Trials of Mana (2020 video game)

Lore & Background

The remake was conceived in 2017 during production of a remake for Secret of Mana. Production was spurred by Western demand, as the original game had not been localized. Originally planned as a near-direct remake with multiplayer, the team instead created a 3D single-player experience that tweaked aspects and added content while remaining faithful overall. The game was built using Unreal Engine 4. The soundtrack by Hiroki Kikuta was arranged by a large team, with Kikuta supervising.

Reader's Guide

Trials of Mana (2020) is significant as the first official localization of the 1995 Super Famicom game, which had never been released outside Japan. Its development was driven by Western fan demand, particularly after the 2017 Collection of Mana compilation. The remake sold beyond Square Enix's expectations, reaching over one million copies worldwide by February 2021. Reception was generally positive, with praise for its redesigned combat and soundtrack, though its English dub and archaic elements were faulted. The game introduced a post-game chapter with an unlockable class, a new Ability system, and a 3D overworld. Its release required simultaneous translation into eight languages.

Did You Know?

• The remake was announced at E3 2019.
• The English title was decided in consultation with series creator Koichi Ishii, with 'tri' referring to the number 3.
• A mobile port released in 2021, and an Xbox Series X/S port released in 2024.
• The game's AI system was redesigned compared to the original, which had received criticism.