This review will contain character and story spoilers from the previous Trails game, as this is most definitely a game that was created for players that have played through the previous titles, I do not recommend reading this review unless you’re caught up in the series. I highly recommend any RPG fan to try out Trails as it’s one of the best out there! Also, please note that I have completed this game previously when I imported the game a few years ago and they may have impacted my enjoyment of the game to some degree.

The end is another new beginning.

Following the epic conclusion of the Erebonia arc in Trails of Cold Steel IV, the threat of the great twilight is no more and the world is finally getting ready for a period of peace. However, just when it seemed like everything was falling into place, a series of shocking events rocks Lloyd, Rean and the rest of the heroes that ended the great twilight, spurning them into action once more.

The Crossbell team gets a lot of time in the limelight in this adventure.

MSRP: $59.99
Platform: PC, PS, NSW
Voice Acting Selection: JPN/ENG
Steam Deck: Verified and works very well.
Length: 50~ hours to finish, 80~ to complete all side content

For the first time in the series, the story in Trails into Reverie is broken up into three distinct character paths. One following the Lloyd and the SSS in Crossbell and another following Rean and Class VII in Erebonia. Lastly, there is the enigmatic ‘C’ and his crew of outlaws which introduces brand new characters to the series like Lapis, Nadia and Swin which are all great additions in their own right.

Given the sheer size and scale both in terms of explorable areas and the dozens of playable characters, this was a fantastic way to break them apart into more manageable groups. It also allowed for some great moments where I was going back and forth between playing one story to clear a dungeon as switching over was as simple as the press of two buttons. One major downside to having this many playable characters and the ability to switch meant that I was frequently asked to switch equipment and quartz around. As how impactful some of the best quartz/accessories can be in combat, I felt incentivized to unequip characters in a path that I wasn’t actively playing to use those equipment in the one that I was currently on. This of course meant that when I switched back, I would be going through the same thing again and given how often of an occurrence this was, it became very time consuming and a bit obnoxious.

Luckily, once I got further in the game and had more equipment/quartz to go around, this wasn’t as big of a factor but it would’ve been really nice to have some sort of a loadout save for the party which would’ve been greatly appreciated.

In terms of the story and plot, the overarching mystery was intriguing enough to unravel but what really sold me on the adventure were the great character moments both in the main and side story. The impeccable world building and great character developments is the greatest strength of this series as a whole and I’m happy to report that Trails into Reverie is one of the finest in that area both in quality and quantity. Tackling the lingering regrets, doubts and guilt that the heroes have accumulated over their long journey is no small task but I felt like most of the characters got their moment to shine and I was able to see sides of characters that I never even knew existed.

Special mention to ‘C’ and his crew of newcomers who brought in a breath of fresh air amongst familiar faces. Their chemistry as a group felt immediately fun and natural and I ended up enjoying spending time with them just as much, if not more than the established heroes.

That’s a desirable skill to have on your resume.

In terms of combat, not too much has changed from Cold Steel IV with Arts/Crafts/S-Crafts/Orders in turn- based combat. The biggest new addition is “United Front” which allows even characters in reserve to join the fray by spending assault gauge and having numerous benefits like healing/physical or magic damage and additional BP. Given assault gauge was not very important previously, this made managing the AG just as important as it was to manage BP as it could turn the tide of battle in one fell swoop if used at the right time.

A fire dragon eating a giant mech? What is this? Tuesday in Crossbell?

Experimenting with different types of Master/Sub quartz is still a lot of fun and despite how some builds were very obviously superior to others, there were a lot of viable options depending on what accessories/quartz I had available and I had fun testing out different builds throughout the course of the game. It’s also worth mentioning the overall strength of the equipment/quartz in Trails into Reverie is the most powerful of the entire series thus far and it would’ve felt like overkill if not for the inclusion of the Reverie Corridor.

Welcome to your new home away from home.

The Reverie Corridor is a space isolated from the rest of the world where it provides services to those who enter so that they can become more powerful. By challenging the ever expanding dungeon, I was able to increase my level and find powerful equipment/quartz that I could use in the main quest. I was also given the opportunity to summon additional heroes, unlock minigames and various side stories within this place as well. Why this place exists and how it functions is yet another mystery to unravel and makes up the bulk of the side/post game content.

As there aren’t nearly as many side missions in the main story this time around due to the context of the story, it served as a one-stop place for me to level and gear up the dozens of characters while enjoying various enjoyable side stories taking place all across the world. Trails as a series has always lacked satisfying end game content as well so just having this place to challenge tough enemies and power up my favorite characters to their limit was a welcome change of pace which I took advantage of for dozens of hours.

The mini-games can be a bit hit or miss (pom party and vantage masters are my favorite) but the side stories are all worth playing through, including some of the best moments in the game.

In terms of the PC porting, Durante and his team at PH3 games knocks it out of the park again with numerous visual improvements and graphical options including FOV and Ultrawide support. Despite my lengthy playtime of over 80~ hours, I never experienced a single crash or glitch of any consequence. The game also plays well on Steamdeck and I played through the game going back and forth between playing on PC/Steamdeck without any issues.

The localization was also solid as well with the exception of a few items/quartz being mistranslated from what they actually do but given the sheer size of the script that they’re working with, I’m more than willing to forgive them from such minor issues which will hopefully be patched out in the future.

Despite being on the same engine as Cold Steel 3-4, they implemented a few scenes using their new in-house engine that they will be using for the next game and it’s great to see that they’re making strides to making the in-game cinematic more dynamic. While I doubt they will ever reach the quality level of in-game cutscenes like those found in Xenoblade 3 or FFXVI, it’s nice to see them making notable improvements despite their modest budget.

When did you get so cool, Noel!?

As an epilogue to cap off a series spanning a whopping NINE games, Trails into Reverie delivers in all the areas that makes this one of the best RPG series on the market, featuring impeccable world building, compelling, nuanced characters and an enjoyable combat engine with plenty of room for experimentation. In a way, this entry feels like a reward for all those who have stuck with the series thus far and as we look towards Calvard and the future of the series as a whole, we can rest easy knowing that we’ve sent the heroes off in style, without any regrets.

Fun Tidbit: I can’t end a Trails review without plugging some of the incredible soundtrack now can I?

Review copy of game provided by publisher.