Image credit: Steam store page
Playtime: ~90 hours
Completion: Story finished
Platform: Steam Played: 2024 / Reviewed: 2025
Genre: Turn-Based JRPG / Epilogue-Style Character Study
Final Score: ★★★☆☆ (7/10)
🧠 First Impressions
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Trails in the Sky the 3rd. After the emotional rollercoaster of FC and SC, this third game felt… different. Not bad — just unexpected.
This isn’t your classic Estelle-and-Joshua story. In fact, they’re not even the main characters. Instead, the spotlight shifts to Kevin — a character I honestly didn’t care much about in SC — and yet, by the end of this game, I was truly moved by his journey.
If I had to describe the 3rd in one word, it would be: “reflection.” This whole game feels like a long, heartfelt epilogue.
📖 Story & Worldbuilding
The game is structured like a series of reflections. Rather than a straightforward adventure, it takes place in the surreal dream-realm of Phantasma, where you slowly unlock side stories and character episodes. It’s like a filler episode in an anime — but one that gives meaning and closure.
You get to see what the other characters are up to after the events of SC, and as someone who loves to know what happens after the main story, I absolutely loved this part.
⚔️ Combat – 7/10
Combat stays mostly the same — if you’ve played FC and SC, you’ll feel right at home. The quartz system and the arena-style, turn-based combat are still solid, though I was hoping for something new like SC’s Chain system. The game expects you to know how to build your party and use your tools well — and trust me, the final boss made sure I got a few game overs before I adapted.
🎵/🎨 Music / Art – 9/10
I wanted to put the art and the music in the same category cause it is quite similar to the two games that are in this trilogy. The art continues to be charming and timeless. But let’s talk about that soundtrack — after three entries, Falcom’s sound team is still knocking it out of the park. Emotional tracks, atmospheric themes, and some serious bangers. Top-tier as always.
💀 Difficulty – 8/10
There’s a noticeable jump in difficulty here. You really need to know how to manage crafts, buffs, and healing. Some boss fights — especially toward the end — can hit hard. And yes, Deathblow enemies are still a pain.
🔁 Final Thoughts
I’ll be honest — at first, I was disappointed Estelle wasn’t the protagonist. But the deeper I went, the more I appreciated what this game offered. This felt like a character study for Kevin and a goodbye letter to the cast.
“I related a lot more to Kevin than I initially thought. Back in SC he was just a whatever character to me. Now I’m glad to have read his story.”
This game helped me reflect on things in my own life. After finishing this trilogy, I feel like I’ve grown a bit — not just as a gamer, but as a person. That’s the kind of experience Trails in the Sky delivers.
Also — shoutout to the lone guy who translated this game from Japanese to English.
🔥 Clay’s Take
“It didn’t feel like Trails in the Sky 3 — more like 2.5.
But as a heartfelt epilogue, it hit in all the right ways.”
Final Score: 7/10
Recommended?: Yes — if you’ve played FC and SC, this is a great emotional send-off. Not a standalone game, but a beautiful reflection on the journey.
🗨️ What About You?
Did the 3rd feel like a proper ending to you?
Did you enjoy Kevin’s arc as much as Estelle’s?
Which door story stuck with you the most?
Let’s talk Sky Trilogy down in the comments 💬
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