The next installment in the acclaimed Fire Emblem series, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, is set to launch for the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 17. This upcoming title is expected to return players to the world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the franchise's best-selling entry. Fire Emblem has built a legacy on its signature permadeath mechanic, the strategic weapon triangle, and, more recently, a strong focus on character relationships and social simulation.
For those who appreciate the life-sim elements of recent Fire Emblem games, the challenging difficulty of its hardest settings, or its unique take on strategic combat, several tactical RPGs offer similar experiences. These titles explore various facets of the tactical RPG genre.
Unicorn Overlord
Unicorn Overlord, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, and Xbox Series X, offers a vast overworld and real-time strategy elements. Its narrative follows an exiled prince assembling an army to reclaim his homeland from an oppressive empire, a theme familiar to Fire Emblem fans. Players navigate the continent of Fevrith, positioning units for real-time battles. Instead of direct control, the game's Tactics system allows players to program detailed action priorities and conditions for their units. This system can range from simple commands like attacking low-health enemies to complex, cascading sequences based on unit stats, equipment, and allies, catering to players who enjoy deep army management.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn
Originally released in 1995, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was a groundbreaking tactical RPG known for its branching story paths, multiple endings, and political narratives. A modern remaster, Tactics Ogre: Reborn, brought this experience to current hardware in 2022. Similar to Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Reborn presents distinct story routes—Law, Chaos, and Neutral—that can lead the protagonist, Denam, down morally complex paths. The gameplay features isometric, grid-based combat where success relies heavily on terrain and unit positioning. Unlike some Fire Emblem titles, over-leveling a single unit is not a viable strategy, as the game's Union Level system ensures enemy levels generally remain close to your party's maximum cap, necessitating tactical coordination.
Horizon's Gate
Horizon's Gate, a PC title developed by Rad Codex, offers an open-world tactical RPG experience that may appeal to fans of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia's exploration. Players set sail across the realm of Eral as an explorer, trader, or privateer, with the freedom to choose their alliances. A dynamic fame system tracks progress in becoming a renowned swashbuckler, trader, or explorer. Combat encompasses both land and sea, allowing control of individual characters and naval fleets. While it features turn-based grid combat, character recruitment, and a branching class system akin to Fire Emblem, Horizon's Gate distinguishes itself with its open-ended sandbox exploration and less linear narrative.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Released on the Switch, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle blends turn-based combat with puzzle-solving and a significant emphasis on movement. The game's movement mechanics, including dashes and "Team Jumps," are central to its offensive strategies, allowing units like Yoshi to execute long-range aerial assaults. This innovative approach to unit mobility has been praised, even inspiring XCOM creative director Jake Solomon.
The Banner Saga
Stoic's The Banner Saga, available on multiple platforms including PC and mobile devices, presents a starkly different tone, drawing inspiration from Norse mythology. The game follows a caravan of humans and giants fleeing an ancient race known as the Dredge. It is a story-driven tactical RPG that incorporates permadeath, but character fates are often determined by story and dialogue choices rather than combat outcomes. The Banner Saga's autosave system prevents players from easily undoing critical decisions, and choices made in the first game carry over into its sequels, emphasizing the lasting consequences of player actions.
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Directed by Jake Solomon, Marvel's Midnight Suns combines superhero action with tactical deck-building and social simulation. The game's hub area, the Abbey, serves as a social space reminiscent of Fire Emblem: Three Houses' Garreg Mach Monastery. Here, players can foster relationships with iconic Marvel heroes through activities like gift-giving and hangouts, which unlock combat cards and passive bonuses. Maxing out friendships with teammates enhances combat effectiveness, appealing to players who enjoyed the social and relationship-building aspects of recent Fire Emblem titles.
Triangle Strategy
Square Enix and Artdink's Triangle Strategy, released in 2022 for PC and consoles, shares Fire Emblem's grid-based combat and high fantasy setting. It diverges with an individual turn order determined by unit speed and a greater focus on elevation and facing direction, which can be critical in battle. Unlike Fire Emblem's permadeath, fallen units in Triangle Strategy return after combat. The game features a branching narrative influenced by player choices through an invisible conviction system (Unity, Liberty, Utility), affecting Serenoa's ability to persuade allies. Its visual style, inspired by Octopath Traveler, complements a political drama told through strategic battles and cinematic cutscenes.