The 10 Best Games Like Fire Emblem

If you ask people to come up with a fantasy tactical RPG on the spot, most folk will likely come up with Fire Emblem. It’s an iconic series, full of powerful characters, unique mechanics, and visually stunning in-game worlds.

There are many things that make Fire Emblem stand out from the crowd, including the unique support system and level of care that the developers put into making the world feel realistic. If you’re a fan of Fire Emblem and you’re looking for more like it, there are plenty more titles with dragons, magic, and intricate battles to explore.

No matter if you’re looking for something lighthearted and accessible, or something deep and emotional, there’ll be the perfect Fire Emblem alternative for you.

Here are the 10 best games like Fire Emblem to pick up and play today.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Available on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, and Microsoft Windows.

Kicking off this list, we’ve got Divinity: Original Sin 2. Divinity is a household name in the world of turn-based RPGs, and with good reason. It is a perfect example of a turn-based game, and it introduced a lot of genre staples into the world of gaming.

This game places a lot of focus on the importance of positioning your units properly in battle. You’ll need to consider factors like environmental hazards, height/elevation, range, and more. This is a gritty and challenging tactical RPG, and it’s a perfect fit for Fire Emblem fans.

There are other important factors to consider when heading into battle in Divinity: Original Sin 2, like elemental spell combinations or optimized weapons. The game environments are dynamic, so it’s important to plan your moves wisely.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a little more forgiving than Fire Emblem when it comes to dying, as you don’t lose your character permanently in DOS2. However, you do need to spend coins to use a revival spell or scroll if your character dies.

If you’re looking for more games like Fire Emblem to add to your library today, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a great one to start with. It’s a standout turn-based RPG on the Switch eShop alone, and has made waves on other platforms too.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

Available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, and PC.

Sailing into the second spot on this list, we’ve got Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. It’s the second game in the series, but is still enjoyable for folk who haven’t played the first one. However, if you have time to play both then it’s absolutely worth it.

This game places a lot of value on tactical decision making and highlights the importance of placing your heroes properly in a battle. It’s a fantasy tactical RPG, with a heavy emphasis on making smart formations and using weapons or abilities wisely.

There are multiple classes in the game, so you can tailor your team to fit your play style.

One interesting element of this game is that there is friendly fire. A fireball meant to obliterate your foes could hit party members if you don’t position them correctly. You’ll need to keep this tip in mind for friendly spells too, as abilities like healing become more effective if the healer is near the target.

There are also multi-classes, which are fun but a little tricky to get the hang of if you’ve never played this kind of game before. For example, you can play as a Howler which is a combo of a Barbarian and a Chanter, or as a Hierophant which is a mix between a Cipher and a Wizard.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a game that feels rich and vibrant, and it’s an ideal pick for anyone hunting for more games like Fire Emblem. There is a difficulty curve to contend with in this game, and it’s best suited for folk who have played some tactical RPGs already.

Wasteland 3

Available on macOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

While this game may look nothing like Fire Emblem at first glance, it actually has a lot of similarities. If you’re a Fire Emblem fan who’s happy to step outside of the medieval fantasy genre, Wasteland 3 could be the perfect game for you.

Set in futuristic and post-apocalyptic Colorado, the world has frozen over and chaos is reigning. You play as a duo ranger and have to build a squad of six allies to survive. The game is a co-op title, with different players getting to control different squad members.

Alongside the environmental hazards and enemies you’ll come across in this game, there is a lot of political turmoil to contend with too. If you’ve ever played Disco Elysium, it’s reminiscent of that game. Wasteland 3 is politically charged, and full of dark, absurdist humor.

Combat in Wasteland 3 will be a delight for Fire Emblem fans. It takes place on a grid which determines the movement and range of a squad member. You’ll also need to account for action points, which correspond to the size and strength of the weapon your squad member is using. Put simply, the bigger the gun, the more action points you’ll need.

You can increase how many action points your units have by focusing on your Coordination stat when leveling up your units. You’ll need to allocate points to various traits and abilities.

Wasteland 3 is a lot of fun to play through and it throws up some genuine challenges in places, too. It might not look exactly like Fire Emblem, but it offers the same level of depth and difficulty in terms of combat and problem-solving. It’s worth playing.

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

Available on the Game Boy Advance.

The Game Boy Advance has an immense collection of turn-based strategy games, including the original Fire Emblem games and Sacred Stones. Outside the Fire Emblem franchise, the Advance War series is a must-play for strategy fans who have access to the older console.

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising is the second entry in the Advance War series and it’s thought to be one of the greatest strategy games of all time. The story in the game follows an existing tension between the Orange Star and Blue Moon factions, and a war that starts between other factions.

The gameplay in AW2 is very similar to Fire Emblem, asking players to hit a certain objective for each map. Objectives can range from surviving a certain number of turns, seizing the square occupied by the boss enemy, or defeating all enemies on the map.

Alongside your standard troops, there are Commanding Officers to consider in Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising as well. Each one has a unique ability and can alter the effectiveness of surrounding units. These characters have their own personalities and statistics.

While this is a much older game, it’s still worth your time if you’re a fan of the Fire Emblem series. It’s surprisingly complex, yet still a must-play for any new strategy or tactical RPG fans. There’s a lot to love about AW2.

Octopath Traveler

Available on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.

If you’ve played Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you’ll know that it revolutionized storytelling in the tactical RPG genre, presenting three distinct perspectives on a massive war that tore through the in-game continent. The use of three protagonists was groundbreaking at the time, and still offers an incredible experience to this day.

