Fire Emblem Engage

 Switch
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 822 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 451 out of 822
  2. Mixed: 154 out of 822
  3. Negative: 217 out of 822
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  1. giannis2001
    Sep 11, 2023
    7
    Very good gameplay but forgettable characters and story. I really liked the combat in this game, it has a great variety in characters, classes, weapons, abilities, and combinations with the emblems. The maps are very good as well. However, the story and the characters are just boring and uninterested. I didn't care that much for the story or the characters throughout the game.
  2. Blueking640
    Sep 8, 2023
    7
    Best gameplay in the series yet, with fun characters, but the story and world bulding is not as good as in Three Houses. This was an anniversary game, before it was delayed, and its clear that game does not take itself too seriously. Still a fun game, and the emblems add great gameplay variety.
  3. TestingFreak
    Sep 8, 2023
    8
    Best Fire Emblem game I played.
    Gameplay is one of the best.
    Story is decent.
    Most Characters are interesting and fun.
    No weapon durability thank god.
  4. Traumvita
    Sep 3, 2023
    8
    Imo one of the weaker entries for Fire Emblem but still a real good game. Feels a little too reliant on the Engage system. Story sucks. Most characters are meh but a good chunk of them are likable. Level design is overall good with some nice variety and hazards. Giving the protagonist (Alear) a voice I feel was a good choice but not executed very well. Visuals are very very nice for switchImo one of the weaker entries for Fire Emblem but still a real good game. Feels a little too reliant on the Engage system. Story sucks. Most characters are meh but a good chunk of them are likable. Level design is overall good with some nice variety and hazards. Giving the protagonist (Alear) a voice I feel was a good choice but not executed very well. Visuals are very very nice for switch game. A big step up from the previous entry FE 3 Houses. Does mostly good but some noticeable annoyances and step backs. I would recommend to any FE fans.… Expand
  5. jamesxpktro
    Aug 30, 2023
    8
    This game is almost perfect for me the thing that I really missed are the romance stories and different ending that kept me from replaying this
  6. turbo_dweeb
    Aug 24, 2023
    4
    this game is a sh*t poopy game and the characters act like f*cking youtubers that make videos for r*tarded infants with ere*tile dysfunton. 4 out of ten poopy game dissapointment
  7. Stepney55
    Aug 20, 2023
    8
    It was a good time, a bit bare bones but it makes me more excited for the next game,
    it was a real good time though.
  8. russellg
    Aug 18, 2023
    8
    I disagree with the haters on this one. Yeah, it lacks the social aspects of 3H. For some, that's a positive thing. I tend to skip those. The story?. Far better than I expected it to be. Simple, but interesting - with a few twists!. 7/10 for the story. The characters range from interesting to irritating. Too many anime trope characters. 5/10 for characters. Graphics are lovely,I disagree with the haters on this one. Yeah, it lacks the social aspects of 3H. For some, that's a positive thing. I tend to skip those. The story?. Far better than I expected it to be. Simple, but interesting - with a few twists!. 7/10 for the story. The characters range from interesting to irritating. Too many anime trope characters. 5/10 for characters. Graphics are lovely, bright and fun. 8/10 for that. Music and voice acting is great. 8/10. The battles are absolutely perfect. Peak FE combat. 10/10… Expand
  9. Wunpleum
    Aug 15, 2023
    9
    Love all the character in the game. And with a beautiful graphic and amazing gameplay, I enjoyed it a lot. Still meh story tho.
  10. fflatburger
    Aug 13, 2023
    6
    To many mechanics in the game, the story was incredibly stupid, and return trips to the Sominel were always tedious, it truly could have just been a menu on the world map and I would have been so much more satisfied.
  11. TruthSeaker
    Aug 11, 2023
    1
    Absolute failure.
    After phenomenal Three Houses, they decided to go with a weird and questionable V-Tuber route while ditching storytelling and characters alltogether.
    Balance is also completely broken if you decide to do at least a little bit of resource/SP farming.
    Even a decent combat system couldn't save this snoozefest of a game.
  12. Totoques22
    Aug 9, 2023
    10
    BEST FIRE EMBLEM EXPERIENCE EVER The gameplay is so so so so good I wanted to replay the game as soon as I finished it the first time, it’s EXTREMELY well balanced as well you can go in hard or maddening blind and not be punished for it, the game also gives you what would be normally game breaking tool but somehow they don’t break the game and it’s still challenging, the map design is alsoBEST FIRE EMBLEM EXPERIENCE EVER The gameplay is so so so so good I wanted to replay the game as soon as I finished it the first time, it’s EXTREMELY well balanced as well you can go in hard or maddening blind and not be punished for it, the game also gives you what would be normally game breaking tool but somehow they don’t break the game and it’s still challenging, the map design is also top notch. Overall best gameplay in the series.

