses sight of what Estelle and Joshua are meant to be doing day-to-day as normal Junior Bracers.
Each new location introduces a local conflict that Estelle and Joshua are tasked with resolving, and these often feel self-contained. You’ll meet new party members, explore new areas, and interact with a huge number of NPCs along the way. Some of those NPCs appear more than once and slowly become part of the broader picture of Liberl.
At first, a lot of these characters don’t seem that important, and early on, the jobs they give you can feel menial in the grand scheme of things. But as the story develops, you realize that the collective effort of these smaller characters actually supports the main narrative. They add more into the world and give you reasons to care about the conflicts that Estelle and Joshua are pulled into.
A Slow Burn With a Beating Heart
However, there’s no denying that Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a slow game. In fact, I’d say it feels even slower than Trails of Cold Steel, which is saying something. The prologue alone took me ten hours to finish, though I admit I went out of my way to complete every side quest and fight every battle I came across.
The pacing can feel like you’re being ping-ponged from one town to another to deal with rather minor disputes before the larger plot threads really start moving. At times, it even feels like you’re playing a slice-of-life story starring Estelle and Joshua rather than an epic JRPG. For some, that slow burn might be understandably frustrating. For others, it gives space for the world and characters to develop naturally.
Where this slower approach pays off most is with the relationship between Estelle and Joshua. Estelle is loud and confident and quick to act, while Joshua is more reserved and haunted by a past he doesn’t fully remember. They clash in personality but balance each other out, and the game takes its time letting them grow, not just as individuals but in how they support one another.
Even though they see themselves as siblings after five years of living together under the same roof, it’s evident that their bond is deeper than that. Watching them navigate their roles as Bracers while also figuring out what they mean to each other gives the story its heart, and I’m not ashamed in saying that their relationship made me blush plenty of times.
There are Two Sides to Its Combat
When it comes to gameplay, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter takes after Trails through Daybreak with its hybrid combat system. Out in the field, fights start in real time, where you can mash out combos, dodge enemy attacks, and whittle away HP before stunning an enemy to transition into a proper Command Battle. The idea is that lighter encounters can be handled with action, but for anything tougher, the turn-based system takes over.
The two systems work together well. The action gives you a fast way to thin out weaker foes or avoid getting bogged down in trash fights, while the Command Battles let you dig into all the depth Trails’ combat is known for.
In Command Battles, you’re dealing with all the familiar Trails mechanics. Each character has basic attacks, Arts that function as your standard magic spells fueled by EP (essentially your mana), and Crafts, which are character-specific skills powered by Craft Points (CP). These points build up naturally as you attack or use items. Build up enough CP and you can unleash S-Breaks, which are flashy moves that let you spend a certain amount of CP at any time to interrupt the turn order and drop a lot of damage.
These mechanics are what make the turn-based side of combat fun, and they’re what you’ll rely on in longer or more difficult fights. Enemies with higher HP pools or resistances to physical damage push you into this system, and this is where the game feels more strategic.
The action side, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as fleshed out. Aside from dodging and stringing combos together, there isn’t a lot to it. Most of the depth comes from switching between characters, since each one has their own attack style.
For example, Joshua’s dual blades make him agile, while Scherazard’s whip gives her wider-ranged attacks. Every party member feels unique, and even though the action isn’t that deep, it at least makes grinding less of a chore. It keeps the flow of the game moving without demanding much from you. You can even string together simple combos while barely paying attention, and this makes leveling up and farming resources less of a slog than in many JRPGs.
Grinding, Quartz, and Speeding It All Up
Don’t misunderstand, though. The game will still have you grinding a fair bit. This might be the curse of any JRPG. Even on normal difficulty, you’ll run into fights that outpace your current level or require a stronger setup. Grinding for EXP is part of it, but Sepith farming is another.
Sepith is used to craft Quartz, which slot into each character’s Orbment. Orbments act like small circuit boards, and the Quartz you slot in determine the Arts that character can cast. Mix and match enough different elements, and you’ll unlock entirely new spells.
The Orbment system gives you freedom in how you want to build your team. It’s one of those mechanics that rewards tinkering if you want to min-max your characters’ builds. If you enjoy customizing characters, this system is where you’ll probably spend a lot of time.
Thankfully, the remake trims down a lot of the grinding that comes with any JRPG. The most important quality-of-life feature is high-speed mode, which doubles the speed of movement, battles, and even animations during cutscenes.
You can toggle it on and off at any time, which is perfect when you’re backtracking across towns or farming enemies. Combine this with the seamless transition between action and Command Battles—no loading screens before or after fights, thank goodness—the game moves at a much snappier pace than the original ever did.
