Each Fire Emblem title takes an interesting approach in presenting their gameplay while making it stay the same throughout time. Some titles outdo others, but that’s what makes them fun to play. Including spin-offs, here are the best Fire Emblem games of all time according to Metacritic.
Updated on October 27, 2021 by Paul DiSalvo: While the Fire Emblem franchise is characterized by its core turn-based RPG gameplay, no two entries in the series are the same, each having its own defining gameplay mechanics. Through the stories and ever-changing gameplay of differing Fire Emblem games, even two entries on the same console that utilize similar engines such as those found on the Game Boy Advance can be fundamentally different experiences. As not all mechanics are brought along with every new entry in the series, this can make the act of revisiting older Fire Emblem games a fulfilling experience for fans of the series.
Before proceeding further, please note that several cult-classic entries in the series are absent as they have never been made officially available outside of Japan, meaning they never received scores on Metacritic.
15 Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & The Blade Of Light (62)
NES and Nintendo Switch
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light was the very first Fire Emblem title and the protagonist was none other than the now fan-favorite Marth. This game not only kickstarted the Fire Emblem franchise but has been credited with popularizing the tactical role-playing genre as a whole.
It was originally released in Japan for the Famicom but was later ported to Nintendo Switch for Japanese fans in 2019. Fortunately, the west can now get their hands on this groundbreaking title as well, as it was finally localized and recently released for Nintendo Switch, though for a short period only (until March 2021).
While Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light is now considered to be one of the most bare-bones entries in the series, lacking mechanics now synonymous with the franchise, it got the ball rolling through its blend of RPG character progression and tactical gameplay. Additionally, it should be noted that the recent Switch port includes various quality of life improvements such as the ability to fast-forward the game’s admittedly sluggish speed, as well as the ability to rewind one’s turns.
14 Fire Emblem Heroes (72)
Android and iOS
Fire Emblem Heroes is a free-to-play mobile title that was released in 2017 for both Android and iOS. It follows in the same tactical role-playing game footsteps as its predecessors and incorporates characters that have appeared in various titles throughout the franchise.
The game features microtransactions, as well as offers a “gacha” style system to receive new characters. Fire Emblem Heroes continues to receive additional updates, adding new features, chapters, and characters to keep the game fresh and inviting for all players. While Fire Emblem Heroes features significantly smaller-scaled maps than traditional entries in the series, this free-to-play release can be a solid introduction for newcomers to the series with little to no experience with tactical RPGs.
13 Fire Emblem: Warriors (74)
Wii U and Nintendo Switch
Fire Emblem: Warriors brought the dream of making a Dynasty Warriors game with Fire Emblem characters come true. The gameplay is where it’s at, and Warriors offers mindless fun as your character beats thousands of enemies until the timer runs out or the goal is achieved.
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Fire Emblem: Warriors does have the downside of only featuring characters from Shadow Dragon, Awakening, and Fates, but that can lead to possibilities of another game. Just make sure to get the Nintendo Switch version as it is crisper and fast-paced.
12 Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (78)
Nintendo Wii
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance would have been fine without a sequel, but Radiant Dawn’s release for the Wii was still greatly appreciated. The western version suffers from a small mistranslation concerning the difficulty options, which led to some bad early reviews.
Instead of Normal, Hard, and Lunatic, the localized version instead has Easy, Normal, and Hard. But if someone is a fan familiar with Fire Emblem, then Radiant Dawn will show them how brutal it can get as they switch from different teams.
A direct sequel to Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn features a data transfer system that allows players to directly import information from the game’s predecessor if they have completed it.
Rather than utilizing a traditional narrative structure, Radiant Dawn uniquely shifts the player’s perspective throughout the campaign, allowing one to control characters of the various sides of a single conflict. With a massive roster of usable units, through the game’s flexible and customizable item forging and skill systems, players are able to create strategies catering to their playstyles. Additionally, due to its significantly above-average difficulty, Radiant Dawn is an excellent choice for veterans of the series looking to test their skills.
11 Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows Of Valentia (81)
Nintendo 3DS
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is the perfect definition of a love letter to the game it is based on. Director Kenta Nakanishi played Gaiden many times and cherished the memories he had with his father playing with him before he would eventually pass away.
It was clear from Shadows of Valentia’s presentation that plenty of heart and soul was put into it. Ranging from beautiful visuals, breathtaking music, and fleshed-out characters, Nakanishi’s father would definitely be proud of his son for remaking a cherished game.
While the faithful map design of Shadows of Valentia can sometimes work against the game, featuring somewhat lackluster map design when compared to other releases in the series, this entry did introduce the revolutionary “Mila’s Turnwheel.” This allows players to redo turns, potentially fixing mistakes without requiring an entire chapter to be replayed.
10 Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (81)
Nintendo DS
Remaking what is also somewhat of a remake was a farfetched idea, but Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon managed to land well on Metacritic. The West was finally introduced to Marth’s story and while it is not dialogue-heavy and only basic at best, Shadow Dragon features many difficulties and encourages replayability.
The graphics are definitely dated and not the best for the Nintendo DS, but for a traditional Fire Emblem experience, Shadow Dragon is definitely a must-try if someone can get their hands on a used copy.
While Shadow Dragon was the first entry in the series to omit a support system since the release of the Japan-exclusive Thracia 776, the game broke new ground by offering fully realized multiplayer for the first time in the series history, greatly expanding on what was previously possible in Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade.
9 Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (85)
Game Boy Advance
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones acts as a spiritual successor to Fire Emblem Gaiden, featuring two branching paths, as well as giving players access to grind at free will. Considered by many players to be one of the easiest games in the series, the eighth entry is very welcoming and gives a different kind of gameplay.
