9 December 2025

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

By newsgame

The 16-bit era of gaming produced some of the most influential and memorable titles of all time, especially in one area. Often considered the golden age of JRPGs, the genre thrived during this period. Across the library of innovative titles released throughout the ’90s, Final Fantasy 6 comes up time and again when discussing the best of the best. And though FF6 undoubtedly deserves the credit it receives, another Square-developed game that released just a year later managed to top FF6‘s famous turn.

Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6 are undeniable classics, and both hold a 92 rating on Metacritic. One of the major factors contributing to Chrono Trigger‘s enduring legacy is the fact that it was a collaborative dream project between established and notable figures. Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii was joined by Final Fantasy designer/creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, along with Dragon Ball artist Akira Toriyama, to serve as co-leads. Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu were brought on board to compose the score. With such talent behind it, Chrono Trigger had big expectations to live up to, especially as it would inevitably be compared to FF6. Chrono Trigger more than delivered on its promise by including an incredible twist that rivals and even surpasses Final Fantasy 6‘s.

Spoilers for Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6.

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

Chrono Trigger‘s gut-wrenching plot twist occurs roughly halfway through the adventure. After traveling back and forth across various time periods, recruiting party members, and uncovering revelations about the past and future, the party confronts one of the major villains, Queen Zeal, as she attempts to enact her grand plan. By tapping into and absorbing the power of Lavos, the powerful parasitic alien entity (and true antagonist of Chrono Trigger), Zeal means to become immortal.

It has all the hallmarks of a classic showdown set up, with the heroes arriving in the nick of time to prevent the villain’s nefarious plan and ostensibly set things right in history. However, as the fight unfolds, it becomes clear that the party actually cannot overcome their foes. As Zeal gloats over her victory and prepares a final attack, Chrono Trigger‘s beloved protagonist heroically sacrifices himself to save his friends, and the survivors are cast back across time in the wake of the ensuing magical explosion.

Casting magic in battle in Chrono Trigger

This act leaves the remaining characters stunned, displaying the same level of shock and disbelief that most fans likely felt. It completely alters the dynamic and trajectory of the rest of the plot, as both players and the characters find themselves adrift, wondering what to do and where to go next. Crono’s death creates hurdles and opportunities for player agency and the narrative, leaving fans to wrestle with:

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

One of the side quests is to save Crono, and it’s likely many will follow through on it. However, it is also optional, and Chrono Trigger can be completed without doing so. This, too, was highly unorthodox and is also a big part of its impact and influence.

The Lasting Legacy of Chrono Trigger’s Timeless Twist

Chrono Trigger presents an unexpected story beat by killing off its main character during a climactic battle, which is why it became the defining moment of the game. It upended the standards and expectations of JRPGs of the time in a way that hadn’t truly been done before. Chrono Trigger is 30 years old, and its twist remains one of the most effective and heartbreaking in the gaming world. It was a bold design decision, to say the least, and the one that would become indelibly attached to it, resonating with fans and developers in the years since. In a single instant, Chrono Trigger set the stage for devastating rug pulls in JRPGs, leading to, for example, the similarly shocking moment in Final Fantasy 7.

Final Fantasy 6 vs. Chrono Trigger

On top of their most famous ones, Final Fantasy 6 and Chrono Trigger have several other reveals and memorable moments in their tales that contain some parallels.

*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

And while both are unquestionably among the best classic JRPGs, Chrono Trigger wins out over FF6 because it goes further than its competition.

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

Final Fantasy 6‘s most infamous turn occurs when the unhinged Kefka Palazzo betrays Emperor Gestahl and causes an apocalypse. FF6 sees the villain essentially win, certainly something that was unexpected and surprising. The big difference is that, even in the course of this event and its aftermath, none of the main characters actually perished. The cast was scattered to the far corners when the World of Balance became the World of Ruin, yet they were still alive somewhere in it.

There is an exception in that Shadow will be permanently gone if fans don’t wait for him at the Floating Continent.

Chrono Trigger outright removing its main protagonist at a pivotal moment, though, and subsequently disguising the fact that it’s possible to get him back, is a masterclass in subverting expectations. It is both emotionally affecting and hugely impactful on Chrono Trigger‘s story and gameplay. While it and Final Fantasy 6 stand toe-to-toe in many ways, Chrono Trigger taking this risk and pulling it off so well gives it the edge, cementing its status as the JRPG with the best twist in 16-bit history.