For as much as I enjoyedThe Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak, I really did miss some of the minigames from theTrails of Cold Steelseries like Snowboarding, Fishing, and even the card game Vantage Masters.
If you’re a minigame aficionado like myself, it looks likeThe Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak IIwill have a lot for you to enjoy. Last week developer Nihon Falcom and Publisher NIS America showed me a glimpse of the fun to be had when the sequel releases next month.
Like any good JRPG, the story is a big part of the appeal, so not much was shared in that regard other than the sequel takes place three months after the events from the originalTrailts Through Daybreak, and a Crimson-colored Grendel, the special armored form of the main character Van, has been terrorizing the capital city of Edith. I was also assured that the full roster of characters from the original would be returning in the sequel as well as some new faces.
Next, my day was made, with the reveal that minigames would be returning inTrails Through Daybreak II, including fishing in its most refined form yet. Look, Fishing wasn’t the best in its various forms throughoutCold Steel, but it was still a welcome minigame to dive into, and I’m happy to see it return.
Various other minigames will make an appearance throughout the RPG including Hacking, where you guide an avatar through a maze with a time limit while avoiding various obstacles, a 1-on-1 simple shooting and defending basketball minigame, and Seven Hearts, a new Card Game making its debut inTrails Through Daybreak II.
While not necessarily a minigame, the Nihon also showcased a new optional area inTrails Through Daybreak IIcalled the Marchen Garten. In a nutshell, the Marchen Garten is a virtual world that exists outside of the main game world and allows players to obtain equipment, level up, and earn other bonuses that can be used in the main game. Players can build their own dream party from over 15 characters before ascending a randomized multi-floor dungeon. The Marchen Garten is also tied toTrails Through Daybreak II’spost-game content with post-game-specific floors, story content, and two characters that are not playable in the main game.
As I said, the story is the driving factor for me when it comes to anyTrailsgame, but it sounds like Nihon is adding a lot of varied gameplay to the RPG.
For players interested in trying outTrails Through Daybreak II, two demos are scheduled to be released exclusively on PS5 and PS4 on July 15, 2025. The first is a Story Demo, taking place at the start of the game and running through the beginning of Chapter 1. Save data from this demo will carry over to the main game. The second is a Gameplay Demo that allows players to fight through two floors of the Marchen Garten with pre-selected parties.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak IIis set to release on Valentine’s Day, July 25, 2025, on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
