Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes I & II brings the 1989 RPG classic back

The first two Legend of Heroes games are getting a new release on modern platforms. Edia has announced Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes I & II for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC, with a worldwide launch planned for 2027. The collection brings together the PC Engine versions of Nihon Falcom’s early role-playing games, giving players another way to experience the series before it developed into the long-running franchise we see today. The announcement comes as part of Edia’s plans to bring several classic Nihon Falcom games to current hardware. Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes I & II will include both original adventures in a single package, using the PC Engine CD-ROM² editions rather than their earlier computer counterparts. There’s no confirmed release date beyond 2027, and Edia hasn’t shared pricing or localisation details yet. Still, the platform list is clear. The collection is heading to PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.

Two early Legend of Heroes games in one collection

Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes first arrived in Japan in 1989 for the NEC PC-8801, before making its way to the PC Engine in October 1991. Its sequel followed in 1992, with a PC Engine release arriving in December of the same year.

The PC Engine editions offered a different presentation from the original computer games, introducing CD-based music and voice acting during selected story sequences. Edia has chosen these console versions for the upcoming collection.

For players familiar with modern Legend of Heroes releases, the two games offer a different approach to the series. Their stories are more compact, their combat systems follow traditional turn-based RPG conventions, and their presentation reflects the hardware of the early 1990s. Edia hasn’t confirmed whether the new collection will include updated display options, save states, revised controls or other features commonly found in modern releases of older games.

What is Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes about?

The first Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes follows Prince Selios, heir to the kingdom of Farlane, whose life changes following the death of his father and a struggle for control of the kingdom. After a betrayal forces him to leave his home, Selios travels across neighbouring regions, recruits companions and becomes involved in a wider conflict threatening his country.

It’s a traditional Japanese RPG at heart. Players explore towns, speak with characters, buy equipment and travel between locations, with turn-based battles forming a central part of the experience. Combat involves selecting commands for individual party members, managing health and magic, and developing characters through experience gained from encounters.

The game marked a change from the action-oriented mechanics associated with several earlier Dragon Slayer releases. Party management, character progression and a continuous storyline became central parts of the experience, establishing a structure Falcom would continue developing in later games.

The Legend of Heroes II picks up the story 20 years later

The second game continues the original storyline, moving events forward by approximately 20 years. This time, players take control of Atlas, the son of Selios, who becomes involved in a new adventure following the appearance of mysterious figures near the kingdom.

The sequel retains the main gameplay structure of its predecessor, combining exploration, equipment management and turn-based encounters with a new cast of characters. Its story remains directly connected to the first game, making the two titles a natural fit for a single collection.

How the games connect to the Trails series

The Legend of Heroes began as the sixth instalment in Nihon Falcom’s Dragon Slayer franchise, a series known for experimenting with different role-playing systems. The original two games eventually established The Legend of Heroes as a separate series, paving the way for later entries with new settings and characters.

Falcom would go on to develop the Gagharv trilogy and the Trails subseries, beginning with The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky in 2004. Modern Trails games feature their own connected storylines and settings, so players shouldn’t expect the original Dragon Slayer adventures to serve as direct prequels to the events of Trails in the Sky or Trails of Cold Steel. Instead, the collection offers a chance to see how the series developed its early approach to turn-based combat, character progression and story-driven exploration.

Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes I & II release date and platforms

Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes I & II is scheduled to launch worldwide in 2027 for PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. Edia has yet to announce a specific release date, pricing, supported languages or plans for physical editions.

Further details about the collection’s technical features and presentation remain unconfirmed, including potential adjustments for modern displays and differences between the console and PC versions. For now, the announcement confirms the return of the first two Legend of Heroes games as a single collection, with further information expected ahead of their planned 2027 release.

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