This week, Konami surprised and delighted classic RPG fans with a Suikoden-focused livestream. The franchise's long absence of new entries—the last being a Japan-only PSP title over a decade ago—created high anticipation, resulting in a mixed reaction to the announcements. A Suikoden anime and a new mobile game were revealed, each with its own set of implications.
First, the anime, simply titled Suikoden: The Anime, adapts the events of Suikoden II. This marks Konami's first animation production and, while details remain scarce (including international availability), a brief scenic preview was shown:
This is exciting news for dedicated fans and potentially a great introduction for newcomers, assuming widespread release.
The second announcement, a new game titled Suikoden: Star Leap, generated more complex feelings. Boasting stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler—2D sprites on 3D backgrounds—it’s set chronologically between Suikoden I and Suikoden V, and retains the series' iconic 108 Stars.
However, the mobile platform and inclusion of gacha mechanics and monetization caused some concern. This departs from the series’ history of premium console and PC releases. The long-term impact of these monetization choices on player experience and the ability to collect all 108 Stars remains to be seen. Meanwhile, fans can enjoy the recently released *Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars*. A new trailer debuted during the livestream, and the remaster launched on March 6th.
