For a long time, one of the misconceptions I read the most in JRPG marketing campaigns is “this game can be played as a standalone experience.” Granted, many games can be played individually, even if they’re the fifth title in a franchise. However, some clearly function as sequels and should be played as such, yet developers insist they are standalone experiences, sometimes adding a caveat that it’s better enjoyed if you play all the games. Nonsense.
Enter Nihon Falcom’s Toshihiro Kondo, who, since the release of Trails in the Sky, has said he created the series believing the ideal way to play it is in sequence. And that applies to the whole series, not just the Sky Saga. Small wonder, as Trails in the Sky SC takes place exactly one day after the end of the first Trails, and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter follows that exact same mold.
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All that to say this: if you enjoyed Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter and were left biting your nails over its cliffhanger, you can dive headfirst into 2nd Chapter without fear. It offers more of the same, but with a few gameplay bonuses, more battle elements, minigames, party members, and, most importantly, it delivers a conclusion to Estelle and Joshua’s story — I mean, at least their dedicated story.
Be prepared, though. Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is massive and infectious. The game offers dozens of hours of core content, a narrative that doesn’t suffer from its predecessor’s slow burn, an impeccable combat system in the JRPG genre, and more time alongside these beloved characters. The problem isn’t spending hundreds of hours with the game. It’s what happens when it ends, because you’ll be left wanting more Trails.
For context, I’ve already played from the first entry up to Trails to Azure, so narratively speaking, I already knew what awaited me as well as a few future events.
Stakes Are Higher And Keep Increasing
If, for some reason, you decided to start Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter without playing the first one, Nihon Falcom considered that sacrilege and added a recap video of 1st Chapter, which by no means carries the same weight as witnessing everything happen firsthand. I watched it all like a “previously on” segment, refreshing the most important events of Estelle and Joshua’s Bracer lives.
This review is spoiler-free, but as a sequel, it’s impossible to discuss the synopsis without mentioning past events.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter kicks off right where 1st Chapter ended. After Joshua reveals more of his past, Estelle is left alone to pick up the pieces of her heart. To distract her from her own thoughts and also refine her skills, her father sends her to a Bracer training center, where she not only begins her journey in earnest as a Senior Bracer, but does so with a stylish new outfit. Now, more prepared than ever, Estelle begins a journey to try and discover Joshua’s whereabouts (of light), all while crossing paths with new threats that intend to shatter the peace in Liberl.
1st Chapter had a very slice-of-life introduction. For a long time, and I mean a lot, like 20 to 30 hours, we were merely getting to know the game’s world. Everything was presented in small doses while we grew closer to Estelle, Joshua, and other incredible party members — special shout out to the wandering musician, Olivier, my favorite character. 2nd Chapter doesn’t need to be so restrained and patient, because we are already familiar with the settings, our characters, and the kingdom of Liberl. It’s time to beeline straight to the main goal.
That goal is something entirely new, though we were already given breadcrumbs of what it would be in the last game. Naturally, I won’t comment on it, but if you were left scarred by the previous cliffhanger, the story here is resolved in a coherent, incredibly satisfying way, with an unpredictable script. The JRPG will throw so much information at you, even more so if you are a completionist who finishes every sidequest and talks to every NPC with rotating dialogue, that you will think you are predicting future events, right up until you realize you were misdirected by the narrative and actually knew nothing at all.
Yet the twists and turns of Trails aren’t pulled out of thin air. Plenty of foreshadowing and clues are dropped along the way. The pleasure of revisiting the remake after playing the original is that I could savor these subtle narrative crumbs, which still show enough to later reveal a subplot that had been brewing dozens of hours earlier. And when the plot decides to hit the gas, raising the stakes to the maximum, hold on tight, because it doesn’t stop and goes full burst until the end. That is, the end-ish of this story, because there is plenty of room left for the other sequels in the franchise, including the third chapter of Sky.
The pleasure of revisiting the remake after playing the original is that I could savor these subtle narrative crumbs, which still show enough to later reveal a subplot that had been brewing dozens of hours earlier.
