First Runner Up: Fire Emblem Fates
Fire Emblem Awakening took the series in a brand new direction, making the game far more accessible to newcomers. Fire Emblem Fates continues that tradition while still providing a significant challenge to longtime players, by splitting the game into two different versions. While this idea may seem strange initially, it’s something that works incredibly well in Fates’ favor. Even though the titles release early on in 2016, they still stand out one of the very best handheld experiences of the year.
You play as Corrin, a member of the Hoshido royal family that was stolen away at birth by the Nohrian Empire. These two factions have been locked in war for years, and after the first few missions of the game you have to choose which family you want to side with, birth or adopted. Birthright is the easier version that follows the Hoshido, while Conquest is the more difficult and follows Nohr.
Each version tells a different view of the story but is easily able to stand on its own, with each clocking in around 40 hours as well. Despite being split into the two different versions, Birthright and Conquest are quite different. Most of the characters you recruit and the maps you play will be entirely different, and Birthright gives you the option of training on extra challenge maps whereas Conquest doesn’t. The presentation of Fates has really improved since Awakening, with character models looking crisper and seamless transitions between the overhead map and battle.
Both versions tell their own self-contained story so you don’t have to play the other one. At the same time though, you basically have two engaging Fire Emblem adventures to go on, not to mention the third DLC campaign called Revelation.
Fire Emblem Fates only doubles down on everything Awakening did so well. Bonding with your different allies is a huge focus, and building relationships between different characters leads to stat boosts in battle as well as some fascinating support conversations. Eventually you can have two units marry, and certain key characters can have children. Similarly to the last game, Fates has an option where these children grow up quickly through other dimensions and can be recruited in their own side missions.
Both Birthright and Conquest tell fascinating stories that tie into a larger narrative, while having wholly unique characters and challenges. Fire Emblem Fates definitely showed Nintendo that maybe Pokemon isn’t the only series that can release in two different versions
