If you grew up on Chrono Trigger and golden-age Final Fantasy, Threads of Time is aimed squarely at you. Developer Riyo Games and publisher Balor Games returned to Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition 2026 with a new trailer for their era-spanning, turn-based RPG, and it continues to look like a genuine love letter to the classics that inspired it.
The setup is pure JRPG comfort food with a clever twist: you assemble a party of charismatic heroes drawn from across the ages and travel through history aboard a time ship called The Needle, on a quest to restore the ancient order of the Time Knights. As you'd hope from a game about time travel, the eras you visit aren't just backdrops - they're woven into a plot that threatens to unravel the past, present and future alike.
Combos across the timeline
Combat is where Riyo is putting its own stamp on the formula. The new trailer leaned into time-bending mechanics and combo attacks that chain off your party members' abilities, encouraging you to set up and trigger devastating team-ups rather than simply trading blows turn by turn. It's built in Unreal Engine 5, pairing hand-crafted 2D characters and pixel art with modern lighting and depth for that increasingly popular HD-2D look.
Threads of Time is in development for PC (via Steam) and Xbox Series X|S, where it's available to wishlist now. A firm release date hasn't been announced yet, but after this latest showing, it's one to keep on the radar for JRPG fans.
