Chrono Trigger's 30th: Why Threads of Time Might Be the Time-Traveling RPG We Actually Need (While Square Enix Tinkers)

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer · Mon Sep 29 2025

While Square Enix ponders vague *Chrono Trigger* anniversary projects, indie developer Riyo Games drops a captivating new gameplay trailer for *Threads of Time*, a spiritual successor that looks set to fill the time-traveling RPG void with its HD-2D visuals and dynamic battles.

Right then, gather 'round, mates, because I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you're waiting for a grand magical event to happen, something you've been promised for ages, and instead, a quiet, clever indie conjurer just pops up and delivers something genuinely exciting? That’s pretty much the vibe around *Chrono Trigger*'s 30th anniversary.

Square Enix, bless their cotton socks, has been vaguely hinting at "various projects" for their iconic time-traveling masterpiece. And honestly, fair dinkum, we're all still here holding our breath, trying to decipher what 'various' actually means beyond, say, a new line of adorable plushies or perhaps a commemorative coffee mug. Don't get me wrong, I love a good coffee mug, but it doesn't quite fill the existential void left by one of the greatest RPGs ever made. Meanwhile, out of seemingly nowhere, a fresh gameplay trailer has dropped for *Threads of Time*, a self-proclaimed 'spiritual successor' from Canadian outfit Riyo Games. And frankly, it's looking rather spiffing.

Now, let's cast our minds back. *Chrono Trigger* wasn't just *a* game; it was *the* game for many of us. Time travel that actually felt meaningful, a dream team of developers (Yuji Horii, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Akira Toriyama – talk about your supergroup!), a narrative that twisted and turned across epochs, and a battle system that felt innovative and snappy. It had character, heart, and a scope that made you genuinely feel like you were saving all of history. Thirty years on, and its shadow still looms large, a benchmark for storytelling and design. That's a high bar, mate, higher than my cat trying to jump for the top shelf biscuits.

So, when *Threads of Time* first surfaced at last year's Tokyo Game Show, my wizardly eyebrow was certainly raised. Could it truly capture that magic? The new trailer, premiered at the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct, goes a long way to calming those initial skeptical jitters. The biggest takeaway? It's embracing the multi-temporal madness wholeheartedly. One minute, your intrepid adventurers are doing the classic RPG stroll through a bustling medieval town, probably fighting some adorable, slightly-too-fluffy forest critters; the next, they're zipping through neon-drenched, rain-soaked cyberpunk cityscapes with flying cars buzzing overhead. Prehistory? Check. Future? Double-check. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Visually, Riyo Games is clearly leaning into that gorgeous 'HD-2D' aesthetic that *Octopath Traveler* made famous – a blend of pixel art and modern graphical effects that gives everything a wonderful sense of depth and charm. The animated cutscenes spliced into the trailer look absolutely lovely, really selling the narrative moments. However, and here's my gently skeptical side poking through like a rogue pixel, I do hope the character designs don't veer *too* heavily into pure *Chrono Trigger* mimicry. I'm looking at you, robot character – let's hope for more than just a C-series homage, eh? Innovation, even in spiritual succession, is key!

But what really grabbed me by the scruff of the neck was the battle system. It’s turn-based, as you’d expect from this genre, but there's a real sense of dynamic positioning. Characters seem to fight across foreground and background, which adds a surprising amount of visual interest and tactical depth. It feels like a smart evolution, somewhere between *Octopath*'s layered battles and *Dragon Quest*'s robust, iconic system. It's not just pretty sprites clashing; there's a stage, and they're using it. That’s clever stuff, and it makes me genuinely curious about the combat mechanics.

The timing of all this couldn't be more potent. *Chrono Trigger*'s 30th anniversary is this year, with fans practically begging for a proper re-release on current hardware – something Square Enix seems content to, shall we say, 'ponder' rather than 'provide'. Then there's the recent, spectacular success of *Sea of Stars* from fellow Canadian studio Sabotage, another retro-inspired RPG that absolutely smashed it out of the park and even just dropped its 'Throes of the Watchmaker' DLC. *Sea of Stars* proved there's a massive, hungry audience for games that honour the golden age of JRPGs without being mere clones. It feels like *Threads of Time* is surfing that same wave, catching the zeitgeist at just the right moment.

So, what does this all mean for us, the discerning gamers? It means hope, mate. While the corporate giants are busy polishing their 'various projects' (or perhaps just their coffee mugs), smaller, passionate studios like Riyo Games are stepping up, taking the lessons from legendary titles, and pouring their hearts into new experiences. *Threads of Time* has no release date yet, presumably PC-bound, but it could very well be the genuine article, the time-traveling adventure that fills that *Chrono Trigger*-shaped hole in our gaming souls. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the most exciting magic comes not from the grand, established wizards, but from the curious, clever apprentices who aren't afraid to conjure something new from old scrolls. I'm cautiously optimistic, but colour me intrigued. Very intrigued indeed.

Original Source: Eurogamer, Ed Nightingale.

Tags: Chrono Trigger, RPG, Indie Games, Retro Gaming, Time Travel

Original article: Eurogamer