# We rank every mainline Suikoden game, from the divisive Suikoden IV to the legendary Suikoden II. Dive into our complete analysis of the 108 Stars of Destiny and find out which title is the best in the series.
There’s a certain magic to the PlayStation era of JRPGs, a time when developers, unbound by the demand for photorealistic graphics, poured their souls into crafting sprawling worlds, intricate systems, and stories with real emotional weight. It was during this golden age that I first stumbled upon a game called Suikoden. It wasn’t just another tale of saving the world; it was a chronicle of war, a study of political intrigue, and, most importantly, a deeply human story about gathering a family of 108 disparate souls to fight for a common cause.
The Suikoden series is built on a few foundational pillars that make it unique. First and foremost is the concept of the 108 Stars of Destiny, a direct inspiration from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin. In each mainline game, your task is not just to level up but to recruit a massive army of characters, each with their own personality, skills, and reasons for joining your cause. This feeds into another core element: your headquarters. What starts as a dilapidated castle or a humble ship grows into a bustling fortress, a living testament to your growing influence.
Driving the epic conflicts are the 27 True Runes, artifacts of immense power that govern the very aspects of the world. These runes choose their bearers, often granting them incredible abilities at a terrible cost, and their existence is the catalyst for the wars that define each game’s narrative. This framework allows the series to explore mature themes of friendship, betrayal, sacrifice, and the brutal realities of war in a way few other games have managed.
To rank these beloved classics, the criteria must go beyond simple mechanics. This list considers the strength of the story and its emotional impact, the depth and development of its characters, the innovation (or lack thereof) in its gameplay systems, and its overall legacy within the genre. The fan community has long debated the merits of each entry, and while this ranking is definitive, it is also crafted with a deep respect for that ongoing conversation. So, let’s gather the Stars and begin our journey.
The Ranking: From Misfires to Masterpieces
5. Suikoden IV (2004, PlayStation 2)
Breaking from the established timeline, Suikoden IV is a prequel set 150 years before the original game in the vast Island Nations. Players take on the role of a young knight-in-training (canonically named Lazlo), who is branded a traitor and exiled after he unwillingly becomes the bearer of the cursed and deadly Rune of Punishment. His journey to clear his name and unite the disparate island factions against the encroaching Kooluk Empire forms the game’s core conflict.
On paper, Suikoden IV had a lot going for it. The shift to a naval, pirate-themed setting was a breath of fresh air, trading castles and plains for ships and open seas, a welcome departure from standard fantasy tropes.
It was also the first game in the series to feature voice acting, a major presentational leap forward that, despite some inconsistent quality, helped bring key moments to life. For long-time fans, the most powerful draw was the return of Ted and the Soul Eater rune, a fantastic piece of fan service that provided a tangible link between this distant prequel and the series’ foundational lore. The Naval Battle system, while simplified, was also a fun and thematic replacement for the traditional large-scale war segments.
Unfortunately, the game is sunk by a series of compounding design flaws that create a negative feedback loop, actively punishing the player for exploration. The world map is a vast, largely featureless ocean that is a chore to navigate due to the ship’s agonizingly slow travel speed. This tedious journey is made infinitely worse by an absurdly high random encounter rate, interrupting the player every few seconds. The result is a core gameplay loop where the simple act of getting from point A to point B is penalized by both extreme boredom and constant frustration.
This was compounded by the baffling decision to reduce the party size from the series’ standard of six down to four. In a series celebrated for its massive cast, this change severely hamstrung strategic options and took away much of the joy of experimenting with different character combinations. Add to this a story that feels less urgent and emotionally resonant than its predecessors, with underdeveloped villains and a plot that simply “lacks heart,” and you have a recipe for disappointment.
Suikoden IV is a game of missed potential. While its unique setting and a few bright spots offer glimpses of what could have been, its fundamental gameplay flaws make it a slog to play through. It stands as a clear low point for the series and is widely considered the weakest of the mainline entries.
