TheFire Emblemseries began in 1990 and has slowly become one ofNintendo’smost beloved and consistent IPs since. While it took some time to reach international audiences, the series finally entered the zeitgeist after 2012’s Fire Emblem: Awakening reshaped the combat and social systems while maintaining theturn-based strategy elements that make it unique.
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Fire Emblem never felt popular enough to justify spin-offs or adaptations until Awakening. Since that game helped launch the series toward success, there have been more side adventures and non-canon gamesfeaturing iconic charactersand locations from the past.
5Fire Emblem: Archanea Saga
The first Fire Emblem spin-off is technically a prequel to the first game in the series - Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. Archanea Saga was one of the many ambitiously flawed titles for the Satellaview, a device that allowed you to download exclusive games for the Super Famicom via satellite.
Fire Emblem: Archanea Saga was split into four episodes, each starring a different character you would control until the time limit ran out. The original version is no longer available, but all four episodes were eventually remade for theDSremake of Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light.
Each episode is short and sweet, but it doesn’t stray too far away from the core concepts of the main series to be fully considered a spin-off.
4Fire Emblem Warriors
AfterThe Legend of Zeldareceived a Musou-inspired spin-off known asHyrule Warriors, it began to feel inevitable that Fire Emblem would eventually receive the same treatment. While the concept of combining iconic characters from different games to battle against numerous foes in Fire Emblem Warriors is intriguing, some of the game’s decisions result in a lackluster and forgettable experience.
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There are two major issues with Fire Emblem Warriors; the first is that it was developed for both the3DSand theNintendo Switchsimultaneously. It’s a strange decision that likely narrowed the scope of the title and led toward its mindless gameplay loop.
The second problem is the cast - you get to play as one of two original characters that don’t stand out compared to the rest of the roster, which only features characters from a few Fire Emblem games instead of representing the entire series.
3Fire Emblem Heroes
During the mid-2010s, Nintendo began experimenting with the mobile market by creating new versions of their most popular series, includingSuper Mario Bros.,Animal Crossing, and more. Fire Emblem finally received a mobile spin-off known asFire Emblem Heroesin 2017, and it’s become one of the company’s most successful apps yet.
While Nintendo has mostly abandoned the mobile scene to focus on software for the Switch, Fire Emblem Heroes is still thriving and adding new content. Somegacha-like mechanicsdictate which heroes you get, but beyond that, the turn-based strategic gameplay feels just as good in Heroes as you would expect from a Fire Emblem game.
2Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
The original Fire Emblem Warriors was a fairly forgettable experience that failed to execute its premise, butFire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopesmore than makes up for it with an improved story, battle system, and cast of characters. Instead of weaving multiple elements from previous installments, Three Hopes focuses solely on the world ofFire Emblem: Three Housesto create a more grounded and familiar experience.
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Set in an alternate timeline where Byleth is more of a threat than an ally, you play as an original character named Shez as they align with Claude, Edelgarde, Dimitri, and the rest of Garreg Mach’s students. Three Hopes is superior to its predecessor in every way imaginable, and if you enjoyed Fire Emblem: Three Houses, this hack-and-slash action title allows you to spendeven more time interacting with your favorite charactersfrom the base game and its excellent DLC.
1Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE
2016’sTokyo Mirage Sessions #FEwas the first Fire Emblem spin-off since Archanea Saga’s run on the Satellaview in 1997, and it’s still one of the most ambitious and unique titles in the series. The formerWii U-exclusive- which was ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2020 - is actually a crossover game that features elements and characters from Fire Emblem andShin Megami Tensei.
Developed byAtlus, Tokyo Mirage Sessions is a robust RPG that abandons the tactical elements of the Fire Emblem series and replaces them with turn-based combat like in Persona orPokemon. While certain concepts like the weapon triangle and pieces of lore occasionally sneak into the dialogue, Tokyo Mirage Sessions is essentially a new IP built on the foundation of the two series.
While there isn’t much Fire Emblem DNA in the game, every member of your team will be paired with iconic characters like Chrom, Caeda, and Tharja that you can interact with to strengthen bonds and make them stronger. There are references to Fire Emblem’s past scattered throughout the fifty-hour campaign, but Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE succeeds by creating its own identity despite being a crossover between two popular series.
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