It’s The Same Liberl, But Different
Truth be told, though, the story will need some buildup before the conclusion, take some time to get rolling, and I imagine many newcomers to the series might find the repetition a tad strange. Since Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter continues our adventures through Liberl, expect to pass through the same regions, towns, and dungeons as before, facing similar enemies, and, at least in the early chapters, using the same Arts and Crafts. Characters don’t start at level 1 and already possess all the skills they finished with, especially if you carry over your save from 1st Chapter, but the gameplay is largely the same, as is the exploration and other system elements.
Of course, there are new additions, but at first, I know how it might look like you will just be wandering through the same old places. Which, to be honest, is heartwarmingly comforting if you are the type of player who likes to talk to every NPC, watch their daily routines, and see all the care and attention Nihon Falcom poured into the script. Do you remember Anton and his relentless quest for love? Well, he is still at it. What about Armand and Ellie, who started flirting in Liberl and were engaged by the end of the first game? They are back as well, and there’s a surprise awaiting you!
All the NPCs, both minor and major, make a return, which truly conveys the feeling that a living world kept turning. Replaying the remake while already knowing future events made me feel like I was watching the early seasons of a TV show, given the incredible narrative progression Trails has. I know that chatting away with NPCs, catching up on their lives, and immersing yourself in the kingdom of Liberl is a bit of a “make your own fun” approach, but well, that’s a bona fide JRPG for you, and if you love the genre, you know that the more you give to it, the more it gives back.
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Battle System Is Still the Best Among the Best
Let me get back to what I was saying about the characters and their abilities. The combat in Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter was one of the best I have ever seen in any JRPG, blending real-time and turn-based mechanics seamlessly in a near-miraculous way. 2nd Chapter keeps that same combat style, but unlocks most mechanics right from the start, such as Chain and Burst. Party members already have several Crafts unlocked, but now as they level up, these abilities evolve, bringing not only new effects but also new animations, alongside brand-new ones.
In short, you can handle every fodder battle in action mode, which is distinctly simpler than the turn-based mode. Every character has light attacks, a skill, and a team attack. Enemies have both HP and a stun gauge, and if you start a turn-based battle while an enemy is stunned, you can open with a preemptive group attack, which gives you a massive advantage. During exploration, I preferred to stick to action mode, but if I bumped into a beefier enemy, I would switch to turn-based combat and unleash my most powerful Crafts and Arts. The combat system works so well, and so cleverly, that it seems crazy it works at all, but it’s so seamless and engaging that it has the potential to please everyone across the board.
One big shift is the party member dynamics. Whereas in the first game we were locked to specific members depending on the region, here we grow our group as we progress. Depending on the lineup, dialogue in certain quests changes based on who is in your party. I almost always kept Olivier in my party, both because he is a magnanimous spellcaster and because of his always timely contributions filled with rich dialogue, affection, and shenanigans. Still, I liked to mix up the group, keeping new members at an even level.
The gameplay of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter follows the motto “don’t change a winning team” to heart, and I have no complaints. I always play Trails on Nightmare difficulty because I feel it pushes me to study, analyze, and use everything in my arsenal, even Arts I wouldn’t normally consider. Barring a few cheap shots, like when I used all my resources to finish off a boss, only for it to return with 1 HP in Rage mode and use a skill that hit all my party members, it’s a difficulty level quite fitting for anyone who enjoys a challenge and is used to JRPGs.
The combat system works so well, and so cleverly, that it seems crazy it works at all, but it’s so seamless and engaging that it has the potential to please everyone across the board.
I might add that even if you’re new to the series or the genre, you’ll still have fun, whether in real-time or command battles. Keep in mind that action mode is there to speed up exploration and bulldoze over weak enemies, because in boss battles and key story encounters, turn-based combat reigns supreme — and well, it’s the only mode available.
Canonical Sidequests and Exploration
Speaking of exploration, the world of Trails features that delightful, classic JRPG layout. Every new area will always have its twists and turns off the beaten path, and if you explore, you will find chests and rewarding items, even more so if it’s a monster chest. One way to enrich exploration is by doing sidequests, which in my opinion are the best ever crafted in JRPGs.
The sidequests’ format, execution, and objectives are indeed standard: things like killing a target enemy or helping an NPC retrieve an item, and so forth. But since every NPC has a life of their own and every detail contributes to the world-building, the sidequests feel much more intimate because they involve characters you have already crossed paths with or might cross paths with later on. Do you know how gratifying it is to carry over your save file from 1st Chapter and, when you play 2nd Chapter, see an NPC recognize you because you helped them in the last game? I felt loved by pixels.
