Comparison

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) vs Dead Cells

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)

Embark on an epic role-playing adventure across different eras to save the planet. This definitive edition features updated graphics, sound, and new dungeons for an enhanced experience.

Highlights
  • Time travel across multiple eras
  • Active Time Battle Version 2
  • Over 50 character combos
  • Dimensional Vortex dungeon
  • Lost Sanctum dungeon
  • Updated graphics and sound
Read full description

Journey to the forgotten past, to the far future, and to the end of time. A big adventure to save the planet, now begins… CHRONO TRIGGER is the timeless role-playing classic developed by the ‘Dream Team’ of DRAGON QUEST creator Yuji Horii, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, and the creators of FINAL FANTASY. As the story unfolds, embark on a journey to different eras: the present, the middle ages, the future, prehistory, and ancient times! Whether you're a first-time player or a longtime fan, this epic quest to save a planet's future promises hours of enthralling adventure! As the definitive version of CHRONO TRIGGER, not only have the controls been updated, the graphics and sound have also been revamped to make your adventure even more fun and enjoyable to play. To complete your journey, also included is the mysterious ‘Dimensional Vortex’ dungeon and the forgotten ‘Lost Sanctum’ dungeon. Meet the challenges presented to you and long-lost secrets may be revealed... Story: A chance encounter amid the festivities of Guardia's Millennial Fair in Leene Square introduces our young hero, Crono, to a girl by the name of Marle. Deciding to explore the fair together, the two soon find themselves at an exhibition of the Telepod, the latest invention by Crono's longtime friend Lucca. Marle, fearless and brimming with curiosity, volunteers to assist in a demonstration. An unanticipated malfunction, however, sends her hurtling through a rift in the dimensions. Taking hold of the girl's pendant, Crono bravely follows in pursuit. But the world into which he emerges is the one of four centuries before. Journey to the forgotten past, the distant future, and even to the very End of Time. The epic quest to save a planet's future makes history once again. Key features: Active Time Battle Version 2 During battle, time will not stop, and you can enter commands when the character's gauge is full. The enemies' positions will change as time passes, so choose your actions based on any given situation. ‘Tech’ moves and combos During battle, you can unleash special ‘Tech’ moves, including abilities and/or magic and characters can combine these abilities to unleash all new combo attacks which are unique to them. There are over 50 different types of combos that you can execute between two and three characters! Experience the 'Dimensional Vortex' and the 'Lost Sanctum' dungeons The Dimensional Vortex: a mysterious, ever-changing dungeon existing outside of space and time. What wonders await you at its center? The Lost Sanctum: enigmatic gates in prehistoric and medieval times will lead you to these forgotten chambers. Meet the challenges presented to you and long-lost secrets may be revealed... Graphics and sound While keeping the atmosphere of the original, the graphics have been updated in higher resolution. As for the sound and music, under the supervision of composer Yasunori Mitsuda, all songs have been updated for an even more immersive gameplay experience. Autosave In addition to saving at a save point or choosing to quit from the menu, your progress is saved automatically while traversing the map. --------------------------------------------

About

Dead Cells

Explore a sprawling, ever-changing castle as a failed alchemic experiment. Master frantic 2D combat with a variety of weapons and skills against dangerous foes. Death is not the end; learn from each attempt to progress through this roguevania action platformer.

Highlights
  • Roguevania exploration
  • Frantic 2D action combat
  • Nonlinear progression
  • Permadeath with learning
  • Unlockable weapons and skills
  • DLC content packs
Read full description

