Best Games Like Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is considered one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, with the time-traveling journey this game sends players through in a bid to take down Lavos being intensely riveting and one of the greatest narratives ever told in the genre. Clearly, the dream team of Akira Toriyama, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Yuji Horii was a masterstroke if it led to the creation of this compelling adventure.

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To this day, Chrono Trigger is still used as the bar people use when evaluating the quality of other games in the genre, with many modern JRPGs not even holding a candle to the brilliance of this amazing title. Players who love this game and want to check out more titles in the same vein will find a fair share of experiences that try to emulate its brilliance, although whether they reach the same level is a whole different story.

Updated on February 21, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: It's hard to find JRPG fans who haven't played Chrono Trigger, a masterpiece of a video game that continues to influence many developers to this day. The dream trio of Yuji Horii, Akira Toriyama, and Hironobu Sakaguchi combined their efforts to make an excellent video game that continues to stand the test of time as a JRPG that features a time-traveling plot for the ages where players can tackle the final boss whenever they see fit. People who want to check out more games in the same vein have countless options available, but some titles are arguably a lot more suited to the task than others.

10 Sea Of Stars

A Modern Take On Well-Established JRPG Tropes That Isn't Shy About Proclaiming Its Love For Chrono Trigger

Many indie JRPGs have made it a point to channel their love for Chrono Trigger in some form or another, and a great example of the same is Sea of Stars. This charming role-playing game features a wealth of content that will keep players busy for hours on end.

Sea of Stars features excellent puzzle design, with the two heroes using the power of the Sun and Moon to fight their enemies. Players who want to enjoy the feeling of playing retro JRPGs once again will find this title to be right up their alley.

9 Chrono Cross

A Sequel To Everyone's Beloved JRPG That Took Things In A New And Interesting Direction

The expectations for Chrono Cross were through the roof, with most people expecting this title to eclipse the first game's quality. This meant that fans were bound to be disappointed if Cross wouldn't be a genre-defining title, which was a pretty unrealistic expectation from the get-go.

Over the years, players have warmed up to this JRPG and decided to go about things in a different manner. Featuring a massive cast of playable characters and a unique plot that messes around with the fourth dimension, it's a no-brainer that fans of Chrono Trigger should check out an official sequel to this game.

8 Final Fantasy 6: Pixel Remaster

Ramps Up The Challenge In One Of The Most Beloved Final Fantasy Games Ever Made

Final Fantasy 6 is one of the greatest video games ever made, and it's easy to see why fans were awaiting the Pixel Remaster of this title for the longest time. Upon finally getting their hands on this entry, fans were more than happy to find out that this game ramped up the challenge quite a bit by making it more likely for enemies to use their strongest attacks.

Players who've played through Final Fantasy 6 before time and time again had to approach the game in a different manner to not be obliterated by enemies, which made for a welcome change that increased the intensity of the title in the eyes of many. Fans of Chrono Trigger will love playing through another retro JRPG released around the same time that blew everyone's minds at launch and continues to hold a special place in their hearts.

7 I Am Setsuna

A Homage To Chrono Trigger's Gameplay In Many Ways

Many modern JRPGs try to pay homage to Chrono Trigger in their own way, and I Am Setsuna is no exception. The beautiful soundtrack and engaging combat make this JRPG quite fun to play through, even if it may lack the same charm and magic as Chrono Trigger.

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The story could've been something special but treads most of the same ground as Final Fantasy 10, a game that executed the whole sacrifice angle in a better way. However, despite not bringing anything new to the table, I Am Setsuna is still a blast that fans should check out if they like modern takes on classic games.

6 Final Fantasy 10

The Conditional Turn-Based Battle System Is Fast-Paced And Exciting

Final Fantasy 10 is an unforgettable JRPG, making for a strong debut on the PlayStation 2. The graphics were truly groundbreaking for the time, and the revamped combat system made battles faster and more fun than ever before.

Given just how many times this game has been re-released, it's easily one of the more accessible titles in the series that fans can check out for themselves. The love story of Tidus and Yuna is truly breathtaking, and watching the heroes fight against their fates to take out Sin once and for all makes for a great time.

5 Chained Echoes

A Stunning Indie JRPG Reminiscent Of Classic Games In The Genre

Chained Echoes is an indie RPG that came out of nowhere and became quite popular. The title places more importance on equipment, with players having to wear better weapons and armor at unique intervals to stand a chance against the many monsters that stand in their way.

The game's Overdrive system and snappy combat make for a great time, with the visuals being charming and cohesive as well. Fans of old-school JRPGs will enjoy the time they spend with Chained Echoes.

4 Persona 5

Flashy Combat And A Riveting Story Propelled By A Cast Of Memorable Characters

Fans were hyped to the moon and back with the announcement of Persona 5, with its striking art style making many salivate at the prospect of playing this amazing game. Upon launch, the game established itself as one of the greatest and most stylish JRPGs ever made.

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The story of Joker and the Phantom Thieves as they fought back against the abuse of power carried out by irresponsible adults made for an interesting experience. Players who get their hands on Persona 5 Royal can check out an epilogue that deals with a completely different threat in the form of Takuto Maruki.

3 Octopath Traveler 2

The HD-2D Art Style Makes The Retro Graphics Look Beautiful In Their Own Way

The HD-2D engine has become a favorite of many JRPG fans because of how beautiful it looks, with Octopath Traveler being the first title to show the potential of these visuals. However, while the combat and art style of the game were great, the narrative suffered because each hero had a disjointed tale that made it harder to get invested in their stories.

This changed with the advent of Octopath Traveler 2, which addressed these issues by actually allowing characters to interact with each other instead of interacting on a completely different screen that felt disconnected from the events that were transpiring in the game. It's a small but notable improvement along with many other inclusions that makes this game a perfect sequel in almost every way.

2 Earthbound

An Anti-JRPG With A Charming Aesthetic And Fun Gameplay

Players who want to check out a charming game with endearing visuals will be more than happy with what Earthbound brings to the table. This unique JRPG was unlike anything seen at the time, choosing to take place in regular towns and cities instead of the grand fantastical settings explored by its contemporaries.

As a result, many people didn't pay attention to Earthbound, with the game's odd marketing campaign leading to it being a commercial flop. Since then, the title has gained steam and is considered by many to be one of the most innovative JRPGs of all time, inspiring indie gems like Undertale and LISA: The Painful.

1 Omori

A Psychological Horror JRPG With One Of The Most Emotional Stories Ever Told In A Video Game

Omori is easily one of the scariest JRPGs anybody can check out. The game starts cheerfully enough before a tense and unnerving moment reveals a mystery that sheds some much-needed light on the relationship between Sunny and Omori.

Omori is a game that takes players on an extremely emotional journey, with the true ending being a tearjerker in every way. This psychological horror JRPG deals with some pretty harrowing themes that are not for the faint of heart, so players should be aware of the triggering content present in this game before diving in.

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Chrono Trigger

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Released

March 11, 1995

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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

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Developer(s)

Square Enix

Platform(s)

SNES, PlayStation (Original), PC, Nintendo DS, Android, iOS

Genre(s)

RPG

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