Item: Legend of Mana
Rating: 92
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

92/100

The mobile remaster of Legend of Mana is an absolute triumph for JRPG fans. Originally released in 1999, this game was way ahead of its time with its 'Land Creation' system. Instead of a linear path, you're given artifacts that you place on an empty map to create towns and dungeons. This means every player's world and story progression is slightly different, giving it a level of player agency that still feels fresh today.

The hand-drawn art style has been beautifully upscaled, and the rearranged soundtrack is nothing short of magical (though you can switch to the original if you're a purist). The addition of 'Ring Ring Land' and the ability to turn off encounters are great quality-of-life improvements for the mobile version. It is a whimsical, non-linear adventure full of eccentric characters and deep crafting systems. It doesn't hold your hand, which might be jarring for modern players, but that sense of discovery is exactly what makes it a classic.

Reviewed on: Mon Mar 04 2024

Dinsun Review

Now we're talking. Legend of Mana is a weird, wonderful, and occasionally frustrating piece of gaming history. I remember playing the original on the PS1, and I have to say, the remastering work here is top-tier. Those hand-drawn backgrounds are some of the most beautiful art ever committed to a video game, and seeing them in high resolution on an OLED screen is a genuine treat. The music remains some of Shimomura’s best work, which is saying a lot.

However, this game is an absolute mess of systems. The 'Land Creation' mechanic is never properly explained, and you can easily lock yourself out of content if you place artifacts in the 'wrong' order. It’s non-linear to a fault; you’ll spend half your time wondering where the hell to go next because there’s zero guidance. The combat is okay, but it feels a bit floaty compared to modern action RPGs. It’s a game of 'vibes' more than coherent design. I love it because of nostalgia and the sheer artistry, but if you’re coming in fresh, be prepared to play with a wiki open on your lap. It’s an 80 for fans, but a 70 for everyone else. I'll split the difference.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Breathtakingly beautiful hand-drawn art
Unique and experimental world-building mechanics
Iconic musical score

Opaque and confusing systems
Non-linear structure can lead to aimless wandering
Touch controls aren't as tight as a physical controller

Technical Report

Performance: Solid performance; widescreen support is well-implemented.

Accessibility:

Auto-Battle Option
Encounter Toggle

Audience Fit

Buy if: You love classic JRPGs, experimental design, and some of the best art in the medium.

Skip if: You need clear objectives and streamlined mechanics to enjoy an RPG.

Similar Games:

Trials of Mana
SaGa Frontier Remastered

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, nostalgic for the PS1 era but critical of poor UX.
Hardware: iPhone 13 Pro
Playtime: 25 hours
Status: Main arc finished

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1563156209

$27.99 13+★4.3 23 reviews

Author : SQUARE ENIX

Pubish Date : Tue Dec 07 2021

Last Update Date : Tue Dec 07 2021

Support Languages : English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese

Genres :

Version 1.0.2Tue Dec 07 2021

bug fix.
Set off on a journey to find the mystical Mana Tree seen in a dream, before discovering... the world map is empty! During your travels, you’ll acquire special artifacts; place these wherever you’d like on the map to bring towns and dungeons to life and advance the story
Meet a colorful cast of characters, square off against fearsome monsters, and explore the vast world of Fa’Diel. Not only has the music has been rearranged for this remaster, you can also alternate between the new and original soundtrack. Other features have also been added, including the ability to turn off enemy encounters, and the never-before released mini-game "Ring Ring Land".
Requires iOS 13.6 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Legend of Mana is available now!
Experience the magic of a beloved classic, remastered for the first time.
Set off on a journey to find the mystical Mana Tree seen in a dream, before discovering... the world map is empty! During your travels, you’ll acquire special artifacts; place these wherever you’d like on the map to bring towns and dungeons to life and advance the story
Meet a colorful cast of characters, square off against fearsome monsters, and explore the vast world of Fa’Diel. Not only has the music has been rearranged for this remaster, you can also alternate between the new and original soundtrack. Other features have also been added, including the ability to turn off enemy encounters, and the never-before released mini-game "Ring Ring Land".

Ratings & Reviews

4.3 out of 5 with 23 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 13+

Legend of Mana is a remastered action-RPG where players search for the mystical Mana Tree. Featuring the innovative 'Land Creation' system, players use artifacts to build their own world map and determine how the story unfolds. This version includes updated graphics, a rearranged soundtrack, and the previously unreleased mini-game 'Ring Ring Land'.

Features

Unique Land Creation system

Stunningly remastered hand-drawn graphics

Rearranged and original soundtrack options

New mini-game: Ring Ring Land

Quality-of-life updates like 'no encounter' mode

Tips

Building Your World

The order and placement of artifacts on the map affect the difficulty of enemies and the items you find in shops. Experiment with different layouts to uncover hidden quests and rare resources.

News on this game

" FINAL FANTASY PIXEL REMASTER SERIES, LEGEND OF MANA , AND TRIALS OF MANA NOW AVAILABLE ON XBOX" - Square Enix North America Press Hub

Popular titles from the iconic FINAL FANTASY and Mana franchises, can be played for the first time on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Windows, and are available now...

Square Enix press site - Tue Apr 29 2025

Legend of Mana (Xbox Series X) Review

There's possibly no RPG made that understands it's not about the singular adventure, rather, a sum of its many parts than Legend of Mana.

CGMagazine - Tue Apr 29 2025

Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, Mana Titles Released on Xbox Series X|S

Square Enix has released the full set of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster titles, Legend of Mana Remastered, and Trials of Mana on Xbox Series X|S.

RPGamer - Tue Apr 29 2025

SQUARE ENIX Announces Availability Of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series, Legend Of Mana, And Trials Of

Three iconic series from the Final Fantasy (The Pixel Remaster collection) and Mana franchises are now available for the first time on Xbox Series X|S and PC...

The Otaku's Study - Tue Apr 29 2025

Legend of Mana is Now Available for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass

Square Enix has announced Legend of Mana is now available for the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass. The game previously released for the Nintendo Switch.

VGChartz - Thu May 29 2025

Trials of Mana, Legend of Mana, and Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster All Hit Xbox Today

Square Enix's Trials of Mana and Legend of Mana are available on Xbox Series X and S, Windows PC, and Game Pass today.

IGN - Tue Apr 29 2025

Trials of Mana and Legend of Mana available on Xbox Game Pass today

Square Enix, not content with bringing all the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters to Xbox (though they're not on Xbox Game Pass) they clearly...

XboxEra - Tue Apr 29 2025

Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana Games Now on Xbox Series X

Square Enix revealed Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana as Xbox Series X shadowdrop games. Both are immediately available to purchase digitally.

Siliconera - Tue Apr 29 2025

Trials Of Mana And Legend Of Mana Join Xbox Game Pass

Square Enix has announced that Trials of Mana and Legend of Mana have joined Xbox Game Pass, making the titles available to the service's subscribers on both...

Noisy Pixel - Tue Apr 29 2025

Xbox Game Pass adds two Square Enix RPGs today

The Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 Broadcast has brought us a wave of news, including the announcement that Trials of Mana and Legend of Mana join Game Pass today.

TrueAchievements - Tue Apr 29 2025

Gameplays

Combat and Companions

Combat is real-time and side-scrolling. You can bring a companion or a tamed pet into battle. Each weapon type has its own set of special techniques that you'll learn as you use them.