Everything in Liberl is Warm and Expressive
High-speed mode may smooth out the gameplay, but what really makes this remake feel alive is how it looks. The entire game has been rebuilt from the ground up, and every inch of Liberl carries a vibrancy and warmth that matches the arc’s reputation. Towns feel like lived-in spaces. NPCs chat idly or stand in corners with errands for you to take up.
The scale of Liberl is modest compared to the cities of Calvard in Daybreak, but that smallness works here. Its towns and cities carry a kind of coziness that feels nostalgic, even for someone like me who never touched the original.
That sense of liveliness also extends to the characters. The remake adopts the modern Trails art style, and this gives Estelle, Joshua, and the rest of the cast sharp designs that slot neatly alongside more recent entries. They wouldn’t feel out of place in a slice-of-life anime, and that’s very much a compliment.
Expressions are sharper, more exaggerated, more playful than before. Sometimes their faces will slip into cartoonish stretches of emotion. It helps sell the approachable tone of the story and makes the quieter, more personal moments stand out.
However, for all its vibrancy, many of the areas you travel through can blend together. Grasslands can feel indistinguishable from one another. Dungeons repeat familiar layouts. Even some towns can look same-y after a while.
An early game example of this are Rolent and Bose, the first two towns/cities you’ll be exploring. Rolent has its central clock tower, while Bose has its mall and larger buildings, yet they still share a similar aesthetic that dulls their distinction. For a place that’s meant to be the second-largest city in Liberl, Bose doesn’t feel as distinct as it should.
This is a minor flaw, though, in a game that otherwise nails the look and feel of its world. The game, overall, still looks amazing.
Some Fans May Find Faults in the Localization
Again, I never played the original Trails in the Sky FC, so I can’t speak to its localization firsthand. But it still feels worth bringing up, especially with a colleague of mine—who happens to be the biggest Trails fan I know—pointing out what’s different here… And there isn’t much, for better or worse. This remake doesn’t overhaul the script or reinvent its dialogue. Most of the changes are subtle.
The biggest adjustments are found in small things like terminology. One example is Esmelas Tower, as it was once called, being renamed to Jade Tower here. It’s not a massive change, but little shifts like this can throw off long-time fans who’ve been following the series closely. Consistency matters, after all, in a franchise that ties itself together so tightly across multiple games. The same goes for a few lines of dialogue that have been rewritten.
There are also new events and side quests sprinkled in, but they’re small diversions more than anything else. They don’t add much to the overarching story or characters, and I never felt like I missed out when I skipped some of them. For the most part, this remake keeps the localization familiar and intact, which is probably the right call. Long-time fans will definitely notice the differences, but for someone new to Trails in the Sky like me, it all feels seamless enough to not matter.
Is Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Worth It?
Yes; Niche, but a Great Remake for Fans and Newcomers
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is, for me, a game that finally made sense of why people tell newcomers to start here. I’ve dipped into the Trails series before, specifically with the Cold Steel arc, and although that entry gave me a window into Zemuria, it also references a lot of things that happened in previous games. This game narrows its focus to Liberl and keeps its story approachable while still laying down the groundwork for the grander narrative.
That more grounded approach also helps when thinking about the game’s length. A single run can take anywhere from 40 to 60 hours depending on how much of the side content you decide to explore. For a $60 remake, that’s a respectable amount of playtime, though it’s fair to say it doesn’t feel as big or ambitious as some other JRPGs around the same price. This is still very much a niche game, one that doesn’t aim for huge spectacle or world-shaking moments, and it’s understandable if some people might find that underwhelming.
What I will say is that it’s cozy in its own way, even if its combat has more bite than the slower pace might suggest. It’s not the kind of game I’d recommend to anyone chasing the "best JRPG ever," but if you want something heartfelt, it’s hard to go wrong here.
Of course, playing it almost comes with the unspoken agreement that you’ll need to move on to the 2nd and eventually 3rd chapters once those remakes arrive, since this is just the first act of a much bigger story. That might make it harder to recommend casually, but it also makes it feel special. You’re starting something that grows with you, and by the end, you might see yourself getting attached to Estelle and Joshua more than you’d like to admit. For me, that was enough; and that might be enough for you, too.
| Steam |
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Switch |
Switch 2 |
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| $59.99 | $60.99 | ||||||
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Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter FAQ
How Many Chapters Are There in Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter?
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is structured into five parts: a prologue, three main chapters, and a concluding final chapter. An average playthrough can take anywhere from 40 to 60 hours, with the exact duration depending on how much time players spend on optional side quests and exploration.
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Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Product Information
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| Title | THE LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS IN THE SKY 1ST CHAPTER |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 19, 2025 |
| Developer | Nihon Falcom |
| Publisher | GungHo Online Entertainment |
| Supported Platforms | PC (via Steam) PlayStation 5 Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | RPG, Action, Adventure |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | ESRB Teen |
| Official Website | Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Website |