The Sacred Stones is very popular for speed runs, LTC runs and has even been the base for manyFire Emblem ROM hacks. It was originally released for the Game Boy Advance but was later ported to both 3DS and Wii U.
While many other entries in the series are connected to at least one other Fire Emblem game in some capacity, The Sacred Stones is a standalone experience that takes place within its own timeline. In addition to featuring two distinct routes that provide the game with an additional layer of replayability, The Sacred Stones has a branching promotion system that was later revisited in several entries such as Awakening and Fates.
8 Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance (85)
Nintendo Gamecube
Ike remains one of the most popular characters in the entire series, and for good reason. Path of Radiance offers a strong story accompanied by stellar gameplay and an excellent array of characters. It is also beginner-friendly and appealing to hardcore players (for the Japanese version that is).
Path of Radiance’s forgiving difficulty and strong story make it an excellent choice for newcomers to the series and Fire Emblem veterans alike.
7 Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright (86)
Nintendo 3DS
Fire Emblem Fates is the fourteenth entry in the franchise and was the first to offer a split release. Each version has a unique story and focuses on a different gameplay style, so although released under the same banner, players would need to play all the titles to get the full experience.
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Birthright was one of the initial two versions available at launch, where the protagonist is aligned to the Kingdom of Hoshido. Birthright’s gameplay is similar to that of Awakening, in that players will find it easier to gain both gold and experience points, making it a better choice for those still new to the genre.
6 Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest (87)
Nintendo 3DS
On Fire Emblem Fates’ release, the other version available was Conquest, where the protagonist is aligned to the kingdom of Nohr. Conquest’s gameplay style is less rewarding for the player than Birthright, making it more difficult for those unfamiliar with the franchise.
As well as fewer rewards for each map completed, there are also additional objectives to take on, and sometimes the maps have a limited number of turns. Fans perceive Conquest as the more “classic” version, which is likely why it scored a little higher than its counterpart.
While the difficulty of conquest may be offputting for some, the game is regarded for having some of the strongest and most rewarding map designs in the franchise’s history, making it a must-play for those well experienced with Fire Emblem.
5 Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation (88)
Nintendo 3DS
Revelation is the third version of Fire Emblem Fates, though it was not available at launch but was released later as DLC. It can not be bought as a standalone entry, as players require a copy of either Conquest or Birthright in order to play Revelation.
Revelation sees the protagonist decide not to align with either of the kingdoms in the game. It mixes the two previous versions together in terms of gameplay, with the added rewards and experience of Birthright. Due to sporting a massive roster of characters from both Conquest and Birthright, this iteration of Fates is a solid choice for those looking to prioritize the game’s support system. Unfortunately, in regards to core gameplay and story, Revelation is among the most polarizing entries in the series history.
4 Fire Emblem Fates: Special Edition (88)
Nintendo 3DS
Fire Emblem Fates is somewhat of a controversial title, to say the least. With the feature similar to Pokemon-Amie being removed from international releases, being able to marry your “brothers” or “sisters,” and having a story so ridiculous that memes came to life, however, the gameplay is what makes Fates incredible.
The Fire Emblem Fates: Special Edition offered all three titles in one edition and was well-received by fans. Conquest is the perfect classic experience that offers fantastic map design, Birthright fits for those that are still new to the franchise, and Revelation does a mix of both while giving everyone a happy ending, but the less said about that route, the better.
3 Fire Emblem (88)
Game Boy Advance
Fully known as Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, the seventh entry was introduced to western audiences after the attention brought to the franchise by Marth and Roy’s including in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Out of the Game Boy Advance titles, this is considered to be the best out of the three.
Lyn Mode can be annoying to deal with if someone is familiar with how the game works, but it introduces what kind of characters Fire Emblem brings and how they’ve grown attached to them. To this day, it remains one of the best titles to start out if anyone wants to get into Fire Emblem.
With one of the best tutorials in the series history, the game’s additional Hector-focused story and various difficulty options make this entry a great choice for those looking to experience Fire Emblem for the first time. “Hector Hard Mode” also makes this game a worthwhile pick for those looking to challenge themselves.
2 Fire Emblem: Three Houses (89)
Nintendo Switch
Fire Emblem: Three Houses set up a lot of expectations and delivered them nearly perfectly. With a morally gray story, fascinating characters, and addicting gameplay, the 16th entry outsold its predecessors by a long mile.
People to this day are still dissecting the characters’ motives, making amazing cosplay and fan art, and the voice actors became heavily involved by displaying their gratitude to voice the characters. Even with its hurdles from delayed dates, Three Houses is one title many gamers will remember for a while.
Distinct for immediately setting players on one of several routes based on which house they choose to teach at the beginning of the game, Three Housesis by and large the most customizable entry in the series. Due to a dynamic and flexible class system that allows a player to train each of their units exactly how they want, teaching them various skills and having them qualify for the game’s various classes, players can truly design their ideal army and form their own unique strategies.
1 Fire Emblem: Awakening (92)
Nintendo 3DS
Known as the entry that saved the franchise, Fire Emblem: Awakening made a return to western audiences for the Nintendo 3DS, and the timing for both that and successful sales in Japan was all it needed to continue the franchise to this day.
Awakening might not be the top-selling Fire Emblem game, but its legacy is something to admire for saving a franchise from ending. The game had a lot of love put into it, even if not everything is perfect.
Taking place within the distant future of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, Awakening features many fan-favorite mechanics from previous entries in the series such as the branching class system of Sacred Stones. Additionally, the game redefines the support system, causing characters married through said system to have children that are each recruitable units in their own right, in a system reminiscent of Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War’s second generation.
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