For over 30 years, the Fire Keepsake series started out as a unique tactical JRPG where the lives of your units are at take a chance as they head into boxing. It would follow lords like Marth, Seliph, Roy, Ike, Lucina, and many others to witness their stories unfold on how they overcome the wars they've endured.

Each Fire Emblem title takes an interesting approach in presenting their gameplay while making information technology stay the same throughout time. Some titles outdo others, just 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 Oct 27, 2021 past Paul DiSalvo: While the Burn down Emblem franchise is characterized by its cadre turn-based RPG gameplay, no 2 entries in the series are the same, each having its own defining gameplay mechanics. Through the stories and ever-irresolute gameplay of differing Burn Emblem games, even two entries on the same console that utilize similar engines such as those found on the Game Boy Advance tin can exist fundamentally different experiences. Every bit not all mechanics are brought along with every new entry in the series, this can make the act of revisiting older Burn Keepsake games a fulfilling feel for fans of the series.

Before proceeding further, please note that several cult-archetype entries in the serial are absent as they have never been made officially available outside of Nippon, meaning they never received scores on Metacritic.

fifteen Fire Keepsake: Shadow Dragon & The Blade Of Light (62)

Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light artwork
  • NES and Nintendo Switch

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light was the very first Burn Emblem title and the protagonist was none other than the now fan-favorite Marth. This game not only kickstarted the Burn down Emblem franchise just has been credited with popularizing the tactical function-playing genre equally 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 w can now get their hands on this groundbreaking championship equally well, as information technology was finally localized and recently released for Nintendo Switch, though for a brusque menses just (until March 2021).

While Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light is at present considered to be i of the nigh bare-bones entries in the series, lacking mechanics now synonymous with the franchise, information technology got the ball rolling through its blend of RPG character progression and tactical gameplay. Additionally, it should be noted that the contempo Switch port includes various quality of life improvements such as the ability to fast-forward the game'south absolutely sluggish speed, as well as the power to rewind one'southward turns.

14 Fire Emblem Heroes (72)

Fire Emblem Heroes artwork
  • Android and iOS

Burn Emblem Heroes is a gratuitous-to-play mobile title that was released in 2017 for both Android and iOS. Information technology follows in the same tactical office-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 Keepsake Heroes continues to receive additional updates, adding new features, capacity, 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 complimentary-to-play release can be a solid introduction for newcomers to the series with little to no experience with tactical RPGs.

xiii Fire Keepsake: Warriors (74)

Fire Emblem Warriors artwork
  • Wii U and Nintendo Switch

Fire Keepsake: 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.

Burn down Emblem: Warriors does accept the downside of simply featuring characters from Shadow Dragon, Awakening, and Fates, but that tin can pb to possibilities of another game. Merely brand certain to get the Nintendo Switch version every bit it is crisper and fast-paced.

12 Burn down Emblem: Radiant Dawn (78)

Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn artwork
  • Nintendo Wii

Fire Keepsake: Path of Radiance would accept been fine without a sequel, simply Radiant Dawn'southward release for the Wii was still greatly appreciated. The western version suffers from a modest mistranslation concerning the difficulty options, which led to some bad early on reviews.

Instead of Normal, Hard, and Lunatic, the localized version instead has Easy, Normal, and Difficult. Simply if someone is a fan familiar with Burn Emblem, then Radiant Dawn volition testify them how brutal information technology 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 accept completed information technology.

Rather than utilizing a traditional narrative construction, Radiant Dawn uniquely shifts the histrion'south perspective throughout the entrada, assuasive ane 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-boilerplate difficulty, Radiant Dawn is an splendid choice for veterans of the series looking to examination their skills.

11 Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows Of Valentia (81)

Fire Emblem Echoes Shadows of Valentia artwork
  • Nintendo 3DS

Burn down 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 earlier he would eventually pass away.

Information technology was clear from Shadows of Valentia's presentation that plenty of heart and soul was put into it. Ranging from cute visuals, breathtaking music, and fleshed-out characters, Nakanishi'due south male parent would definitely be proud of his son for remaking a cherished game.

While the faithful map design of Shadows of Valentia tin 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 Keepsake: Shadow Dragon (81)

Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon artwork
  • Nintendo DS

Remaking what is as well somewhat of a remake was a farfetched idea, but Fire Keepsake: 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 all-time for the Nintendo DS, only for a traditional Fire Emblem experience, Shadow Dragon is definitely a must-try if someone tin can get their hands on a used copy.

While Shadow Dragon was the first entry in the series to omit a support organisation since the release of the Japan-exclusive Thracia 776, the game broke new footing by offering fully realized multiplayer for the first fourth dimension in the series history, greatly expanding on what was previously possible in Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade.

nine Fire Keepsake: The Sacred Stones (85)

Fire Emblem the Sacred Stones artwork
  • Game Male child Advance

Fire Keepsake: The Sacred Stones acts as a spiritual successor to Fire Emblem Gaiden, featuring 2 branching paths, likewise equally giving players access to grind at gratuitous will. Considered by many players to be one of the easiest games in the series, the eighth entry is very welcoming and gives a dissimilar kind of gameplay.

The Sacred Stones is very popular for speed runs, LTC runs and has even been the base for manyFire Keepsake ROM hacks. It was originally released for the Game Boy Advance just was later ported to both 3DS and Wii U.

While many other entries in the serial are connected to at to the lowest degree one other Burn Keepsake game in some capacity, The Sacred Stones is a standalone experience that takes place inside its own timeline. In addition to featuring ii singled-out routes that provide the game with an boosted layer of replayability, The Sacred Stones has a branching promotion arrangement that was later revisited in several entries such as Awakening and Fates.

