Fire Emblem: Awakening

This game was supposed to be the last. The Fire Emblem series stood on the brink of its end, and Nintendo made it clear to the developers that if the new entry did not sell enough copies, the brand would be over. Fire Emblem: Awakening from 2012 not only survived, but literally resurrected the whole series to new life.

It is a tactical strategy with RPG elements, in which you command an army of units on a square grid and, in turns, plan every movement and attack. Traditionally, a harsh rule of permanent death reigns here: a fallen unit is irretrievably gone, which turns every decision into a tense gamble. Awakening, however, also introduced an optional Casual mode, where fallen allies return, thereby opening the door to less hardened players as well. A key mechanic is the system of relationships between characters: units fighting side by side build a bond with one another, gain bonuses and can even fall in love, marry and bring offspring into the world, who then themselves enter the battle.

Behind the game stands the studio Intelligent Systems in collaboration with Nintendo. The developers put everything into it, because they did not know whether they would get another chance, and the result was a game full of content, memorable characters and a gripping story about the fight with the dragon Grima and the manipulation of time. Stereoscopic 3D lent the battle animations a splendid flair.

The result exceeded all expectations. Awakening sold in numbers that older entries could only dream of, and became a commercial as well as a critical hit. With this, it saved the entire brand and steered it toward the popularity it enjoys today, which was confirmed by later entries and the mobile Fire Emblem Heroes.

Critics highlighted the depth of the tactics, the elaborate characters and the emotional power of the story. Many reviewers labeled the game one of the peaks of the genre as well as one of the best titles of the 3DS. For newcomers, it became an ideal gateway into the world of Fire Emblem.

Why play it: Gripping tactics where every turn truly matters, and a game that by itself saved an entire legendary series.