HONORABLE MENTION: FIRE EMBLEM FATES
Fire Emblem Fates released on the tail of the massive success celebrated by Fire Emblem Awakening. But the next chapter in the strategy RPG series opted for a slightly different approach. The story begins with the player character, a member of the royal family of Hoshido, being captured and raised by Nohr. The two nations have been locked in a brutal war for generations. The player character is quickly approached by their family from Hoshido and given a choice: return to their family and country, or stay with those who raised them. This choice is actually separated into two distinct games, Fire Emblem Fates Birthright and Conquest.
The gameplay and structure should be familiar to those who have spent time with Fire Emblem Awakening. You engage in tense, strategic battles where death has a lasting impact, and every character has set of skills that can be exploited on the battlefield. Not only that, but love still blooms in the midst of warfare. Figuring out which pairs work romantically and watching as your team grows closer is as fulfilling as ever, with plenty of new personalities to meet.
The two games offer up different stories and gameplay challenges, making it worthwhile to experience both sides of the conflict. A third side was later released called Revelations, which adds another foil to proceedings and further changes up dynamics. No matter which of the three you play though, they all feature excellent characterization, difficult and thoughtful battles, and beautifully realized worlds.
The splitting of the stories into multiple games may not have been the most popular decision with consumers, but the three titles combined offer hundreds of hours of enjoyment.