Suikoden 2 Anime Announced Alongside New Mobile Gacha Game

Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a special live stream dedicated entirely to the beloved Suikoden series. The franchise, which hasn't seen a new entry since a side story released over a decade ago exclusively for Japanese and PSP audiences, had fans buzzing with anticipation. The announcements that followed stirred a mix of emotions: a Suikoden anime (exciting!), and a long-awaited new Suikoden video game...but for mobile and with gacha mechanics (a bit of a letdown).

First up, the anime titled Suikoden: The Anime is based on the events of Suikoden 2 and marks Konami's inaugural animation project. While we didn't get a deep dive into its visuals or details on international availability, a brief scenery clip was shared:

This is thrilling news for die-hard Suikoden fans and could serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers, provided the anime reaches a global audience.

The second major announcement, a new game called Suikoden Star Leap, has left fans with mixed feelings. The game boasts stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler, featuring 2D sprites set against 3D backgrounds. Set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, it maintains the series' tradition of including 108 characters.

However, the game is slated for release on mobile platforms only, which might not be a deal-breaker for dedicated fans. The inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization, though, is a departure from the series' history of premium releases on consoles and PCs. This could potentially impact players' enjoyment and ability to collect all 108 characters, but we'll need to see how these elements play out once the game is released.

In the meantime, Suikoden enthusiasts can look forward to the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. A new trailer for this collection was showcased during the live event, and it's set to launch tomorrow, on March 6.