Where to Buy the Chrono Trigger OST Vinyl Box Set (U.S. Guide to the Best Deals)
Table of contents
It finally happened…
The Chrono Trigger Original Soundtrack is finally getting an official vinyl box set, and that’s the whole story. This score has been one of the most respected RPG soundtracks since 1995, but collectors never had a complete, official vinyl edition to match its status. Now Square Enix is pressing the original soundtrack as a 4LP box, and preorders are already moving fast.
Here you find a clear, practical guide: what this box is, why it’s a collector-grade release, and where a U.S. buyer can preorder it for the best total price.
"Very cool, very wanted, very overpriced ..."
Why Chrono Trigger’s soundtrack is historic
Chrono Trigger is often described as a “perfect” RPG, and the music is one of the main reasons it still feels alive decades later. Yasunori Mitsuda’s score is melodic first - themes you remember after a single play - but it also has range: warm town pieces, anxious dungeon cues, and battle tracks that push forward without becoming noise. It set a standard for how JRPG music could carry emotion and pacing, not just atmosphere.
Over the last few years, Square Enix has treated game music more like a real collector category. We’ve seen more official vinyl for major franchises like Final Fantasy and NieR, and even related legacy titles like Chrono Cross getting proper physical soundtrack editions. That trend made a Chrono Trigger box feel inevitable - but it still didn’t exist at the time, which is exactly why everyone had been waiting for one so desperate.
Chrono Trigger isn’t just another Square Enix soundtrack. It’s one of the few game scores that sits in the same “must-own” tier as the biggest film soundtracks for a lot of collectors. This box set finally closes the gap in Square Enix’s vinyl lineup: the most requested classic, released in the format collectors actually wanted.
What’s Inside This Release?
This is the official Chrono Trigger Original Soundtrack on vinyl, presented as a boxed 4LP set. It collects 64 tracks from the original game score, so you’re not buying a “best of” selection or an arranged album - you’re buying the core soundtrack in a complete, archival format.
It’s a full box presentation (not a standard single jacket), it uses Akira Toriyama-era artwork, and it includes a message from Yasunori Mitsuda inside the box. For a title this influential, those extras are not filler - they’re part of what turns this from “nice to have” into a centerpiece VGM item.
Where to buy? (U.S Collector Guide)
7. Square Enix Store (U.S.)
Square Enix Store is the most straightforward preorder, but it’s also the most expensive. The box is listed at $174.99, and with shipping plus sales tax pushes many carts to roughly $200 for a 4LP set. That sticker shock is why you’re seeing so many collectors immediately look for Japan retail pricing instead.
6. CDJapan
CDJapan lists it as 16,000 yen (17,600 yen with tax), which is materially lower than the NA/EU store pricing before shipping even starts. With FedEx International Connect Plus (FICP) and customs handling/clearance fee of 2,600 JPY, final price stays around $140 form most US customers. Currently sold out.
5. Playasia
Play-Asia is another Japan export option that currently been listed at $139.99 before shipping , but the all-in total can climb quickly depending on shipping tier and destination. For most U.S. customer final price around $179-$190.
4. Light in the Attic
Light in the Attic has it listed at $165 and shows a U.S. ship-by date (example shown as 2026-04-10), which reduces the usual import uncertainty. After shipping the total come around the base SE price before shipping - $175-$180. Currently Sold Out.
3. Cartridge Thunder
Cartridge Thunder has it at $159 on preorder, also with an April 2026 estimate; that price point is one of the better U.S. middle-grounds if you prefer ordering domestically. After shipping total can be as low as $170.
2. The Yetee
The Yetee is the second-best U.S.-friendly price. They have the box listed at $150, and after standard U.S. shipping is added at checkout ($12.75), the effective total can land around $162.75 before tax - still far below Square Enix’s typical U.S. checkout total.
1. Arcline Store
For the lowest U.S. price angle, Arcline Store listing is $149.95, and orders over $100 qualify for free U.S. shipping via USPS Media Mail (tracked). Tax, if applicable, is calculated at checkout based on the shipping address. Near the Japan-import “all-in” number, but you avoid international shipping variability while still paying closer to what the set “should” cost.
Which option should you choose?
If you want the cheapest total and you’re comfortable with imports, Japan retail is usually the winner when the exchange rate is good. CDJapan is the first stop when it’s in stock, and HMV Japan is the most common backup when CDJapan sells out. This route makes the most sense if you’re price-sensitive and you’re fine with international shipping variables.
If you want the safest, least stressful checkout, buy from a U.S. retailer. Light in the Attic is the “stable” option: clear listing, domestic fulfillment, and fewer surprises. Cartridge Thunder is often the better deal when their preorder price is lower, with the same domestic shipping advantage.
If you want the best overall value as a U.S. buyer, the ideal scenario is a domestic preorder priced close to Japan retail. That’s why Arcline is the cleanest recommendation right now: a strong base price, domestic shipping, and no import handling surprises - while still getting the same official Chrono Trigger OST vinyl box set.
- First ever CHRONO TRIGGER Original Soundtrack release on vinyl
- Featuring 64 tracks from the original soundtrack
- Each LP jacket includes Akira Toriyama artwork from around the game’s release era
- 4xLP pressed on black vinyl
- Inside box lid features a commemorative message from composer Yasunori Mitsuda
- Includes MP3 download code for all tracks in the set
- Comprehensive archival presentation for one of the most celebrated RPG scores
Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda (with additional contributions from Nobuo Uematsu and Noriko Matsueda), delivering one of the defining JRPG scores of the 16-bit era.
Release Date: Japan release is scheduled for March 25, 2026. U.S./international allocation is expected to ship in April 2026 depending on retailer and import timelines.
Format: Official Chrono Trigger Original Soundtrack pressed as a 4xLP vinyl box set, totaling 64 tracks
Style: Melodic, adventurous JRPG scoring - warm town themes, tense dungeon cues, and energetic battle tracks built around memorable motifs and emotional pacing.
Collector Value: First complete official vinyl presentation of the original soundtrack in a premium box format, with Toriyama-era artwork and commemorative packaging elements.
Where to Buy: Square Enix Store (official), CDJapan / HMV Japan (import), Light in the Attic and Cartridge Thunder (U.S. retailers), and Arcline Store (best-value U.S. option with free shipping threshold).
Is the Chrono Trigger vinyl box set official?
Yes. This is an official Square Enix release of the Chrono Trigger Original Soundtrack on vinyl, presented as a 4LP box set.
What’s included in the Chrono Trigger OST vinyl box?
A 4LP set with 64 tracks from the original game soundtrack, packaged as a collector box with Toriyama-era artwork and an included message from composer Yasunori Mitsuda.
Why is the Square Enix U.S. store total so high?
The base price is already premium, and once you add $14.99 shipping plus sales tax, the checkout total commonly pushes close to $200 for a 4LP box.
Is importing from Japan cheaper?
Often, yes - especially when the exchange rate is favorable. The tradeoff is shipping variability and occasional carrier handling/clearance fees depending on the shipping method.
What shipping method is usually best for CDJapan?
For many U.S. buyers, FedEx FICP is commonly the cheapest default option, and it may show a fixed clearance/handling fee at checkout.
What’s the difference between the original soundtrack and arranged albums?
The original soundtrack is the in-game score. Arranged albums (or orchestral/piano editions) are re-recordings or reinterpretations of the music.
Where can I preorder it in the U.S. with the best deal?
If you want the lowest-friction U.S. option with a strong price, Arcline is positioned as the best value. If you prefer large U.S. retailers, Light in the Attic and Cartridge Thunder are reliable options at a higher base price.