- Joined
- Dec 19, 2019
FE is weird as a series in that some games are related to each other while others aren't, so if you want to know all of these connections:
Shadow dragon (FE11) is a remake of the first game, and New mystery (FE12) is a remake of Mystery of the emblem (FE3). FE3/12 is a sequel to FE1/11
Shadows of Valentia (FE15) is a remake of Gaiden (FE2) and takes place between 1 and 2, but in a different continent with a completely unrelated story besides the return of a couple side characters from the first game, and the postgame added into the remake referencing Awakening, but we will get into that later.
Thracia 776 (FE5) tells the story of a side character from Genealogy (FE4), which in itself is divided into 2 arcs separated by a time skip, and it also takes place long before the events of FE1, 2 and 3, in another continent, but that doesn't matter besides a call back at the very end of the game.
Blazing blade (FE7) is the first one to come out of Japan and a prequel to Binding blade (FE6), most people outside Japan have played it before FE6 and while doing so spoils a lot of FE6, it's probably better to do so since FE7 is easier than FE6, plus it works as a self contained story. It's also the first one to be set in a completely different universe from the first 5 games and a soft reboot of the franchise after one of the original creators left.
Sacred stones (FE8 ) takes place in it's own universe and has no relation to any other game in the franchise (unless you buy into multiverse bullshit, but we will get into that soon)
Radiant dawn (FE10) is a sequel to Path of radiance (FE9) and both take place in their own world.
Awakening (FE13) takes place thousands of years after the first 5 games and it's the 2nd soft reboot of the franchise, adding the "waifu sim" mechanics a lot of people are divisive about. In its own plot it references FE 1 and 3 a bit but you can enjoy it without knowledge of them, HOWEVER, a lot of the DLC and content that was added in later free updates reference all prior games through multiverses and even retcons some plot points from prior games, so it's up to you to believe them or disregard them.
Fates (14) is divided into 3 games similar to a pokemon gen, however, unlike pokemon, all 3 games change the story and most levels you play radically, and some of it's DLC implies it takes place before Awakening, but if it takes place after or before the first 5 games is unknown. Also some of the characters from awakening appear in the main story (the in game reasons as to why are explained in ANOTHER DLC, but the real reason as to why they show up is because they won a popularity poll in Japan).
And lastly, the newest game in the series, 3 houses (FE16) which as of now is unrelated to all prior games in the franchise and takes place in it's own world. There's also BS Fire emblem, which is a prequel to FE1 first released for the satellaview in Japan but got added as a bonus in FE12, Heroes, a gacha phone game which is just fanservice, FE warriors, a musou like spin off which is again, more fanservice, and the "Kaga saga" games, which where made by that one creator i mentioned left the series after FE5, which are: Tear ring saga for the PS1 (which is kind of a rip off of the first game and has some characters who are lifted either in appearence, role in the story, or both from the first 5 games), Berwick Saga for the PS2 (which cut all ties to FE and takes place on another continent in the same world as TRS and plays very differently from it and FE), and Vestaria Saga for the SRPG Maker program on PC, and it's 2 gaidens with a 3rd one in the works which will be a whole different genre of strategy game similar to Civilization (VS has no relations to the prior 2 saga games and it's 2 gaidens aren't translated, but Gaiden 1 is a prequel, 2 a sequel to the base game, and the 3rd will take place after 2. they also came out for free in Japan but the base game was translated for a price on steam.)
Shadows of Valentia (FE15) is a remake of Gaiden (FE2) and takes place between 1 and 2, but in a different continent with a completely unrelated story besides the return of a couple side characters from the first game, and the postgame added into the remake referencing Awakening, but we will get into that later.
Thracia 776 (FE5) tells the story of a side character from Genealogy (FE4), which in itself is divided into 2 arcs separated by a time skip, and it also takes place long before the events of FE1, 2 and 3, in another continent, but that doesn't matter besides a call back at the very end of the game.
Blazing blade (FE7) is the first one to come out of Japan and a prequel to Binding blade (FE6), most people outside Japan have played it before FE6 and while doing so spoils a lot of FE6, it's probably better to do so since FE7 is easier than FE6, plus it works as a self contained story. It's also the first one to be set in a completely different universe from the first 5 games and a soft reboot of the franchise after one of the original creators left.
Sacred stones (FE8 ) takes place in it's own universe and has no relation to any other game in the franchise (unless you buy into multiverse bullshit, but we will get into that soon)
Radiant dawn (FE10) is a sequel to Path of radiance (FE9) and both take place in their own world.
Awakening (FE13) takes place thousands of years after the first 5 games and it's the 2nd soft reboot of the franchise, adding the "waifu sim" mechanics a lot of people are divisive about. In its own plot it references FE 1 and 3 a bit but you can enjoy it without knowledge of them, HOWEVER, a lot of the DLC and content that was added in later free updates reference all prior games through multiverses and even retcons some plot points from prior games, so it's up to you to believe them or disregard them.
Fates (14) is divided into 3 games similar to a pokemon gen, however, unlike pokemon, all 3 games change the story and most levels you play radically, and some of it's DLC implies it takes place before Awakening, but if it takes place after or before the first 5 games is unknown. Also some of the characters from awakening appear in the main story (the in game reasons as to why are explained in ANOTHER DLC, but the real reason as to why they show up is because they won a popularity poll in Japan).
And lastly, the newest game in the series, 3 houses (FE16) which as of now is unrelated to all prior games in the franchise and takes place in it's own world. There's also BS Fire emblem, which is a prequel to FE1 first released for the satellaview in Japan but got added as a bonus in FE12, Heroes, a gacha phone game which is just fanservice, FE warriors, a musou like spin off which is again, more fanservice, and the "Kaga saga" games, which where made by that one creator i mentioned left the series after FE5, which are: Tear ring saga for the PS1 (which is kind of a rip off of the first game and has some characters who are lifted either in appearence, role in the story, or both from the first 5 games), Berwick Saga for the PS2 (which cut all ties to FE and takes place on another continent in the same world as TRS and plays very differently from it and FE), and Vestaria Saga for the SRPG Maker program on PC, and it's 2 gaidens with a 3rd one in the works which will be a whole different genre of strategy game similar to Civilization (VS has no relations to the prior 2 saga games and it's 2 gaidens aren't translated, but Gaiden 1 is a prequel, 2 a sequel to the base game, and the 3rd will take place after 2. they also came out for free in Japan but the base game was translated for a price on steam.)
And after that bible, if you are interested in the newer games i recommend starting either with 13 or 16 and avoiding 14 (but if you are REALLY interested in playing any of the 3 versions i would recommend Conquest by a lot). If you are interested in the older games, Echoes or FE8 are good, FE7 is also a good one but it's tutorial is very long and handholdy, so it may turn you off from playing, and after that go to whatever interests you more, to i would recommend leaving FE4 and 5 for last since they are the most different from the main franchise and the hardest at base difficulty, and they may or may not be the next to be remade; speaking of which, do not play FE1 and 2 unless you are really interested in them, as their remakes are superior by far (FE3 actually contains it's own remake of FE1 with cut content to fit in the cartridge, and some people actually like it over FE12). And, if after playing all games in the franchise, you are still itching for more FE, then play the kaga saga games by release order, to take in mind that we might not get translations (fan made or official) of the VS gaidens in a long time, while all other games listed here have a means to be played in english (quality and level of pozziness may vary between them to)
