Ive played Fire Emblem: Fortunes Weave, and it could be the epic tactical RPG that defines the Nintendo Switch 2 heres why its already got me hooked

Date:
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
The first few hours of Fire Emblem: Fortunes Weave are reminding me of why I fell in love with the series.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The year was 2013. I can remember the sheer excitement I felt as I stepped into my local video game store and laid eyes on the title that Id been desperate to play for months.
Id brought a bag filled with Nintendo DS games that Id played to near death, traded them in at the counter, and finally got my hands on the 3DS release that changed my gaming life for good: Fire Emblem Awakening .

Awakening was the game that truly got me into RPGs. Its vibrant cast of characters, its stellar strategic gameplay, its engrossing narrative twelve-year-old me was enraptured by its brilliance. Now, 13 years on, those feelings of excitement and enthusiasm have been reawakened. And thats because I got the chance to play Fire Emblem: Fortunes Weave , a title which so far has encapsulated everything that made me fall in love with the series all those years ago. Heres how Ive found my time with Fortunes Weave , and why I think it could be the epic tactical RPG that defines the Nintendo Switch 2 . Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Enter the Flame Lords Theodora is one of the four Flame Lords you can play as in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave (Image credit: Nintendo) Our adventure is centered around the land of Dagda, a kingdom enjoying a period of relative prosperity under the rule of Divine Sovereign Solel. A grand event is soon to take place in Dagdas capital, Dagsion, which is drawing great warriors from around the kingdom and beyond: the Heroic Games. This tournaments victor is to be granted one wish
of their choosing, and the city is abuzz with anticipation. But little do the combatants know that a great calamity is soon to befall the world around
them.

Five years after the Heroic Games have concluded, turmoil runs rife across Dagda. The demonic god, Balor, has returned, and the forces of the underworld have humanity hanging by a thread. One individual you, the main protagonist is tasked by the goddess Sothis to bring about salvation for humanity and drive away the darkness. And this is where we get into the real meat of Fortunes Weave . You may like The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales trades turn-based combat for real-time action Should you buy a Switch 2
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Four great warriors from the Heroic Games, known as the Flame Lords, have vanished. With the help of the goddess Fortuna, you are able to go back in time, alter the causality across each heros path, and recruit them to assist in the battle for Dagdas deliverance.

As the player, you get to travel back to the time of the Heroic Games and delve into four individual campaigns that enable you to control each of the four Flame Lords: Cai, Dietrich, Theodora, and Leda. Meanwhile, you, the main protagonist, will appear as the Pale Raven, and be able to give advice on upcoming battles and watch over the Flame Lords along their journey. Get
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It may sound like a lot to take in, and a lot of back and forths along the timeline, but the storytelling in the early section of the game which Ill be discussing here is incredibly tight, clear, and gripping. Walk the path of great heroes Here we have Dietrich, stood beside an abnormally large black
cat (Image credit: Nintendo) After completing a brief prologue, youre given the chance to pick from any of the four heroes, although youre able to swap between each individual storyline whenever you feel like. I started by following Dietrichs path, and wow. What a way to kick off my adventure.

First of all, I have to shout out the character design. Dietrich himself is a truly majestic specimen (something pointed out by many through your journey), and his chilling killer instincts and thirst for battle are reflected in his visceral combat style to perfection. Hes joined by a brilliantly charismatic cast, including the mysterious and eccentric priest, Fabio, the young and skilled Esmeralda, and the former mercenary Mikaela, to name a few. What to read next Lies of P: Complete Edition review: stellar on Switch 2 Rhythm Heaven Groove review: the most bizarre game of 2026 is a hit Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is out on the Switch 2 heres how it performs

Each character is surprisingly layered and full of charisma and intrigue, not to mention the absolutely phenomenal voice acting, which is already shaping
up to be some of the best the series has ever produced. Naturally, you can build your support with each member of your party and view special conversations, just as you could in previous instalments. Did you know TechRadar now has membership? (Image credit: Future) Become a TechRadar Insider by simply clicking 'Join Now' at the top of this page. Have a question? Please email membership@techradar.com Although Dietrichs path has been my favorite so far, Ive dipped into the story of each protagonist, and all offer a strong lineup of characters, distinct yet interwoven narratives, and unique mechanics to drill into.

For instance, Theodora can assign battalions, which can boost a units attack power and inflict status effects on foes, and Dietrich can learn new combat arts from wandering warriors. It keeps each pathway feeling fresh and distinct, and incentivized me to try out each and every one of the Flame
Lords campaigns.

Although youll spend a decent amount of time on main story battles, youll
also be given free time here and there. With this time, you can access training facilities to strengthen a unit's skill with certain weapons or magic, you can serve at a temple to earn favor from the gods, or you can dine at an inn to build up support with allies and regain motivation (required for certain tasks).

This is just a taste of whats on offer, but the bottom line is, I found that there was never a shortage of things to do during my free time, and the variety on offer breathes vibrancy and life into Dagsion, making it feel like the esteemed capital its presented as. Gameplay and combat: timeless fundamentals with some neat twists Combat is as great as ever in Fortune's Weave , with some new mechanics such as Blaze Arts helping the experience
feel fresh for returning fans (Image credit: Nintendo) Lets talk about the core gameplay on offer, though, which will be the most exciting aspect for a lot of returning fans.

