Some context might be helpful going into this review: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter was my Game of the Year for 2025. In addition to that, the original Trails in the Sky SC was one of my top three video games of all time. I use the past tense because a new game has usurped that honour. It’s the same game that I’ve been waiting almost a full year to play. It’s the same game that I held sky high expectations that I never for a moment believed could be met. The game that has met those lofty expectations and is now one of my top three games of all time is Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter.

For those non-super fans among us that haven’t memorized all the lore of the Legend of Heroes series, 2nd Chapter begins with a short movie summarizing the events of the 1st Chapter. Enough details are provided to refresh the memories of those who played through the first game, but it won’t be very helpful for someone new to the series. 2nd Chapter really feels like a continuation of the first game, picking up moments after the finale of its predecessor and immediately dealing with the consequences. Following the disappearance of Joshua Bright, the girl who shines as brightly as the sun takes a moment to collect herself and begin a journey to become a senior bracer and find the love of her life.

2nd Chapter is where Estelle Bright takes centre stage and truly establishes herself as one of the greatest heroines in video games. The first half of the game is solely focused on her growth as a Bracer as she travels across the cities of Liberl once again solving local issues and attempting to thwart the plans of shadowy organization, Ouroboros. The second half of the game is a satisfyingly heart warming conclusion to a story brilliantly told over the course of a pair of best games that should be considered two of the best JRPGs ever made.

Beyond the superb story, excellent writing and terrific voice acting, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter also features one of the best battle systems ever designed. The Legend of Heroes series has always featured incredible combat mechanics, but the more recent entries have really become bloated. 2nd Chapter goes back to the basics, putting much more focus on using Arts and Crafts to emphasize the importance of positioning and the timing of when to use specific moves. No Brave Orders to worry about, nor does one need to horde CP in order to hit multiple S-Crafts in order to brute force your way through a boss. A few of the boss fights will likely take a couple tries, but none feel cheap and all of the end chapter boss fights provide the perfect amount of difficulty to make it feel like you earned that victory.

Balance seems to be a running theme throughout Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. The cast of characters that you can choose to use throughout your adventures grows large but not enough to feel crowded, or that any particular character doesn’t get enough spotlight. The variety of quartz is big enough to allow players to really tailor their fighting style but never feels unmanageable. Plenty of side-quests are included for those who want an extra reason to explore Liberl but at no point do they distract you from the main story. Nihon Falcom has delivered a remake that strikes the perfect balance of maintaining the iconic spirit of the original for the existing fans while updating the game with 3D visuals and full voice acting to bring in new fans with a much more modern experience.

The biggest compliment that I can give Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is that it’s the most fun I’ve had playing a video game. The story is pure and wholesome with plenty of hilarious moments and a lovable cast of characters. The unbridled enthusiasm and positivity of Estelle Bright is enough to warm the heart of even the most cynical of doomscrollers. The sheer number of titles within the Legend of Heroes series has scared off more than a few people based on the amount of time one would have to devote to get through a dozen titles of the long running story. To those people I would say, commit to playing the remakes of both Trails in the Sky 1st and 2nd Chapter. These two games are now both the best that the franchise has to offer, but also the absolute best way to get one foot into the door of one the longest running storylines in video games.

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