《英雄傳說：界之軌跡 －Farewell, O Zemuria－》（The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon／英雄伝説 界の軌跡）是日本Falcom旗下「軌跡系列」邁入20週年的關鍵作品，同時也被視為整個澤姆利亞大陸篇章走向重大轉折的分水嶺。已確認將於2026年1月15日登上Nintendo Switch 2。這不僅是系列首次正式登上Switch 2，也象徵Falcom對新世代主機性能與市場潛力的高度重視。

在劇情層面，《界之軌跡》承接《黎之軌跡》與《黎之軌跡 II》的發展，將時間軸推向被稱為「X Day」的關鍵時刻。導力革命之父 C．愛普斯坦曾預言澤姆利亞大陸終焉，而如今，這個預言正逐步逼近現實。在崑崙地區建立的巨大基地中，一枚導力火箭即將升空，人類是否能突破大氣層、世界的邊界究竟存在著什麼、文明是否有資格理解「世界的真實」，這些長年盤旋於系列核心的疑問，在本作中被推到檯面之上。就在全世界關注這場史無前例的科技壯舉之際，歐雷德自治州的某個角落，卻悄然聚集了各方勢力，包含裏解決屋「斯普利根」的青年范．亞克萊德，以及來自不同組織、懷抱各自目的的關鍵人物。多線敘事在此交錯，讓整個故事不再只是單一主角的冒險，而是一場牽動整個大陸命運的群像劇。

系列粉絲最為期待的，莫過於歷代角色的大量回歸與交會。除了《黎之軌跡》的核心角色范之外，《空之軌跡》的星杯騎士凱文、《閃之軌跡》的劍聖黎恩、《創之軌跡》的盧法斯等重要人物，也將在本作中扮演關鍵角色。這些角色不只是單純「客串登場」，而是實際參與主線推進，彼此之間的理念衝突、立場差異與情感交織，使故事在宏大的世界觀下仍保有細膩的人物厚度，也讓長年追隨系列的玩家感受到一種「時代交會」的重量。

操作與戰鬥系統方面，延續並深化近年軌跡系列的混合戰鬥設計，可以在即時的フィールドバトル與傳統回合制指令戰鬥之間自由切換，兼顧爽快感與策略性。新加入的「覺醒」系統，讓部分角色在消耗能量後進入能力大幅強化的狀態，不僅外觀產生變化，攻擊力與速度也顯著提升，讓玩家能在關鍵時刻扭轉戰局。「雙重魔法（Dual Arts）」則進一步擴充導力魔法的戰術層次，透過結合兩種屬性，施放出威力遠超一般法術的高階攻擊，成為對抗強敵時不可或缺的手段。

戰術深度的另一核心，來自於進化後的B.L.T.Z.系統。這套系統在原有的S.C.L.M.架構上擴充，讓角色之間的連攜、支援與追擊更加立體，不論是進攻型還是輔助型角色，都能在連鎖行動中發揮明確價值。搭配Z.O.C系統，無論是在場上即時戰鬥中放慢敵人動作、進行壓倒性輸出，或是在指令戰鬥中取得連續行動優勢，都讓戰鬥節奏更具爆發力與變化性。

本作另一個極具存在感的玩法，是名為「黑之庭城」與「格里姆加爾滕」的虛擬空間內容。需要編組隊伍，逐步攻略被結社《噬身之蛇》（烏羅波洛斯）佔據的領域，在類似棋盤推進的規則下解鎖新區域與功能。隨著探索深入，不同勢力角色之間將觸發專屬對話與事件，補完主線之外的世界觀細節。透過解讀「格里摩瓦」與「追憶的台座」，玩家還能接觸到澤姆利亞大陸過去的重要歷史片段，這些內容往往直指系列核心謎團，對老玩家而言具有極高的情報價值。

在市場評價與話題性上，自公開以來便被視為「軌跡系列真正邁向終局的重要一步」。玩家普遍期待其能回收長年鋪陳的伏筆，同時也對角色交會與系統深化抱持高度信心。不過，Nintendo Switch 2版本定價比其他平台高出10美元，且採用「Game Key Card」形式發售，也在社群中引發討論。一方面，有玩家對非完整實體卡匣與價格上調持保留態度；另一方面，也有人認為這是為對應新主機性能優化與初期支援成本。Falcom社長近藤季洋亦公開表示，Switch 2的性能能讓玩家獲得更流暢、更具臨場感的體驗，顯示官方對此版本仍寄予厚望。

整體而言，《英雄傳說：界之軌跡》並非單純的續作，而是背負著系列歷史、世界觀終章伏筆與新世代轉型意義的關鍵作品。對長年追隨軌跡系列的玩家來說，它是一場等待多年的「時代總結」；對新玩家而言，則是一個能夠一窺JRPG世界構築極致水準的入口。而Nintendo Switch 2版本的加入，也讓這段關於澤姆利亞大陸命運的故事，正式踏入下一個世代。

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon – Farewell, O Zemuria is a landmark title marking the 20th anniversary of Nihon Falcom’s long-running Trails series, and is widely regarded as a major turning point in the overarching Zemuria arc. The game has been confirmed for release on January 15, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2, making it the first entry in the series to officially debut on the new platform. This release not only represents a technical step forward for the franchise, but also signals Falcom’s strong commitment to the performance capabilities and market potential of next-generation hardware.