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4. Suikoden III (2002, PlayStation 2)
Set 15 years after the events of Suikoden II, this entry was the series’ ambitious leap into 3D. Its most defining feature is the “Trinity Sight System,” a revolutionary narrative structure that tells the story of the brewing conflict between the Zexen Federation and the Grassland clans from three distinct perspectives: Hugo, a young Karayan warrior; Chris Lightfellow, the respected “Silver Maiden” and captain of the Zexen Knights; and Geddoe, a stoic mercenary leader with ties to the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia.
The narrative ambition of Suikoden III cannot be overstated. The Trinity Sight System was a masterclass in storytelling, deconstructing the simple “good vs. evil” narrative common in JRPGs. By forcing the player into the shoes of opposing factions, the game creates a profound sense of moral ambiguity.
An event that is a devastating tragedy in one chapter, like the burning of Hugo’s home village, is framed as a regrettable but necessary military action in another. This forces the player to understand the motivations on all sides, crafting a complex and mature story that was far ahead of its time. The introduction of a robust skill system also added a welcome new layer of depth to character customization, allowing for more specialized party builds.
For all its narrative brilliance, Suikoden III is hampered by divisive and often clunky gameplay. The transition to 3D brought with it a new “buddy system” in combat, where players issue commands to pairs of characters rather than individuals. This took away a significant degree of strategic control and felt like a step back from the snappy, satisfying combat of the first two games.
The world design also suffered, with a restrictive, linear overworld map and largely uninspired dungeons that made exploration feel tedious. Furthermore, the early 3D graphics have not aged gracefully; the character models are blocky and wooden, and the fixed camera angles can be frustrating to navigate, leading many to prefer the timeless pixel art of the previous titles.
Suikoden III is a fascinating game of contrasts: a brilliant, forward-thinking narrative shackled to clumsy and dated gameplay. It is a title that is widely respected for its storytelling ambition and its complex exploration of perspective, but its gameplay flaws prevent it from achieving true greatness. It’s a game you admire for its intelligence, even if you don’t always enjoy the act of playing it.
3. Suikoden (1995, PlayStation)
This is where it all began. The story introduces us to the hero (canonically Tir McDohl), the son of a great general in the Scarlet Moon Empire. His life is turned upside down when he is forced to flee his home after inheriting the Soul Eater, a cursed True Rune that devours the souls of those close to its bearer. He soon becomes the reluctant leader of the Toran Liberation Army, tasked with gathering the 108 Stars of Destiny to overthrow a corrupt and tyrannical empire.
Suikoden‘s greatest strength is its incredible foundation. It single-handedly established all the core concepts that would define the series for years to come: the thrill of recruiting 108 unique characters, the satisfaction of building up a castle headquarters from nothing, the strategic six-person party, and the three distinct modes of combat—standard turn-based battles, tense one-on-one duels, and large-scale war battles. The story, while straightforward, moves at a brisk pace and is packed with an emotional weight that still resonates, featuring shocking betrayals and poignant sacrifices that catch you off guard. For its time, the sheer novelty of watching your dilapidated castle transform into a bustling fortress filled with the allies you’ve personally recruited was a revolutionary experience.
As a product of its time, the game is undeniably dated. The inventory management is particularly clunky, requiring constant juggling between characters. The lack of a dash function makes traversal slow, and the menu systems can be awkward to navigate. While the story is effective, its “rebels vs. evil empire” plot is relatively simple compared to the more nuanced political and personal dramas of its sequels, and the main villains can feel a bit one-dimensional. The pacing can also feel uneven at times, with a rushed beginning and some mid-game sections that devolve into fetch quests.
Suikoden is an absolute classic and an essential piece of JRPG history. The fact that it remains so beloved despite its age is a testament to the sheer strength of its core ideas. It may not be the most polished entry, but its charm, innovation, and the groundwork it laid for one of the genre’s greatest series make it required playing.
2. Suikoden V (2006, PlayStation 2)
Acting as a prequel set eight years before the original game, Suikoden V takes place in the Queendom of Falena, a matriarchal society on the brink of civil war. The player controls the quiet and kind-hearted Prince of Falena, who is thrust into conflict when the powerful and ruthless Godwin faction orchestrates a coup during his sister Lymsleia’s Sacred Games. Forced into exile with his loyal bodyguard Lyon and enigmatic aunt Sialeeds, the Prince must raise an army to reclaim his homeland and unravel the mysteries of the Sun Rune.