Octopath Traveler is similar, in that it has eight playable protagonists.

It’s a fantastic pick for folk who want more games like Fire Emblem with interesting perspectives and storylines. This ‘HD-2D’ gem follows the individual stories of the eight characters, and artfully weaves them into one story as the game progresses. Once this happens, you can build a party with the eight heroes.

It’s unusual to see games where every single character in your party or roster are relevant, but in Octopath Traveler, this is precisely the case. Even the heroes you don’t choose for your party still play a part in the overall story.

This game builds upon the rock-paper-scissors style of weapons triangle in Fire Emblem and adds more depth. The enemy’s equipment isn’t what determines its weakness. Each enemy naturally has an inherent weakness that you can exploit and use to shatter their shield.

With such an intricate combat system and elegantly written storyline, what’s not to love about games like Octopath Traveler? It’s an essential for Fire Emblem fans.

Telepath Tactics Liberated

Available on Microsoft Windows.

It’s impossible to leave Telepath Tactics Liberated out of a conversation about the best Fire Emblem alternatives. TTL is an upgrade of the original Telepath Tactics that came out in 2015, and it’s an indie strategy game that took a lot of inspiration from Fire Emblem.

Set in a fantasy steampunk world, this game follows the story of twins Emma and Sabrina Strider who are on a mission to emancipate their father from slavery. As you progress, you’ll meet several characters on the way who can aid you in missions.

Oh what, the enemy fell off a bridge? Oopsie daisy.

There is permadeath in this game, meaning that it’s important to focus on adding to your team as much as possible. It can be an unforgiving game in a lot of ways, but it’s absolutely worth playing if you enjoy games with a clear Fire Emblem feel to them.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

Available on the PlayStation, iOS, and Android.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a modern version of the original Final Fantasy Tactics, which came out in 1997. It’s arguably the poster child of the tactical RPG genre, and is the first strategic game from the FF franchise.

Set in the war-torn Kingdom of Ivalice, the story follows a historian who is aiming to rewrite history and show that Ramza Beoulve (the main protagonist) is a true hero.

There is a large focus on the job and class system in this game. There were twenty classes and jobs in the original game, but this particular title adds Onion Knight and Dark Knight to the mix. Onion Knight is a fan favorite, and it’s easy to see why.

You can play Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions with friends through the Ad Hoc mode, which is a pleasant feature. This is only viable on the PlayStation, though.

If you’re a fan of classic, strategic RPG titles and want to fill up your library with influential and original titles, this game is the best pick for you. It’s had a lot of influence on other games over the years, and it bears some great similarities to Fire Emblem games, too.

Wildermyth

Available on Microsoft Windows, Linux, Macintosh operating systems.

Ever wondered what a game like Fire Emblem would be like if it was procedurally generated? Wildermyth is a truly unique tactical RPG and it set the standard for indie titles in the genre. This game is beautiful, immersive, and stands out from the roguelike crowd on Steam

Flowing like a classic tabletop Dungeons & Dragons session, this game focuses heavily on player choice and makes every decision feel impactful. This game really makes you feel like you’re penning a classic fantasy legend.

If you’re a fan of Fire Emblem’s dating and relationship simulation factors, you’ll be able to get your fill of that with Wildermyth. You can romance characters or start rivalries with them, and you can boost relationship points simply by putting characters in battles alongside each other.

There are also factors like personality traits and in-game choices that affect how relationships develop in Wildermyth. Relationships can end in violence, a visit from the stork, or in a union.

It’s not all romance and roses, though. This game also offers some incredibly engaging battles, placing a lot of focus on troop positioning and careful strategy. If you liked the challenge of the last Fire Emblem game you played, you’ll love this title.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems.

If you’re a fan of tabletop RPG campaigns, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous may be the perfect Fire Emblem alternative for you. It’s the sequel to a game called Kingmaker, and it’s incredibly reminiscent of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

In this game, you’ll need to banish demon lords, build an army, and wage war on the hellish forces that plague the lands.

One of the best things about Fire Emblem is that it allows players to reclassify any unit in order to maximize their strategic efforts. For example, Fire Emblem lets you reclassify a noble character into a dancer.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous offers all of that and more, letting players pick between a myriad of classes and sub-classes. You can even combine classes, which allows for much more creative strategies.

This game is a vast improvement on its predecessor (although, Kingmaker is still worth playing) and Fire Emblem fans are sure to fall in love with the unique world that it offers.

Pokemon Conquest

Available on Nintendo DS.

While Pokémon games tend to take the same shape for the most part, there are some experimental games in the franchise that are worth knowing about. Pokémon Conquest is a unique Pokémon title that was clearly made for more mature audiences.

Offering a completely fresh take on the Pokémon universe, Pokémon Conquest follows the legend of a hero who sets out to conquer all the seventeen kingdoms of the Ransei region. This region takes the shape of the Pokémon god Arceus, who appears in the game.

This game follows the hero and his Pokémon partner. The partner Pokémon has a single move (which depends on its species) and unique stats for its range, abilities, hit-boxes, and types. This alone adds heaps of replay value to the game.

The partner Pokémon can grow through the soul link it has to the hero, and this can in term lead to the Pokémon evolving. This also applies to wild Pokémon.

Pokémon Conquest may not initially seem like a Fire Emblem alternative, but fans of the latter franchise will be pleasantly surprised by it. It’s a lot darker and more challenging than typical Pokémon games, and the strategic elements are very fun.