Comparison

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) vs Loop Hero

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

Loop Hero

Embark on a roguelike RPG adventure where you strategically place cards to create enemy encounters, buildings, and terrain. Equip your hero with powerful loot, expand your camp, and unlock new classes and cards to break an endless cycle of despair and save a forgotten world.

Highlights
  • Randomly generated expedition loops
  • Strategic card placement for trials
  • Loot collection for hero progression
  • Camp expansion and reconstruction
  • Unlockable classes and cards
  • Retro pixel art dark fantasy story
Features
Read full description

*Try Loop Hero for free and unlock the full game for the whole adventure!* The Lich has thrown the world into a timeless loop and plunged its inhabitants into never ending chaos. In this roguelike RPG, wield an expanding deck of mystical cards to place enemies, buildings, and terrain along each unique expedition loop for the brave hero. Recover and equip powerful loot for each class of hero for their battles and expand the survivors' camp to reinforce each adventure through the loop. Unlock new classes, new cards, and devious guardians on your quest to shatter the endless cycle of despair. FEATURES - Explore an endless number of paths: bring your hero on randomly generated loops and never experience the same run twice. - Shape your expeditions into darkness: build your deck and place your cards to script your hero’s trials and tribulations. - Loot as you loop to rebuild the world: recover your memories as you collect equipment and resources to become stronger, reconstruct your camp and get your reality back. - Plunge into a gloomy universe: discover a melancholic dark fantasy story told through a retro pixel art direction and recollect the memories of this world. - Break the cycle: triumph over mighty bosses to free the world from the Lich’s neverending time loop. CAREFULLY REDESIGNED FOR MOBILE - Revamped interface – exclusive mobile UI with complete touch control - Game Center achievements - Cloud Save – Share your progress between iOS devices - Compatible with MFi controllers - iPhone 15 Optimization (including Pro Max)

Screenshots

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)4 screens
Loop Hero4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Loop Hero at Free against CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)'s $9.99. Loop Hero also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 10 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.5). CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#10 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads and device support 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

Loop Hero is free to download; CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) costs $9.99 up front. Loop Hero sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Loop Hero holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.3K and 3.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)'s written reviews are positive against 75% of Loop Hero's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) ships an update every 10 months, Loop Hero every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) versus Loop Hero: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)Loop Hero
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (1.3K ratings)4.9 (3.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.3% of reviews75.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K3.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#10 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size532 MB213 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperSQUARE ENIXPlaydigious

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%

Loop Hero

All ratings3,814 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral0.7%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews285 reviews
Positive75.1%
Neutral6.7%
Negative18.2%

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

Loop Hero

From 3.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent mechanics
  • 👍 Great replayability
  • 👍 Charming graphics
  • 👍 Unique and enjoyable experience
  • 👍 Smooth gameplay

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Sound doesn't work
  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Unresponsive after certain actions
  • 🐛 Difficulty reading small text
  • 🐛 Accidental card placement

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

Loop Hero

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game crashes after defeating first boss
  • Unplayable after initial progress
  • Inability to progress past trial version

Requested features

4 requests
  • Portrait mode
  • More classes/build diversity
  • Improved UI/overlay customization
  • Chinese language support

In-app purchases

None

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Loop Hero

One-time1
  • Unlock Full Game$6.99

Questions

Is CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) free?
CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Loop Hero free?
Loop Hero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Loop Hero?
Loop Hero is rated higher. CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Loop Hero averages 4.9 from 3.9K ratings.
Do CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Loop Hero have ads?
Neither CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) nor Loop Hero shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Loop Hero?
CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) ships an update every 10 months, and Loop Hero every 10 days. Most recently, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) was updated on September 24, 2026 and Loop Hero on September 22, 2026.

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