Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Review Roundup: OpenCritic 92, Best-Rated Game of 2026

OpenCritic 92 — 2026's Best-Reviewed Game

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter launched on September 17, 2026, for PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam. Reviews landed the same day, and the numbers are remarkable: OpenCritic 92, with 97% of critics recommending — making it the highest-rated new release of 2026, ahead of Forza Horizon 6 (91) and Mina the Hollower (91), both of which had held the top spot since May.

On Metacritic, the PC version sits at 93 and the PS5 version at 92. Of the 16 reviews currently on OpenCritic, only four have awarded lower than 9 out of 10, and the lowest score among them is 8.5.

The twist: this is a remake of a 20-year-old Japanese PC game that most Western players had never heard of. That a faithful, lovingly rebuilt JRPG from a small Japanese studio holds 2026's critical crown — over major publisher titles, over breakout indie hits — says something about what's happening in the JRPG genre right now.

Sources: OpenCritic review aggregate · GamesRadar — 2026's best-reviewed game analysis

At a Glance

Why a 20-Year-Old JRPG Tops 2026's Chart

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC was originally released in Japan in 2006 for PC, then ported to PSP and Western markets in the following years. It built an intensely loyal cult following but never broke into mainstream gaming discourse — the series was long, text-heavy, and required playing the first entry to make sense of the second.

Nihon Falcom started remaking the series in full 3D with Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter in 2025. That remake scored a 90 on OpenCritic and proved the template worked. The 2nd Chapter follows directly after: same protagonist (Estelle Bright), same world (Liberl Kingdom), but a dramatically escalating story as Estelle searches for her missing companion Joshua and uncovers the full scope of the Ouroboros organization's conspiracy.

TheGamer noted that 2nd Chapter scores three points higher than 1st Chapter — a rare case where a direct sequel outscores its predecessor critically. Most reviewers attribute the gap to the source material: the SC storyline is widely regarded as the emotional peak of the Trails in the Sky sub-series, and the remake's added cutscenes and full English and Japanese voice acting give it room to land harder.

Source: TheGamer — 2026 best-rated game analysis (Sept 16, 2026)

Developer: Nihon Falcom

Founded in 1981, Nihon Falcom is a small independent Japanese developer responsible for the Dragon Slayer, Ys, and Trails (Kiseki) series. The studio has never had a blockbuster marketing budget or a major publisher behind it — its games spread by word-of-mouth among dedicated JRPG fans, and the audience it builds stays.

The Trails in the Sky remakes have landed during a genuine JRPG renaissance: 2025 and 2026 have seen major sales and critical success for titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (96 on Metacritic at launch), the Trails series, and multiple other turn-based RPGs. Falcom, working with regional partners GungHo (North America) and Clouded Leopard Entertainment (Asia), has timed this remake exactly right.

Gameplay: Hybrid Combat, Full 3D

The original Trails in the Sky SC used 2D sprites and traditional JRPG turn-based combat. This remake rebuilds everything in full 3D, while the combat system has been modernized into a hybrid action/turn-based format:

• ▶Quick Battles — Field encounters with smaller enemies resolve instantly via Brave Rush chain attacks
• ▶Arts (Magic) System — Orbment equipment unlocks skill slots for elemental and support magic
• ▶New Crafts and S-Crafts — Expanded technique lists for each party member
• ▶Expanded Party Roster — Fan-favourite NPCs from the original are now playable party members
• ▶Clear Data Carry-over — Players who finished 1st Chapter import their save for bonus items

RPG Site gave it 10/10, writing that "Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter continues its winning streak with excellent storytelling, robust and fluid hybrid action/turn-based combat, and jaw-dropping music and environmental design."

Platform Details

The Switch 2 physical edition can be played on Nintendo Switch as well, at Switch-level resolution and frame rate.

For players outside North America: GungHo Online Entertainment America handles NA distribution, while Clouded Leopard Entertainment handles Asia-Pacific distribution. The game carries localized names for Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean markets.

Source: GungHo Online Entertainment America official press release (Sept 17, 2026)

Review Score Breakdown

What critics praised

• ▶Story and emotional payoff: Estelle and Joshua's arc is widely cited as one of JRPG's most memorable. The remake's added cutscenes and full voice acting intensify every key moment
• ▶Character writing: A large ensemble cast where almost everyone gets a moment — rare in a game this size
• ▶Music: Reorchestrated score retains the originals' melodic identity while sounding modern
• ▶Continuity and reward: Players who carried over 1st Chapter data get immediate payoff

What critics flagged

• ▶Prerequisite: You need to have played 1st Chapter. The story drops you directly into an ongoing narrative with no recap option mentioned by most reviewers
• ▶Switch 2 version: Lower Metacritic score (84) with fewer reviews; may reflect early review code issues or platform-specific concerns — worth monitoring as more reviews arrive
• ▶Pacing: The Trails series is long and deliberately paced — not for players who want fast narrative momentum

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"Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter captures everything that made the original so endearing while giving it an impressive makeover that enhances its elegant storytelling and charismatic cast." — George Yang, IGN (9/10)

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"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." — Murillo Zerbinatto, DualShockers (10/10)

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"Whether you are a veteran of the series like myself or a new fan discovering the series with these remakes, you are in for a treat — or perhaps, a new obsession." — Jae Lee, ZTGD (9.5/10)

Sources: OpenCritic review aggregate · GamesRadar best-reviewed 2026 analysis

Context: What's Coming That Could Dethrone It

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter sits at 92 OpenCritic right now, but the rest of 2026 has multiple releases that could challenge the top spot:

• ▶Control Resonant (September 24) — Remedy's sequel scored 86 Metacritic, unlikely to challenge
• ▶Silent Hill: Townfall (September 24) — Score TBD
• ▶GTA 6 (late 2026) — Every mainline GTA since GTA 3 has scored 95 or above on Metacritic
• ▶The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake (2026 TBD) — The original holds a 99 Metacritic; the remake's score will depend entirely on execution

For now, the leaderboard belongs to a small Japanese studio's faithful remake of a cult classic. That's the JRPG renaissance in a single number.

Buying Guide

Recommended if:

• ▶You finished Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (2025 remake) and want to continue Estelle and Joshua's story immediately
• ▶You're looking for one of the year's most critically acclaimed story-driven RPGs
• ▶You played the original SC years ago and want to revisit it in modern form

Check first if:

• ▶You haven't played 1st Chapter — start there (a free demo is available on all platforms)
• ▶You're new to JRPGs and concerned about entry barriers — the series rewards patience, but it demands significant time investment
• ▶You're targeting the Switch 2 version — the Metacritic score gap versus PC/PS5 is worth researching before buying

Where to buy

• ▶Steam ($59.99)
• ▶PlayStation Store (PS5, $59.99)
• ▶Nintendo eShop (Switch $59.99 / Switch 2 $64.99)
• ▶Physical: Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart (North America)

Verdict

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is 2026's best-reviewed new release on the strength of its source material, its execution, and the compound effect of a two-game remake series where every prior investment pays off in this chapter's final act. It won't appeal to everyone — JRPG pacing and a hard prerequisite in 1st Chapter are real barriers — but for the audience it's made for, it's a 10 out of 10.

The larger story here is Nihon Falcom's: a 40-year-old independent Japanese studio, with no major publisher and no blockbuster marketing, is making 2026's best-reviewed games. Whether GTA 6 or Zelda dethrones it later this year is an open question. Right now, the crown belongs to Liberl.