The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
Final entry of the Erebonia arc in the Trails series.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV is a role-playing game from Nihon Falcom, released in 2018. It is the tenth game in the Trails series and the concluding chapter of the Erebonia story arc, picking up after *Trails of Cold Steel III* (2017). The game launched on PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2018, with a worldwide release in October 2020. Ports for Nintendo Switch, Windows, and Stadia followed in April 2021, and a PlayStation 5 version arrived in February 2024. A sequel, *Trails into Reverie*, came out in 2020.
Gameplay stays true to the turn-based Japanese RPG style of earlier Trails titles, building on the systems from *Trails of Cold Steel III*. Many features return, with tweaks to the Order and Break mechanics. Some characters start with weaker Orders that can be upgraded by finding treasure chests that trigger trial battles using fixed character rosters. Mini-games include blackjack, poker, and various puzzles.
The story begins two weeks after the events of *Trails of Cold Steel III*. Chancellor Giliath Osborne has seized control of the Erebonian Empire and plans to wage war against the entire world. Class VII escapes to Eryn, a hidden village of witches, where they devise a plan to rescue Rean Schwarzer, who was captured by Osborne after losing control of his Spirit Unification power. During the rescue, they discover that Rufus Albarea has awakened the seventh and final Divine Knight, El-Prado. After freeing Rean, Class VII gathers allies from within and outside the Empire to stop the Great War.
As the story unfolds, Class VII resolves incidents across western Erebonia caused by political strife, the Great Twilight, or Ouroboros’s schemes. They uncover the truth behind the Divine Knights, their Awakeners, and the Empire’s dark history. The Ebon Knight Ishmelga, corrupted by human malice, became an evil sentience that manipulated the Gnomes and spread a curse to control humanity, forcing Giliath Osborne—the reincarnation of Dreichels's soul—to become its Awakener in exchange for saving his son Rean. Osborne has since worked to destroy the Great One and its curse. Class VII ultimately faces Osborne and Ishmelga and wins.
In the normal ending, Rean absorbs Ishmelga into Valimar but cannot contain it, so Valimar is destroyed and Rean, Crow, and Millium are lost. In the true ending, Rean expels
- Developer
- Nihon Falcom
- Release (Japan)
- September 2018
- Release (Worldwide)
- October 2020
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Stadia, PlayStation 5
- Genre
- Turn-based Japanese role-playing video game
- Series
- Trails series, part of The Legend of Heroes series
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
- Developer
- Nihon FalcomNintendo Switch version ported by Engine Software. Windows version ported by Engine Software and PH3 Games.
- Publisher
- NIS America
- Director
- Takayuki Kusano
- Producer
- Toshihiro Kondo
- Programmer
- Toru Endo · Nobuhiro Hioki · Atsushi Oosaki
- Writer
- Hisayoshi Takeiri · Yoshihiro Konda · Syunsei Shikata
- Composer
- Hayato Sonoda · Takahiro Unisuga · Yukihiro Jindo · Mitsuo Singa
- Series
- Trails
- Engine
- PhyreEngine
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · Windows · Stadia · PlayStation 5
- Genre
- Role-playing
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game takes place two weeks after the events of Trails of Cold Steel III. Chancellor Giliath Osborne has taken control of the Erebonian Empire and intends to start a war with the entire world. Class VII flees to Eryn, a secret village of witches, to plan a rescue of Rean Schwarzer, who was captured by Osborne after losing control of his Spirit Unification power. During the rescue, they learn that Rufus Albarea has awakened the seventh Divine Knight El-Prado. After rescuing Rean, Class VII is joined by allies to stop the Great War.
Throughout the story, Class VII resolves incidents across western Erebonia caused by political issues, the Great Twilight, or Ouroboros's plans. They uncover mysteries surrounding the Divine Knights, their Awakeners, and the Empire's dark history. The Ebon Knight Ishmelga, corrupted by human malice, became an evil sentience that manipulated the Gnomes and spread a curse to control humanity, forcing Giliath Osborne—the reincarnation of Dreichels's soul—to become its Awakener in exchange for saving his son Rean. Osborne has since worked to destroy the Great One and its curse. Class VII ultimately faces Osborne and Ishmelga and wins.
In the normal ending, Rean absorbs Ishmelga into Valimar but cannot contain it, so Valimar is destroyed and Rean, Crow, and Millium are lost.
Reader's Guide
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV is significant as the concluding chapter of the Erebonia arc within the larger Trails series. Its development was prompted by Nihon Falcom's difficulty wrapping up the story in the previous entry, Trails of Cold Steel III. The game retains the turn-based Japanese role-playing gameplay of its predecessors, with modifications to the Order and Break systems and upgradeable Orders found via treasure chest trial battles. Mini-games include blackjack, poker, and puzzle games. The game was released for PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2018 and worldwide in October 2020, with ports for Nintendo Switch, Windows, and Stadia in April 2021, and a PlayStation 5 port in February 2024. A sequel, Trails into Reverie, was released in 2020. The English localization was handled by NIS America. Reception was 'generally favorable' according to Metacritic. The game's narrative resolves the curse of the Divine Knights and the Great War, offering both a normal and true ending, and ties up character arcs for Class VII and allies.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally intended to conclude the Erebonia arc with Trails of Cold Steel III, but Falcom found it difficult to wrap up the story without a fourth entry.
- The Nintendo Switch version was ported by Engine Software, and the Windows version by PH3 Games.
- A PlayStation 5 version bundled with Trails of Cold Steel III was released in the west on February 16, 2024.
- Mini-games in Trails of Cold Steel IV include blackjack, poker, and other puzzle games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV?
It is a turn-based RPG from Nihon Falcom that wraps up the four-part Erebonia storyline in the Trails series. The game follows the Thors branch of Ouroboros and the Class VII students as they confront the political and military crisis engulfing the Erebonian Empire.
What platforms is Trails of Cold Steel IV available on?
The title can be played on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, Stadia, and PlayStation 5. It debuted on PS4 in Japan in September 2018, reached a global PS4 audience in October 2020, and received its Switch, PC, and Stadia ports in April 2021, with a PS5 version arriving in February 2024.
Where does Cold Steel IV sit in the overall Trails series timeline?
It is the tenth entry in the Trails series and the final chapter of the Erebonia arc, coming directly after Cold Steel III (2017). The next major release following it is the crossover title Trails into Reverie (2020).
Who leads the playable cast in Trails of Cold Steel IV?
The story is driven by Cassius Bright, head of the Thors, alongside his son Rean Schwarzer and the remaining members of Class VII. Together they must navigate Erebonia's fracturing government, rival factions, and a growing external threat to the nation.
Does Trails of Cold Steel IV have a sequel?
The direct narrative continuation is Trails into Reverie (2020), a crossover that pulls characters from several Trails sub-series into a shared storyline. Cold Steel IV itself stands as the definitive conclusion to the Erebonia-focused arc.
More in Trails 1-21
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record