    Don’t listen to the Three houses fans being mad this isn’t three houses 2(and thank **** its not)

    The story is fine outside of a rough start and some cringe moment The characters are fun and enjoyable and after playing it every other FE has bland design in comparison The combat animations are absolutely fantastic they have impact on them like no other game and seing a cavalier go through a fence(because there was a fence on the map) before hitting someone will never stop looking good, there is also customized animations for every niche situations like fighting in stairs for example, sometimes instead of dodging an arrow it will be deflected and a dodges follow well into counterattacks I also love the art style and how the overall world look its colorful and pleasant to look at    … Expand
  13. Ruffikins
    Aug 2, 2023
    2
    My review didn't work, so I lost everything I wrote, thus I'll try to keep this succinct. For reference, I've been playing Fire Emblems for nearly a decade, since Awakening and unironically think that this is the worst Fire Emblem I've even played. Even moreso than Fates.

    Story is strange, overly childish. Too many child soldiers, the cutesy aesthetic and how 'adorable' it tries to be    My review didn't work, so I lost everything I wrote, thus I'll try to keep this succinct. For reference, I've been playing Fire Emblems for nearly a decade, since Awakening and unironically think that this is the worst Fire Emblem I've even played. Even moreso than Fates.

    Story is strange, overly childish. Too many child soldiers, the cutesy aesthetic and how 'adorable' it tries to be clashes with previous games, which have always added a layer of depth and ominous themes, which while not being blatant enough to scare a child, could be enjoyed by mature audiencese. New and improved characters appear in every scene, causing you to become completely apathetic to their lore and stories. I've heard that the combat is amazing, but I disagree, it feels like it's downgraded. Moving throughout the terrain is clunky and each battle goes through the identical trope of, "Click engage, wipe out an enemy, repeat", being so tedious that it feels worse than its predecessors. There's also some weirdo character who is male, yet dresses up like a 'girl' and enjoys 'cute' things because he was groomed or something in youth. For a game that tries so hard to be cutesy and childish, it's just odd. Overall, stick with Awakening.    … Expand
  14. Ira101
    Aug 1, 2023
    8
    I played this game about 30 Hours so far. Really good mechanics and I like the Engage rings it adds more fundamentals to what character or teammates. The story really falls off when you lose Hero marth and the others. Really reminds me of the red wedding since half the rings are in captivity and the daughter of the main antagonist is now on your side. The side activities are just likeI played this game about 30 Hours so far. Really good mechanics and I like the Engage rings it adds more fundamentals to what character or teammates. The story really falls off when you lose Hero marth and the others. Really reminds me of the red wedding since half the rings are in captivity and the daughter of the main antagonist is now on your side. The side activities are just like three houses but the game design and are much better in your base than the previous one. The battle layout however feels quirky but the game really isnt all that bad. Alear is a great protagonist and at first i didn't like the design but the character felt more in tune than byleth in three houses.… Expand
  15. Maradum
    Jul 31, 2023
    7
    FE Engage has the difficult task to come out after Three Houses, which was the first very succesful FE game in the west. Many people that liked 3H might not enjoy Engage as much – while FE veterans are more than happy about the amazing tactic gameplay it offers

    The story and writing is the weakest point here, with the main story being super tropy, nothing special and just a very basic    FE Engage has the difficult task to come out after Three Houses, which was the first very succesful FE game in the west. Many people that liked 3H might not enjoy Engage as much – while FE veterans are more than happy about the amazing tactic gameplay it offers

    The story and writing is the weakest point here, with the main story being super tropy, nothing special and just a very basic narrative. Good writing comes through in the funny and interesting support conversations that bring a lot of color to the characters.

    The art style is extremely colorful, might be a bit to comicy for some. The game itself looks amazing though.

    The shining star is definitely the gameplay, which is absolute peak turn based strategy combat. There is a vast variety of unit types so that each playthrough is unique. The Emblem Rings offer eve more tactic options as each Emblem offers special abilities.

