How to recruit every character in Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition (and how to recruit them)

While uncovering the truth of his past, Serge will acquire many different allies to help him in his journey, each with their own rich backstories and motivations. There are a total of 45 playable characters in Chrono Cross, meaning you'll have plenty of options to form the perfect team. Tracking down each character can be a bit complicated, however, so we're here to help—here's every playable character in Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition and how to recruit them in chronological order.

Note: Spoilers for Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition follow.

Chrono Cross Radical Dreamers Edition Character Recruitment Order

Party members recruited while controlling Serge

Leaving Arni Village (Home World)

There are a total of six characters to start recruiting immediately after leaving Arni Village (Home World). The characters that can be recruited are as follows:

• Poshul
  • Poshul will join the party after being given the Heckran Bone key item hidden with Arni Village (Home World), or join the party alongside Leena in Arni Village (Another World) if she was missed in Home World.
• Kid
  • Kid first offers to join the party after the boss fight against Karsh in Cape Howl (Another World). Accepting her offer will prevent you from recruiting Leena, however, so it's best to refuse her at this point. If rejected, Kid will still join the party later on.
• Leena
  • To recruit Leena, refuse Kid's offer to join the party at Cape Howl (Another World). Leena will then automatically join the party upon Serge's return to Arni Village (Another World). If Kid's offer was accepted, Leena can be recruited in New Game+.
• Mojo
  • To recruit Mojo, first, make sure to obtain the Shark Tooth key item from the fisherman in Arni Village (Home World). Deliver the Shark Tooth to the same fisherman in Arni Village (Another World) for Mojo to join the party.
• Skelly
  • Skelly must be reassembled before he can join the party, and the first piece is found in Fossil Valley (Another World). Tell the soldiers you're an exorcist, then investigate the ghostly sounds to find a Heavy Skull.
  • An Angry Scapula can be found within a small cave behind a waterfall in the Shadow Forest (Another World).
  • A Pelvic Bone can be found by speaking with the trader in Guldove (Another World).
  • Sturdy Ribs can be found by speaking with an explorer at Water Dragon Isle (Another World).
  • A Good Backbone can be found within the Hydra Marshes (Another World).
  • A pile of Mixed Bones can be found on the Isle of the Damned (Another World). Take all the pieces to Skelly's grandmother in Termina (Another World) to recruit him to the party.
• Draggy
  • To recruit Draggy, first, you'll need to pick up Big Egg while venturing through Fossil Valley (Another World). Once the party has reached Fort Dragonia (Home World) later on, head downstairs and place the Big Egg within the empty incubator to acquire Draggy.

Related: How to recruit Leena in Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition

Infiltrating Viper Manor (Another World)

There are a total of five characters that can be recruited before heading into Viper Manor (Another World). The characters that can be recruited are as follows:

• Guile
  • Upon reaching Termina (Another World) and speaking with the statue cleaner, head into the bar to find Guile. He'll offer his services as a guide after learning of Serge's plan to infiltrate Viper Manor, though this will prevent you from acquiring Nikki or Pierre until New Game+.
• Nikki
  • Upon reaching Termina (Another World) and speaking with the statue cleaner, head into the gigantic green ship docked in the harbor. After speaking with Nikki's manager, Miki will approach the party and ask for help with finding Nikki. Nikki will join the party after being rescued in the Shadow Forest, though this will prevent you from acquiring Guile or Pierre until New Game+.
• Pierre
  • Upon reaching Termina (Another World) and speaking with the statue cleaner, head into the blacksmith's shop and speak with Pierre in the backroom. Simply find and return his missing medal to prompt Pierre to join the party, though this will prevent you from acquiring Guile or Nikki until New Game+.
• Pip
  • While venturing through Viper Manor (Another World), release Pip from his cage within Luccia's lab. Pip can then be recruited aboard the S.S. Invincible while the Ghost Ship is attacking later on.
• Luccia
  • To acquire Luccia, first, defeat her Neo-Bulbs while venturing through Viper Manor (Another World). She'll tell you to come back later on, so return to Viper Manor after escaping to find her on the upper balcony, then follow her down to her lab where she'll offer to join the party.

Refusing to find an antidote for Kid

There are a total of three characters that can be recruited when refusing to help save Kid. The characters that can be recruited are as follows:

• Macha
  • After refusing to help Kid, head back to Korcha's house in Guldove (Another World). He'll say that he has no interest in helping you, prompting Macha to stop in and act as the party's guide. Make your way to Termina for her to officially join the party.
• Glenn
  • Upon reaching Termina (Another World), head over to the flower lady to see her speaking with Glenn. Simply return to your boat after this scene, and Glenn will approach Serge and request to join the party.
• Doc
  • Once the Ghost Ship has been dealt with, return to Guldove (Another World). Head into the clinic to discover that Kid has been healed by a mysterious man, prompting Doc to join the party.

Agreeing to find an antidote for Kid

There are a total of three characters that can be recruited when choosing to help save Kid. The characters that can be recruited are as follows:

• Korcha
  • After agreeing to help Kid, head back to Korcha's house in Guldove (Another World). He'll offer to be your guide, though you'll need to make your way to Termina for him to officially join the party.
• Razzly
  • Defeat the Hydra within the Hydra Marsh (Home World) to recruit her to the party.
• Mel
  • To have Mel join the party, first, search for her after she's stolen Kid's elements. Then speak to her again with Korcha in your party to recruit her.

