FINAL FANTASY IX vs The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
FINAL FANTASY IX wins 11 of 14 head-to-head metrics. FINAL FANTASY IX is $2.41 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | FINAL FANTASY IX | The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Worth It | 74 | 74 |
| Quality | 91 | 89 |
| Value | 76 | 93 |
| Popularity | 33 | 30 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $6.77 | $9.18 |
| Steam Review Score | 95.1% positive | 94.5% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 306 | 98 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
FINAL FANTASY IX
Kinguin Cheapest Key marketplace$6.77−68%Buy 
GAMIVO Key marketplace$6.88−67%Buy 
Green Man Gaming Authorized reseller$20.99Buy The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
Side by side over time
FINAL FANTASY IXThe Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
Details and requirements
| Item | FINAL FANTASY IX | The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | April 14, 2016 | August 2, 2017 |
| Developers | Square Enix | Nihon Falcom |
| Publishers | Square Enix | XSEED Games, Marvelous USA, Inc. |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32bit / 64bit) | Windows 7 or later |
| Processor (minimum) | Core i5 2520 2.5GHz or better | Intel i3 3 GHz |
| Memory (minimum) | 4 GB RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 9.0c | Version 11 |
| Storage (minimum) | 20 GB available space | 17 GB available space |
| Sound Card (minimum) | DirectSound® compatible sound card（DirectX®9.0c or later） | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: FINAL FANTASY IX or The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel?
FINAL FANTASY IX won the comparison against The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is FINAL FANTASY IX worth buying over The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel?
Based on the metrics, FINAL FANTASY IX won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 02:34 PM UTC