Fire Emblem Series: A Guide to Games on Nintendo Switch

Intelligent Systems' Fire Emblem series, which debuted 35 years ago on Nintendo's Famicom, has become a prominent tactical RPG franchise known for its evolving combat and character bonding mechanics. The Nintendo Switch is currently home to five games from the series, including two mainline installments and three spin-offs.

Fire Emblem Warriors, released in 2017, was the first Fire Emblem game on the Switch. This crossover title combines the team-based strategy of Fire Emblem with the hack-and-slash action of Dynasty Warriors. Developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja, it offers action-oriented gameplay.

In 2019, Fire Emblem: Three Houses marked a significant release as the first mainline Fire Emblem title on a home console in 12 years and the first for the Switch. The game achieved critical and commercial success, blending large-scale battles with an overarching story of politics and religion, alongside intimate moments of training and bonding with characters in a monastery setting.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, an expanded port of the Wii U original, arrived in 2020. This Nintendo-Atlus crossover blends Fire Emblem’s “weapon triangle” combat system with elements from Atlus’s Shin Megami Tensei and Persona games, featuring a story that references Japanese pop culture.

Nintendo collaborated again with Omega Force for Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, released in 2023. This second Fire Emblem-Dynasty Warriors crossover presents an alternate timeline retelling of Three Houses, where the original protagonist Byleth serves as the main villain. It integrates more of Fire Emblem’s social and tactical mechanics into its fast-paced action.

Fire Emblem Engage, also released in 2023, is the series’ latest game and its second mainline entry on the Switch. Engage refines the social and hub mechanics seen in Three Houses and places a primary focus on the series’ tactical combat, notably reintroducing the “weapon triangle” system. Its story follows a Divine Dragon named Alear on a quest to collect 12 rings to defeat the Fell Dragon and save the continent of Elyos.

Beyond these titles, three additional Fire Emblem games are available via Nintendo Switch Online. Path of Radiance is accessible specifically to Nintendo Switch 2 owners who have the Expansion Pack. Furthermore, an upcoming title, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, has an official release date.

(Source: IGN)