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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf you mean the interconnected Trails (Kiseki) games within The Legend of Heroes, play them in story-arc order: start with Trails in the Sky, continue through Crossbell and Erebonia, then play Trails into Reverie and the Calvard games. For the clearest cumulative story, follow the full sequence below.
What order should you play the Trails games in?
- Trails in the Sky (also called First Chapter or FC)
- Trails in the Sky SC (Second Chapter)
- Trails in the Sky the 3rd
- Trails from Zero
- Trails to Azure
- Trails of Cold Steel
- Trails of Cold Steel II
- Trails of Cold Steel III
- Trails of Cold Steel IV
- Trails into Reverie
- Trails Through Daybreak
- Trails Through Daybreak II
- Trails Beyond the Horizon
This order moves through the Liberl arc (the Sky trilogy), Crossbell (Zero and Azure), Erebonia (Cold Steel I–IV), and then the connecting story in Reverie before the Calvard arc. The Epic Games Store’s series guide gives this sequence.
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Does “The Legend of Heroes” mean every game in the franchise?
No. The Legend of Heroes is the broader Falcom franchise name; the connected saga most players mean when asking about play order is Trails, also known as Kiseki. Older Dragon Slayer and pre-Trails Legend of Heroes entries are not prerequisites for starting Trails, as XSEED explained in its 2015 series overview.
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The remake Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is an alternate edition of the opening chapter, not an additional story installment to insert into the sequence.
#1 Best Overall
- Welcome to the new class VII - Explore the newly annexed lands of the Empire with a brand new squad, and catch up with familiar faces from the past
- an immersive story - Experience an epic story developed across three titles, and crafted for new and old fans alike. Also includes an interactive introduction to catch up new players to the ongoing story so anyone can dive right in to the world of trails of cold steel.
- combat honed to a Fine edge - Challenge oncoming threats with a combat system that has been refined over the course of decades. The addition of features like brave order and the break system open up new possibilities in battle.
- this early enrollment Edition includes:
- the Legend of heroes: trails of cold steel III for PS4."anthems of Thors the branch Campus" 5-Track soundtrack."branch Campus student directory" Soft cover art Book.Reversible cover
Where can a newcomer start?
Choose according to whether you want the complete buildup or prefer to begin at a later arc opening. Each option below trades some earlier context for a more convenient entry.
| Starting point | Best for | Continuity trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Trails in the Sky | Players who want the strongest beginning-to-end story progression. | Provides the opening arc and the most complete buildup. |
| Trails of Cold Steel | Players who want to begin at the start of the Erebonia arc. | Earlier events and characters may be introduced after the fact; play Zero and Azure before Cold Steel III for the recommended sequence. |
| Trails Through Daybreak | Players who want a modern arc opening with a new region and cast. | Designed as an accessible entry point, but it remains connected to the wider saga; Daybreak II is its direct sequel. |
NIS America presents Daybreak as a fresh arc and a possible new-player entry point in its Beyond the Horizon primer. Falcom president Toshiro Kondo has likewise recommended Daybreak as a current jumping-on point because of its new location and cast. Neither recommendation means the game is wholly standalone.
Rank #2
- The ultimate class reunion - boasting the largest roster in series history, heroes from all over seek to join the cause! The heroes of class VII unite with crossbell's special support section and even the heroes of Liberty
- battle most refined - New and returning systems join the already polished combat of the Legend of heroes series, including the ability to summon giant Mech a to the field for devastating attacks, use Auto battle for more expedient combat, and utilize lost arts, the most powerful orbal magic capable of turning the tide of battle
- pursuits of the war weary - In between epic battles, catch a breather with a number of mini-games including returning favorites like vantage master, fishing and puzzle games! And Introducing new pursuits like poker, Blackjack, and the horror coaster
Why play Crossbell before Cold Steel III?
Cold Steel I and II overlap in time with the Crossbell games, so alternate orders can look plausible. For a straightforward, spoiler-conscious route, play Zero and Azure before starting Cold Steel III. The later Erebonia games bring together developments and characters from earlier arcs; playing Crossbell first gives that convergence its intended context. XSEED’s explainer notes the arcs overlap, while the Epic sequence places Crossbell before Cold Steel.
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If your immediate goal is to follow the central Van storyline, the Epic guide identifies Daybreak and Daybreak II as the minimum prior games. For broader character and series context, it recommends adding the Sky trilogy, all four Cold Steel games, and Reverie. Zero and Azure are less essential for this particular game than they are for Reverie, but they remain part of the full-series order.
Rank #3
- The legend of class VII begins anew! Get a head start with the long-awaited The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III Early Enrollment Edition!
- Uncover details about new friends and old allies in the “Branch Campus Student Directory” softcover art book, and hum along to the “Anthems of the Thors Branch Campus” soundtrack. The embers of war are about to ignite!
- Welcome to the New Class VII – Explore the newly annexed lands of the Empire with a brand new squad, and catch up with familiar faces from the past.
- An Immersive Story – Experience an epic story developed across three titles, and crafted for new and old fans alike. Also includes an interactive introduction to catch up new players to the ongoing story so anyone can dive right in to the world of Trails of Cold Steel.
- Combat Honed to a Fine Edge – Challenge oncoming threats with a combat system that has been refined over the course of decades. The addition of features like Brave Order and the Break System open up new possibilities in battle.
Does release order change the recommendation?
English release order is not the same as story order: the Crossbell games reached English-speaking players after some Cold Steel entries. That timing can make a release-based route seem natural, but the story-arc sequence above is the cleaner choice for following the connections. Check platform and edition availability for your system before choosing a copy; it can vary by game and region.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The day 1 'Decisive Edition' includes a soundtrack CD containing 21 songs and a 50 mire replica Collector's Coin, packaged with a Steel Book case with a separate outer package design
- Remastered with gameplay improvements - PS4 remaster of the classic featuring 4K/60 FPS support, HD graphics, optimized interface, and new turbo mode to explore map at 2X speed and battle at 4X speed
- A world rich in depth - the events of trails of cold Steel are expertly told so that longtime trails veterans and newcomers to the series alike can equally Enjoy its detailed, highly nuanced storyline
- Link system adds depth to combat -take advantage of the combat Link system by Bonding with allies throughout the school year, netting a variety of combat benefits including healing, guarding, and more
- Experience game as never before - original Japanese voices, 50% additional English voiceover lines, all DLC included from start; series veterans can pick up and play from a previous PS3/PS Vita save
Rank #4
- The legend of class VII begins anew! Get a head start with the long-awaited The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III Early Enrollment Edition!
- Uncover details about new friends and old allies in the “Branch Campus Student Directory” softcover art book, and hum along to the “Anthems of the Thors Branch Campus” soundtrack. The embers of war are about to ignite!
- Welcome to the New Class VII – Explore the newly annexed lands of the Empire with a brand new squad, and catch up with familiar faces from the past.
- An Immersive Story – Experience an epic story developed across three titles, and crafted for new and old fans alike. Also includes an interactive introduction to catch up new players to the ongoing story so anyone can dive right in to the world of Trails of Cold Steel.
- Combat Honed to a Fine Edge – Challenge oncoming threats with a combat system that has been refined over the course of decades. The addition of features like Brave Order and the Break System open up new possibilities in battle.
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