What Order Should You Play the Fire Emblem Games?

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Gaming expert Jose Rivera provides an introduction to Fire Emblem’s games and all timelines in the series

Co-authored by Jose Rivera and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: July 1, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Do you have to play in an order?
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• Release Order
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• Spin-Offs
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• Remakes
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• Storyline Orders
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• Best Starter Games
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• Worst Starter Games
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• Available Platforms
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• Closing Thoughts
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• Video

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Fire Emblem is a super-famous, decades-old video game franchise—and with its next installment on the way, you might be thinking about getting into the games yourself. There’s just one problem: with over twenty different games, remakes, and spin-offs to choose from, where should you start? For this article, we partnered with a gaming expert to help us explore and explain the Fire Emblem universe. We’ve sorted the Fire Emblem games in release order and chronological order, too (across multiple timelines). We’ll also offer suggestions on which Fire Emblem game to start on!

What’s the best Fire Emblem game order?

Gaming expert Jose Rivera says most of the Fire Emblem games are standalone; you can play them in any order without knowledge of the others. That said, many fans in the gaming community suggest starting with a beginner-friendly game like Three Houses or Awakening to ease you into the Fire Emblem universe.

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Section 1 of 9:

Do you have to play the Fire Emblem games in order?

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1. 
   The Fire Emblem series can be played in almost any order. According to Rivera, “Each game is a standalone story — most Fire Emblem entries introduce a new cast, a new world, and new stakes from scratch.” Basically, there is no true “order” in which to play 'the games. “There is no single connected universe — Fire Emblem isn't one timeline,” Rivera says. “It's several entirely separate worlds, each with its own internal history. Playing them out of sequence doesn't create plot holes because the stories were never sharing a thread to begin with.” Even direct sequels are designed to be accessible!

   • Each Fire Emblem game can be enjoyed individually, without having played the others. There’s no complete chronological order, and the games most definitely don’t have to be played in release order, either.
   • So, you can really start with whichever game appeals to you and your gaming tastes, or whichever games you have the ability to play based on the console(s) you own.
   • “No game assumes you've played another — unlike a series such as Zelda or Elden Ring, where lore accumulates and rewards familiarity, Fire Emblem games are written to stand entirely on their own,” Rivera explains. “The closest comparison is Final Fantasy: you can start almost anywhere and never feel like you walked in mid-conversation.”
   • That said, Rivera does note that understanding the storyline/timeline order can be helpful. “Fire Emblem is organized into several separate timelines, each confined to its own world. None of them connect to each other in any confirmed canonical way,” he continues.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Jose Rivera, also known as Ricky Flicks, is a gaming expert and content creator with over 5 years of experience. He specializes in creating content that blends culture, comedy, and commentary.
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Section 2 of 9:

The Fire Emblem Games in Release Order

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1. 
   For easy reference, here’s a list of every mainline Fire Emblem game in order of release. However, don’t assume that “release order” is the order the games have to be played. On the contrary, Fire Emblem is such a long-running franchise that you’ll probably end up jumping in at a later point in the series. And that’s okay, because most of its games are considered standalone!

   • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990)
   • Fire Emblem Gaiden (1992)
   • Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (1994)
   • Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (1996)
   • Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (1999)
   • Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade (2002)
   • Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (2003)
   • Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (2004)
   • Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005)
   • Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007)
   • Fire Emblem Awakening (2012)
   • Fire Emblem Fates (2015)
   • Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019)
   • Fire Emblem Engage (2023)

Section 3 of 9:

The Fire Emblem Spin-Off Games

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1. 
   In addition to its longer list of mainline games, there are also a few spin-off Fire Emblem titles like Mirage Sessions, which is a crossover between FE and Shin Megami Tensei, or Heroes and Shadows, which are mobile games that pull in characters from across the series. Meanwhile, BS Fire Emblem was an old episodic game released through the Satellaview service, while Warriors and Three Hopes are beat ’em up games.

   • BS Fire Emblem (1997, released in Japan alone)
   • Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE (2016)
   • Fire Emblem Heroes (2017)
   • Fire Emblem Warriors (2017)
   • Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes (2022)
   • Fire Emblem Shadows (2025)
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Section 4 of 9:

The Fire Emblem Remake Games

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1. 
   There are also a few newer remakes of old Fire Emblem games—although, for perspective, one is a 2008 remake of a 1990 game! Shadow Dragon remakes the original Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light game, while New Mystery of the Emblem (2010) is a remake of Mystery of the Emblem (1994). Finally, Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a 2017 remake of Gaiden (1992).

   • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2008)
   • Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem (2010)
   • Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (2017)

Section 5 of 9:

The Fire Emblem Games in Story Order

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1. 
   1
   Archanea, Valentia & Jugdral timelineThis is the first major timeline in Fire Emblem, and the largest (meaning it has the most games). “[It’s] the original world created by series founder Shouzou Kaga,” explains Rivera. “These entries span thousands of years on the same planet, connected by recurring divine dragons, the Falchion sword, and the deity Naga.” All of the games below are set in the nations of Archanea, Valentia, and Jugdral—and even though most of them can be played without knowledge of the others, they do follow an actual timeline; thus, we’ve organized them chronologically. The games also introduced fans to Marth, one of the more popular FE characters!

   • Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (1996)
   • Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (1999)
     • Rivera recommends playing Genealogy of the Holy War before Thracia 776. “Thracia is a mid-quel that takes place during a time skip inside Genealogy's plot, so it lands with far more context if Genealogy comes first.”
   • BS Fire Emblem (1997)
   • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990) and Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2008)
     • Rivera suggests playing Shadow Dragon before Mystery of the Emblem and New Mystery of the Emblem since the latter two are a direct continuation of Marth's story within the Archanea timeline.
   • Fire Emblem Gaiden (1992) and Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (2017)
   • Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (1994) and Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem (2010)
   • Fire Emblem Awakening (2012)
2. 
   2
   Elibe timelineThis is the second major timeline in Fire Emblem. “It contains only Blazing Blade (FE7) and Binding Blade (FE6), set twenty years apart on a separate world entirely,” Rivera notes. Both games take place on the continent of Elibe. Binding Blade stars protagonist Eliwood as its hero, with Blazing Blade being a sequel that features Eliwood’s son, Roy (a well-known FE character who appears in other Nintendo titles, like Super Smash Bros.)

   • Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade (2002)
   • Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (2003)
   • Rivera says, “Blazing Blade is a prequel to Binding Blade. The connection is emotional rather than strictly required: Binding Blade’s cast lands harder once you've met their parents in Blazing Blade.”
3. 
   3
   Magvel timelineRivera says The Sacred Stones is a standalone game set in a totally different timeline from the rest of the games, taking place on the continent of Magvel. It’s a tactical role-playing game starring main characters Eirika and Ephraim of the royal Renais family. And because The Sacred Stones is set in its own world, it’s considered one of the easier Fire Emblem games for newbies to hop into.

   • Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (2004)
4. 
   4
   Tellius timelineIke—a fan-favorite in the FE franchise—is a main character in both of these games, which are set on the continent of Tellius. “It contains only Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn, [which are] set three years apart,” Rivera says. “Some fan theories connect Tellius to Archanea, but nothing canonical confirms it.” Interestingly, Radiant Dawn is a direct sequel to Path of Radiance, making them more fun to play one after the other.

   • Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005)
   • Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007)
   • “Radiant Dawn directly continues Path of Radiance's plot three years later," notes Rivera. "Characters, relationships, and unresolved plot threads carry over completely. Playing Radiant Dawn first is widely considered close to incomprehensible.”
5. 
   5
   Hoshido, Nohr & Valla timelineAccording to Rivera, this timeline contains only Fates and its three routes (Birthright, Conquest, Revelation). The game is primarily set in the kingdoms of Hoshido and Nohr, while the game’s main antagonist is a dragon deity and ruler of Valla called Anankos. Each of the game’s versions follows a unique route based on the sides that the main character, Corrin, can take in a war between Hoshido and Nohr.

   • Fire Emblem Fates (2015)
6. 
   6
   Fόdlan timelineAs of the writing of this article, the latest installment of this timeline has yet to be released! Fortune’s Weave is an upcoming 2026 Fire Emblem title set in the same world as Fόdlan, albeit on a different continent. Fόdlan is the setting of Three Houses, a critically-acclaimed RPG, as well as spin-off title Three Hopes, which is an alternate retelling of Three Houses. Fortune’s Weave takes place in the Dagdan Empire, years after the events of Three Houses.

   • Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019)
   • Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes (2022)
     • Rivera recommends playing Three Houses before Three Hopes. "Playing it first spoils the original's central twists.”
   • Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (2026)
   • Rivera says. “If you play Awakening, then Three Houses, then Sacred Stones, you have not missed a single piece of context that matters, because those games take place on different planets with no shared history. The franchise's scale comes from breadth, not from a single accumulating story.”
7. 
   7
   Elyos timelineThe most recent Fire Emblem game, Engage, is in a totally standalone world—but it involves the larger Fire Emblem multiverse in some interesting ways! It’s set 1,000 years after a massive war in which a great evil called the “Fell Dragon” was sealed away. And, in the game, characters from previous entries (including Marth, Byleth, and Ike) appear as manifestations from across different timelines.

   • Fire Emblem Engage (2023)
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Section 6 of 9:

Which Fire Emblem games should you start with?

