Which Is the Best Version of Chrono Trigger in 2025? PC, Mobile, SNES, DS, and PS1 Compared

Chrono Trigger turned 30 this week. It was my first Square Enix or Square game, and I still consider it one of the greatest of all time. Since its debut on SNES and Super Famicom in the 90s, we've had many ports across consoles, PC, and mobile platforms over the years. Each of those makes some changes to the game through added content, UI adjustments, new cut-scenes, some speed changes, visual changes, and more.

Following my Final Fantasy IX 25th anniversary feature going over every version and tackling the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series, Chrono Trigger's 30th anniversary was a good opportunity for me to check out the current state of the game across every platform to find the best version in 2025. Whether you plan on celebrating Chrono Trigger's anniversary by revisiting the game or want to finally play one of the best RPGs ever, my new feature aims to help you find which version of Chrono Trigger across PC, mobile, Nintendo DS, PS1, and SNES you should buy and play.

Chrono Trigger versions available to buy today

There are four different versions of Chrono Trigger: SNES, Nintendo DS, PlayStation, and the modern mobile and PC version. Some of these have been released digitally through Virtual Console or even PSN releases, but when it came to the current platforms, only the mobile and Steam version are still available to buy. The PS1 version which was released on PSN still shows up in search results with a $9.99 price point on my PS Vita as of this writing. Barring that, there are no other versions available to buy today since the Wii Virtual Console release is no longer available to buy.

Chrono Trigger release timeline from 1995

Before getting to the version and content differences, I need to provide some context with the release timeline across platforms. 

• March 1995: Chrono Trigger releases for Super Famicom in Japan.
• August 1995: Chrono Trigger releases for the SNES in North America. It was never released in Europe.
• November 1999: Chrono Trigger is released for PlayStation 1 in Japan.
• June 2001: Chrono Trigger is released for the PlayStation 1 in North America bundled with Final Fantasy IV as Final Fantasy Chronicles.
• November 2008: Chrono Trigger gets an enhanced release for Nintendo DS in North America and Japan.
• February 2009: Chrono Trigger's DS version is released in Europe and Australia.
• April 2011: The SFC version of Chrono Trigger is released for the Wii Virtual Console in Japan and it was released on the i-mode service for cellphones in Japan.
• May 2011: The SNES version of Chrono Trigger is released for Wii Virtual Console in not only North America, but Europe making this the first time the original version was released in Europe.
• October 2011: Chrono Trigger's PlayStation 1 version is released on the PlayStation Network for PSP, PS Vita, and PS3.
• December 2011: Chrono Trigger launches on iOS worldwide with touch controls and also in Japan on Android.
• October 2012: Chrono Trigger launches on Android outside Japan.
• February 2018: Chrono Trigger gets overhauled on mobile and also launches on Steam.

Chrono Trigger features and content differences across versions and platforms

The SNES (and SFC) version serves as a base since it was the original release after all. When Square brought Chrono Trigger to the original PlayStation, new animated cut-scenes were added alongside an extras section featuring a cut-scene viewer, music player, and more. The PS1 version of Chrono Trigger also features more save slots compared to the original. This version suffered because of its long load times throughout.

Nearly a decade after it launched on PS1, a Nintendo DS version was released featuring an updated translation, all of the extra content from the PS1 version, and added gameplay content. This DS release featured none of the load time issues as well. The DS version serves as the base for the modern Chrono Trigger platform release which debuted back in 2011 on iOS. The updated translation has fixes for issues present on SNES, but some of the changes like Frog's dialog weren't too well-received by those who played the game through its original release. I've played Chrono Trigger both ways and don't really have a preference. The DS version also fixes a lot of bugs present in prior versions.

