There were many great-looking games at the recent Nintendo Indie World showcase, but one that stood out to me was Threads of Time. A time-traveling JRPG with eye-catching HD-2D graphics, Threads of Time is both a throwback to classic genre aesthetics and an embrace of retro-style graphics that are becoming more prominent in new games. The most popular users of HD-2D graphics right now is Square Enix, and while it’s great that the developer is leading the charge, Threads of Time raises the bar in terms of overall visual style.
Square Enix has released some great HD-2D JRPGs over the past few years. Games like Octopath Traveler and its sequels kickstarted the industry trend, and it has been a wonderful fit for new JRPGs. HD-2D graphics pay homage to the 90s and early 2000s-era JRPGs while also innovating the genre. Seeing a game like Threads of Time that is so clearly inspired by Square Enix’s HD-2D formula proves that the trend is catching on, but it also showcases just how much further Square Enix could push these graphics in its own games.
Threads of Time Is a Beautiful HD-2D JRPG With Serious Chrono Trigger Vibes
Fellow fans of games like Chrono Trigger will immediately resonate with Threads of Time‘s general premise. Players go on a time-traveling adventure filled with dangers and obstacles alongside a party of capable heroes. The Chrono Trigger influence is abundantly clear, but Threads of Time shouldn’t be mistaken for a copycat game. Developer Riyo Games has managed to build a beautiful, eye-catching world that stands on its own, and the HD-2D graphics also help give Threads of Time a unique identity.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Chrono Trigger is still seen as one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, and there’s a good reason for that. The game continues to inspire, but it’s also just as compelling that Threads of Time aims to put its own twist on time travel. One of the most exciting ways that Threads of Time sets itself apart is through its time-bending mechanic that is used in combat. The game also features four party members instead of three, and a time-traveling airship called The Needle instead of Chrono Trigger‘s Epoch.
Everything Confirmed About Threads of Time So Far
- Story focused on time-traveling
- Turn-based combat
- Party mechanics
- Built with Unreal Engine 5
- Classic JRPG elements
- Confirmed eras include 12,000,000 BC, 1000 AD, 2400 AD, and an apocalyptic time period
- Expected to launch in mid-2027
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox Series X/S
All of Thread of Time‘s Chrono Trigger-inspired gameplay mechanics look great and were promising enough to quickly grab my attention, but the HD-2D graphics deserve their own discussion spotlight. I have been loving Square Enix’s move to HD-2D games, but the one downside is that the art style has begun to get a little bit repetitive. This had led me to believe that HD-2D was more of a fad than something truly long-lasting. Threads of Time has completely changed my view, though.
The main reason Threads of Time has helped me see the future potential in HD-2D graphics is because of the game’s use of camera angles during combat and various moments shown throughout the trailer. There are still plenty of set pieces and traversal scenes that feel incredibly similar to Square Enix’s HD-2D formula, but Threads of Time also uses the art style in a far more cinematic way when it comes to the more action-packed moments. The last few years of new Square Enix games have kept HD-2D stagnant and flat when it could have been deeply cinematic and dynamic all along.
Threads of Time Shows That Square Enix Is Missing the Potential in Its Own Formula
Square Enix brought HD-2D into the spotlight with the Octopath Traveler games, and that pioneer reputation has created a strange paradox for the company. HD-2D kickstarted a new era for Square Enix JRPGs, but beating other developers to the punch when it comes to 2D innovation has also created a sense of complacency. Instead of allowing the HD-2D to be formulaic, Square Enix should have been pushing the art style further. Square Enix just released Final Fantasy Resonance, and it has definitely put a fresh spotlight on HD-2D graphics. The Final Fantasy Resonance reviews have plenty of great things to say about the game’s visuals, but Threads of Time might overshadow its graphics.
Only time will tell, though. JRPG fans still have a bit of a wait ahead of them, but Threads of Time definitely looks like one of the many 2027 game releases worth keeping an eye on. Whether you’re a longtime Chrono Trigger fan looking for a new time travel fix or a JRPG fan who has become deeply attached to HD-2D visuals, Threads of Time looks like the perfect game to satisfy both of those cravings.
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
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Riyo Games
- Publisher(s)
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Humble Games
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
