A modern-day indie successor to the classic JRPG, Chrono Trigger, has been announced for Xbox and PC

Threads of Time reveal trailer screenshot
Fight imposing threats from all eras of history from prehistoric times to a post-apocalyptic future (Image credit: Humble Bundle)

What you need to know

  • During the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 livestream event, a new JRPG developed by Riyo Inc. and published by Humble Bundle was announced for Xbox and PC titled Threads of Time.
  • This game is a turn-based JRPG inspired by legendary titles in the genre such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy, where the player embarks on a time-traveling adventure to various eras of history to protect the timeline from being destroyed by evil forces.
  • Threads of Time currently has no release date but is scheduled to launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.

Amongst the many news announcements made during Microsoft's Tokyo Game Show 2024 presentation, an intriguing, original JRPG made its debut titled Threads of Time, developed by indie studio Riyo Inc. and published by Humble Games. 

This game is a turn-based JRPG inspired by the classic titles in the genre, such as Square Enix's Chrono Trigger and early Final Fantasy games. In Threads of Time, you take control of a band of heroes recruited from various periods of history and embark on a time-traveling adventure to save the world from evil.

Here is everything you need to know about Threads of Time.

Threads of Time | Official Announce Trailer | TGS 2024 - YouTube Threads of Time | Official Announce Trailer | TGS 2024 - YouTube
Watch On

As stated before, Threads of Time is a JRPG where you will embark on an epic journey through the past, present, and future to save the world from evil forces looking to destroy it. 

Your journey will take you through imaginative landscapes lovingly presented in an HD-2D art style, where gorgeously 2D pixel-art characters interact with an equally beautiful 3D background made in the Unreal 5 Engine. Along the way meet a host of colorful and powerful heroes who will join you on your journey, ranging from pre-historic warriors, modern-day swordsmen and mages, ancient wizards, mech-riding technicians from the future, and more.

However, the forces of evil will not sit idly as you attempt to unravel their plans to control time, for they will send horrific beasts and mindless killing machines to stop you. To combat these threats, you will need to engage them in turn-based battles where you will need to use your party's powers to weather incoming attacks, use the power of time to weaken your foes, and combine certain party members' abilities to perform powerful combo attacks that will wipe the floor with almost any boss that dares stand in your way.

Color me intrigued in this wild time-traveling JRPG

Engage futuristic machines in battle with a party of warriors from the distant past. (Image credit: Humble Games)

When I saw the trailer for this during the presentation, I was amazed by its breathtaking presentation, from its charming retro-inspired HD-2D aesthetic to the meticulously detailed and fluid animation. While the trailer doesn't show exactly how the gameplay will pan out as there's no User-interface to speak, I'm curious to see how inspiration it takes from Chrono Trigger's combat system as that title featured similar mechanics of using multiple party members to perform team attacks.

If anything, it reminds me of Sea of Stars, another Chrono Trigger-inspired JRPG that I reviewed last year but with a much bigger budget. I loved Sea of Stars and if Threads of Time ends up just as or even more fun that game, this upcoming Xbox JRPG could have a chance of becoming one of my new favorite Xbox JRPGs

However, it's still early days to tell if it can reach such heights as we have only seen one trailer of the game thus far, and we don't even have a release date for it. So, we will have to wait for more gameplay details to see if Threads of Time has the potential to become one of the best Xbox titles and best PC titles of the indie JRPG scene when it eventually launches for Xbox Series X|S and PC via Windows and Steam.

Threads of Time

Threads of Time

Wield the power to travel through time and space, and embark on an epic adventure to save the past, present, and future from being rewritten by evil hands in Threads of Time.

Wishlist at: Xbox | Steam

TOPICS
CATEGORIES
Alexander Cope
Contributor — Gaming

Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 30-plus years, primarily covering PC and Xbox games here on Windows Central. Gaming since the 8-bit era, Alexander's expertise revolves around gaming guides and news, with a particular focus on Japanese titles from the likes of Elden Ring to Final Fantasy. Alexander is always on deck to help our readers conquer the industry's most difficult games — when he can pry himself away from Monster Hunter that is! 

Read more
Promotional screenshot of heroes fighting tree monsters in Edge of Memories.
The developers behind Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy XV will deliver another JRPG sequel to Xbox and PC gamers this year
"Fantasy Life i" character riding a dragon
After skipping Xbox for 20 years, a major Japanese studio returns with the reveal of their latest RPG which looks like 'Animal Crossing' with multiplayer combat
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 delights with an Xbox Developer_Direct 2025 deep dive — oh, and a spring release date, too
Promotional screenshot of Yumia preparing to ride her motorcycle in Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land
"I really love Xbox; I've been a user since the original, and I've always wanted to release something for the platform." says the producer on this long-awaited Xbox entry of a classic JRPG franchise
Marvel's Blade, GTA VI, Monster Hunter Wilds
Upcoming Xbox games: Best new Xbox Series X|S games for 2025, and beyond
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
How to watch the Xbox Developer Direct 2025: Start time, what to expect, and everything you need to know
Latest in Gaming
The First Berserker: Khazan
Is The First Berserker: Khazan on Xbox Game Pass?
Lies of P boss
Grab these must-play games at killer deal prices during the CDKeys Spring Festival
Alienware Area-51 laptops (2025)
Dell revives Alienware Area-51 with powerful new gaming PCs
The First Berserker: Khazan
The First Berserker: Khazan review and Metacritic score roundup — this stylish Soulslike sounds like a must-play action RPG
Seattle covered in snow in Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 gets one more delay, now launching in October
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 accessibility settings at launch.
Activision user research workers form union under Microsoft
Latest in News
Professor Sir Roger Penrose, physicist, mathematician and cosmologist
Nobel laureate claims "AI will not be conscious" and shouldn't be considered intelligent — Until it develops its own ideas
UGreen x Genshin Impact charging accessories: image shows magnetic wireless charger, power bank, GaN charger and USB-C cable
UGreen drops a stunning Genshin Impact collection of charging accessories AND it's all on sale
Lies of P boss
Grab these must-play games at killer deal prices during the CDKeys Spring Festival
In this photo illustration OpenAI ChatGPT icon is displayed on a mobile phone screen in Ankara, Turkiye on August 13, 2024.
OpenAI says an excessive dependency on ChatGPT can lead to loneliness and a "loss of confidence" in decision-making
Alienware Area-51 laptops (2025)
Dell revives Alienware Area-51 with powerful new gaming PCs
The First Berserker: Khazan
The First Berserker: Khazan review and Metacritic score roundup — this stylish Soulslike sounds like a must-play action RPG