Chrono Trigger Steam vs mobile version differences

There's a misconception that Square Enix ported the "mobile" version of Chrono Trigger to Steam when it debuted on PC back in 2018. What actually happened is that the mobile version on iOS got a big update the same time the Steam version was released. This update was a massive visual regression which still hasn't been addressed to this day on mobile. It has been dealt with on PC at least with updates that let you use the classic aesthetic with proper pixel art as opposed to the poor filtering and bad tiling present on mobile and by default on Steam. So Square Enix essentially updated the mobile version and released the Steam version on the same day. As far as I'm concerned, the mobile version was a lot better before this update. 

High Resolution vs Original visuals

Is the new content in Chrono Trigger on DS worth it?

Chrono Trigger on DS had three main additions when it comes to new content over the PS1 release. The Arena of the Ages mini-game (not present in future versions) featuring local wireless play where you could train monsters to battle for prizes. The Lost Sanctum (also available on mobile and Steam), includes new dungeons and optional quests that aren't amazing. The final addition to DS (and also on mobile and Steam) is a new post-game dungeon featuring a new ending. I don't think this addition is worth being a point of contention when you decide what version to play. If you have the DS version, the new content is worth trying, but it isn't worth a full replay just for said content.

While the new content isn't anything to write home about, the dual screen "DS mode" that I cover below and the mini-map exclusive to this version are two ways Chrono Trigger on DS excels above the other versions. 

Chrono Trigger combat speed differences across SNES, DS, and the new Steam and mobile versions

This is one aspect of Chrono TriggerI didn't notice when I originally played the modern mobile and DS versions. I've since revisited Chrono Trigger on Steam multiple times when it used to get patched and when I was testing it on Steam Deck. AustinSV on YouTube, who does fantastic comparisons between game versions for games like this, pointed out the differences in his video on Chrono Trigger. The DS version has faster battles than SNES, but the Steam version is even faster. I recommend watching the video (timestamp here) for a good showcase of the speed differences.

One last difference between the SNES, PS1, and DS versions is the soundtrack. It doesn't use a completely different soundtrack, but the instrumentation, reverb, and other aspects of the music will vary. AustinSV's Chrono Trigger video does a good job of highlighting the differences between the SNES and PS1 versions here and the SNES and DS versions here.

Chrono Trigger visuals and performance differences across PC, mobile, Nintendo DS, SNES, and PS1

As of today, the SNES for the original experience and Nintendo DS (played on DS hardware) are the best-looking versions as far as I'm concerned. All other versions have some technical issues holding them back. The Nintendo DS version played on 3DS suffers from the same issues any DS game does on the 3DS XL or New 3DS screen where it doesn't look sharp as it should thanks to how scaling is handled for DS games. The solution here is to hold Select when you launch the game. This results in Chrono Trigger displaying in the bottom area of the upper screen and the top area of the lower screen on 3DS. While not ideal, it does result in pixel perfect visuals though. If you own a Nintendo DSi XL, I recommend playing it there for the best results. I don't own one, but I have seen how good DS games look on it.

One more thing to note with the DS version is that you can play with the new "DS mode" interface that features stylus or touchscreen input for commands during battles with the upper screen featuring the actual game and less UI clutter. You can also play with the "Classic mode" which has the single screen for gameplay and the battle UI, but it still displays status on the bottom screen. Etrian Odyssey and other RPGs on 3DS showed me the value of dual screen handhelds, and I still think having the UI and map on the bottom screen with less clutter on top is the ideal way to experience RPGs, especially those released on DS and 3DS. 

You might be wondering why I didn't bring up the Steam version when talking about the best-looking version given it supports 21:9 aspect ratios and has the classic mode for removing the ugly filter and tiling issues. The Steam release has some font issues and UI issues that result in it still not feeling and looking as good as it should compared to the SNES and Nintendo DS versions overall. As I covered above, the mobile version cannot disable the ugly new tiling and filtered look for sprites. Barring that, both the mobile and Steam versions have issues with jitter during diagonal movement. This issue is not present on the PS1 and Nintendo DS versions. I retested them on my PS Vita and the DS version played on my New 3DS XL. Aside from that, there isn't anything of note to worry about when it comes to performance, but load times are a whole other matter. 

