Beloved RPG Series Announces Its Final Game, But Fans Have Doubts

A lot of the best RPG series have been going for a long time, but few have amassed games at the same rate as Falcom's Trails franchise. While the Trails games are only part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series, they've become a dominant force in the past couple of decades. Starting with 2004's The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, the saga has released 13 mainline games to date, along with a Trails in the Sky remake project.

In a new interview with Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu, Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo announced that the final Trails game will be revealed in 2031 and completed in 2032, as reported by Gematsu. The 2031 announcement will coincide with Falcom's 50th anniversary. While the end to the long-running series will likely be an emotional moment for fans, skepticism about Kondo's promises is already emerging.

The Final Trails Game Isn't Convincing Fans

Skepticism Is Rampant

On Reddit, Trails players have cast doubt on Falcom's ability to follow up on promises made years in advance. Benchjc2004 calls it an "I'll believe it when I see it type thing," noting that "a lot can happen in 6 years." Liquied shares a similar sentiment, noting that "Falcom has troubles sticking to a plan historically."

Ending the Trails saga doesn't necessarily mean that the series will disappear entirely, which other fans have been quick to highlight. TomahawkSmells suggests that wrapping the story up could actually be good for the franchise, allowing the focus to shift to "spinoffs containing supplemental world building." After so many Trails games, however, the story's conclusion has a lot of loose threads to wrap up, which could make a satisfying ending difficult.

The RPG Series Has Some Life Left

Five Years Is A Long Time

In the meantime, there should still be plenty of new games for Trails fans to enjoy. Trails Beyond the Horizon 2 and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter are currently in the works, and a three-game arc following Trails Beyond the Horizon 2 is likely. However, nothing beyond Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter has yet received an official announcement.

The constant pace of The Legend of Heroes releases can be hard to keep up with, especially with some older Japanese releases getting translated and ported in-between new games. As a result, the news about when to expect the finale for the Trails series might actually come as a relief to some. Whether the 2032 date will actually stick, however, could be a lingering question for years to come.