Suikoden V is a triumphant return to form, and in many ways, it feels like a deliberate and successful apology for the missteps of III and IV. The developers clearly listened to fan feedback and made a concerted effort to recapture the magic of the series’ heyday. The restrictive four-person party of IV is gone, replaced by the classic six-person party system. The divisive war battle systems of the previous two games were replaced with a refined real-time system that is both strategic and engaging. Most importantly, the story is a masterpiece of political intrigue, family drama, and shocking betrayal, widely considered to be on par with the legendary narrative of Suikoden II.
The characterization is arguably the series’ best, with an incredibly strong and memorable main cast. The bond between the Prince and his bodyguard Lyon is the emotional heart of the game, while characters like the stoic Georg Prime and the complex Sialeeds are fantastically written. Even many of the 108 Stars feel more integrated into the main plot than ever before, making recruitment feel meaningful and rewarding.
The game’s most significant and universally cited flaw is its excruciatingly slow start. The narrative takes a full 6 to 10 hours of world-building, character introductions, and political setup before the main conflict truly ignites. While this detailed preamble makes the later plot twists more impactful, it’s a major test of patience that can deter new players. The game is also plagued by frequent and lengthy loading times, which, when combined with a high random encounter rate, can bog down the overall pace. Finally, the game is notoriously easy, with a few overpowered characters capable of trivializing most encounters, including major boss battles.
Despite a slow burn of an introduction, Suikoden V is a phenomenal JRPG and a stunning return to the series’ roots. It delivers one of the most compelling stories and well-developed casts in the entire genre. It stands as a beautiful, if bittersweet, final chapter for the mainline series and a powerful contender for the top spot on this list.
1. Suikoden II (1998, PlayStation)
Taking place just three years after the first game, Suikoden II tells the story of two best friends, the hero (Riou) and Jowy Atreides. As members of the Highland Kingdom’s youth army brigade, they are the sole survivors of a massacre orchestrated by their own sadistic prince, Luca Blight, designed to be a false flag to ignite a war with the neighboring Jowston City-States. Their escape leads them to become bearers of the two halves of the Rune of the Beginning—the Bright Shield and Black Sword Runes—which destines them to stand on opposite sides of the ensuing Dunan Unification War.
Suikoden II is, without hyperbole, one of the greatest stories ever told in a video game. It is a dark, mature, and emotionally shattering epic about the horrors of war and a friendship torn apart by fate. The central, tragic conflict between Riou and Jowy provides a deeply personal core to the grand political narrative, creating a story that is both epic in scope and intimate in its impact.
This incredible story is anchored by one of gaming’s most terrifying and memorable villains: Luca Blight. He is not a sympathetic antagonist with a tragic backstory; he is a force of pure, unadulterated evil, a “mad dog” whose bloodlust and cruelty are genuinely unsettling. His presence casts a dark shadow over the entire game, and his defeat is one of the most satisfying moments in JRPG history.
On the gameplay front, Suikoden II takes every single concept from the original and refines it to near perfection. The inventory is more manageable, a dash button makes traversal faster, the war battles are now a more engaging grid-based strategy system, and the castle headquarters feels more alive and vibrant than ever. The 2D pixel art is a masterclass in the form, with incredibly expressive character sprites and detailed environments that have aged like fine wine.
This is all accompanied by an iconic and emotionally powerful soundtrack that perfectly complements the story’s dramatic highs and devastating lows. Finally, the ability to transfer save data from the first game—allowing the hero of Suikoden I to make a cameo and unlocking a special side-quest—was a revolutionary feature that created an unparalleled sense of world continuity.
It is difficult to find significant faults with Suikoden II. The most common criticism is aimed at its original English localization, which was notoriously rushed and filled with typos and awkward grammar. However, the sheer power of the underlying story and characters shines through despite these blemishes. Additionally, some of the 108 Stars can be permanently missed if you don’t make specific choices or act within tight time windows, which can be frustrating for completionists playing without a guide.