Chrono Trigger's Steam version issues still not fixed by Square Enix

While Square Enix has patched Chrono Trigger a lot since launch, the music still resets after battles and the diagonal movement jitter is yet to be addressed. Beyond that, the Steam version still has UI issues and a font issue where nothing feels like it was designed for playing on a PC monitor or TV even today. If you play at refresh rates above 60fps, there are scrolling issues. I had this happen on my ROG Ally which has a 120hz display and also my Steam Deck OLED which has a 90hz display. The fix is to force the screen to 60hz for smooth scrolling, but the diagonal movement still has issues on both PC and mobile.

Chrono Trigger load times across PC, mobile, PS1, and Nintendo DS

For the load times, I've tested the Steam version installed to my Steam Deck internal SSD, Steam version installed on the ROG Ally internal SSD, PS1 version on my PS Vita with fast loading enabled, iOS version on iPhone 15 Pro, iOS version on iPad Pro (2020 model), and DS version cartridge on my New 3DS XL. I also mashed the buttons to skip any logos to speed things up as much as I could for the dashboard to title screen option. For the save file, I tested loading an early save and for battles, I tested one of the early battles in Guardia Forest when you start a new game.

Note: All load times above are in seconds. 

As you can see, the iOS version is the fastest to load. The DS version's initial load is long (as expected), but it isn't bad during actual gameplay. You can also use the system's suspend and sleep mode to negate this initial load issue. The Steam version loads faster than non mobile versions. The PS1 version on PS Vita is the worst of the lot for load times by a big margin. 

Which version of Chrono Trigger is the best? 

Having now revisited the iOS, Steam, PS1, Nintendo DS, and SNES versions of Chrono Trigger, my pick for the best version is the Nintendo DS version. I still think the SNES version is great, and I recommend it if you have a way to play the original as it was back in the day, but both the SNES and DS versions are no longer available to buy. If you do own them and have a way to play them, I would recommend those two versions with the DS being the best followed by SNES as the second best. The Steam version is a very close third. If the diagonal movement and music issues are addressed, I'd actually move this above SNES, but still below DS.

The mobile versions with the poor tiling and filter are below Steam. I can't believe Square Enix has still not fixed this. It is baffling that we are in a timeline where Chrono Cross, a game I really like, is available on all modern consoles and PC platforms while Chrono Trigger is only available on Steam with some issues, and mobile with even more issues. 

Which version of Chrono Trigger should you buy?

Everyone has their own priorities for what they want, so I'm going to list the advantages and disadvantages of every single version of Chrono Trigger as a conclusion to this feature below:

• Chrono Trigger on SNES: If you want the original experience and have the means to do so, Chrono Trigger on SNES is for you.
• Chrono Trigger on PS1: Don't bother with this. Seriously. Even if you own it, play Chrono Trigger somewhere else. 
• Chrono Trigger on Nintendo DS: This remains my favorite way to play Chrono Trigger thanks to the DS Mode UI options and the dual screen setup. Considering this features all the content from the PS1 version and more, it is absolutely worth it, if you can find a copy at a decent price. 
• Chrono Trigger on iOS and Android: While the filtering and tiling issues are annoying, Chrono Trigger on iOS loads faster than every other version and features full controller and touchscreen support. If the visual issue can be addressed, this will be my goto version of the game even above Steam Deck with how well it runs and quickly it loads on both my devices. 
• Chrono Trigger on Steam: Chrono Trigger on Steam is the easiest version to buy right now and it plays great on Steam Deck aside from the Steam version's diagonal movement and music issues.

Hopefully this helped you decide where you should play Chrono Trigger if you haven't ever experienced one of the greatest RPGs ever. If you already own it or have played it before, I hope you end up finding something new in a version of the game you might have skipped before. Just like with Final Fantasy IX, It is disappointing that the current versions available to buy have problems to some degree and that the only way to truly get the best possible experience now is either the original game for the pure experience or to play it on Nintendo DS.

Chrono Trigger is now available on iOS, Android, and PC (Steam).