    The Somniel as a hub fulfills its purpose, but there are many activities that just feel annoying, with little rewards, like „polishing your Emblem Rings“ or wyvern riding. Those boring side activities could be removed to put more focus on other aspects as they offer little to none to the game itself.    … Expand
  16. Lani337
    Jul 21, 2023
    8
    While I understand everyone who doesn't like this game, I disagree. Yes, the story is very bad for Fire Emblem standards, however the gameplay might just be the best one in the series. The graphics look amazing, even though the artstyle is controversial, I liked it. Emblems are fun to use and need a lot of calculation to be used efficiently. The OST is great and the battle animations haveWhile I understand everyone who doesn't like this game, I disagree. Yes, the story is very bad for Fire Emblem standards, however the gameplay might just be the best one in the series. The graphics look amazing, even though the artstyle is controversial, I liked it. Emblems are fun to use and need a lot of calculation to be used efficiently. The OST is great and the battle animations have never been better. The Somniel is a way better feature than the monastery, since you aren't forced to be there in 50% of your gametime like in Three Houses. The new Characters on the other hand feel kinda boring and Supports aren't great. You can really feel that the Gameplay was made by people who love Fire Emblem. The Story and the characters however, are not.… Expand
  17. Serperiorgaming
    Jul 8, 2023
    8
    Although the story is bad and the dialogue is cringe the gameplay makes up for it. This is the most fun I've had on a fire emblem game
  18. yangfanhong
    Jul 7, 2023
    8
    The Three Houses is better. But Engage is still a decent game. No need to be too harsh, right?
  19. svileng
    Jul 1, 2023
    8
    My first Fire Emblem game. Overall I'm really enjoying it, it's a solid 8/10 for me. Dialogue between characters is pretty bland at times, and the overall story is average - these are the main downsides for me. Lots of people seem to hate the character design, but I personally like most of the characters and how they look. Not all are great, but the worst ones don't bother me at least. TheMy first Fire Emblem game. Overall I'm really enjoying it, it's a solid 8/10 for me. Dialogue between characters is pretty bland at times, and the overall story is average - these are the main downsides for me. Lots of people seem to hate the character design, but I personally like most of the characters and how they look. Not all are great, but the worst ones don't bother me at least. The combat system and mechanics are fantastic, battle choreography and animations are excellent, maps are interesting. It's fun enough to make me keep coming back after 75+ hours.… Expand
  20. Ripper36
    Jul 1, 2023
    9
    I am a big Fire Emblem Fan and i know there cant be no "Three Houses" again But i have come to really
    like Engage. Yes the name sucks and the red/blue hair on Alear is lame but its still a great game. Story does not pick up until you are 6 or 7 Chapters in then i get decent. Again this is no Three Houses story but the really upd the combat. It really good prob the best in the series.    I am a big Fire Emblem Fan and i know there cant be no "Three Houses" again But i have come to really
    like Engage. Yes the name sucks and the red/blue hair on Alear is lame but its still a great game. Story does not pick up until you are 6 or 7 Chapters in then i get decent. Again this is no Three Houses story but the really upd the combat. It really good prob the best in the series. Now the Graphics really impressed me over.....big time. Its a nice looking game. All said, Its a very good game with alot of hr to put in. Good Job Nintendo!    … Expand
  21. jacktwelve
    Jun 29, 2023
    8
    Fire Emblem engage is a solid game with some weaker writing for the main story especially in comparison to the last 2 mainline games however what matters in video game is the gameplay and this game absolutely gets this right and that something that I actually think games does better than the last 2 games. As I as had much the combat mechanics of this than I did with the last 2 games. ButFire Emblem engage is a solid game with some weaker writing for the main story especially in comparison to the last 2 mainline games however what matters in video game is the gameplay and this game absolutely gets this right and that something that I actually think games does better than the last 2 games. As I as had much the combat mechanics of this than I did with the last 2 games. But one thing for this game is not a 6/10 game it’s definitely a 8/10 game. Also worth noting is that the game has a good cast it just introduces most of the boring party members/Units first before moving on the the more introducing the more better written meme era of the cast towards the middle of the game. Honestly I recommend this game and I think it a solid jrpg and a good addition to the legacy of the fire emblem franchise just go in not expecting much from the narrative prepare yourself for some fun and challenging battles.… Expand
  22. drseven
    Jun 27, 2023
    7
    Comparisons hurt, and compared to its FE 3H predecessor, it feels like an inferior product. Visually it improves and the battles continue to have the essence of the Fire Emblem. everything else, history, progress, level of customization, charisma of the characters is mediocre. The ring system doesn't work and is poorly implemented, it seems more like an excuse to bring back characters fromComparisons hurt, and compared to its FE 3H predecessor, it feels like an inferior product. Visually it improves and the battles continue to have the essence of the Fire Emblem. everything else, history, progress, level of customization, charisma of the characters is mediocre. The ring system doesn't work and is poorly implemented, it seems more like an excuse to bring back characters from the past.

