It’s Been Over 15 Years Since We Got a New Entry in This JRPG Series, But I Refuse to Admit That It’s Dead

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Like many gamers, I have certain games that really stuck with me and shaped my love for gaming. I first discovered it as a young child through Nintendo 64 classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario 64, thanks to my cousin. I was only six, but I was instantly hooked! That Christmas, I asked for a Game Boy Advance, and my parents came through. But the gifts didn’t stop there – my grandmother also got me three games: Jurassic Park 3: The DNA Factor, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, and Golden Sun. Golden Sun was especially important, as it was one of the first JRPG games I ever played, and it remains a defining experience for me.

While Golden Sun never topped the charts, it’s become a beloved game for a dedicated fanbase. The original game did well enough to get a sequel, and that led to a third installment – all of which I enjoyed playing. I still consider the first Golden Sun my favorite, but The Lost Age and Dark Dawn completed a truly special JRPG series. It’s been 15 years since the last game came out for the Nintendo DS, and I’m still hoping for a revival.

15 Years Later and a Fourth Golden Sun Game is Still Nowhere in Sight

  • Golden Sun (2001)
  • Golden Sun: The Lost Age (2002)
  • Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (2010)

It had been a while between the release of The Lost Age and Dark Dawn, but fans are still disappointed that it’s been 15 years with no new Golden Sun game. While Dark Dawn didn’t sell or receive reviews as well as the earlier titles, it wasn’t a complete failure – it has a respectable 79 on Metacritic, though lower than Golden Sun’s 91 and The Lost Age’s 86. Although Dark Dawn didn’t fully live up to expectations, one less-than-perfect game shouldn’t end a series. The real issue is sales: Dark Dawn sold fewer than a million units, and those numbers are likely the reason Nintendo hasn’t pursued another Golden Sun game, effectively putting the series on hold.

Dark Dawn Left the Door Wide Open For One More Game

One of the most disappointing things about Dark Dawn is that it ends with a huge cliffhanger. I won’t reveal any details to avoid spoilers, but the story clearly wasn’t finished. Thankfully, Golden Sun and The Lost Age work well together as a complete story. While Dark Dawn is set 30 years later and feels distinct, it’s frustrating to know the developers were planning a larger, ongoing narrative.

At This Point, I’ll Even Take a Golden Sun Remake

While a full remake of Golden Sun isn’t what I’m hoping for, I’d be happy with anything related to the series at this point. After Dark Dawn, the developers at Camelot Software Planning have exclusively worked on Mario sports games. They’ve released seven such games since 2012, making a return to Golden Sun seem very unlikely in the foreseeable future.

While Camelot Software Planning, the original developer, might be a good fit to remake Golden Sun, Nintendo hasn’t indicated any plans to do so. Even if a remake does happen, another studio could take the lead. The recent Super Mario RPG remake proved that a classic JRPG can be successfully reimagined, and the same could be done for Golden Sun. A 3D remake is a possibility, and could attract new players, but it would likely be divisive among fans. Golden Sun‘s unique art style is a key part of its appeal, so any remake would need to be handled with a lot of care and attention to detail.

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Golden Sun Perfected So Many of the Features That Define a Strong JRPG

  • Music
  • World-building
  • Story
  • Visuals
  • Exploration

What truly set Golden Sun apart wasn’t just its quality, but its unique Djinn and Psynergy systems. The Djinn system added a fun, *Pokémonlike collecting element to the game, and Psynergy made both battles and puzzles more complex and engaging than you’d typically find in similar games.

The soundtrack remains exceptional, and despite its simple pixel art, the game boasts a beautiful and memorable style. It’s a JRPG with a rich story that still feels special, even with all the new games in the genre. Golden Sun is a franchise that truly deserves a sequel.

Motoi Sakuraba composed the music for the Golden Sun series. He’s a well-known game composer, and also created the scores for popular titles like Dark Souls and Star Ocean.

While it didn’t become as massively popular as games like Final Fantasy, Golden Sun still has a dedicated following today, with fans still discussing it on platforms like Reddit. Although the games didn’t sell as well as Nintendo hoped, I haven’t given up on the possibility of a fourth installment. I know it’s probably just wishful thinking, but the series introduced me to the wonderful world of JRPGs, and I’ll always be grateful for that. I’m still hoping to see Golden Sun make a comeback.

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2026-02-12 23:11