The 92 Metacritic JRPG With the Best Plot Twist in 16-Bit History (& It’s Not Final Fantasy 6)

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The 16-bit gaming era created many beloved and important games, particularly in the role-playing genre. Many consider the 1990s a golden age for Japanese role-playing games, or JRPGs, and Final Fantasy 6 is frequently mentioned as one of the very best. However, another game from Square, released only a year later, is often considered even better.

Both Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6 are widely considered classics, each earning a 92 rating on Metacritic. Chrono Trigger’s lasting popularity is largely due to its unique development: it was a passion project bringing together some of the biggest names in the industry. Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii teamed up with Final Fantasy’s Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Dragon Ball artist Akira Toriyama, to lead the game’s creation. They were joined by composers Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu. Given the incredible talent involved, Chrono Trigger faced high expectations, especially considering comparisons to Final Fantasy 6. However, it exceeded those expectations, featuring a remarkable twist that many fans consider even better than the one in Final Fantasy 6.

Spoilers for Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6.

Chrono Trigger’s Shocking Plot Twist Is One for the Ages

Image via Nintendo

About halfway through Chrono Trigger, the story takes a shocking turn. After journeying through time, gathering allies, and learning secrets about the past and future, the heroes face Queen Zeal, a major villain attempting to carry out her ambitious plan. She intends to gain immortality by harnessing the power of Lavos – the true, incredibly powerful alien threat at the heart of Chrono Trigger.

Everything seemed to be building towards a typical heroic rescue: the heroes arrived just in time to stop the villain and restore history. But during the battle, it became clear they were outmatched. As Zeal celebrated her win and prepared a finishing blow, the main hero of Chrono Trigger bravely sacrificed himself to save his friends. The resulting magical blast then scattered the survivors throughout time.

Honestly, when that happened, my jaw just dropped – I think it mirrored how all the characters were feeling! It totally threw everything off, and suddenly, both I as the player and everyone in the game were just… lost. It felt like the story had been completely reset. Crono’s death wasn’t just a plot point; it created so many new questions and possibilities, and I immediately started wondering where things would go from there and how I could even move forward.

  • The loss of the main character and his skills
  • Rebalancing the remaining party members and rethinking strategies
  • Choosing from among a series of substantial, though technically optional, side adventures to pursue

Saving Crono is one of the game’s side quests, and most players will probably try to do it. However, it’s completely optional – you can actually finish Chrono Trigger without completing it. This surprising design choice was really innovative for its time and contributed to the game’s lasting popularity and influence.

The Lasting Legacy of Chrono Trigger’s Timeless Twist

Image via Steam

One of the most memorable moments in Chrono Trigger is when its main character unexpectedly dies during a key battle. This bold move was groundbreaking for role-playing games at the time, and it remains a powerfully emotional twist even 30 years later. It shocked players and influenced game design, paving the way for similar dramatic moments in games like Final Fantasy 7. This single decision cemented Chrono Trigger‘s place in gaming history and continues to resonate with fans and developers alike.

Final Fantasy 6 vs. Chrono Trigger

Beyond the well-known highlights of games like Final Fantasy 6 and Chrono Trigger, their stories share several surprising connections and memorable scenes.

Chrono Trigger Final Fantasy 6
Crono dies at the hands of Lavos and Queen Zeal Kefka unleashes the power of the Warring Triad and creates the World of Ruin
Marle is Princess Nadia Terra is half-Esper
Frog is Glenn Celeste is a former agent of the Empire
Janus is Magus/The Prophet Kefka poisons Doma’s water supply

Both Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI are considered top-tier classic JRPGs, but Chrono Trigger is generally considered better because it pushes the boundaries of the genre further.

Why Chrono Trigger’s Plot Twist is Better Than Final Fantasy 6’s

One of the most shocking moments in Final Fantasy 6 happens when the villainous Kefka Palazzo betrays Emperor Gestahl and destroys the world. What makes this unique is that the villain actually succeeds – a truly surprising twist. Despite the apocalypse and its aftermath, none of the heroes died. While the world changed from the World of Balance to the World of Ruin and the characters were scattered, they all survived.

If players don’t wait for Shadow at the Floating Continent, he’ll disappear from the game permanently.

One of the most surprising things about Chrono Trigger is when its hero suddenly disappears at a crucial point in the story. The game even hides the fact that you can actually get him back, which is a brilliant way to catch players off guard. This moment is both deeply moving and has a huge effect on the story and how you play the game. While Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6 are both excellent, Chrono Trigger‘s willingness to take this risk – and execute it so well – gives it the advantage, solidifying its place as the JRPG with the most memorable twist in the 16-bit era.

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2025-12-09 15:06