Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Explained (Simply): What You Need to Know Before Diving In

You’ve probably heard the name. Or maybe you saw the colorful, sprite-based characters popping off the screen and thought, "Wait, is that Suikoden?" Honestly, it basically is. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the spiritual successor we waited a decade for. It’s the final project of the late Yoshitaka Murayama, the creative mind behind the first two Suikoden games. That’s a heavy legacy. It carries a weight that most indie RPGs don't have to deal with.

The game doesn't just ask you to save the world. It asks you to build a home while doing it. You play as Nowa, a kid from a tiny village who ends up leading a massive resistance. It's classic. It's retro. It’s also kinda janky in ways that might surprise you if you’re used to modern, streamlined AAA titles. But that’s sort of the point.

The Core Loop of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

The "Hundred Heroes" part isn't a marketing gimmick. There are actually 120 recruitable characters. You won't use all of them in battle—only 71 are combat-capable. The rest? They run your castle. They open shops. They cook. They play cards.

Managing this roster is the meat of the game. You aren't just grinding levels; you're scouting. You might find a magical girl named Mellore in Eltisweiss or a cranky blacksmith named Douglas who needs ten chunks of iron ore before he'll even look at you. It feels like a Pokémon collector's dream mixed with a medieval war drama.

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Why the Combat Feels Different

Battles are turn-based, but they have a "gimmick" system. During boss fights, you might have to hide behind pillars or choose which lever to pull to avoid a massive attack. It’s not just "spam your strongest move." You have to think.

• Hero Combos: Certain characters have special attacks together.
• Rune-Lenses: This is your magic system. It’s slot-based.
• The Gritty Reality: Some bosses use RNG (randomness). If you pick the wrong interactive object, you might just lose a turn. It’s frustrating. It’s also very 1998.

The war battles are a different beast entirely. These are large-scale strategy segments. They aren't as deep as Fire Emblem, but they give you a sense of scale. You see your 120 recruits actually doing something as an army.

What Most People Get Wrong About the Recruitment

You might think you can just play through the story and get everyone. You can't. Some heroes are incredibly easy to miss. Take Hogan, for example. He's at the pier in Twinhorne West. To get him, you have to make a 50,000 Baqua profit solely through trading. Not just having the money—making the profit.

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Then there’s B'baba. She is your best friend. She runs a divination parlor at your HQ and gives you hints on where to find the other stragglers. If you’re trying to find everyone without a guide, talk to her constantly.

There's a "true ending" tied to your recruitment. If you don't have all 120 characters before a specific "point of no return" late in the game, you’re locked out of the best conclusion. It’s a harsh requirement. Most players recommend keeping a separate save file once you reach the final act just in case you missed a random chef or a card player in a distant town.

The Legacy of Yoshitaka Murayama

It’s impossible to talk about Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes without mentioning Murayama-san's passing just months before the game launched. This game was his "thank you" to the fans who backed the Kickstarter to the tune of $4.5 million.

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Because of this, the game is unapologetically old-school. There is no auto-save in dungeons. You have to find save points. Fast travel exists, but it’s limited. If you die to a boss, you might lose 45 minutes of progress.

Some critics called this "outdated." Fans call it "faithful." Honestly, it’s a bit of both. The game doesn't hold your hand, and in 2026, that feels almost revolutionary. It trusts you to remember where that one NPC was three towns ago.

The DLC and Post-Launch Support

The game didn't stop at launch. Rabbit & Bear Studios released several DLCs focusing on specific characters like Seign and Marisa. These aren't just extra missions; they’re full scenarios that flesh out the world of Allraan. If you felt the main story was a bit thin on some of the 120 characters (and it is—most get one or two lines), the DLC helps fix that.

Is It Worth the Grind?

If you like "number go up" mechanics and base building, yes. Watching your small fort grow into a sprawling city with a theater and a racing track is incredibly satisfying.

But be prepared for the "retro jank." The inventory management is restrictive. The encounter rate can be high. The "Beigoma" (spinning top) mini-game is notoriously tedious and required for certain recruits. It’s a game of patience.

Actionable Insights for New Players

1. Recruit Carrie ASAP: She’s in Hishahn. You have to meet her three times as she teleports around. She unlocks the fast travel ring. Do not play the game without this.
2. Focus on the Resource Depot: In your Town HQ, prioritize upgrading the resource production nodes. You’ll need thousands of pieces of wood and stone for late-game buildings.
3. Don't Ignore the Support Slot: You can bring a non-combat character into a support slot. Some increase your movement speed, others increase find rates for rare items.
4. The "Attendant" System: You have three slots for "story-mandatory" characters. Use them so you don't have to waste your main six combat slots on characters you haven't leveled up.
5. Save Often: Since there is no modern auto-save in most areas, get into the habit of saving at every inn and every glowing blue pedestal you see.