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1. 
   1
   Players recommend starting with Three Houses or Awakening. Between these two, the right pick depends on what kind of player you are, says Rivera. Other factors include the type of game you like to play or the consoles you have access to! For instance, Awakening is a beloved Fire Emblem game, but it’s only for the 3DS, which isn’t in production anymore. So, it might be easiest to start with a game for modern Switch consoles, like Three Houses or Engage. Here are our recommendations:

   • Three Houses is a story-heavy RPG available on the latest Nintendo consoles, making it a great place if you prefer modern titles. Rivera suggests it if you want the strongest story and most replay value. It also sets up Fódlan as the base for Fortune's Weave, making it a doubly relevant starting point. He also praises the well-written cast and fully-realized setting of Fódla.
     • Rivera notes a caveat: Some veteran fans dislike the changes to the traditional difficulty structure, especially mechanics like monastery exploration and faculty training.
   • Awakening is credited with totally reviving the Fire Emblem franchise, and it’s one of the first examples of the “classic” Emblem being modernized—but, as mentioned, it’s limited by its only available platform. Rivera suggests it if you want to understand classic mechanics first, or if you only have access to a 3DS. He says it's also the cheapest, most accessible way to test whether the series is for you.
     • “Awakening was designed to be a series entry point,” Rivera explains. “It also introduced Casual Mode, removing permadeath as a requirement for the first time.”
     • Rivera notes a caveat: The game allows for infinite grinding, and that convenience can become a habit that's hard to break.
2. 2
   Other solid options include Sacred Stones and Blazing Blade. Sacred Stones is an older-school Fire Emblem game that’s generally considered beginner-friendly, with a lower difficulty curve that’s perfect for newcomers to the franchise. Rivera recommends Sacred Stones if you only have a Game Boy Advance or want to test the series cheaply.

   • Blazing Blade is a great game for tactical players or those looking for the classic Fire Emblem experience that encapsulates the series’ fundamental elements, says Rivera. It includes a built-in tutorial arc specifically for new players.
   • Conquest (part of Fire Emblem Fates) is great if you’re looking for a challenging traditional experience. Rivera only recommends it if want a challenge, though; the story is notoriously convoluted.
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Section 7 of 9:

Which Fire Emblem games should you avoid starting with?

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1. Rivera says the community consensus is very clear about where not to start. The main reasons for avoiding these as starter games are that they can be dense, confusing, and starting with them may ruin the experience for you. Games to avoid starting with include:

   • Genealogy of the Holy War: “Dense political lore and archaic mechanics that reward familiarity with the series rather than welcoming newcomers to it,” Rivera explains.
   • Thracia 776: “Extremely punishing by design, built for players who already know the franchise's resource-management systems inside and out,” Rivera says.
   • Echoes: Shadows of Valentia: “Unique mechanics that diverge from most of the rest of the series, plus a smaller, harder-to-find install base,” Rivera notes.

Section 8 of 9:

What platforms are the Fire Emblem games playable on?

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1. 
   It’s hard to keep track of so many different games and the platforms they’re playable on—so we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Here are each of the Fire Emblem games, organized by the console they’re playable on (with some games being available for multiple consoles or platforms):

   • Famicom: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990), Fire Emblem Garden (1992)
   • SNES: Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (1994), Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (1996), Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (1999)
   • Game Boy Advance: Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade (2002), Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (2003), Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (2004)
   • GameCube: Fire Emblem Garden (1992), Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005)
   • Wii: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990), Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (1996), Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (1999), Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007)
   • Wii U: Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (1996), Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (1999), Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (2003), Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (2004), Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2008)
   • Nintendo DS: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2008), Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem (2010)
   • Nintendo 3DS: Fire Emblem Garden (1992), Fire Emblem Awakening (2012), Fire Emblem Fates (2015), Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (2017), Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990)
   • Nintendo Switch: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019), Fire Emblem Engage (2023), Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (2026), Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990)
     • Rivera recommends Fire Emblem: Engage (Switch, 2023) if you want maximum tactical depth and gameplay quality. “Extremely well-regarded for pure map and combat Design,” he says.
     • “The Emblem Ring system brings in characters from older games as support units, working as a colorful sampler of franchise history without requiring any prior knowledge to enjoy,” he continues. “The story and characters are widely considered weaker than Three Houses, which is the main tradeoff.”
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Section 9 of 9:

Closing Thoughts From Our Expert

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1. “Fire Emblem's lack of a required order isn't a gap in the storytelling,” notes Rivera. “It's the design philosophy that has kept the franchise alive across nearly four decades, multiple console generations, and several completely separate worlds." He says this allows each new game to get really creative. It's also what makes the series so approachable. "There's no wrong door in, only different rooms waiting on the other side,” he says.

   • Rivera says that unlike most long-running franchises, FE doesn't punish you for jumping in late. “Across more than 35 years and 16 mainline entries, the series never built a single connected universe for you to fall behind on,” he says.

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