Death is not the end. Play as a failed alchemic experiment and explore the sprawling, ever-changing castle to find out what happened on this gloomy island…! That is, assuming you’re able to fight your way past its keepers. Dead Cells is a roguevania action platformer that will require you to master frantic 2D combat with a wide variety of weapons and skills against merciless minions and boss. Kill. Die. Learn. Repeat. First available on PC and consoles, the indie hit Dead Cells is now slaying foes on mobile! Main Features • Roguevania: The progressive exploration of an interconnected world, with the replayability of a rogue-lite and the adrenaline-pumping threat of permadeath • Frantic and Dynamic 2D Action: Learn your enemies’ patterns to stay alive, or prepare to be sent back to your cell before you can say “baguette” • Nonlinear Progression: Unlock new levels with every death, opt for the path that suits your current build, your playstyle or just your mood. Surely, the ramparts can’t be as bad as the sewers, right? • Play at your own pace: Will you explore every nook and cranny of the castle, or rush to the end? *Latest updates are available: Clean Cut & The End is Near* RETURN TO CASTLEVANIA DLC Time for some vampire slaying • New storyline - overcome the Ruler of Darkness alongside Alucard and Richter Belmont, • 2 new biomes - Explore Dracula's Castle and its outskirts • 9 new monsters - Werewolves, haunted armors, and medusas are waiting for you • 14 new weapons - wield the Vampire Killer or the Holy Water to defeat creatures of the night, • 3 new bosses - go fangs to fangs against Death and Dracula himself • 20 new outfits - dress as your favorite Castlevania characters such as Simon and Richter Belmont or Alucard • Alternative soundtracks - play along 51 Castlevania original tracks and 12 tunes reimagined in the style of Dead Cells THE BAD SEED DLC You reap what you sow • New levels to lose your head in the not-so-peaceful Dilapidated Arboretum and the noxious Morass of the Banished • New monsters to rip to pieces: get to know the locals, such as the Jerkshroom and the Yeeter • New weapons to play with: trim sticking-out heads with the Scythe Claw, or make them dance to the sound of the Rhythm n' Bouzouki • New boss to fight against: Mama Tick is dying to meet you FATAL FALLS DLC Ready for a leap of faith? • 3 new biomes - Get some fresh air at the Fractured Shrines, splash around at the Undying Shores and take a picture at the Mausoleum • 8 new monsters - The Cold Blooded Guardians and their friends would love to teach you about their culture. ... Wait, aren't those relatives of yours in the Undying Shores...? • 7 new weapons - Lil' Serenade is perfect for breaking the ice with the locals, although the Snake Fangs would make for a perfect souvenir... • 1 new boss - The Scarecrow is very proud of his gardening skills and won't hesitate to show off QUEEN AND THE SEA DLC Take it to the sea! • 2 new biomes - Battle your way through a rotten shipwreck, or scale a burning lighthouse and confront your deadliest foe yet. • 9 new weapons, including a throwable shark, a trident and a pirate hook hand (eyepatch not included). • 2 new bosses - Don't lose your head before you meet the Queen! This DLC also gives you the usual extras: - A not-so-cute pet. - Loads of new outfits. - New enemies to bash. WARNING: Devices with less than 2 Gb of RAM may not be able to run this content correctly. We recommend not to take this DLC if your device is under 2gb of RAM. Carefully redesigned for mobile with a revamped interface • Two game modes available: Original & Auto-Hit • Custom controls & More touch controls options available: Change the buttons’ position and size to your liking, swipe to dodge… • MFi external controller support • No ads, no F2P mechanics! If you run into a problem, please contact us at support@playdigious.mail.helpshift.com with as much information as possible on the issue.

Screenshots

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)4 screens
Dead Cells4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) at none against Dead Cells's 4. Dead Cells's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 10 months) and review sentiment (89% vs 66%). On ads, chart position, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) costs $9.99 and Dead Cells $8.99 up front. Dead Cells sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dead Cells holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dead Cells has 12K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)'s written reviews are positive against 89% of Dead Cells's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) ships an update every 10 months, Dead Cells every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) versus Dead Cells: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)Dead Cells
Price$9.99$8.99 — better
Rating4.5 (1.3K ratings)4.8 (12K ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.3% of reviews88.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K12K — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#12#5 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size532 MB1.8 GB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperSQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd.Playdigious

Customer experience

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)

All ratings1,300 ratings
Positive86.0%
Neutral5.2%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews406 reviews
Positive66.3%
Neutral11.3%
Negative22.4%

Dead Cells

All ratings12,164 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews1,780 reviews
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative7.9%

User reviews

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great game, classic JRPG
  • 👍 Faithful port of the original
  • 👍 Runs well on iOS devices
  • 👍 Supports controllers
  • 👍 Cloud save functionality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Graphical issues and glitches
  • 🐛 Targeting and controls can be clunky
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🔍 Lack of language/UI customization options

Dead Cells

From 12K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay
  • 👍 Excellent controls
  • 💎 High-quality graphics
  • 🎮 Great controller support
  • 🔥 Addictive and challenging

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Audio glitches and bugs
  • 🤔 Lack of custom mode
  • 📱 Finicky touch controls
  • 🔇 No background music support

Bugs and requests

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Graphical glitches on iPhone 5s and newer
  • Crashes during certain boss battles
  • Inability to transfer save data across devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add option to disable graphical filters
  • Improve touch controls and targeting
  • Add support for Apple Silicon Macs
  • Include more content from DS/PS1 versions
  • Implement volume/sound controls

Dead Cells

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Saves not compatible across platforms
  • Texture and graphical issues on some devices
  • Persistent memory leaks causing performance drops

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add Chinese language support
  • Implement cross-save functionality
  • Introduce online multiplayer mode
  • Optimize for older devices

In-app purchases

None

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Dead Cells

One-time4
  • The Bad Seed$3.99
  • Fatal Falls$3.99
  • The Queen and the Sea$3.99
Show 1 more
  • Return to Castlevania$6.99

Questions

Is CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) free?
CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dead Cells free?
Dead Cells costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Dead Cells?
Dead Cells is rated higher. CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Dead Cells averages 4.8 from 12K ratings.
Do CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Dead Cells have ads?
Neither CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) nor Dead Cells shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Dead Cells?
CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) ships an update every 10 months, and Dead Cells every 5 weeks. Most recently, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) was updated on September 25, 2026 and Dead Cells on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Dead Cells?
CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) currently peaks at #12 in the App Store charts, and Dead Cells at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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