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The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon

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.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon Game Cover
87%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
character development, grinding
93% User Score Based on 476 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4WindowsPlayStationNintendo Switch 2
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The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon Game Cover

About

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon is a single player tactical role playing game with fantasy, anime, violence and science fiction themes. It was developed by PH3 GmbH and was released on January 15, 2026. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is the thirteenth installment in the main Trails series, serving as a direct sequel to the events of The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II. The game marks the turning point of the series and many of the mysteries of Zemuria.

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The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon screenshot
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93%
Audience ScoreBased on 476 reviews
story82 positive mentions
grinding11 negative mentions
  • Exceptional story payoff that ties together years of worldbuilding, making it rewarding for longtime fans.
  • Improved combat system with engaging new mechanics, animations, and strategic depth.
  • High-quality visuals, voice acting, and cinematic cutscenes enhance immersion and presentation.
  • Very slow pacing especially in act 1 and Van's route which can feel bloated and tedious.
  • Overabundance of side quests and filler content that disrupt the main story flow.
  • The story assumes extensive prior knowledge and is not suitable as a starting entry, making it inaccessible for newcomers.
  • story
    340 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in this installment is widely praised for advancing the overarching Trails narrative with significant plot developments, emotional depth, and meaningful character arcs, especially through its three-route structure focusing on Van, Rean, and Kevin. While early pacing and filler side quests, particularly in Van’s route, can drag and frustrate some players, the payoff in later chapters and the finale is regarded as impressive and rewarding. The game strongly benefits from player familiarity with prior entries, as it heavily builds on established lore, delivering a complex, universe-spanning tale that many see as a high point for the series despite occasional moments of convoluted or immersion-breaking plot elements.

    • “The story centers around a coming day of humanity’s first adventures into space. You basically play three different storylines following Van, Rean, and Kevin, all centered around a high-stakes mission to breach the atmosphere and uncover the world's 'reset' mystery.”
    • “Truly a pinnacle game showcasing the series at its best with the promised revelations of its story’s many faceted and long story arc focusing on the world of Zemuria. The story brings back loose ends from previous titles, ties them meaningfully, and advances the world in substantial ways.”
    • “After a slow start, the story becomes incredibly engaging, with many characters and storylines finally converging after years of buildup. The narrative features a strong opening, interesting plot developments, and a satisfying payoff that makes it one of the best entries in the series in terms of story and emotion.”
    • “The story was really padded out with too much filler content.”
    • “Reason I do not give it 10 stars... there's so many things that I do not understand and feel immersion breaking. For example, Ouroboros members are on the wanted list, kill on sight/capture, yet they casually stroll even among police officers. Even after their 'plot armour' has been stripped, and even that plot armour they had doesn't seem to make any sense. It's like developers keep adding weird things to the story as 'twists' that break all immersion.”
    • “If you've been paying close attention since your first Trails game until now, I'm sure it doesn't need to be said how cookie cutter the story can feel.”
  • gameplay
    117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay builds upon the series' established turn-based and hybrid combat systems, introducing new mechanics like shard commands, ZOC, and blitz that add depth and tactical variety. While some find these additions fun and well-integrated, others feel the complexity can be overwhelming or lead to balance issues with spongey enemies and redundant mechanics. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a solid evolution with slick animations and quality-of-life improvements, though it may not dramatically innovate beyond previous entries.