8 Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance (85)

Fire Emblem Path of Radiance artwork
  • Nintendo Gamecube

Ike remains one of the about pop characters in the entire series, and for good reason. Path of Radiance offers a strong story accompanied by stellar gameplay and an fantabulous array of characters. It is also beginner-friendly and highly-seasoned to hardcore players (for the Japanese version that is).

The just problem Path of Radiance has is that it'southward rare to find and is sold at loftier prices from places like Amazon and eBay. Merely for what this game has to offer, it brings an unforgettable journey for the growing mercenary.

Path of Radiance's forgiving difficulty and strong story make information technology an fantabulous choice for newcomers to the series and Burn Emblem veterans alike.

7 Burn Emblem Fates: Birthright (86)

Fire Emblem Fates Birthright artwork
  • Nintendo 3DS

Burn Emblem Fates is the fourteenth entry in the franchise and was the first to offering a split release. Each version has a unique story and focuses on a different gameplay style, so although released under the same imprint, players would need to play all the titles to get the total experience.

Birthright was one of the initial two versions available at launch, where the protagonist is aligned to the Kingdom of Hoshido. Birthright'south gameplay is similar to that of Awakening, in that players will notice it easier to gain both gold and feel points, making it a ameliorate choice for those still new to the genre.

6 Fire Keepsake Fates: Conquest (87)

Fire Emblem Fates Conquest Artwork
  • Nintendo 3DS

On Burn Emblem Fates' release, the other version bachelor was Conquest, where the protagonist is aligned to the kingdom of Nohr. Conquest'due south gameplay style is less rewarding for the player than Birthright, making it more than difficult for those unfamiliar with the franchise.

As well as fewer rewards for each map completed, there are likewise additional objectives to take on, and sometimes the maps take a express number of turns. Fans perceive Conquest equally the more "classic" version, which is probable why information technology scored a trivial college 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 Burn down Emblem.

five Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation (88)

Fire Emblem Fates Revelation artwork
  • Nintendo 3DS

Revelation is the tertiary version of Fire Keepsake Fates, though it was not available at launch simply was released later as DLC. Information technology tin not be bought as a standalone entry, equally players require a re-create of either Conquest or Birthright in order to play Revelation.

Revelation sees the protagonist make up one's mind 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'southward support system. Unfortunately, in regards to core gameplay and story, Revelation is among the most polarizing entries in the series history.

four Burn Keepsake Fates: Special Edition (88)

Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition artwork
  • Nintendo 3DS

Fire Emblem Fates is somewhat of a controversial title, to say the to the lowest degree. 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, withal, the gameplay is what makes Fates incredible.

The Fire Keepsake Fates: Special Edition offered all iii titles in one edition and was well-received by fans. Conquest is the perfect classic experience that offers fantastic map blueprint, Birthright fits for those that are still new to the franchise, and Revelation does a mix of both while giving everyone a happy ending, just the less said about that road, the meliorate.

3 Fire Emblem (88)

Fire Emblem the Blazing Blade cover artwork showing Eliwood Lyn Hector Nils and Ninian
  • Game Male child Advance

Fully known as Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, the seventh entry was introduced to western audiences later 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 3.

Lyn Mode can be annoying to deal with if someone is familiar with how the game works, but information technology introduces what kind of characters Fire Emblem brings and how they've grown attached to them. To this day, it remains i of the best titles to start out if anyone wants to get into Fire Keepsake.

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 not bad choice for those looking to experience Fire Emblem for the first fourth dimension. "Hector Hard Mode" also makes this game a worthwhile choice for those looking to claiming themselves.

2 Fire Emblem: Three Houses (89)

Fire Emblem Three Houses artwork
  • Nintendo Switch

Fire Emblem: Three Houses set upwardly a lot of expectations and delivered them nearly perfectly. With a morally grayness story, fascinating characters, and addicting gameplay, the 16th entry outsold its predecessors past a long mile.

People to this day are even so dissecting the characters' motives, making amazing cosplay and fan art, and the vocalism actors became heavily involved by displaying their gratitude to voice the characters. Fifty-fifty with its hurdles from delayed dates, Three Houses is 1 championship many gamers will remember for a while.

Singled-out for immediately setting players on one of several routes based on which house they choose to teach at the beginning of the game, Iii Housesis past and large the virtually customizable entry in the serial. Due to a dynamic and flexible course system that allows a player to train each of their units exactly how they want, pedagogy them various skills and having them qualify for the game'due south various classes, players tin truly design their ideal ground forces and form their own unique strategies.

1 Burn Emblem: Enkindling (92)

Fire Emblem Awakening artwork
  • Nintendo 3DS

Known every bit the entry that saved the franchise, Fire Emblem: Enkindling made a return to western audiences for the Nintendo 3DS, and the timing for both that and successful sales in Nippon was all it needed to continue the franchise to this twenty-four hour period.

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 information technology, even if not everything is perfect.

Taking place within the afar future of Fire Keepsake: Shadow Dragon, Awakening features many fan-favorite mechanics from previous entries in the serial such every bit the branching grade system of Sacred Stones. Additionally, the game redefines the support system, causing characters married through said system to take children that are each recruitable units in their ain correct, in a organisation reminiscent of Fire Keepsake: Genealogy of the Holy State of war's second generation.

More: Best Sword Wielders in Burn Keepsake History