Before visiting Mount Pyre (Another World)

A total of two more characters can be recruited before visiting Mount Pyre. The characters that can be recruited are as follows:

• NeoFio
  • Obtain the Green Tinkler bell from Guldove (Another World), then head to Hydra Marsh (Another World) and acquire the Life Sparkle. Once this is done, head to Viper Manor's (Another World) balcony and use the Life Sparkle on NeoFio to recruit him to the party.
• Greco
  • Visit Dario's shrine in Termina (Another World) to find Greco. Follow him into his house and speak with him to recruit Greco to the party.

Party members recruited while controlling Lynx

Entering the Dead Sea (Home World)

There are a total of eleven characters that can be recruited before entering the Dead Sea. The characters that can be recruited are as follows:

• Sprigg
  • After gaining control of Lynx in the Temporal Vortex, walk onto one of the branches to make a berry fall on the ground, prompting Sprigg to leave her house. Enter the house while it's unlocked to recruit Sprigg.
• Harle
  • Harle joins the party automatically during the story in the Temporal Vortex, though she'll leave once Serge regains his original body. Upon beating the game, Harle can be permanently recruited to the party during New Game+ by using Chrono Cross against the Time Devourer.
• Radius
  • While in control of Lynx, head to Arni Village (Home World) and speak with Serge's mother. Defeat Radius in the ensuing battle to recruit him into your party.
• Funguy
  • To recruit Funguy, head into the Shadow Forest (Home World) and enter the sewer underneath Viper Manor. Obtain a mushroom from the sewers underneath Viper Manor, then head into the small cave underneath the waterfall. Present the mushroom to the man found within to recruit Funguy into your party.
• Zappa
  • While Radius is in your party, visit the blacksmith shop in Termina (Home World). Speak with Zappa to initiate a short cutscene in which he joins the party.
• Van
  • To recruit Van, first, head into the house behind Termina's (Home World) blacksmith shop. Speak with Van and hire him as a guide, then agree to look for the Frozen Flame to acquire Van as a party member.
• Norris
  • After visiting Termina (Home World), head to Viper Manor (Home World) and use the well to reach the manor's basement. Speak with Norris to initiate a short cutscene in which he joins the party.
• Starky
  • Upon gaining a boat, travel to the El Nido Triangle (Home World) and obtain the Star Fragment at the bottom. From there, head to the top of Sky Dragon Isle and defeat Starky in battle, then catch him to recruit him into the party.
• Janice
  • To recruit Janice, head to the S.S. Zelbess (Home World) and enter the Grand Slam. Upon winning three matches, Janice will request to join Serge and the party.
• Sneff
  • Upon defeating the Sage of Marbule on the S.S. Zelbess (Home World), check the casino to find Sneff gambling. Follow him back to his dressing room to recruit him into the party.
• Irenes
  • Upon defeating the Sage of Marbule on the S.S. Zelbess (Home World), head over to Nikki's ship. Head into the dressing room to initiate a short cutscene in which Irenes joins the party.

Related: How to recruit Poshul in Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition

Returning to Viper Mansion (Another World)

There are a total of eight characters that can be recruited while visiting Viper Manor for a second time. The characters that can be recruited are as follows:

• Karsh
  • Upon returning to Termina (Another World), head into the bar to find Karsh and Zoah. Choosing Karsh during the mission to infiltrate Viper Mansion will recruit him to your party, leaving Zoah behind to join later.
• Zoah
  • Upon returning to Termina (Another World), head into the bar to find Karsh and Zoah. Choosing Zoah during the mission to infiltrate Viper Mansion will recruit him to your party, leaving Karsh behind to join later.
• Orcha
  • Defeat Orcha in the Viper Manor (Another World) while rescuing Riddel to recruit him to the party.
• Grobyc
  • Defeat Grobyc in the Viper Manor (Another World) while rescuing Riddel to recruit him to the party.
• Riddel
  • Rescue Riddel from Viper Manor (Another World), then head to Hermit's Hideaway and speak with Riddel to recruit her to the party.
• General Viper
  • Rescue Riddel from Viper Manor (Another World), then head to Hermit's Hideaway. Rest until the morning and watch the short cutscene, then Viper will join the party upon reaching the S.S. Invincible.
• Fargo
  • Fargo will automatically join the party after General Viper has been recruited.
• Marcy
  • Marcy will automatically join the party after General Viper has been recruited.

Finding the Dragon Relics

A total of four characters can be recruited while searching for the Dragon Relics. The characters that can be recruited are as follows:

• Orlha
  • After obtaining a boat, head to Guldove (Another World) and defeat Orlha to receive a Sapphire Brooch. Upon regaining Serge's original body, return the brooch to Orlha in Guldove (Another World) to recruit her to the party.
• Miki
  • Defeat the Lagoonates that have invaded Marbule (Home World), then speak with Miki aboard the S.S. Zelbess (Home World) to recruit her to the party.
• Leah
  • Leah will automatically join the party upon reaching Gaea's Navel.
• Steena
  • After defeating all six dragons, speak with Steena in the Guldove's (Home World) Maiden Shrine to recruit her to the party.

Party members recruited after regaining Serge's body

Hermit's Hideaway

One final character is waiting to be recruited once Serge has regained his body:

• Turnip
  • After obtaining the Ice Breath, freeze the burnt patch of earth on the ground at Hermit's Hideaway (Another World). From there, head to the Hermit's Hideaway (Home World) with Poshul in your party and investigate the odd plant in the ground to recruit Turnip to the party.

Looking for more great Chrono Cross content? Be sure to check out How to recruit Mojo in Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition here at Pro Game Guides.