    • “Gameplay-wise, the game (on the highest difficulty-setting) expects you to master all the new and old systems, which can be overwhelming at first but are also well integrated in gameplay and story alike towards the end.”
    • “The gameplay gets some real fun new additions in shard commands (which are essentially a new version of brave orders) and ZOC, which can be used to give a character another turn immediately after their current one. These mechanics are really fun to mess around with, and many bosses have access to them, too (beware).”
    • “So this is difficult for me because I've been reviewing the Calvard arc for a while now and although there have been a lot of good changes it feels weird writing what will almost sound like the same review as last in some regards, what I can say is that somehow they have managed to improve again an already stellar system, improving and adding more quartz, more shard skills and more actual combat mechanics, making for a more varied and in some ways broken (in the good way) effects, with a story that has me more hooked than ever.”
    • “Many times you're forced to play on defense because enemies get multiple turns in a row due to the ZOC mechanic combined with other buffs, making battles frustrating.”
    • “The gameplay is overly complicated with a large number of new mechanics that feel redundant or superfluous, failing to improve the system meaningfully.”
    • “The difficulty balancing is poor; some battles have spongy enemies with annoying mechanics while others are very easy, undermining the overall combat experience.”
  • music
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in this game is widely praised, often described as a strong, emotional, and fitting soundtrack that improves on previous entries and maintains Falcom’s high-quality JRPG tradition. Some tracks, especially fight and dungeon themes, stand out as favorites, though a few listeners find the soundtrack less memorable or slightly inconsistent in tone. Overall, the music is a key highlight that greatly enhances the immersive experience, with many considering it one of the best in the series.

    • “The new soundtrack pieces in this game are quite something, with some of them evoking leitmotifs from literally ten games back, Cold Steel vibes too in some of the tracks where it made sense to have that vibe, and so on.”
    • “The soundtrack at times doesn't feel like it delivers, but it's only when you dive deeper into the game where you truly will get to hear plenty of amazing tracks that can evoke a whole wide array of emotions, and definitely had a hand in keeping me immersed in this game!”
    • “The final dungeon music and final boss music are the best two in this game.”
    • “Music 4/10 - seriously, completely forgettable.”
    • “There wasn't a single song that got stuck in my head, made me emotional, or made me look forward to hearing it again.”
    • “Music has gotten pretty bad.”
  • emotional
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is praised for its deeply moving and heartfelt moments, blending humor, tension, and tragedy to deliver a powerful narrative payoff after years of buildup. While some players warn that prior series knowledge is essential to fully appreciate the impact, longtime fans find the character interactions, emotional twists, and epic finale both satisfying and evocative. However, the soundtrack received mixed reactions, with few tracks standing out as emotionally resonant.

    • “There are plenty of hilarious interactions, genuinely heartwarming scenes, and heartwrenching moments.”
    • “Started playing Trails at the beginning of COVID, and six years later this really feels like the payoff to 13 games worth of buildup with big emotional moments, character surprises, and a refined combat system.”
    • “The finale is also incredible and, to not spoil anything, left me with a feeling of 'void' and emotional trauma that I'm begging Falcom to give us any hints on what's next.”
  • graphics
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics show a noticeable improvement over previous entries, with enhanced character models, lighting, and animations, especially on the PC version which benefits from advanced technologies like DLSS 4.5. While the visuals are praised for their sharpness and polish, some users feel they are dated compared to modern standards and question the value at the given price. The Switch version offers a solid handheld experience, though the PC port remains the best choice for top graphical quality.

    • “The visuals are quite a notch up from the predecessor and the music is much better than on Daybreak 2, I'd say around Daybreak 1 level.”
    • “Runs flawlessly and has incredibly sharp graphics thanks to the latest DLSS 4.5 technology already implemented in the game on top of tons of graphics improvements and features that are exclusive to the PC version.”
    • “This game is a bit more GPU intensive than the previous two Daybreak games, but the bump in model quality and other visuals, like lighting and animations, is quite noticeable too — so well worth the slight performance cost compared to previous games.”
    • “Graphics really are dated; this is a $60 game in 2026 and it doesn't look any better than a PS4 game.”
    • “I know that graphics is not the most important thing in story-based games, but for that price (not to mention existence of bundles over $200!) I could expect more.”
    • “For full experience, I always recommend to start at Liberal Arc, since they remake the first chapter; it's much more playable for those looking to enter the franchise but can't stand the pixelated graphics.”
  • optimization
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts excellent optimization, especially on PC thanks to a masterful port by PH3, delivering smooth performance and extensive configuration options including DLSS 4.5 support. While the game is more GPU-intensive than its predecessors, the visual improvements justify the performance demands, making it well-suited for well-maintained PCs though potentially challenging for lower-end systems. The Switch version offers a solid handheld experience, but for the best performance and graphics quality, the PC port is recommended.

