I was recently invited by NIS America to an early look at and exclusive preview for the upcoming RPG, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II. The preview provided an exclusive look at new gameplay features, including the Märchen Garten, revamped minigames, and exclusive PlayStation demo details. Scheduled for release on February 14, 2025, Trails Through Daybreak II continues the story from the first game and will be available on PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam, GOG, EGS).
The sequel is set three months after Trails Through Daybreak, once again following Van Arkride and the Arkride Solutions Office. During the preview, I learned about the Crimson Grendel, a deadly creature linked to a string of murders in Calvard’s capital, Edith. This growing threat forces Van to reconnect with his team and form new alliances, all while uncovering the truth behind the Grendel and its ties to his past.
The preview introduced the Märchen Garten, a multi-floor dungeon designed for optional challenges, valuable rewards, and post-game story content. I also learned that minigames are making a return, including basketball, hacking, fishing, and the card game Seven Hearts. Combining its engaging gameplay with a rich narrative, Trails Through Daybreak II looks ready to build on the series’ established strengths.
A World on the Brink: Story and Characters
Trails Through Daybreak II picks up three months after the first game, reuniting you with Van Arkride and the Arkride Solutions Office. This time, Van is embroiled in a deadly mystery tied to the Crimson Grendel, a creature terrorizing Calvard’s capital, Edith. During the event, I learned the Grendel isn’t just a random threat—it’s connected to Van and his past relationships. Many of its victims have ties to him, making the investigation deeply personal. Van must balance his role as a Spriggan with managing the fallout from this growing crisis.
The story intertwines personal relationships and societal tensions, with political powers seeking to exploit the chaos for their own gain. Van’s relationship with Elaine Auclair, who pushes him to confront this mystery, adds an emotional layer to the story. Meanwhile, Swin and Nadia work separately in Calvard, pursuing their own goals in a subplot that connects to the Grendel’s mystery. These subplots are set to intersect, leading to major story developments and deeper insights into the world of Calvard.
The game introduces new characters while bringing back fan favourites. Returning members of the Arkride Solutions Office, like Elaine, provide continuity, while new allies, such as Swin and Nadia, expand the cast meaningfully. From what I’ve seen, Trails Through Daybreak II’s story looks like its going to balance complex conflicts, evolving characters, and rich storytelling to keep you glued to your seat from beginning to end.
Gameplay Highlights: Märchen Garten and Minigames
Trails Through Daybreak II builds on its predecessor with expanded gameplay and new features. One of the most exciting new additions that I saw at the preview event was the Märchen Garten. This is a optional multi-floor dungeon, which allows you to customize your dream party, selecting from over 15 characters to tackle randomized floors. Challenges here include battles, side activities, and earning rewards like equipment, costumes, and skill stones. Progress carries into the main game, making it a valuable resource for leveling characters and unlocking powerful upgrades.
The Märchen Garten also includes exclusive post-game content, with additional floors and story elements for those who want to dive deeper. Two secret characters, not playable in the main story, can be unlocked here as well. I can’t wait to assemble my team and enter the Märchen Garten. The ability to experiment with different party combinations introduces strategic choices that will impact both combat effectiveness and character development.
Customizing Your Experience: Craft Enhance and Mystic Cube
The Märchen Garten offers more than just battles and exploration—it’s also where you can level up your characters and earn valuable items. The Craft Enhance system lets you upgrade your characters’ Crafts, including offensive, defensive, and magical abilities. Each upgrade increases power, reduces CP costs, and unlocks additional effects like critical boosts or shields. If a setup doesn’t match your playstyle, you can reset and reallocate resources, allowing for flexibility in how you build your team.
Another key gameplay feature that I am excited about is he Mystic Cube, which operates like a gacha system for obtaining rewards. By collecting shard tokens during Märchen Garten runs, you can open the Mystic Cube to unlock costumes, equipment, and music tracks. Rewards like skill stones and high-level items give you good reasons to revisit the Märchen Garten again and again. These gameplay features support progression and let you adjust your approach to suit different challenges and playstyles.
Minigames
Minigames make a return, adding variety to the experience. Highlights include fishing, basketball, hacking, and Seven Hearts. The card game Seven Hearts looks particularly interesting. You compete against other characters, using element-themed cards with unique abilities.
Victory depends on managing your hand effectively, countering opponents, and balancing offense and defense. It’s a game of skill and luck.
Two Exclusive Playstation Demos
The two PlayStation exclusive demos announced during the event give a glimpse of these features. The Story Demo begins at the start of the game and carries progress to the main release. The Gameplay Demo focuses on the Märchen Garten, showcasing its mechanics with two pre-selected parties. Both demos release on January 24 exclusively for PS4 and PS5.
Looking Ahead to Trails Through Daybreak II
After attending the preview event for Trails Through Daybreak II, I’m more excited than ever for its February 14 release. The game builds on its predecessor with expanded gameplay, deeper customization options, and a story that promises high-stakes drama and emotional depth. Features like the Märchen Garten offer both challenge and flexibility, allowing you to experiment with party setups and earn valuable rewards.
The reintroduction of minigames adds variety, while systems like Craft Enhance and the Mystic Cube ensure plenty of opportunities for progression. With its engaging narrative, returning and new characters, and polished mechanics, Trails Through Daybreak II seems ready to deliver a robust RPG experience. Whether you’re a series veteran or a newcomer, there’s plenty to look forward to in this installment.
For fans of Trails Through Daybreak, this sequel promises to expand the world and characters you already love. And if you’re new to the series, the Story Demo releasing on January 24 provides the perfect chance to dive in.
I can’t wait to see how the full game unfolds and how the threads introduced in the preview come together. What about you? Are you ready to return to Calvard and take on the Crimson Grendel?
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Still need to finish Daybreak 1 but very much looking forward to this!