The One That Got Away
I have a confession to make.
I never played Chrono Trigger in the 90s.
I was a kid when it came out in 1995. I had a SNES. I played Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, and Final Fantasy VI. I loved RPGs. But I never played Chrono Trigger.
I don't know why. Maybe I didn't have the money. Maybe I didn't know about it. Maybe I was too young to appreciate it. Whatever the reason, I missed it.
Over the years, I kept hearing about it. "Greatest RPG of all time." "One of the best games ever made." "A masterpiece that still holds up."
It became one of those games I always meant to play but never did.
In 2026, I finally decided to fix that. I bought the game on Steam, installed it, and started playing.
The question: is Chrono Trigger truly timeless? Or is it more important than it is fun to play in 2026?
What I Knew Going In
I knew a few things about Chrono Trigger before I started.
I knew it was a JRPG from 1995. I knew it was developed by Square and had a dream team of creators—Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, Akira Toriyama. I knew it had a time travel mechanic. I knew it had multiple endings. I knew it was considered one of the best games ever made.
I also knew it was old—over 30 years old in 2026. I knew the graphics would look dated. I knew the combat would feel simple. I knew it wouldn't have modern quality-of-life features.
I was prepared for the age. I wasn't prepared for how much I'd enjoy the game anyway.
My First Hours
I started on a Friday night. The kids were asleep. I had a few hours.
The opening sequence is simple. You control a character named Crono. You're at a fair. You meet a girl named Marle. You visit a teleportation device. Something goes wrong, and you get transported to the past.
The time travel mechanic is introduced immediately. You're in the past. You're trying to figure out how to get back to the present. The game hooks you quickly.
The combat is simple—turn-based, with a twist. You don't enter a separate battle screen. The fights happen on the same screen as the exploration. It's a small thing, but it makes the game feel more fluid.
The first few hours were enjoyable. The story was engaging. The characters were charming. The time travel mechanic was intriguing.
The Battle System
The battle system is one of the game's strengths.
It's turn-based, but with a twist. The active time battle (ATB) system means enemies attack in real time, even when you're selecting actions. You can't just wait forever. There's a sense of urgency.
You can also use "techs"—special moves that combine with other party members. You can combine Crono's lightning with Marle's ice to create a more powerful attack. It's simple but strategic.
The battles aren't overly complicated. You don't need to grind. You can progress through the game with minimal grinding. The game respects your time.
The Story
The story is where Chrono Trigger shines.
You travel through time—to the past, the present, the future, and beyond. You meet characters from different eras. You discover what's happening to the world. You try to save it.
The writing is excellent. The characters are memorable. The story is engaging without being overly complicated. You understand what's happening, you care about the characters, and you want to save the world.
The time travel mechanic isn't a gimmick. It's central to the story. The choices you make affect the future. The multiple endings reward exploration.
What Feels Dated
Not everything is perfect.
The Graphics. The game is from 1995. The graphics are pixel art. It's charming, but it's clearly from another era. The character sprites are small. The environments are simple. The animations are limited.
The Combat. The combat is simple. It's not as complex as modern RPGs. The strategy is limited. You can't customize your party in the way you can with modern games.
The Pacing. The game is about 20-25 hours long. That's not unreasonable, but some sections drag. The game could have been shorter.
The UI. The menus are dated. The inventory management is clunky. The save system is limited.
The Verdict
So, is Chrono Trigger still worth playing in 2026?
Yes. Absolutely.
The story is still excellent. The characters are still memorable. The time travel mechanic is still innovative. The game is still fun to play.
The graphics are dated, but they're still charming. The combat is simple, but it's still satisfying. The game is a classic for a reason.
If you've never played Chrono Trigger, I recommend it. It's one of the best games ever made. It's still worth your time in 2026.
Important doesn't always mean replayable. But Chrono Trigger is both important and replayable—and still worth your time.
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