Game · in order
Trails Games in Order
The Trails saga is 13 mainline games across four arcs (15 steps here with the two Sky remakes listed on their own), all one continuous timeline in Zemuria: Sky (3), Crossbell (2), Erebonia (4 plus the Reverie bridge) and Calvard (3 so far). Japanese release order is the recommended path, with the 2025-2026 Sky remakes as the modern entry point.
Trails Games in Order: complete list
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Why this order?
Trails is one continuous story pretending to be four series, which is why order matters more here than almost anywhere in RPGs. The recommended path is Japanese release order: the Sky trilogy (FC, SC, the 3rd), the Crossbell duology (Zero, Azure), the four Cold Steel games, the Reverie crossover, then the Calvard arc (Daybreak, Daybreak II, and Beyond the Horizon, which reached the west in January 2026). Characters, factions and consequences flow across every border; play out of order and the series' famous long-game payoffs fire blanks.
Two junctions cause most of the arguments. First, Crossbell runs concurrently with Cold Steel I and II, so either can come first, but finish Zero and Azure before Cold Steel III, which spoils and depends on them. Second, Trails into Reverie is a triple-protagonist epilogue that assumes you have finished both Azure and Cold Steel IV; it is the lock on the first three arcs, not a side story. The honest alternate entry points, if 485 hours of catch-up (Siliconera's estimate) is too much: Cold Steel I, the traditional onboarding for a decade of players, or Daybreak, the Calvard soft reset with new lead Van Arkride.
The freshest door is the remakes: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (September 2025) rebuilt the 2004 original in full 3D, and 2nd Chapter arrives September 17, 2026 worldwide on PS5, Switch 2, Switch and PC. Starting with the remakes and letting them carry you into the back catalog is now a legitimate first path. Two footnotes: Trails of Nayuta is a standalone spinoff you can play anytime, and the older Gagharv-era Legend of Heroes games share branding only, a classic newcomer trap. Falcom has said the series is in its final stretch, so this is a good era to catch up.
Timeline 2004-2026
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 2004 in the Sky FC
- 2006 in the Sky SC
- 2007 in the Sky the 3rd
- 2010 from Zero
- 2011 to Azure
- 2013 of Cold Steel
- 2014 of Cold Steel II
- 2017 of Cold Steel III
- 2018 of Cold Steel IV
- 2020 into Reverie
- 2021 through Daybreak
- 2022 through Daybreak II
- 2024 beyond the Horizon
- 2025 in the Sky 1st Chapter (remake)
- 2026 in the Sky 2nd Chapter (remake)
Where to play it today
- The modern arcs are on PS4/PS5, Switch and PC (Steam); the Sky remakes are on PS5, Switch 2, Switch and PC, with 2nd Chapter arriving September 17, 2026
- The original Sky trilogy, Crossbell and Cold Steel games are all on Steam; years above are original Japanese releases, with western dates often years later
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for The Legend of Heroes: Trails.
Frequently asked questions
How many Trails games are there?
Thirteen mainline games across four arcs: Trails in the Sky FC, SC and the 3rd; Trails from Zero and to Azure; Cold Steel I through IV; Trails into Reverie; and the Calvard arc's Daybreak, Daybreak II and Beyond the Horizon. Plus the standalone spinoff Trails of Nayuta and the ongoing Sky remakes.
What order should I play the Trails games in?
Japanese release order, which this page lists: Sky, Crossbell, Cold Steel, Reverie, Calvard. It is one continuous timeline, and the long-game payoffs assume that sequence.
Can I start with Cold Steel or Daybreak instead?
Yes, both are recognized entry points: Cold Steel I onboarded a decade of western players, and Daybreak is a soft reset with a new protagonist one year after Reverie. You lose recognition payoffs, not comprehension.
Do I need Trails from Zero and Azure before Cold Steel III?
Strongly yes: Cold Steel III openly spoils and builds on the Crossbell duology. Crossbell can come before or after Cold Steel I and II (they run concurrently), but it must precede III.
Are the Trails in the Sky remakes a good starting point?
Yes: 1st Chapter (2025) rebuilds the saga's true beginning in full 3D, and 2nd Chapter arrives worldwide September 17, 2026. Starting there and following release order is now the cleanest modern path.
How long does it take to catch up on Trails?
Roughly 485 hours of main story across the 13 games, per Siliconera's tally. That is the honest number; the alternate entry points exist precisely because of it.
Are the old Legend of Heroes games part of Trails?
No: the pre-Trails Gagharv trilogy shares the Legend of Heroes branding but is unrelated, a classic newcomer trap. Trails of Nayuta is loosely connected and standalone; play it anytime.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, siliconera.com, Wikidata
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