Report updated May 26, 2026
Trials of Mana+
For fans of classic Japanese role-playing games and action-oriented titles who prefer high-fidelity 3D remakes on mobile devices.
Trials of Mana+ is an established games app that is available. With a 4.1/5 rating from 103 reviews, it shows polarized user reception. Users particularly appreciate nostalgic gameplay experience captures the original series charm for long-time fans, though users report frequent application crashes during boss encounters disrupt progress and frustrate players as a common concern.
What is Trials of Mana+?
Trials of Mana+ is a 3D action-RPG remake available on iOS via Apple Arcade.
Players hire the app for nostalgic, deep character-build experimentation that provides a console-quality JRPG experience on mobile hardware.
Current Momentum
v1.0 · 16mo ago
Zombie- Added Class 4 character progression
- Introduced autosave functionality
- Implemented touch-optimized menu overlays
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
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What Are The Key Features?
Advanced character evolution system allowing players to switch between light and dark classes with over 300 unique abilities
Four distinct difficulty tiers including Beginner, Easy, Normal, and Hard, with post-game Expert and No Future modes
Toggle between original SNES-era audio and modern arrangements overseen by the original composer
How much does it cost?
- Full game access via Apple Arcade
The game operates under the Apple Arcade subscription model, removing individual purchase barriers for subscribers.
Who Built It?
SQUARE ENIX Co.
Delivering premium RPG experiences and classic franchise titles to mobile devices. Bridging the gap between console-quality narratives and on-the-go play.
Portfolio
13
Apps
What other apps does SQUARE ENIX Co. make?
Explore the full SQUARE ENIX Co. report
Portfolio breakdown, audience, momentum, and every app published by SQUARE ENIX Co..
What do users think recently?
High confidence · 37 reviews analyzed
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate nostalgic gameplay experience captures the original series charm for long-time fans, but report frequent application crashes during boss encounters disrupt progress and frustrate players.
Limited review volume (37 reviews). Sentiment analysis will deepen as more data lands.
How have ratings & review volume moved?
Rating, review sentiment, and total reviews over time, with release markers showing the post-launch impact.
Vertical markers = app releases. Hover any release for the post-release impact delta.
View the full user-sentiment analysis
Mood gauge, ratings & review-volume history, every praise / complaint / request, and sentiment over time.
What is the competitive landscape for Trials of Mana+?
How's The Games Market?
Market outlook for this category
Available very soon
Which niche is Trials of Mana+ in?
to experience an epic interactive fantasy story
Explore the full Fantasy Runners niche
Every app in this space (891 tracked), the niche's live rankings, and Marlvel's editorial take on the job-to-be-done.
The rivals identified
Nemeses(1)
This is the most direct thematic rival, offering a premium-to-mobile JRPG experience that mirrors the Mana series' core gameplay loop and audience intent.
Differentiators
- Features a turn-based monster collection system that differentiates it from the target's real-time action combat
- Provides a complete offline-first premium experience without the service-based dependencies often found in modern mobile ports
- Leverages a deep, established franchise lore that directly competes for the same nostalgic JRPG player base
Head to head
The target app must emphasize its real-time action combat to differentiate from the slower, tactical depth of Monster Hunter Stories.
Contenders(2)
Targets the high-end action RPG segment, appealing to players who value console-quality graphics and challenging combat mechanics.
Differentiators
- Delivers a dark, atmospheric soul-like combat experience that contrasts sharply with the target's vibrant fantasy aesthetic
- Features complex, stamina-based combat mechanics that cater to a more hardcore, skill-focused mobile gaming demographic
Directly competes for the 'classic JRPG' audience by blending multiple gameplay styles and paying homage to genre history.
Differentiators
- Utilizes a unique meta-narrative that shifts graphical styles and gameplay mechanics throughout the player's journey
- Provides a self-contained, genre-spanning experience that avoids the live-service fatigue of modern mobile RPGs
Same space(2)
An adjacent classic-port RPG that competes for the time and attention of players seeking long-form, narrative-driven experiences.
Differentiators
- Offers a deep, class-based character customization system that allows for extensive build variety and experimentation
- Provides a massive, sprawling world map that emphasizes exploration and loot-grinding over linear narrative progression
Shares the action-RPG category but focuses on side-scrolling platforming combat rather than open-world exploration.
Differentiators
- Optimized specifically for touch-screen controls with a focus on fluid, high-speed platforming and combat
- Maintains a highly polished, singular aesthetic that avoids the complexity of traditional party-based JRPG systems
New entrants(1)
High-velocity update cadence and active live-service model make it a persistent threat for player retention in the JRPG space.
Differentiators
- Implements a continuous, episodic content delivery model that keeps the player base engaged long-term
- Successfully blends traditional JRPG storytelling with modern gacha-based monetization and frequent limited-time event cycles
Compare Trials of Mana+ against every rival
All rivals in one side-by-side table: identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel, plus a head-to-head page for each.
The outtake for Trials of Mana+
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Dual-audio soundtrack functions as a brand moat for legacy fans
- Class 4 progression system drives long-term retention via build experimentation
Critical Frictions
- Frequent boss-fight crashes disrupt the core loop
- Cloud save failures prevent cross-device synchronization
Growth Levers
- Expansion to Apple TV and Mac would broaden the user base
- Live-service episodic content could counter the threat from Another Eden
Market Threats
- Another Eden's episodic content cadence captures player attention
- Technical instability drives users toward more stable premium competitors
What are the next best moves?
Rebuild boss-encounter stability because crashes are the top-cited churn driver → improve retention
Sentiment analysis identifies boss-fight crashes as the primary driver of negative feedback.
Trade-off: Pause the development of new character skins — stability is a prerequisite for retention.
Audit cloud-save logic because sync failures are the #2 complaint → reduce progress-loss frustration
User reviews explicitly report error codes when syncing between iPhone and iPad.
Trade-off: Delay the Apple TV port rollout — fixing existing sync is higher priority for current users.
A counter-intuitive read
The game's reliance on Apple Arcade is a vulnerability, not a strength, as it masks the true churn rate that a premium-priced title would reveal through immediate refund requests.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Episodic content delivery (available in Another Eden but absent here)
- Cross-platform play on Apple TV/Mac (requested by users, available in peers)
Key Takeaways
Trials of Mana+ holds its category lead through sticky character progression but bleeds players to technical instability, so revenue growth hinges on fixing boss-fight crashes to stabilize the core retention loop.
Where Is It Heading?
Mixed Signals
The mobile JRPG market is consolidating around live-service titles that offer continuous content, leaving static ports like Trials of Mana+ exposed to churn. Unless the developer shifts from maintenance-mode to active stability and feature expansion, the title will struggle to retain players against high-velocity competitors.
Frequent boss-fight crashes disrupt the progression loop, which compounds the rating drag already visible on the platform.
Recent updates focused on minor bug fixes, failing to address the persistent cloud sync failures dominating user feedback.