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) | – | 82 | 22 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 79 | 7 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 21 reviews sampled · 19 total reviews in window · weighted 15 up / 2.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (54)
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
“Trails of Cold Steel II is an easy recommendation for any JRPG buff, but it’s always worth noting that patience is a virtue with this series.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It doesn’t win out over Trails in the Sky SC, it comes really damn close. The unfortunate fact that you have to slog through the low points of the first game to get to the expansive high here is a bit of a blemish…but I’d say it’s worth a little bit of pain.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is a fun JRPG that has a lot to offer the patient player. It doesn't take as long to get off the ground as its predecessor but its complexly woven narrative nevertheless makes it a slow burn. For those who weather that burn, however, satisfaction on an unprecedented scale awaits. Not even the mechanical issues can overshadow just how fantastic the story of Cold Steel II is, how rich the world is, and how compelling the characters are. This is a must-play for those who enjoy jumping into a game for the long haul. Cold Steel III can't come soon enough.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Trails of Cold Steel II is everything that you could want from a sequel to the first game. Although experience with its predecessor is nothing short of a necessity, this unapologetic approach to sequel storytelling is what makes Cold Steel II so compelling. It's remarkable how such a huge cast of characters can come together to deliver such a memorable narrative, and it's all thanks to the in-depth world building that Falcom has seeded over the course of two games. As far as turn based Japanese RPGs go on PS4, Trails of Cold Steel I and II are genre essentials.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“A game that deserves to be on the radar of everyone who has ever in their lifetime enjoyed a single JRPG, just be sure to play the original first.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is a work that contains the thoughts of Falcom, a famous JRPG company. However, it becomes controversial because of its shocking ending which changed user's thought that the series would be ended in this game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, I would definitively recommend giving this JRPG a shot, even if you haven’t played the first installment.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“On that note, there's little you can get from The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II that you couldn't get from other titles that likewise do it better. The narrative is winding and confusing, the characters are off-putting, and the visuals are a sore sight for the eyes. While the music and gameplay show some glimmers of promise, they ultimately end up feeling lifeless and overcomplicated, respectively. At the end of the day, Trails of Cold Steel II ends up feeling like a middle-of-the-road shonen anime that's a little too scatter-brained, and you have to slog through the off-screen battles.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Trails of Cold Steel II is a marvelous addition to the series. It carries the tone of the original perfectly, continuing a saga that sees its third installment hit later this year, while at the same time delivering an exciting story all of its own.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Trails Of Cold Steel II feels less like a sequel, and more like the second half of an incredibly rich JRPG experience. There’s a lot to take in between both these titles, and it can feel like a slog at times, especially with the first game. Cold Steel II does a great job of making that slog worth it, and delivers with an action packed story and a consistently challenging gameplay experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“For every 20 lazy console ports, once in a while there comes a game that really gets what PC gamers want. This is that game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Another engrossing example of traditional Japanese role-playing, that’s still accessible enough for anyone to enjoy, as long as they’ve played the first one.”
read full review ↗
RPGamer
Gamer Escape
Cubed3
Push Square
ZTGD
INVEN
Chalgyr's Game Room
Worth Playing
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis
GameSkinny
Metro GameCentral…and 42 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Trails of Cold Steel II Version 1.4.1 Patch NotesJan 31, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Trails of Cold Steel II Version 1.3 Patch NotesMar 17, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Trails of Cold Steel II Version 1.3 Patch NotesMar 17, 2018
- Trails of Cold Steel II Version 1.2 Patch NotesMar 2, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- 64 bit OS Requirement Update and InformationFeb 23, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- 64 bit OS Requirement Update and InformationFeb 23, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Trails of Cold Steel II Version 1.1 Patch NotesFeb 17, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Trails of Cold Steel II Version 1.1 Patch NotesFeb 17, 2018