Overview
Gather your stars. Suikoden drew from the Chinese classic Water Margin—108 heroes uniting against corrupt power. Konami’s JRPG translated this into recruitment gameplay; players built a headquarters that grew with each ally, culminating in army-scale strategic battles. The series’ interconnected world and character transfers between entries created a saga spanning generations before Konami’s neglect ended it.
Fast facts
- Developer: Konami.
- Year: 1995.
- Inspiration: Water Margin (Chinese classic).
- Characters: 108 recruitable.
108 Stars system
| Star type | Recruitment |
|---|
| Plot-mandatory | Story progression |
| Optional | Side quests, conditions |
| Hidden | Obscure requirements |
| Missable | Timed windows |
Headquarters growth
| Expansion | Trigger |
|---|
| New rooms | Recruitment thresholds |
| Facilities | Specific characters |
| Mini-games | Specialist recruits |
| Visual growth | Army size |
Combat modes
| Type | Scale |
|---|
| Standard | Six-person parties |
| Duels | One-on-one |
| War battles | Army strategy |
| Unite attacks | Character combos |
True Runes
| Concept | Function |
|---|
| 27 True Runes | World’s power |
| Immortality | Bearer’s burden |
| Series connection | Cross-game links |
| Magic system | Rune-based |
Series entries
| Title | Year | Platform |
|---|
| Suikoden | 1995 | PS1 |
| Suikoden II | 1998 | PS1 |
| Suikoden III | 2002 | PS2 |
| Suikoden IV | 2004 | PS2 |
| Suikoden V | 2006 | PS2 |
Legacy
| Revival | Status |
|---|
| Eiyuden Chronicle | Spiritual successor |
| Fan campaigns | Ongoing |
| HD remasters | 2023 |
See also