Chrono Trigger Meets Final Fantasy In Stunning New SNES-Inspired RPG

Published Oct 29, 2026, 11:01 PM EDT

Sharmila is an engineer-turned-gaming hardware journalist and freelance contributor at ScreenRant who has been covering the gaming and tech industry since 2021. While she first built her expertise writing about video games, she has since pivoted towards gaming hardware, with a focus on PC components, peripherals, handhelds, and performance-driven tech. When she’s not testing gear or writing about the latest hardware trends, she can usually be found diving into competitive shooters or keeping up with the evolving esports scene.

Some RPGs make you want to save the world, while others make you want to pack your bags and see what lies beyond the next town—but the best ones do both. Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy understood that a memorable adventure needs more than battles and a villain to defeat. A good cast, strange new worlds, and a worthwhile story matter just as much. If you’ve been itching to try something like that, an upcoming RPG looks ready to revisit that formula, complete with colorful pixel art, turn-based combat, and a journey that stretches across time.

Called Threads of Time, the upcoming RPG from developer Riyo Games and publisher Balor Games takes players across several eras, from prehistoric lands filled with dinosaurs to distant futuristic civilizations. Its 2.5D pixel art gives the adventure a distinctly retro look, while Unreal Engine 5 brings modern lighting and visual detail to its environments. The game draws inspiration from classic Japanese role-playing franchises, including Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy, but builds its own story around time travel and a group of heroes from different periods.

Threads of Time Takes Players Across Different Eras

Time travel sits at the heart of Threads of Time, as showcased in a new trailer on the Balor Games YouTube channel that reveals a Summer 2027 release window for the game. Rather than confining players to one fantasy kingdom or a single futuristic setting, the game moves between vastly different periods in history. One part of the journey takes place in a world where humans and dinosaurs coexist, while another introduces a futuristic society with its own problems and dangers.

These different settings also shape the game’s cast. Players get to recruit characters from across the ages and bring them together to face a threat that could unravel the past, present, and future. Among them is Rye, a young swordsman whose mysterious origins connect him to the legendary Time Knights. Other characters include Luna, an adventurous fireball-wielding ally, and Rin, a kitsune who fights for the vulnerable in a future dominated by wealthy corporations.

As for the story, it follows the restoration of the Order of the Time Knights, with the party uncovering secrets that connect different civilizations and periods.

Threads Of Time Is All About Turn-Based Combat With A Retro Look

Threads of Time sticks to turn-based combat, a familiar system for anyone who grew up playing classic JRPGs. However, battles aren’t limited to selecting individual attacks and waiting for enemies to fall. Players can combine their characters’ abilities to unleash powerful team attacks, while time-based mechanics help disrupt enemy defenses.

Visually, the game uses handcrafted 2D characters against three-dimensional environments. This approach gives it the appearance of a classic pixel-art RPG without restricting every location to the flat presentation of older games. The contrast between its character sprites and detailed surroundings is particularly noticeable when the adventure moves between prehistoric landscapes and neon-lit futuristic settings.

Threads of Time should appeal to players who enjoy traditional party-based RPGs but want something that looks more contemporary than an actual SNES release. Still, its eventual success will depend on how well its combat, characters, and story come together in the finished version.

Whether you’ve been a fan of Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy, or simply want to add a promising RPG to your library, Threads of Time is scheduled to launch in Summer 2027 on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. You can wishlist it now to receive launch updates or notifications for any special announcements.

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