    • “Thanks to the excellent PC port by PH3, the performance is fantastic.”
    • “Before continuing with all the stuff that makes this game basically yet another high peak in the series, we have to talk about PC performance and settings and, as it is tradition, PH3 have done a masterful job. They’ve ported several games on this new Falcom development kit engine, and now we even have DLSS 4.5, which is crazy.”
    • “The Switch 2 version provides an excellent handheld experience and is also decent on larger screens; however, if you want the utmost in performance and graphics quality, then PH3's excellent PC port is definitely the way to go.”
    • “In terms of performance, my PC tends to overheat often, so it might not be the best for low-end PCs even with low specs, unless you have maintained your PC well enough.”
    • “This game is a bit more GPU intensive than the previous two Daybreak games, but the bump in model quality and other visuals, like lighting and animations, is quite noticeable—well worth the slight performance cost compared to previous games.”
    • “The Switch 2 version provides an excellent handheld experience and is decent on larger screens; however, if you want the utmost in performance and graphics quality, then PH3's excellent PC port is definitely the way to go.”
  • character development
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in this game is generally seen as weak or regressive, with some characters' previous growth undone to reset them for familiar roles. While there are occasional strong moments and some meaningful arcs, overall the writing and pacing dilute the impact, resulting in a bloated cast and inconsistent character progression. Fans may appreciate the lore and certain designs, but character depth is often criticized as lacking or mediocre compared to earlier entries.

    • “There are some great character development moments and side content throughout, but overall it still feels like a setup game that enriches the series lore while preparing the stage for its sequel.”
    • “She, more than anyone, goes through a lot of character development.”
    • “Great design, great personality, lots of character development, and was a genuine lynchpin of some important story elements.”
    • “Character development is weak, probably at its weakest the series has ever been.”
    • “The writing is terrible, character development is non-existent, pretty much all characters got worse since Daybreak.”
    • “This game is filled with 70 hours of incredibly repetitive chapters; forgetting or undoing character development from previous games; bad, meandering, vague dialogue; and an incredibly bloated cast of characters, most of which don't need to be here and have nothing to offer other than adding mandatory vapid comments in every single scene.”
  • grinding
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in the game is often described as tedious and repetitive, with excessive farming and enemy regeneration buffs contributing to its grindy nature. While some side modes offer worthwhile rewards and more substantial story content, the overall experience can feel slow and monotonous, detracting from engagement. Many players find the grind coupled with lengthy, unengaging story beats makes progression feel like a chore rather than a challenge.

    • “Let's hope they can make the grindiness a little better for the next game, like by removing some enemy regeneration buffs; then we probably have peak balancing in terms of the series.”
    • “But man, it is 100% repetitive while farming.”
    • “I think I sat in the Garten for like 20-35 hours just grinding sepith, money, and levels.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is praised for its hilarious interactions, off-color commentary, and charming character moments that blend comedy with emotional depth. Some users note initial humor fading in later arcs, but overall, witty dialogue, well-timed comedic elements, and standout characters like Giacomo Conte and Ulrika contribute to an engaging and often laugh-out-loud experience.

    • “There are plenty of hilarious interactions, genuinely heartwarming scenes, and heartwrenching scenes.”
    • “They seemingly just joined for the hell of it, and I couldn't stop laughing out loud at their off-color commentary.”
    • “English Ulrika is the best, absolutely hilarious.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is generally well-received, with engaging characters and a compelling, high-stakes narrative involving multiple intertwined storylines centered on a space mission and uncovering a global mystery. However, individual tolerance for the atmosphere may vary.

  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is enhanced by the Liberl arc, which remakes the first chapter with updated graphics, making it more accessible and enjoyable for new players seeking a full experience.

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon is a tactical role playing game with fantasy, anime, violence and science fiction themes.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon was released on January 15, 2026.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon was developed by PH3 GmbH.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon for its story but disliked it for its character development.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon is a single player game.