The best Fire Emblem video games on Nintendo Switch

Key takeaways

  • Fire Emblem: Three Houses is hailed as one of the best games for its modern twists, deep character connections, and branching story paths.
  • Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes offers action-packed gameplay focused on full-scale combat and companion storytelling across the Three Houses.
  • Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade presents a classic installment with great mechanics and character-driven storytelling.



The Fire Emblem series has been around for decades at this point, and while North American fans may only be aware of the series for Super Smash Bros. Melee, it's been around a lot longer than that. Strategy games require expert thinking to keep all your valuable units alive in nail-biting battles.

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The Nintendo Switch hosts more than a few Fire Emblem games of different styles. Some may be more famous and easier to access than others, but Switch players have no shortage of Fire Emblem games to play whether on the go or at home.

We're keeping things simple and only counting the Fire Emblem entries that made it to the Switch
outside of Japan
Because some of them are exclusively available there. Those lucky players!

Updated by Kyle Chamaillard on November 27, 2024: We've decided to revisit this list with more information about the best Fire Emblem games on Nintendo Switch.



6 Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and Blade of Light

While definitely a fun entry in the series, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and Blade of Light was a limited-time release. This game was the one that kicked off the entire Fire Emblem series, and it's as hard to play as it gets. It may be quite unbalanced – many if any wrinkles to iron out in future installments – but it's not terrible.

Despite being the first game in the series, the game reinforced many of the series staple mechanics and introduced one of its most famous characters, Marth. It also tells the classic story of Marth building his powers to take on the big bad, making it a must-play for fans of the series if possible.

5 Fire Emblem Warriors


A decent game that works completely different from the core gameplay, Fire Emblem Warriors is still a lot of hack-and-slash fun. Those who have played through the Musou-style Dynasty Warriors games will feel right at home here, with the added twist of controlling Fire Emblem characters.

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The story isn't necessarily the biggest draw, but the fact that you can actively and personally participate in what you probably first imagined as a great battle. You're in the thick of it, controlling your characters as they destroy waves of enemies to reach their goal.

4 Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

If you love playing through Fire Emblem Three Houses and want to experience full-scale battles and ever-changing battlefields, you might enjoy this title. A major departure from the core series gameplay, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes throws you into the heat of battle.


There are still strategic elements that you have to think about throughout the game, but it functions more like an action game. It is, after all, in the same Musou style as the Fire Emblem Warriors. The story is also a kind of companion piece to the Three House story, allowing you to spend more time with some of your favorite characters.

While it lacks much of what made Three Houses so beloved, Three Hopes knows exactly what it wants to be, and it does it well.

3 Fire symbol attached

Fire Emblem Engage made some new choices for the series that may not sit well with everyone, but the game is still fun. As long as you enjoy the gameplay of the core series, you're going to have a fun time with Fire Emblem Engage and its tricky maps, even if you don't like the story.


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Longtime fans of the series will definitely be looking forward to seeing the classic Fire Emblem characters return in fully 3D form. Honestly, many elements of Engage don't feel as rock-solid to us as Three House – the cast is noticeably weak, and the premise-building feels oddly tacked-on – but there's still a fair bit to chew on here. .

2 Fire Symbol: Flaming Blade

Fire Emblem: Blazing Blade may be known as Fire Emblem in the West (as it is the first entry released worldwide), but it is one of the biggest installments in the series. Being an older title, you won't get as much gameplay variety as modern games, but Blazing Blade poses a head-on challenge with great mechanics.


The game allows you to come to grips with the core mechanics of the series as you control the main bosses of Lin, Hector and Eliwood as they travel to defeat Nergal's plans. The game is even better when paired with The Binding Blade (which, by the way, is unavailable outside of Japan), but it's still one of the best in its own series.

1 Fire Symbols: Three Houses

There's a reason why, at least in the West, Fire Emblem Three Houses is easily considered the best game. Combining classic gameplay with some modern tweaks and a life-sim element, this game allows you to connect with each of your units to a degree that previous entries can't rival. It is full of memorable characters and ways in which appreciation for them deepens.


You'll choose one of three houses (natch) near the beginning of the story, and that single choice will have extensive access. Each path has its own second half, and technically, there's even a fourth path thrown into the mix.

Diehard Fire Emblem fans will agree with the heaps of experience playing the classics that Three House's maps aren't the best in the franchise, but they're perfectly serviceable; The combined package is nothing short of stellar.

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