The 50 Best Nintendo Games Right Now (Wii U / 3DS)

Best Nintendo Games List – #11 Fire Emblem: Awakening

Developers: Intelligent Systems, Nintendo SPD

Publisher: Nintendo

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Release Date: February 4, 2013

Despite it having a hardcore audience, it wasn’t until a decidedly more anime-centric approach that the introduction of offspring into your party via pairing off spouses that took Fire Emblem: Awakening to unprecedented success. The game sees you as a customizable tactician, rescued by fate by Chrom and his fellow Shepherds. You venture out to bring peace to Archanea and Valm, and do so through tactical turn-based combat over a grid formation.

The standard sword beats axe beats lance power triangle returns, but the support system introduced a two-fold strategic formula. You can move a unit onto another so that both can attack/defend against the same target, in addition to promoting their social recognition. Non-related males and females can usually bring their status up to S, effectively “marrying” each other. Later in the game, due to time shenanigans, your future offspring can join your party, often with additional powers and story-related content.

Fire Emblem: Awakening brought additional replayability, party depth and story lore than what we’ve normally seen, and brought an effective change in style that has saved the series from winding down forever.

Next: #10 Super Mario 3D World