A lot of the bones are the same. Other than some dungeon sections, which incorporate a mild amount of action combat and 3D exploration, youre mainly playing a tactical JRPG with the usual grid-based combat. Each map is a blast to play through, and although things start out very easy, youll soon have to be considerate of which units you select, how you position them, and how you approach the enemy.

At its core, Fortunes Weave is a continuation of what made the series great, and whether you play in Casual (where units return to your ranks after defeat), or Classic (where units are gone forever if they fall in battle), youll find that just about each decision you make on the battlefield matters and building the perfect units and reclassing them to vanquish your opponent is still outrageously enjoyable.

Combat Arts are back, which degrade weapon durability in exchange for
powerful actions, and Blessings from the gods give you boons in combat, such as a reduction in damage received or a higher chance of avoiding attacks. But there are also some new additions. Perhaps the most high-profile, and one Ive been loving, is Blaze Arts.

Blaze Arts sacrifice a portion of your HP in return for powerful moves, but arent available to all units. Dietrich, for example, can warp forward
multiple spaces and attack afterwards. Or Theodora can unleash an especially long-range attack on distant foes. The HP sacrifice prevents you from using them without consequence, and the abilities can help you clutch up in tense situations.

Ive also been loving the battle animations, which add solid immersion to the action. The way that some units will parry attacks and swiftly retaliate, and the elaborate Blaze Arts animations, are both clear standouts and make
battles feel like the spectacle theyre intended to be.

Outside of the excellent combat, its a lot of fun to just stroll through Dagsion, and movement feels both rapid and responsive. Fast travel is also an option if you want to get from A to B in an instant, but sometimes I just wanted to walk through the city and take in some of the amazing music.
Whether its beautiful acoustic arrangements or ambient synth-led tracks, Fortunes Weave is brimming with memorable music, and I can see myself coming back to the OST for years to come.

My only small nitpick about traversing Dagsion is that some of the NPCs provide incredibly repetitive dialogue. I heard youre looking well and its many variations a lot more times than Id care to mention in my first few
hours with the game. Graphics and performance: a clear step-up on Switch 2 Characters are bursting with personality and color in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave (Image credit: Nintendo) Moving on to performance now, and I have to say, Im satisfied with what Ive experienced from Fortunes Weave so far.

The Switch 2 has added some much-needed firepower, and the improvement from Three Houses is substantial. Character models, such as that of Fortuna, look excellent, with her beaming yellow and rich purple hair really popping on-screen. Id argue that a few textures on environmental elements, such as trees, perhaps look a bit basic, but it doesnt feel like the games first priority is to be a graphical marvel.

Drawn characters look impressive during dialogue sections too, and have some animations to add emotion and depth to them. Beyond this, cinematic sequences are epic, and a couple of them reminded me of the grandeur exhibited by the opening of Fire Emblem Awakening (one that felt unskippable all those years ago).

One interesting inclusion in Fortunes Weave is mouse controls, which, as expected, are as smooth and effective as ever on Switch 2. I honestly didnt use them much, as I prefer to stick with traditional controls, but its always good to see a new title make use of the Switch 2s new technological capabilities.

The game also runs really smoothly, and the Switch 2s enhanced resolution makes for a more detailed experience than ever. Most of the time, loading screens are very brief too, although I did occasionally experience some minor delays when opening doors in Dagsion, for instance nothing particularly grating though. My final thoughts (so far) You can interact with the protagonist in the form of the Pale Raven, and boost your support points as you journey through each Flame Lord's path and if your chat goes well, you can even achieve Perfect Bird Time. Pretty neat, right? (Image credit: Nintendo) Of course, there are a lot of battles that lie ahead, and theres a lot more story to sink my teeth into, but the early signs are incredibly positive for Fire Emblem: Fortunes Weave .

So far, the captivating storytelling, brilliant cast of characters, refined turn-based tactical combat, and immersive world of Fortunes Weave have got me hooked, and I cant wait to spend more time with the game. These qualities really took me back in time to when I first fell in love with the series, and if my initial hours are anything to go by, I think long-time fans will appreciate the distinct yet interwoven stories, challenging battles, and high stakes.

I should note that I had a good time with Fire Emblem: Three Houses , but the opening of Fortunes Weave feels like its building on everything that made
that entry click in a meaningful, substantive way.

Im sure therell be lots more to discuss when the full game launches in September, so keep your eyes peeled for our full review when the time comes, but until then, Im going to enjoy my ride on the Fire Emblem hype train. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play right now Our top picks for Nintendo's latest handheld

Read our full guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 games 1. Best overall: Donkey Kong Bananza 2. Great for multiplayer: Mario Kart World 3. A sequel
for the ages: Hollow Knight: Silksong 4. A timeless adventure and remake: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition 5. Best Pokmon: Pokmon Legends Z-A



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