How Radical Dreamers and Chrono Cross Are Connected, Which to Play First

Square Enix just released theChrono Cross Remaster Radical Dreamers Editionon Switch, first announced on theFebruary 2022 Nintendo Directafter leaks - the remaster was also released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam - we explained below how the two games are linked and which game you should play first.

Radical Dreamers Nusumenai Housekijust celebrated its 26th anniversary on August 17, 2025. The game was first released on Satellaview, the Super Famicom (SNES) modem that allowed players to download media including games.

Radical Dreamersis a text adventure with choices, a type of game that’s called sound novels in Japan, and part of the bigger genre called ADV(Adventure) games in japan.Radical Dreamerswas never released out of Japan but was fan-translated several years ago. Now, the game has been officially localized for the first time ever with theChrono Cross Remaster.It’s also the first time ever thatChrono Crosswas released in Europe, though I have a few issues with the French translation of this remaster, like how it’s translating “Chrono Trigger” instead of keeping the words as if; thus removing the direct references to the previousSquaresoft game.

Here’s howRadical Dreamersis connected toChrono Cross

Radical Dreamerswas written by Masato Katou, the main writer ofChrono Trigger andChrono Cross. He’s also the writer ofAnother Eden,which recently had a collab event withChrono Cross.

Masato Katou’s initial plan was to makeRadical Dreamersthe sequel toChrono Trigger. However, it had a veryshort development schedule and was released unfinished.

As such,Radical Dreamersis a prototype ofChrono Crossstory-wise, both games have the same male protagonist: Serge, the same key female character: Kid, and the same main villain. However, each character is not the same individual as theirChrono Crossversions.

Chrono Crossdeals with how protagonist Serge travels between two parallel dimensions. And how a single change, whether he lived or died in his childhood, had a butterfly effect completely changing the fates of the inhabitants of the other dimension. A good way to explainRadical Dreamersis to consider it as an unrelated, third parallel dimension inChrono Cross, with a different version of Serge altogether.

Should you Play Radical Dreamers Before or After Chrono Cross?

PlayRadical Dreamersfirst to get the full details, especially if you’re aChrono Triggerfan. What makesChrono Crossinteresting is how at the beginning it’s seemingly unrelated toChrono Trigger, but it’s definitely part of the same set.Chrono Crossis a direct sequel toChrono Triggerand those who say the contrary didn’t get the game at all. Moreover, the events ofRadical Dreamers,Serge and his team infiltrating a certain manor, are also present inChrono Cross,but retold in a different way.

Square Enix launchedChrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Editionon April 7.Chrono Cross' character designer Nobuteru Yuki(Escaflowne, Lodoss, Seiken Densetsu 3) drew several new artwork for the occasion. He also redrew all of the portraits in-game.