From a narrative standpoint, Trails Beyond the Horizon directly continues the storyline of Trails through Daybreak and Trails through Daybreak II, pushing the timeline toward the long-foretold moment known as “X Day.” C. Epstein, the father of the Orbal Revolution, once prophesied the eventual end of the Zemurian continent—and now that prophecy is rapidly approaching reality. At a massive base constructed in the Kunlun region, an orbal rocket is about to be launched, raising fundamental questions that have lingered at the heart of the series for years: Can humanity reach beyond the atmosphere? What lies at the edge of the world? And is mankind truly capable of understanding the “truth of the world”? As global attention focuses on this unprecedented technological undertaking, various factions quietly converge in a corner of the Ored Autonomous State. Among them are the young Spriggan Van Arkride and other key figures from different organizations, each driven by their own motives. Multiple narrative threads intersect here, transforming the story from a single protagonist’s journey into a sweeping ensemble drama that will determine the fate of the entire continent.

One of the aspects fans are most excited about is the large-scale return and convergence of characters from across the series. In addition to Van from Trails through Daybreak, major figures such as Kevin Graham from Trails in the Sky, Rean Schwarzer from Trails of Cold Steel, and Rufus Albarea from Trails into Reverie all play meaningful roles in the story. These characters are not mere cameos; they actively drive the main narrative forward. Their clashing ideals, differing positions, and intertwined emotions add substantial depth to the grand worldbuilding, giving long-time fans a palpable sense of eras colliding and histories converging.

In terms of gameplay, the title further refines the hybrid combat system established in recent Trails entries, allowing seamless switching between real-time field battles and traditional turn-based command combat. This approach balances fast-paced action with strategic depth. The newly introduced Awakening system enables certain characters to temporarily enter a dramatically powered-up state at the cost of energy, altering their appearance while significantly boosting attack power and speed—often turning the tide of battle at critical moments. The Dual Arts system expands the tactical possibilities of orbal magic by combining two attributes to unleash spells far more powerful than standard arts, making them indispensable against formidable enemies.

Another pillar of the game’s combat depth is the evolved B.L.T.Z. system, an expansion of the earlier S.C.L.M. framework. It enhances chains, support actions, and follow-up attacks between characters, ensuring that both offensive and support-oriented roles have clear and meaningful impact within combo sequences. When combined with the Z.O.C. system, players gain greater control over battle tempo—whether by slowing enemies and overwhelming them in real-time combat, or by securing consecutive turns and extended boosts in command battles. The result is a combat flow that feels more explosive, dynamic, and tactically expressive.

A particularly distinctive gameplay component comes in the form of the virtual spaces known as the Black Garden Castle and Grim Garten. Players assemble parties to reclaim territories overtaken by the secret society Ouroboros, progressing through areas governed by board-game-like movement rules that gradually unlock new regions and functions. As exploration advances, exclusive conversations and events between characters of different factions are triggered, enriching the worldbuilding beyond the main story. By deciphering Grimoires and interacting with the Pedestals of Reminiscence, players can access crucial historical records of the Zemurian continent—information that often ties directly into the series’ deepest mysteries and holds immense value for veteran fans.

In terms of market reception and public discussion, the game has been widely viewed since its announcement as “the step where the Trails series truly moves toward its endgame.” Players are eager to see long-standing plot threads finally addressed, and confidence remains high regarding the convergence of characters and the further evolution of gameplay systems. That said, the Nintendo Switch 2 version, priced $10 higher than other platforms and released in a Game Key Card format, has sparked debate within the community. Some players express reservations about the lack of a full physical cartridge and the price increase, while others see it as a reasonable response to next-gen optimization and early platform support costs. Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo has publicly stated that the power of the Switch 2 will allow for a smoother, more immersive experience, underscoring the company’s confidence in this version.

Overall, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is far more than a simple sequel. It is a pivotal work that carries the weight of the series’ history, the culmination of its long-running worldbuilding, and the symbolic transition into a new generation. For long-time fans, it represents a long-awaited summation of an era; for newcomers, it offers a gateway into the heights of JRPG world construction. With the addition of the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, the saga of Zemuria’s fate officially steps into its next chapter.