Suikoden STAR LEAP
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- iOS/Android
- Steam
Suikoden STAR LEAP (幻想水滸伝 STAR LEAP , Gensōsuikoden Sutārīpu) is an upcoming role-playing game and the sixteenth installment in the Suikoden series, developed as the first original RPG Suikoden title for mobile platforms and Steam client. Announced during the Suikoden Live Broadcast on March 4, 2025, it marks the franchise’s return with an original game after more than a decade[1].
The game retains classic elements from the series, including six-character party battles, base-building mechanics, and the recruitment of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Set near the Scarlet Moon Empire, the story follows the son of a village chief whose life is upended by a sudden attack, setting him on a new journey.
Lineage
It will be the fifth release of a Suikoden game on mobile phones after the release of Suikoden (2008) and Suikoden II (2009) for the Konami Net DX service, Genso Suikoden Tierkreis Hoshikuzu no Shiro (2008), and Pachislot Genso Suikoden (2011). It will be the first RPG-style Suikoden title that has been directly developed for mobile platforms.
It will be the first original Suikoden game release since Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki in 2012 as well as the first original title set in the "main" Suikoden setting since 2006's Suikoden V.
Gameplay
As the first original RPG mobile game of the series, Suikoden STAR LEAP adapts the gameplay style of the first two Suikoden games to a portable format.
From the preview presented in the Suikoden Live Broadcast, it appears that this title will feature a six-character party, like most main Suikoden games. Larger scale battles have also been shown.
It has also been confirmed that there will be base building as players restore their village, and 108 Stars of Destiny will be recruitable through the story, with additional characters from outside the story via gacha.
Locations will have "Landmarks", areas of interest which give optional conversations and lore. Landmarks also function as fast-travel points within areas, with the player character able to travel between landmarks using his Speed Rune.
Headquarters
With the "HQ Functions Trailer", lots of useful information were shared. Namely, the player is able to sharpen each character's weapons and craft armors through services provided by the blacksmith Meesh. Shirin offers the player a number of Bounty Hunts with specific goals, which rewards them with possibly gacha currency. This entry's rune sage, Neaje, is able to strenghten runes for a moderate amount of money and yet-unspecified materials.
A new addition to the gameplay is the introduction of Treasure Hunts, organised by Lian Falmer. It seems to be a randomised dungeon in which the player has to explore a set number of rooms, discover treaures (appraised by Lei Falmer), and defeat a final, menacing boss. Furthermore, this game mode seems to offer randomised bonuses, such as "Increase physical attack by 10%", "Increase magic defense by 10%" and "Increase HP by 10%". It is unclear what other features this new game mode has to offer.
Raura seems to offer a special training mode, tentatively called "Mirage Tower", in which the player has to fight against 50 sets of enemies and prove their strenght. As per the latest trailer, Raura can offer the player three separate instances of training.
Additionally, the player is able to fish thanks to the fisherboy Uku. Whack-A-Mole also makes a return. The player is able to mine ores in a cavern, possibly to upgrade weapons.
Furthermore, Haruka helps the player harvest fruits, useful for cooking dishes with Yua. Cooking for characters, an activity called Group Meals, can deepen bonds and might lead to the awakening of new powers within them. The player can also cut down trees, and stocking up on wood, alongside the lumberjack Baubau and harvest wheat from fields.
Players can also receive interaction missions from the village's Box of Wishes. Completing these wishes will give players a combination of materials, potch, and crystals.
Battle System
Characters have access to basic attacks, runes, and Secret Techniques - which can only be activated when the character's gauge is full.
Characters can be classified in three different categories based on their weapon damage: blunt damage (orange fist), slash damage (green blades), and magical damage (purple tome); some characters have access to multiple types of damage, like Saphia who can deal both blunt and magic damage. Two rune slots are available to characters.
Characters can also unbalance enemies should they focus attacking their weaknesses. Chains - huge and powerful full team attacks - are also available when the player's four-or-more characters can attack in rapid succession.
Lastly, the player can choose up to three support characters to aid in battle.
War Battles
War battles are shown as occurring in real time. Players select units and direct their movements and special attacks as they, and the enemy's units, traverse the map.
Four different war unit types have been seen so far: Infantry, Mounted, Archers, and Magic units. Units have special abilities depending on their commander that can be activated.
Plot Overview
Suikoden STAR LEAP starts on a village on the shore of a lake to the east of the Scarlet Moon Empire. One night, our hero, son of the village chief Hou, comes back home successful from his first hunt. The village is filled with celebration and brimming with hope for the coming days, but an assault is launched, and the fate of the village is changed in an instant.
Along with allies such as his maid Hisui, Shirin, and Shapur, the hero embarks on a journey to restore peace to the village.
In the midst of the great whirlpool of destiny, the Hero's small adventure turns into a large ambition.
The story will revolve around the Rune of Change, one of the 27 True Runes. The game's main plot is confirmed to be set in SY 453, two years before the events of Suikoden and three years after the end of Suikoden V[2].
Part of the game will involve traveling west to the Scarlet Moon Empire and encountering Flik, Humphrey, Odessa, and Viktor and seeing the origins of the Toran Liberation Army.
Gacha
The story 108 Stars of Suikoden STAR LEAP will be obtained through normal story progression without any interaction with gacha elements. Additional characters, such as those from different games, variants of different characters (such as older or younger versions), and other alternative characters will be available through the game's gacha mechanics or through special events.
At the moment, characters have been shown to come in three forms of rarity: R rank, SR rank, and SSR rank. Characters obtained through story progression do not currently have a rarity rank.
Music
Campanula is the main theme of Suikoden STAR LEAP. Japanese musician Nakamura Kaho wrote, composed, and sang the song, which is said to be based on the character of Hisui.
Three orchestral versions of songs from the game were also performed by Metroberry on the first Suikoden Live as a STAR LEAP SP medley; "March Forth, Under the Stars (Hero's army theme song)", "Overcoming Difficulties (normal battle)", and "Blooming Fields (field)."
Kamochi Akari is the lead sound creator for the game, especially in regard to original tracks, while Metroberry's Yamamoto Kazuya is involved with rearrangements of music from previous games in the series.
Gallery
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Cutscene (March 4, 2025)
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Town exploration (March 4, 2025)
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Town exploration (March 4, 2025)
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Cutscene (March 4, 2025)
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Viki (March 4, 2025)
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Party battle (March 4, 2025)
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Field battle (March 4, 2025)
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Cutscene (May 15, 2025)
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Cutscene (May 15, 2025)
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Cutscene (May 15, 2025)
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Cutscene (May 15, 2025)
References
- ↑ Suikoden Live Broadcast, March 4, 2025 Youtube.com
- ↑ 『幻想水滸伝 STAR LEAP』インタビュー。Famitsu.com