This care and attention given to the script of Trails is the franchise’s strongest point, always has been and always will be, so it comes as no surprise that the remakes retain it. The rewards are also well worth it, even more so as your Bracer rank goes up. Ultimately, though, the real satisfaction came from learning more about the world and helping the people of Liberl. I didn’t feel forced or compelled to complete sidequests for their bounties, but rather because I wanted to help the people who lived in the same world I was living in.
Nonetheless, if you are someone who prefers to just push forward with the main story, don’t worry! You will still get a complete work that doesn’t need external or supplementary content. Everything Trails offers when you do the rounds with NPCs, watching their dialogue refresh, along with sidequests that feed into the world-building, is merely extra treats for those who dedicate themselves.
The commitment is big, and I’m not one to tell you the right or wrong way to play. Whenever I see a yellow indicator with new dialogue, I circle the entire region again and again, and that can get a bit exhausting over time. However, the moment I spot an NPC down the road and remember they were taking an Orbment course in Zeiss before returning to Rolent, I know it was all worth it.
Gorgeous Presentation and Set Pieces
Another thing I cannot fail to mention is how the remake depicts all the new events in Liberl in all their 3D glory, without letting a single detail slip by. To me, one of the weakest points of Trails was that they were never pretty games, even when compared to other JRPGs released during the same era. The focus was always the script, as Kondo said, and since Falcom was never a massive studio like others, they needed to pick their strengths. Nowadays, however, with so much technology and even the developers’ know-how growing, they managed to drastically improve the game’s graphics.
Every new Craft is a treat to witness. The impactful cutscenes, usually reserved for the beginning and end of a chapter, are incredible and further reinforce the narrative. I also cannot overlook the voice acting, available in both Japanese and English, both delivering top-tier quality with a stellar cast. I play a lot of JRPGs, and I know that when a title is a bit smaller and has less investment, they will probably skimp on the English dub, which wasn’t the case with the Trails remakes.
Another thing I cannot fail to mention is how the remake depicts all the new events in Liberl in all their 3D glory, without letting a single detail slip by.
Not only did they retain famous, established actors like Matthew Mercer, Stephanie Sheh, and Johnny Yong Bosch (as expected), but they also brought in names like Ray Chase and Courtney Lin, and gave Liam O’Brien a bigger spotlight. Not to mention, Nihon Falcom and GungHo released a patch for 1st Chapter where they re-recorded certain terminology to make it more consistent with the rest of the franchise. It was a declaration of love to the fanbase.
I must admit my only nagging complaint about the game still lies in the voice acting implementation, as there are a few scenes where only one character is voiced while everyone else is text-only. This is expected in Trails, but it still feels a bit odd and distracting, though it remains a minor issue overall.
I already loved Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter with all my heart, and the only thing that kept me from giving it a 10 was the slow burn and lack of urgency in the first few dozen hours. As a sadistic JRPG enthusiast, I’m used to that and don’t mind, but in a modern game it can be a bit of a letdown for some players. That isn’t an issue in Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, because the scenario is already set, the actors are chosen, the stakes are rising, and we know our role in it all. All that is left is to lie back, enjoy the ride, and make the absolute most of what one of today’s best JRPGs has to offer.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter picks up everything 1st Chapter introduced and improves upon it. It features outstanding combat, an impeccable narrative, and a captivating cast, while cutting the slow-burn segments of the first game. It’s a flawless execution and a fitting conclusion to the Bracer duo’s story, while also setting the stage for what is to come in a thoroughly engaging way. This remake proves that it’s entirely possible to craft a title that satisfies every single side of a JRPG fan and cements itself as one of the finest titles the genre has to offer today.
Systems
Released
September 17, 2026
ESRB
Teen
Prequel(s)
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
Pros & Cons
- The story and narrative never hold back and reach a beautiful conclusion
- The cast is back and better than ever, intimately enhancing the script
- It’s a miracle that this mix of action and turn-based combat works, but it does so perfectly
- Sidequests are among the most engaging in the genre for those interested in world-building
- Delivers gorgeous visual improvements one would expect from a remake, without detracting from the original game
- Some cutscenes still feature exchanges where only one character is voiced
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