Trails in the Sky the 2nd was released on September 17 and subsequently received a score of 92 on OpenCritic, temporarily ranking second on the 2026 game ratings leaderboard. Amidst the dense lineup of new releases in September, this title has entered the ranks of the year's highest-rated games thanks to its post-launch media reviews.
While there has been considerable discussion surrounding the media scores for Marvel's Wolverine, Trails in the Sky the 2nd may not have immediately caught the attention of some RPG players. Currently, the top spot on OpenCritic's annual leaderboard is held by the Steam match-3 game Mythic Match, which scored 93, just one point ahead of this title.
Trails in the Sky the 2nd is a remake of the 2006 JRPG The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the SC by Nihon Falcom, and serves as the direct sequel to Trails in the Sky the 1st. Released about a year after its predecessor, which currently holds a score of 90 on OpenCritic, this sequel scores 2 points higher.
The story continues to follow Estelle Bright, a new bracer from the Liberl Kingdom. After Joshua suddenly disappears, she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. The combat system builds upon the previous game's approach, combining real-time action with turn-based battles, offering options for players who prefer different JRPG combat styles.
Other highly-rated titles of the year on OpenCritic include Dave the Diver: Jungle and Mina: The Hollower, both scoring 91, Forza Horizon 6 with 91, as well as Schrödinger's Call and Lost & Found Inc., both at 90.
Some media outlets have highlighted the game's visuals, modernized mechanics, character development, and narrative as standout features, praising the world details and story pacing. As of now, Trails in the Sky the 2nd has a 96% positive user rating on Steam, earning an "Overwhelmingly Positive" overall evaluation.