Grandia is an RPG developed by Game Arts and first released for the Sega Saturn in Japan on 18 December 1997. It was originally planned for the Mega-CD, and it contains about 20,000 frames of animation. Takeshi Miyaji and Toshiaki Hontani directed it, and Noriyuki Iwadare composed the score, which was recorded at Skywalker Sound.
The Saturn version sold 344,554 copies in Japan and was the fourth best-selling Saturn game of 1997 there, followed by the Japan-only spin-off Grandia: Digital Museum in May 1998. The PlayStation port arrived in Japan in June 1999, in North America in 1999 from Sony Computer Entertainment America and in Europe on 31 March 2000 from Ubi Soft. Sega never released the Saturn original in the West.
In 2019 the game returned in HD: Grandia HD Collection, with Grandia II, launched on Switch on 16 August 2019, and Grandia HD Remaster reached Steam on 15 October 2019.1
Names and releases
| Region | Title on the box | Platform | Date | Publisher | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | GrandiaInfobox: 26 October 1999; the article intro says September. | PlayStation | October 1999 | Sony Computer Entertainment America | 1 |
| JP | グランディアGurandiaPre-order limited edition with a cloth map and a mini radio drama CD. | Saturn | Dec 18, 1997 | ESP Software | 2 |
| JP | グランディアGrandia Memorial Package: cheaper reissue with new booklet artwork. | Saturn | November 1998 | ESP Software | 1 |
| JP | グランディアJapanese Wikipedia gives only the year 1999. | PlayStation | Jun 24, 1999 | ESP Software | 1 |
| EU | Grandia | PlayStation | Mar 31, 2000 | Ubi Soft | 1 |
| JP | グランディアPlayStation Network re-release; North America 25 February 2010, Europe 10 November 2010. | PlayStation 3 | Apr 22, 2009 | — | 1 |
| WW | Grandia HD CollectionWith Grandia II. | Switch | Aug 16, 2019 | GungHo Online Entertainment | 1 |
| WW | Grandia HD RemasterSteam. | Windows | Oct 15, 2019 | GungHo Online Entertainment | 3 |
| JP | グランディア HDコレクションJapanese release with Japanese language support. | Switch | Mar 25, 2020 | GungHo Online Entertainment | 2 |
| WW | Grandia HD CollectionAlso on Xbox One. | PlayStation 4 | Mar 26, 2024 | GungHo Online Entertainment | 1 |
Also known as: グランディア JP2Gurandia JP1Grandia HD Remaster WW3Grandia HD Collection WW1グランディア HDコレクション JP2
Box art by region
NA Grandia 
EU Grandia 
JP グランディア
Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.
Version differences
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ContentSaturn
The Saturn original never left Japan: Sega of America declined to localize it despite a fan petition, and Working Designs could not get the rights.1
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GameplayPlayStation
The PlayStation version adds DualShock analog and vibration support and a mini-game for the Japan-only PocketStation.1
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GraphicsPlayStation
The PlayStation port runs at a slightly lower frame rate with fewer visual effects; some floor graphics were removed, while some magic effects became semi-transparent.2
Translations
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English Official
Sony Computer Entertainment America1999PlayStation · Japanese versionReleased · complete
The official English version was released in North America in 1999; reviewers criticized its voice acting and translation.1
-
German Official
GungHo Online Entertainment2019Windows · HD RemasterReleased · complete
The HD remaster adds German text.1
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French Official
GungHo Online Entertainment2019Windows · HD RemasterReleased · complete
The HD remaster adds French text.1
Where to play legally today
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Steam Purchase
GRANDIA HD Remaster
HD remaster of the PlayStation version
Checked: 2026-10-133store.steampowered.com
Reception
The Saturn version sold 344,554 copies in Japan, won an Excellence Award at the 1997 CESA Japan Game Awards and got 32/40 from Famitsu. The PlayStation version holds 89/100 on Metacritic, although critics disliked its English voice acting and translation; IGN ranked it 17th among the top 25 PlayStation games in 2000.1
Sources
Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13
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