Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

About Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a turn-based RPG with adventure elements from Nihon Falcom. Released September 19, 2025, it remakes the first game in the Trails series, now on PC, PS5, Switch, and Switch 2. The story follows Estelle and Joshua, two apprentice Bracers training to protect the fictional Liberl Kingdom. Players guide them through towns, solving quests and battling enemies in grid-based combat. The game mixes exploration, character growth, and political intrigue as the pair navigates a world of shifting alliances and personal stakes. A remake of a 2004 title, it adds modern visuals and refined mechanics while keeping the series' signature writing and pacing.

Gameplay

Combat uses a turn-based grid system where characters move and attack in sequence. Battles force players to adapt positioning and abilities to enemy types, often requiring resource management like SP and AP. Outside of fights, the game unfolds through dialogue-heavy quests, with Estelle and Joshua traveling between towns to complete missions. Each location introduces new characters, story threads, and optional side tasks. The pacing is deliberate, with 10- to 15-minute sessions common, though major story beats demand longer stretches. Character progression ties to skill trees and equipment upgrades, but grinding is minimal due to the structured difficulty curve. The remake streamlines inventory management and dialogue skips, though the core mechanics remain unchanged from the original.

What Players Think

Critic reviews average 92/100, praising writing and pacing. PlayPile members rate it 4.3/5, with 78% completing the main story and 52% earning all 120 achievements. Average playtime is 38 hours, with 22% finishing in under 30. Community moods are predominantly curious (42%) and nostalgic (31%), but 15% call it “slow out of the gate.” One reviewer notes, “The early chapters feel like filler, but stick with it, the payoff is immense.” Completion rates drop after chapter 5, where the story shifts from setup to political conflict. 67% of players spend 20-30 hours on side quests alone.

PlayPile's Take

This remake is a solid entry for RPG fans who enjoy dense dialogue and slow-burn storytelling. At $59.99, it’s a mid-tier buy, but the 120-achievement cap (11,300 points) makes it appealing for completionists. The early pacing may frustrate, but the later chapters justify the grind. Skip if you prefer fast action or dislike long exposition. For those invested in character arcs and intricate worldbuilding, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a necessary start to a 15-game saga.

Storyline

The protagonists are Estelle and her partner Joshua, who aspire to become Bracers, protectors of peace in the region. As they take their first steps as apprentice Bracers, the duo travels across the Liberl Kingdom, resolving various requests and incidents in each place they visit, gaining experience as Bracers along the way.