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6 reasons why Chrono Trigger is still amazing after 30 years

15/8/2025

Translation: Elicia Payne

The JRPG Chrono Trigger was at the top of my pile of shame for years. 30 years, to be precise. That’s how old the game is now, which is why I finally played my way through this masterpiece on its anniversary.

Final Fantasy mastermind Hironobu Sakaguchi, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii and Dragon Ball mangaka Akira Toriyama: in 1995 they came together and formed a team for Chrono Trigger. Sakaguchi was already known for his epic stories, Horii for his likeable and funny characters and Toriyama for his iconic character designs. No wonder the game’s still considered the best JRPG of all time.

Three legends together: Akira Toriyama, Yuji Horii and Hironobu Sakaguchi.
Source: Akira Toriyama Art

Until recently, the game was just a name to me. Although Japanese role-playing games are my favourite genre, I hadn’t played it yet. Over the summer, the time had come to put the masterpiece on my Steam deck and fully understand the hype surrounding the game, even 30 years after its release.

Here are my 6 reasons why Chrono Trigger is still impressive today.

1. Time travel adventure

Nowadays, it’s impossible to imagine video games without complex time travel stories. Things were different in the mid-nineties. In the game, young Crono and his friends take it upon themselves to save the world from the apocalyptic monster Lavos. To do this, they have to travel back and forth through time – from 65 million years before the Common Era to 2300 after the beginning of the Common Era. I experience how the world’s developing and discover something new in every period. But there are also dungeons and towns that stand the test of time. I can visit them in several eras, one of them being the Guardia Castle. Even if the story’s no longer completely polished from today’s perspective, it’s still fascinating.

Time travel was still uncharted territory in video games in the mid-nineties.
Source: Kevin Hofer

2. Decisions have consequences

As if that wasn’t enough, my actions also have a real impact on the world. The statue of an enemy is swapped with that of another character in the present, for example, after I’ve defeated the former in the past. Whether I save a girl’s cat or not also has an influence on a court case brought against me later. Nowadays, that doesn’t sound crazy, but in the mid-90s it was revolutionary and provided an immersive gaming experience. Chrono Trigger also has 13 possible endings, which in turn differ in minor details based on my decisions.

Whether or not I return the missing cat to the girl has consequences.
Source: Kevin Hofer

3. Likeable characters

Chrono Trigger wouldn’t be half as good without the superbly written characters. The intelligent but nerdy inventor Lucca or cheeky princess Marle seem clichéd at the beginning. However, in various subplots, be it in the main story or in side quests, they’re given a surprising amount of depth. They maintain their mannerisms, but I learn why they’re like that. With character Frog, for example, I find out why he’s a frog – he wasn’t always that way. Or I get a glimpse behind the motivation of a former enemy. So even the supposed evil doesn’t remain evil throughout, it has its good side too.

I just like the characters.
Source: Kevin Hofer

4. Iconic character design

Yes, Crono looks like Son-Goku from Dragon Ball with red hair. But that’s definitely not a bad thing. Especially for those of us in the West, who’ve probably gained access to the medium through the legendary manga or anime, giving us a sense of familiarity. The writing of mangaka Akira Toriyama is also clearly recognisable in the other main characters and the villains. Even though I’m no longer the Dragon Ball fan I used to be, I still love the designs in Chrono Trigger. Simply because I immediately feel «at home». In the re-release for the first PlayStation, Toriyama’s studio even created anime cutscenes that fit perfectly into the game.

Toriyama’s studio made cutscenes specifically for the PlayStation version. They’re also available on the Steam version.
Source: Kevin Hofer

5. No random fights

In JRPGs of the nineties, random battles were the norm. Chrono Trigger, however, took a different approach. Instead of sweeping away enemies on a separate battle screen, you can already see them as you run through the numerous dungeons. If you come into contact with them, the fight starts. But that’s not what makes this game special. Enemies don’t just pop up or stand around somewhere – they’re involved in some kind of action. Goblins, for example, play with a Roundillo. Kilwala spin joyfully in circles. Really nasty opponents lie in ambush. The sprites were specifically animated for all these actions, which would’ve been an enormous effort at the time and challenging for the limited storage space. Many fights also have gimmicks, such as being able to flip a switch with an attack.

Nice and nasty: goblins misuse this roundillo as a ball. At least I can sneak past unnoticed.
Source: Kevin Hofer

6. Timeless soundtrack

The soundtrack of Chrono Trigger is fantastic. The music perfectly complements the epic story and unforgettable battles. Since I started playing the game and even now, I’ve been listening to certain tracks even when I’m not in-game – currently I have the «Battle Theme» stuck in my head. Composer Yasunori Mitsuda literally jeopardised his career and health for the game – he composed until he passed out. In the end, he even had to go to hospital because of stomach ulcers, which is why the legendary Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu had to finish off a few more tracks.

Speaking of stomach ulcers, you shouldn’t get them from playing Chrono Trigger. The level of difficulty is moderate, which makes the game easily accessible even for non-genre fans. The easiest way to play it today is via Steam or on Android or iOS.

Header image: Square Enix

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Kevin Hofer

Senior Editor

kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.ch

From big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.

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