How to use the Chrono Cross to Recruit all Party Members

Learn how to recruit every party member in Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition using the Chrono Cross item and New Game Plus mechanics. Master all recruitment branches.

This guide details how to recruit all party members in Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition by utilizing the Chrono Cross item and leveraging New Game Plus and Continue Plus mechanics. It involves strategically managing save files and making specific choices across multiple playthroughs to access all recruitment branches and recruit every character.

Step 1: Recruit all the Viper Manor Guides

If you have a save file from before choosing a guide for Viper Manor, load it and use Continue Plus. Recruit one of the two guides you didn't choose in your previous playthrough (e.g., if you got Guile, recruit Nikki or Pierre). After recruiting them, defeat the Time Devourer to get Ending 2. Overwrite your main cleared save file. Load this new cleared save and repeat for the last remaining guide.

On New Game Plus, speedrun to the Viper Manor guide choice, recruit one of the two unrecruited guides, and obtain Ending 2. Overwrite your cleared save. Start another New Game Plus with this updated save and recruit the final guide. Continue until Kid is poisoned.

Step 2: Recruit Everyone along the Save Kid Branches

If you have a save from before the choice to save Kid or not, use Continue Plus with your latest cleared save (which should have all three Viper Manor guides). Choose the branch you didn't go through previously (e.g., if you saved her, choose not to). Play until you recruit all characters available on this branch. Then, beat the Time Devourer for Ending 4 and overwrite your cleared save.

On New Game Plus, do the same when you reach the Kid decision. Do not aim for an ending until Step 3 is complete, but you can obtain Ending 4 if desired.

Step 3: Recruit Harle

Ideally, keep a save file from when you are Lynx and before rescuing Riddel, so Harle remains with you. Load your latest cleared save and Continue Plus to your Lynx save. Defeat the Time Devourer for Ending 5.

If you don't have such a save, play until Fort Dragonia and the Temporal Vortex, where Harle will join. You can obtain Ending 5 here if you have a save near the end of the game.

Step 4: Use the Chrono Cross!

Ensure you have a save file near the end of the game, preferably before the final boss, or around Chronopolis or Terra Tower. Obtain the Chrono Cross Element after Chronopolis.

Visit Hydra Marshes (Home World) and go north one screen. Look for the dimensional ripple and use the Astral Amulet to return to the Dimensional Vortex. Back at Sprigg’s house, the Chrono Cross will react. Use the Chrono Cross item from the key items menu to recruit all characters from your cleared save file. If all steps were followed correctly, this will include every character in the game.