How to Play Trine Games in Order

In the recent years, Co-op Video Games have lowered in their popularity. As most Video Games have moved onto Free-to-Play Online Games with the majority feeling like carbon copies wrapped neatly around a Pay-to-Win Bundle. In the recent years some Co-op Video Games have stood out amongst the pack as being some of the best games to play with your family or in a couple. With Unravel, It Takes Two and Moving Out, these were successful in the Gaming Industry for revitalising Co-op and the Trine franchise is no different with its consistency and upgrade with every installment.

But with more and more Remakes hitting our screen and the rebirth of massive classic franchises such as Metroid, we are seeing more Video Games from older classics return with upgraded gameplay and beautiful aesthetics. One of these is the Co-op Platformer, Trine, with their fifth installment announced to release in 2023. For those who have never played this franchise before, this is the order in which you should play the Trine franchise. Spoiler: the order will not surprise you.

What is Trine?

Throughout the years, Trine has stayed faithful to their core gameplay mechanics, being a Co-op Platformer. They have never swayed away from their Co-op USP, with the recurring three protagonists that offer different skills, playstyles and looks for the various pairs of players that try this Platformer out. Unlike massive Co-op Video Games such as Resident Evil 5, Portal and others, players do not have an option regarding how their character looks or behaves and whilst Trine is the same, having three very different characters lets players fit into the type of hero mould they view themselves as. In a magical adventure, you get to be exactly who you envision yourself to be.

What Platformer Video Games throughout the years have given us is great, challenging and fulfilling experiences but only as Single-Player. From the great and remade – Crash Bandicoot and Spyro to the nostalgic classics – Abe’s Odyssey and Rayman, whilst these are regarded as some of the best, they do not have the unique gameplay and fun of playing with your family, friends or partner. There is something I deeply miss about the old-school Co-op Video Games regardless of their genre and gameplay. But Trine has consistently filled this void.

Trine is a Adventure Platformer, with a fantasy narrative in which you follow our three protagonists – Zoya, the Thief, Pontius, the Knight and Amadeus, the Wizard. Tasked with Quests to protect the realm and regularly look after the Astral Academy. The game focusses more on its gameplay than its narrative, with its story primarily being told through narration in the first installment, Trine (2009) that has continued across the franchise.

Related: All Trine Games Ranked from Worst to Best.

What Order Should I Play the Trine Franchise in?

Since the beginning of Trine (see what I did there), the narrative has followed our three heroes – Zoya, Pontius and Amadeus. With every game comes a new endeavour in which they must battle foes and solve challenging Platform Puzzles to progress through this Side-Scroller. As the storyline has continuously stayed with the Thief, Wizard and Knight, it is to no surprise that the franchise follows a single linear route in which it is followed from the first game to its final. As Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is set to release within 2023, we can expect this to follow directly on from the events of Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince.

Becoming the frequent protectors of the realm, our heroes are all that is left to save others from dark magic within their soul and to put a stop to anyone trying to claim the Throne. If you have not played Trine and are interested in this Fantasy Adventure Platformer, regardless of its Co-op feature, you will want to start at Trine (2009) and follow the games in the order of their release. Therefore, the correct order to play this franchise is the same as if you started in 2009 for the first game and played every Trine game following their release.

The most consistent platform to play the Trine franchise on is PC and PS4, although the games within the franchise are available on other platforms, you can purchase every game on PC or PS4 if these are your preferred platforms to play on. Trine franchise is also available on the Xbox One, although the first game is available on the Xbox 360. The order you will want to play Trine in is: Trine (2009), Trine 2 (2011), Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power (2015), Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince (2019) and finally the upcoming, Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy (2023).

We hope you enjoyed this article and are excited for the fifth Trine game – A Clockwork Conspiracy. For other Video Game guides, from Pokémon and Ragnarok Origin to Roblox and Call of Duty, feel free to browse through your favorite games over at Gamer Journalist.