Suikoden II is not just the best game in the series; it is a landmark achievement for the JRPG genre and a strong contender for the greatest of all time. It is the perfect synthesis of epic, emotional storytelling, unforgettable characters, and deeply satisfying, refined gameplay. It is the brilliant, shining star by which all other games in this beloved franchise are measured.
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The Unranked Chronicles: A Look at the Spin-Offs
The Suikoden spin-offs represent an era of experimentation, where Konami attempted to expand the series into new genres and platforms, often with mixed results. These games largely exist outside the main narrative and showcase a franchise searching for a new identity.
- Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 1 & 2 (2000-2001, PlayStation): These Japan-only visual novels are essential for lore enthusiasts. They follow the Harmoniam agent Nash Latkje and provide fascinating side-stories that run parallel to the events of Suikoden II, fleshing out the world and its characters. They are not traditional RPGs but are a treat for dedicated fans.
- Suikoden Tactics (2005, PlayStation 2): A solid tactical RPG that serves as both a prequel and sequel to Suikoden IV, focusing on the story of Kyril and the mysterious Rune Cannons. While the grid-based combat is enjoyable and mechanically sound, the game is let down by a lightweight plot and some truly terrible voice acting.
- Suikoden Tierkreis (2008, Nintendo DS): A complete departure from the main series, Tierkreis is set in a parallel world disconnected from the lore of the True Runes. It features a more generic “light vs. dark” story aimed at a younger audience but boasts impressive production values and beautiful visuals for the DS. It was a clear attempt to reboot the franchise for a new generation.
- Gensō Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki (2012, PSP): The final game released in the series, this Japan-only title (with a fan translation available) features a time-travel plot and a job-class system. It’s criticized for a tedious first half and forgettable characters, though the story does improve significantly later on.
The Enduring Legacy of the Flame Champion
Ranking the Suikoden series is a journey through the evolution of a JRPG giant. From the charming but dated foundation of the original to the ambitious but flawed experimentation of Suikoden III, and from the frustrating missteps of Suikoden IV to the triumphant return to form in Suikoden V, each game tells a part of the larger story. Yet, standing tall above them all is Suikoden II, a timeless masterpiece that represents the absolute pinnacle of the series and the genre.
The enduring legacy of Suikoden is its unwavering focus on the human element amidst epic conflict. It’s a series that understands that wars are not just fought by armies, but by people—farmers, blacksmiths, chefs, magicians, and warriors, all brought together by fate. The magic of gathering the 108 Stars of Destiny is the magic of building a diverse, sprawling, and sometimes dysfunctional family.
Though the mainline series has been dormant for years, its spirit lives on. The upcoming Suikoden I & II HD Remaster promises to introduce these classics to a new generation , and the success of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes—a spiritual successor created by the original series director, Yoshitaka Murayama—proves that the desire for these kinds of deep, character-driven JRPGs is stronger than ever. The flame of the Liberation Army has not been extinguished.
What’s your personal Suikoden ranking? Did we get it right? Drop your list in the comments below and let’s discuss!. Discover fascinating game insights in Revan’s latest articles! Stay updated daily by following Geminvo on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube & TikTok.
Summary Every Suikoden Game Ranked From Worst to Best
- 5. Suikoden IV: A flawed prequel whose interesting naval theme is sunk by a tedious world design, an agonizingly slow pace, and an oversimplified four-person battle system.
- 4. Suikoden III: A game with a brilliant, ahead-of-its-time narrative structure that explores conflict from multiple perspectives, but is held back by clunky and unsatisfying gameplay mechanics.
- 3. Suikoden I: The innovative and charming foundation of the series. It established the beloved formula of recruiting 108 stars and building a castle, but has been surpassed by its more polished successors.
- 2. Suikoden V: A masterful return to form that boasts one of the series’ best stories and most well-developed casts, hampered only by a notoriously slow start and low difficulty.
- 1. Suikoden II: The undisputed masterpiece. A perfect refinement of the original’s formula, featuring one of the most powerful, mature, and emotionally resonant stories in the history of video games.