The RPG genre is so saturated these days that it can be difficult to know which ones truly have the chops to deliver a good time, for a long time, particularly on a storefront like Steam where competition is so fierce.
With new games releasing all the time, it really is impossible to keep up, but every now and again a new game raises its head above the parapet to ask for your consideration when it does eventually release.
One of the best ways for developers to do this is by dropping a demo that shows off exactly what their game is all about, even if it is only a brief introduction to the basic gameplay and mechanics on offer.
Now, a new game has done just that ahead of its release in January next year, and it looks like an intriguing prospect, if the art style and turn-based combat appeals to you more generally.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon Gets Free Steam Demo
Over on Steam, you should be able to find the store page for The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon, an upcoming turn-based RPG that has just released a free demo to show players what they might expect.
In the developer’s own words, the premise of the game is as follows: “The prophesied end of the Zemurian continent draws near, and so does the launch of humanity’s first foray into space.
“A sudden invitation from Marduk to cooperate in a high-tech training exercise sets Van Arkride, Ashen Chevalier Rean Schwarzer, and Father Kevin Graham on a collision course with the secrets that lay at the very core of Zemuria.
“Their paths may diverge, but the ultimate question remains the same: Just what lies beyond the edge of the horizon?”
It’s a compelling enough premise, even if we aren’t yet familiar with the specifics of the narrative at this early stage, and there is some fun looking gameplay to back it up as well.
That includes a combination of real-time and turn-based battles, in a similar fashion to the mechanics employed in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, as well as a system that requires you to strengthen your connection with your allies in order to unlock their full potential.
The game actually already released on the PS4 and PS5 in Japan back in September of last year, but the PC version is set to drop on 15 January, 2026, so you can try it out before then to see if you want to make the full purchase.
