Suikoden I & II

One hundred and eight heroes. One army. Your own castle that grows with every new ally. The Suikoden series from Konami stands on an idea so simple and yet so addictive that it became an obsession for an entire generation of JRPG fans - to recruit all 108 „Stars of Destiny“ and build a power of your own from them.

The inspiration comes from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin, and the scope matches. Your base gradually changes from an abandoned ruin into a living town full of merchants, blacksmiths, cooks, fortune-tellers and minigame attractions - each new character adds a function, decoration or simply a piece of soul. Battles take place in parties of six, joined by mass battles of armies and dramatic one-on-one duels.

The first installment from 1996 laid the foundations, but it is Suikoden II from 1998 that regularly appears in rankings of the best JRPGs of all time. The reason is a mature, surprisingly dark story about war, friendship and betrayal - and above all one of the best villains of the entire genre, Luca Blight. This character is pure hatred in human form, a general whose cruelty stays under your skin for a long time.

Both games are joined by the ability to transfer a saved position, so decisions from the first game have an echo in the second. This gives the series a continuity that few titles offered at the time, and rewards players who set out on the whole journey.

The sad irony is that Suikoden II came out in the West in a small print run and today ranks among the rarest and most expensive PlayStation games on the collector's market. Fortunately, both games received an official remaster in 2024, so the legend is no longer held hostage by inflated secondhand prices.

Why play it: For the unforgettable story of the second game, the joy of building your own army and Luca Blight - a villain you never forget.