- Publisher: NIS America , Clouded Leopard Entertainment
- Release Date: Jan 15, 2026
- Also On: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch
- Summary:
- Developer: Falcom
- Genre(s): Role-Playing, Japanese-Style
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 9 out of 11
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Mixed: 2 out of 11
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Negative: 0 out of 11
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Jan 8, 2026The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon encapsulates what the heart of the series has always been about. Its engrossing story combines finally bringing forth some of the huge bombshells that the Calvard arc had in store while also not forgetting the importance of fostering the vast world where even the most mundane NPC truly matters for those who have been following the tale so far. Meanwhile, the gameplay is truly remarkable in its customization and strategic elements while finally showcasing, along with last year’s Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, that Falcom has found a great balance between the action-oriented and turn-based formats.
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Jan 23, 2026The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon delivers the massive narrative convergence fans have waited decades for.
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Jan 27, 2026As a follow up to a divisive entry and as the penultimate release to the end of the Calvard Arc, Trails Beyond the Horizon had to pull out all the stops and luckily, despite a few flaws, they managed to craft an incredible build up that has me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what happens next.
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Jan 27, 2026Recovering from the somewhat awkward middle arc chapter that was Daybreak II, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is a triumphant narrative JRPG powerhouse, significantly moving the story and world of Nihon Falcom’s beloved series forward. It’s not without its minor PC performance issues and small tonal issues, but what this entry ushers in is monumental and a masterclass in raising RPG stakes even 20 years deep into a series. Featuring rich character development and interactions, a geopolitical mystery, meaningful combat and side offering refinement that all later coalesce into a showstopping cliffhanger finale, Horizon is an incredibly unique event for the genre. I don’t know exactly where Trails is going next, but I do not doubt that myself and fellow fans will be joining them in their journey to reach for the stars.
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Jan 8, 2026All 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.
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Jan 15, 2026Trails Beyond the Horizon ultimately feels like the course correction the series needed after the detour that was Daybreak 2. It successfully balances its massive cast and deep lore to deliver the major payoffs that fans have been anticipating since long before the Calvard arc even began. The pacing can be glacially slow as it builds toward these reveals, but the way it weaves years of plot threads together is incredibly satisfying and fills me with excitement for what lies beyond this horizon.
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Jan 28, 2026If reading this review gives you hives, it's no coincidence: that's exactly the feeling the author experienced for much of the time spent playing Trails Beyond The Horizon. It's high time for Falcom to have a wake-up call regarding its flagship series: by constantly offering the same structure (whether narrative, gameplay, or even exploration), even the most dedicated players will inevitably sigh at the inherent redundancy of this new installment, which simply rehashes an already worn-out formula. Boredom prevails over excitement, at least during the first long half of the game, and the multitude of characters paraded for the sake of fan service won't be enough (even for seasoned fans) to maintain interest in the long run. If you manage to get past the thirty-hour mark, a good game is hidden somewhere within. But this is a recurring issue that we wish we didn't have to point out anymore: once again, yet again, another Trails game only truly takes off after dozens of hours of gameplay. Perhaps it's time to return to the fundamentals: streamline this world and refocus the plot, and you'll have something worthwhile. As it stands, however, on the horizon of the Trails series, this is once again a bit of a slog, despite a story that is far more satisfying than that of its predecessor.