Final Fantasy IV turning 35 this year is the kind of anniversary that also happens to land in the middle of a real classic-JRPG revival. Square Enix, in particular, has spent the last few years doing something modern publishers rarely bother with, going back to their catalogue and remaking or remastering the games that built their catalogue in the first place. If you’re on Windows or macOS and looking for the pixel-remastered classics worth installing, this is the shortlist. We played through the openings of all seven to sort them.
What to look for in a classic JRPG remaster
- Faithful preservation vs. modernization. Some remasters keep the original balance and pacing (good if you want the authentic experience); others rebalance for modern players (good if you want to actually finish).
- QoL additions. Autosave, encounter toggle, fast-forward. What sounds like cheating to purists is the reason others actually complete these games.
- Sprite work vs. HD-2D. Pure pixel remasters preserve original resolution; HD-2D remakes rebuild worlds in Square’s Octopath-style engine.
- Score. Composer involvement decides whether the OST feels like the game or feels like a cover.
- Steam Deck / handheld friendliness. Most of these run well on handhelds; a few have interface caveats.
Quick comparison
| Game | Original release | Best for | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster | 1987-1994 | Preserving the classics | Autosave and fast-forward |
| Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition | 1999 | PS1 sequel to Chrono Trigger | Rearranged score |
| Live A Live | 1994 (SFC) | Hidden Square gem | HD-2D remake |
| Octopath Traveler II | 2023 | Modern HD-2D torch-bearer | Eight interlocking stories |
| Star Ocean The Second Story R | 1998 | Star Ocean starting point | Full HD-2D remake |
| Trials of Mana | 1995 (SFC) | Coop-friendly action JRPG | 3D remake with QoL |
| Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake | 1988 | Genre-defining classic | Full HD-2D |
1. Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster (I-VI) — Best pixel-first collection
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is the six-game bundle that finally makes I through VI available in one place on desktop, with sprite work rebuilt from the ground up, Nobuo Uematsu-supervised OST re-recordings, and modern quality-of-life like autosave, boost mode, and encounter toggles.
FFIV, the game whose anniversary sits right in the middle of this list, is the emotional center of the collection. FFVI is the technical peak. FFI is the archaeology visit.
Where it falls short: the fonts have never fully convinced everyone. Some purists still prefer the SNES versions of IV, V, and VI.
Download: Square Enix Games · Available on Steam
Bottom line: the default starting point for anyone new to classic FF.
2. Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition — Best PS1 sequel
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition brings the PS1 followup to Chrono Trigger to modern platforms with rearranged music, character-model touch-ups, and the previously-Japan-only Radical Dreamers text adventure that inspired it.
The core game holds up more than most people remember. The music has always been the standout, Yasunori Mitsuda’s score is one of the reasons Cross has held its reputation.
Where it falls short: the port had rough edges at launch; patches have fixed most but framerate is still uneven on some hardware.
Download: Square Enix · Available on Steam
Bottom line: worth it for Mitsuda’s score and the Radical Dreamers epilogue alone.
3. Live A Live — Best hidden Square gem
Live A Live is the Super Famicom classic that never got a Western release until the 2022 HD-2D remake. Seven era-spanning stories (prehistoric caveman, Wild West outlaw, ancient China kung fu, ninja Japan) that eventually converge, plus an eighth chapter that ties everything together.
The HD-2D treatment is arguably the best in the genre, better than Octopath’s original in our view. The music is fully rearranged.
Download: Square Enix · Available on Steam
Bottom line: the JRPG most people missed the first time. Fix that.
4. Octopath Traveler II — Best modern HD-2D
Octopath Traveler II is the sequel that fixed the first game’s biggest complaint (the eight stories now actually meaningfully connect) while keeping the visuals that started this whole HD-2D revival. Eight travelers, eight paths, one continent.
The combat system is the deepest here. The music by Nishiki Yasunori is a career highlight.
Download: Square Enix · Available on Steam
Bottom line: the modern peak of the HD-2D lineage.
5. Star Ocean The Second Story R — Best remake
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a full HD-2D remake of the 1998 PS1 classic. Preserves the twin-protagonist structure, adds the QoL you’d expect (fast-forward, autosave, break attack chaining), and rebuilds the 2D character sprites into painted-cardboard cutouts against 3D environments.
Voice acting is full re-recorded, both English and Japanese.
Download: Square Enix · Available on Steam
Bottom line: the best entry point to the Star Ocean series.
6. Trials of Mana — Best action JRPG
Trials of Mana is the 3D remake of Seiken Densetsu 3, the Super Famicom Mana game that also never released in the West originally. Choose three heroes from six, watch their storylines interlock, and play through in real-time action combat.
Coop was cut in the remake, which is a real loss. Everything else is an upgrade.
Download: Square Enix · Available on Steam
Bottom line: the modernized Mana most fans point to.
7. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake — Best genre-defining classic
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings the 1988 game that defined the JRPG template into the HD-2D style. It’s the game every JRPG since owes a debt to, and this remake preserves that structure while making the presentation actually inviting.
Download: Square Enix · Available on Steam
Bottom line: the classic every JRPG fan should play in this form.
How to pick
- You’ve never played classic Final Fantasy. Pixel Remaster. Start with IV or VI.
- You know Chrono Trigger and want the sequel. Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition.
- You want the best HD-2D remake. Live A Live.
- You want the modern peak of HD-2D. Octopath Traveler II.
- You want to try Star Ocean. Second Story R.
- You want action combat. Trials of Mana.
- You want the genre foundation. Dragon Quest III HD-2D.
FAQ
Which Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is the best starting point?
FFIV. It introduces the ATB combat, the ensemble cast, and the emotional storytelling the series became known for. FFVI is the arguable peak but assumes some familiarity with the earlier games’ conventions.
Do these run on Steam Deck or handheld PCs?
All seven run well on Steam Deck at native resolution. Battery life on the pixel remasters and Chrono Cross is excellent (6-8 hours). The 3D remakes (Trials of Mana, Star Ocean R) run around 4-5 hours per charge.
Is Live A Live really as good as people say?
Yes. It’s the JRPG most people missed for the longest, and the HD-2D remake preserves what made it special (the interlocking era stories, the boss you fight without knowing you’re fighting a boss) while modernizing the parts that needed it.
