They traveled to the ends of time — to find out what you can still change today.
In 1992, Sakaguchi, Horii, and Toriyama traveled to the United States to study computer graphics. On that trip, they decided to make something together that 'no one had done before.' The game they built lets you roam freely through past, present, and future — yet Sakaguchi drew a firm line: 'Even if the player changes history, when you return to your original time, it should be the same Marle there that you knew from before.' The people you love don't become strangers just because the timeline shifts. Screenwriter Masato Kato added 12 separate endings not to give players more plot, but because he couldn't branch the story any other way — and discovered that when you choose to act matters as much as what you choose. The whole architecture quietly insists: the past is a place to understand, the future is a consequence to see, but the only thing you can move is right now.
— inspired by Hironobu Sakaguchi
I played it — I'm certain of that. But honestly, I don't remember much. I must have been busy. What remained, faintly, was the music.
Later, I came to understand just how extraordinary it had been. Yuji Horii of Dragon Quest, Hironobu Sakaguchi of Final Fantasy, and Akira Toriyama — three people who had shaped a generation — made one game together. They had met during a business trip to America in 1992 and decided to create something no one had done before. The deal that brought them together — lending Horii from Enix to Square — was arranged by Kazuhiko Torishima, the editor known as Mashirito, the same man who had brought Toriyama into Dragon Quest years before. The joys of a Showa-era childhood had a single person threading them together all along.
The composer, Yasunori Mitsuda, was a young Square employee whose days were spent on sound effects. He kept asking for the chance to compose until he was finally given it. He pushed himself so hard he ended up with a stomach ulcer. Chrono Trigger was his debut.
I had always wondered: why is this game spoken of so fervently around the world now? In 2018, it became available on Steam, and players across Europe — where it had never been released — discovered it for the first time. Then in March 2024, Akira Toriyama passed away at the age of 68. A French newspaper ran his illustration on its front page and wrote that "virtually all youth culture of this century has been shaped by Toriyama." The world mourned, and Chrono Trigger was remembered again.
A game I barely remembered turned out to be connected to a story of world proportions.
About this game
Chrono Trigger is the Super Famicom RPG most frequently named on "greatest games" lists. Created by a "Dream Team" of Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, and Akira Toriyama — the creators of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Dragon Ball — it follows Crono and companions across seven time periods, from 65,000,000 BC to 2300 AD. The game introduced dual and triple character combination attacks, multiple distinct endings, and a New Game+ system. It sold two million copies in Japan in its first two months.
Key Features
Active Time Battle system with 13 dual and triple combination techniques. Seven distinct time periods each with unique art design and enemies. Thirteen multiple endings, determined by decisions throughout the game. New Game+ (carry stats and equipment into a second playthrough). Akira Toriyama character and enemy designs consistent with Dragon Ball aesthetic. No random encounters — all enemies visible on the field map.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Chrono Trigger arrived in the final year of the Super Famicom's peak — the 32-bit transition was imminent, Sony's PlayStation was arriving in Japan in December 1994, and Sega's Saturn had launched the same month. The game's creation story became legendary: Sakaguchi and Horii met by chance at a trip to the United States, sketched out the project on a napkin, then convinced Toriyama to join. Composer Yasunori Mitsuda's debut as lead composer on the project was so intense he reportedly developed a stomach ulcer; Nobuo Uematsu completed several tracks to relieve him. The game sold 2 million copies in its first two months in Japan, finishing 1995 as the second best-selling game in the country.
Tricks & Tales
The "Lavos" final boss can be fought at any time once the bucket portal is accessible — meaning the game can be completed in under 2 hours by a skilled player who knows the shortcuts. The "Dream's Epilogue" ending — obtained only in New Game+ — is considered one of the most emotionally resonant endings in gaming history. The game's Battle Mode (originally "Active Time Battle") was refined specifically for Chrono Trigger from Final Fantasy IV's system. Each of the game's 13 endings was intended to reflect the consequence of when and how players chose to confront Lavos.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Japanese Super Famicom version and North American SNES version have minor translation differences. The North American version is titled "Chrono Trigger" — same as Japan. Japanese cartridge plays on Super Famicom and region-free units only. A well-regarded fan translation exists for players who prefer reading in English on original hardware.
Maintenance Tips
Battery-backed save via CR2032. Among the most sought-after CIB SNES games — the original cardboard box, manual, and all inserts in excellent condition command large premiums. The cartridge itself is common but complete boxes are scarce in Japan. Clean contacts with isopropyl alcohol if audio glitching occurs (the SPC700 sound chip is sensitive to dirty pin connections).
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Chrono Trigger copies regularly.
Is the save battery in a thirty-year-old Chrono Trigger cartridge still working?
Probably not. Chrono Trigger saves to SRAM backed by a CR2032 coin cell, and the typical lifespan of those batteries is 15 to 25 years. A 1995 cartridge is now past that window. The symptom is clear: the game cannot save, or saves disappear the moment the cartridge loses power. Battery replacement is possible — the cell is soldered to the board rather than socketed, so it requires a basic soldering job — but the safest approach is to buy from a seller who has tested the saves and confirmed they hold.
Will a Japanese Super Famicom cartridge work on my North American SNES?
No — not without modification. The Japanese Super Famicom cartridge has a different shell shape from the North American SNES, and the slot geometry prevents it from seating. Some players remove the two plastic tabs inside the SNES cartridge slot to accept Super Famicom carts; others use a pass-through adapter. On a Super Famicom, the game runs in Japanese without any modification needed.
Chrono Trigger is one of the most counterfeited Super Famicom games — how do I spot a reproduction?
Reproductions typically use aftermarket circuit boards with different stamped numbers and replacement labels. Ask the seller for a photo of the board through the cartridge opening — a genuine board carries a Nintendo-printed part number and factory soldering. The cartridge shell should have a moulded serial number on the back and the original security screws. Buying from a licensed second-hand dealer (古物商) is the simplest practical protection — by law, stock has a traceable origin on record.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Chrono Trigger
Buying a thirty-year-old cartridge comes down to a few simple checks — and choosing a seller who has already done them. Here is what to look for, with any seller, anywhere.
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Check that the save battery still works
Chrono Trigger stores your game on a CR2032 coin cell. After thirty years it is past the 15–25 year life of the original battery, and a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Look for a seller who has powered it on and confirmed the save writes and holds. If a listing says nothing about testing, ask before you buy.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is the Japanese Super Famicom version. Its shell is shaped differently from the North American SNES and will not fit without modification.
Play it on a Super Famicom or a region-free console. If you only have an SNES, confirm the listing states the region clearly.
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Confirm it is genuine, not a reproduction
Chrono Trigger is one of the most copied Super Famicom carts. Reproductions use replacement labels and aftermarket boards.
Ask for a photo of the circuit board, and look for a factory-stamped number on the shell, security screws, and Nintendo markings. Favour a shop with a licensed second-hand dealer permit (古物商) — by law its stock has a traceable origin, your simplest guard against fakes.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in carts this old.
Choose a seller who cleans contacts before shipping. A note that the game was tested and cleaned tells you the basics were handled.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A cartridge that has actually been powered on and checked — startup, picture, sound, every button — is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you can only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states the game was function-tested before shipping and says what they confirmed. A serious seller will tell you exactly what was checked.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — it means packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A 30-day return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Chrono Trigger sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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