Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 83 | 66 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 98% | 93 | 780 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 78 | 22 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 97% | 92 | 416 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 91.4, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 1,647 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Dec 9, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 416 total reviews in window · weighted 260.2 up / 8.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (70)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero takes us back to the formation of the SSS, an organization Switch gamers will know from the Trails of Cold Steel games. It also takes us back to a relatively simpler system that's perfectly sized for JRPG adventuring on the go.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“In a series renowned for its stellar writing, twisting plots, and wonderful characters, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a stand-out RPG. Narrowing the focus of its story to one state, and honing in on a smaller cast of characters, makes for a fantastic and engrossing adventure that is about both intimate relationships and huge, secretive scandals. The fact that this is just one half of a duology means that, while the story wraps up nicely here, we have tons of questions that we're itching to get answers to in Trails to Azure. If you haven't played Trails, it's time to overcome that barrier, because there's no better place to zero in on this fantastic series than in Crossbell.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Trails from Zero delivers exactly what it promises: a unique opportunity to visit a story arc most western The Legend of Heroes fans never got to experience. Those who are looking to fill in the notable gap in the series will delight in discovering a plentitude of characters getting their fifteen minutes of fame. As a potential place to start, the Crossbell duology sits in a curious place between Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel, such that players of either will be better attuned to the setting, with both working as better introductions. Even so, Trails from Zero is an easy, enthusiastic recommend for existing Trails fans.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Trails from Zero is a fantastic and unmissable story that lays the groundworks for the Crossbell Arc. We can't deny the game aged poorly, and we probably wouldn't even recommend it to a series novice. However, for those who have already flown the skies of Liberl, Falcom's "new" title is definitely an important part of the journey to Zemuria thanks to its incredible story and wonderful settings.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Like many, I’ve been waiting for Trails from Zero for years. After falling off hard from Cold Steel due to its insistence of returning to a school setting multiple times, I had high hopes Zero would return the magic of the Trails games I felt from the Sky arc. And not only did it do that, but it went even beyond my expectations. With a tighter focus in both setting and cast, a story that’s quicker to take off, and the refinements to a battle system I already enjoyed, the game in my hands right now may be on its way to my game of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“While it very much feels like a traditional JRPG, there’s just a flair to this title that pulled me in”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a very beefy RPG that is way longer if the speed-up functions are never used. The imaginative premise and complex battle system are what makes it stand out. The text can be really long-winded, even for RPG fans, but it all pays off for the diligent reader with patience to parse it all. Regretfully, there is no English voice acting - a first for The Legend of Heroes. While that is initially disappointing, the realization of the voice acting padding out an already very long RPG quells the desire.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Trails From Zero is a wonderful game that offers the very best story telling and world building that gaming has to offer. Its presentation and dialogue heavy gameplay won't be for everyone, but if you love a good story and are looking to get immersed in a brilliant world, look no further.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Nihon Falcom and NIS America give us yet another larger-than-life adventure in Trails from Zero. The Legend of Heroes is slowly climbing the ranks of my list of favorite JRPGs, and this one adds important pieces of the puzzle. The quality-of-life improvements that come with the Switch and PC versions would deserve the name of remastered. In short, if you want a JRPG with an emotional story, very enjoyable old-school visuals, and solid combat, give this one a chance.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Trails from Zero has been well worth the wait. This is a classic Falcom RPG, an engrossing, crime-fighting adventure through one of the property's greatest settings. The experience as a whole does get bogged down in tedious side content and some poorly aged design, but fantastic characters and fascinating story beats hold everything together. Based on our time with Zero, we can't wait for Trails to Azure in 2023.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero proves it is just as impressive as recent entries in the franchise and gives longtime fans and even newcomers an amazing RPG that was worth the wait.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Fortunately, Lloyd and the rest of the SSS make for likable characters that you can't help but root for. The dialogue-heavy second half of the game can drag a little bit, but the cumulative experience is still a positive one that I would recommend to RPG fans. With Trails to Azure coming in 2023, the stable of Falcom titles on Switch continues to grow, and there's Zero reason to be unhappy about that.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Trails from Zero v1.4.13 Patch NotesDec 9, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Trails from Zero v1.4.12 Patch NotesAug 28, 2023
- Trails from Zero v1.4.7 Patch NotesApr 18, 2023
- Trails from Zero v1.4.6 Patch NotesMar 28, 2023
- Trails from Zero v1.4.5 Patch NotesMar 16, 2023
- Trails from Zero v1.4.4 Patch NotesJan 6, 2023
- Trails from Zero v1.4.3 Patch NotesJan 5, 2023
- Trails from Zero v1.4.2 Patch NotesDec 27, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Version 1.3.7 Hotfix NotesOct 12, 2022
- Trails from Zero v1.3.7 Patch NotesOct 7, 2022
- PC Version Overview (Part 3 - Final)Sep 27, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Trails from Zero - PC Version Overview (Part 1)Jun 17, 2022