Fire Emblem Awakening is recognized not just as one of the finest Fire Emblem games ever developed, but also as one of the best 3DS games ever published. Its complex yet approachable gameplay, breathtaking visuals, rich characters, and iconic soundtrack all contribute to an experience that genuinely stretched the RPG genre's bounds.

The story of Fire Emblem Awakening is as beautiful as the artwork and audio. Thousands of years before the events of Awakening, two holy dragons, Ylisse and Valm, fought over the fate of two continents. Grima, the terrible dragon that sought to annihilate the Earth, was defeated by Naga, a dragon who picked a ruler — the First Exalt — and bestowed upon him two sacred weapons to assure his destruction of Grima. Grima was beaten and sent to an everlasting slumber by the Exalt.

Thousands of years later, the protagonists and major characters are visited by an unknown person from the future, who has come to warn them of Grima's approaching waking. It is now up to you, the player, to safeguard the territory that the First Exalt once so valiantly protected.

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

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Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is a crucial entry in the series' history, cementing its fledgling position in Nintendo's release history and selling the promise of later releases and spinoffs. As the first Fire Emblem game to use 3D graphics, the visual standard this game was held to was astonishingly high — both at the time of its debut and in contrast to its contemporaries.

Path of Radiance was many fans' first introduction to the Fire Emblem series. This is primarily due to earlier titles in the series' region-locked distribution (i.e., released solely in japan). Although the graphics felt a little dated for their time, the story of this game is excellent. Path of Radiance's tale is separate from the regular Fire Emblem universe/series canon, and it has 46 detailed and well-defined characters who you may meet and interact with. As you learn more about the mythology, customs, and settings found on the in-game continent of Tellius, you'll become more intrigued by the intriguing possibilities that Path of Radiance has to offer.

Platform: GameCube

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Fire Emblem Warriors is a significant divergence in the series' release history. Warriors is a game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja (rather than Intelligent Systems) that combines the gameplay aspects of Dynasty Warriors games with the characters and universe of Fire Emblem. If you like the Fire Emblem characters but don't like tactical RPGs and turn-based action, this game is probably for you.

Warriors' storyline deviates substantially from the series' norm, with a greater emphasis on gameplay, fighting, characters, and graphics rather than narrative detail. Fight against swarms of foes with both new and familiar faces as you search for your preferred weapon, character, and playstyle. Choose from a choice of characters from Fire Emblem titles such as Awakening, Fates, Gaiden, and more! With such a vast roster, even newcomers will be able to play as someone they know. This game's weaponry is equally varied, with players able to pick between bows, axes, swords, lances, and more. The gameplay is engaging but one-dimensional, with combat that is fairly conventional for the hack and slash genre.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, New Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS

Link to buy: amzn.to/38HiFOJ

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is a game that truly embraces the series' concept. For many long-time Fire Emblem fans, the series' complexity has become a central component of their appreciation. Radiant Dawn was created in response to the previously unheard pleas of Fire Emblem and tactical RPG enthusiasts demanding relentless and merciless gameplay on Nintendo systems.

Similar to many of the other titles in the series, Radiant Dawn revolves around a geopolitical conflict that details the storied existence of multiple warring kingdoms. Radiant Dawn isn't the finest Fire Emblem game ever developed, but it's up there. Radiant Dawn offers a daunting but delightful entrance point to the series for newbies, as well as a reaffirmation of the origins of longstanding fans' devotion, with its polished gaming mechanics, rich plot, and notable challenge.

Platform: Wii

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As previously stated in this guide, games were solely released in Japan throughout the first decade of the Fire Emblem series' existence. However, given the series' sudden fame in the western world, Intelligent Systems decided to totally rebuild one of the series' earlier entries, Fire Emblem Gaiden. However, there are so many new gameplay aspects, nuances, and world-building components that Shadows of Valentia seems utterly unique.

The plot is the same as in Fire Emblem Gaiden, with two gods named Duma and Mila fighting for the sovereignty of their continent, Valentia. Following the declaration of a cease-fire, both gods claimed their respective halves of the territory, that their followers currently inhabit. As the protagonist, players must travel across the nation to battle for peace and tranquillity in Valentia.

The gameplay is quite similar to previous Fire Emblem games, with players commanding a swarm of soldiers on a gridded battlefield. Players and adversaries swap actions within a time limit/single turn, implying that gameplay is very strategic in nature. Shadows of Valentia also provides a taste of the severe difficulty typical of Fire Emblem games. Overall, the gameplay is thrilling, sophisticated, and fun – but only if you prefer strategic/tactical RPGs.

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

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The Fire Emblem Fates is a one-of-a-kind case in the Fire Emblem series. Intelligent Systems, famed for inventing the Paper Mario and WarioWare series, chose to create various Fates titles to fully depict the narratives and views of each important character. Fates: Birthright, Fates: Conquest, and Fates: Revelation are the three titles in the Fates series. If you're new to the Fates series or Fire Emblem in general, Fates: Birthright is an excellent game to become acquainted with the universe, characters, and unique gameplay of the series.

In Fates: Birthright, you take on the role of Corrin, the fully customizable main character, and battle alongside the Hoshido realm. The gameplay is predominantly top-down, with strategic fighting and turn-based fights. Players tactically arrange their forces on-grid battlefields for the best offensive or defense. The levels of difficulty vary from the more accommodating Normal to the unyielding Lunatic. Players can also choose between Casual and Classic Mode, with Classic Mode ensuring that characters die permanently (i.e., cannot respawn even after a battle is completed), so there are a plethora of options for fans of the genre or series to ensure you'll be ruthlessly challenged from start to finish.

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Link to buy: amzn.to/3sWOqtU

The Fire Emblem Fates was a series of releases from Intelligent Systems that were sparked by Fire Emblem Awakening's unparalleled popularity. Birthright, Revelation, and Conquest are the three novels included in the Fates anthology, and they all focus on various views and storylines set in the same setting. Conquest, in particular, has always stood out to Fates fans as the title with the most difficulty — essentially, the finest title for lifelong fans. The story of Conquest is exceptionally moving, as many of the roles and perspectives from Birthright are entirely reversed.

Conquest takes you on a true tour of both of the game's warring kingdoms (Hoshido and Nohr) since this is most players' second time running through the intricate and rich world of Fire Emblem Fates. The intensity and variety of play styles are the focus elements of the gameplay; create and refine your own battle methods as you continue to confront increasingly challenging adversaries. Select from a range of challenges and settings (e.g., Casual and Classic Mode, with Classic mode adding the perma-death feature).

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Link to buy: amzn.to/3NDuQun

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is presently regarded as the series' pinnacle achievement. Three Houses has captured the attention of millions of new fans while reinforcing the affection of millions of longstanding fans. It is a definite statement for the series' future direction. The plot is bolder, the gameplay is more imaginative, and the presentation is a significant advancement of the series; all of this is only the beginning of what Intelligent Systems envisioned with Three Houses, their apparent magnum work.

Three Houses is one of the few Fire Emblem titles that have a school/socialization component, with interactions between players and in-game characters leading to various game events, meetings, and even endings. Between the social aspect of gameplay and the polished combat featuring strategic and turn-based components, players will have limitless hours of material to enjoy as they become acquainted with the environment and characters of Three Houses.

Three Houses, like many previous Fire Emblem titles, portrays the story of a geopolitical fight between three warring nations. Choose your role in the tale for the first time by choosing which house to align with; then, see the consequences of your decisions unfold in the conflicts and events you participate in. Three Houses allows you to design a militia that meets your particular tastes with near-complete character customisation and customization of your army/forces through the education system.

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Link to buy: amzn.to/3Nz63aX