    Conclusion: a fun game that preserves the bases of the fire Emblem but fails in everything around it.    … Expand
  23. SushiMess
    Jun 26, 2023
    6
    At first, I was really excited to get into the game because of the cool looking gameplay. As I keep playing however, the game feels much more like a chore instead of something I enjoy. Characters have like zero development, the castle you walk around in feels really empty and bad, and the story although was engaging in the first 10ish chapters, fell off hard afterwards. I completely lostAt first, I was really excited to get into the game because of the cool looking gameplay. As I keep playing however, the game feels much more like a chore instead of something I enjoy. Characters have like zero development, the castle you walk around in feels really empty and bad, and the story although was engaging in the first 10ish chapters, fell off hard afterwards. I completely lost interest in the game after reaching chapter 20 and thought to myself why I was even still playing as it felt so much like a chore but pushed myself to finish it since I was already so far.… Expand
  24. Snowbell
    Jun 26, 2023
    6
    As a Fire Emblem fan I was disappointed with the story. The writing and "cutscenes" felt very mediocre, which ruined some of the more emotional moments.
    The combat was good and the engage system is kinda fun, but I personally would rather see the pair up system return. Or just all of the systems from Fates and Awakening.
    Yes, this is written by a fan of the 3DS games and I know not    As a Fire Emblem fan I was disappointed with the story. The writing and "cutscenes" felt very mediocre, which ruined some of the more emotional moments.
    The combat was good and the engage system is kinda fun, but I personally would rather see the pair up system return. Or just all of the systems from Fates and Awakening.

    Yes, this is written by a fan of the 3DS games and I know not everyone like the marry/child system. I do however.    … Expand
  25. Keener01
    Jun 25, 2023
    8
    Not as good as Fire Emblem Three Houses, but still a very good game. I had lots of fun with the gameplay, but I wish we could of had more new characters in this game. Decent story too, but I cant grade this game any higher than an 8/10
  26. GamerDad2023
    Jun 18, 2023
    8
    Playing on hard was a joy due to the interesting yet challenging levels and immense depth to the tactics systems. I'd sum up the story, characters, and side content as quantity over quality. The amount of content is overwhelming with much of it mediocre and skippable.
  27. windchipi
    Jun 9, 2023
    0
    First time I see a JRPG without a new game plus.
    It was like a draft that had to be completed quickly to meet the release date. Not worth the price 60$.
    I hope the mechanic will be developed in the next game
  28. GeekCharming
    Jun 8, 2023
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When it was announced, I was really excited to see what the next generation of Fire Emblem would bring coming off of 3H. The game looked great, at least I thought it did, better than 3H. I got the game late a birthday gift a few months ago and I'm gonna be honest: I can't finish this game. I've invested 50+ hours and have about 4 chapters left until the end but I just can't bring myself to keep going. My issues have been building up over time and I definitely plan to elaborate my gripes below.
    1. The animation in cutscenes feels cheap. I know FE never prided itself on having perfect graphics but it's very jarring when a group of characters are talking about how they need "to rush to the next objective" and all you get from that is a black screen and running sounds before they're all standing around said objective. Character repeat the same 4 animations to express their body language and/or mood and it never stood out to me as bad in previous titles but in this game it's hard not to notice. 2. The maps, although pretty to look at, don't feel well-designed. Too many maps introduce constant reinforcements that feel more like a punishment to players who want to take their time and strategize. Some of the objectives towards rhe end chapters feels so artificially difficult and frankly unfun to play. Some maps introduce a darkness mechanic where you can't tell just how many foes are lurking in the dark. It's a cool concept until you're given a very awkward way to bring in light (temporarily) as well as enemies having ways of warping your characters directly to them, isolating a party member and taking them out. How that information could have been communicated to the player is beyond me but it's still not fun to have happen.
    3. The story is as generic as it gets. The game itself feels very fan-servicey with it being an anniversary title but it was pretty boring to see the obvious "plot twist" at least 8-10 chapters before it happening and the characters making a big deal about it. (Veyle says she's looking for her brother. Veyle being Sombron's "only" child. Whose color pallete resembles Velye? Oh yeah, Alear. Alear is Sombron's child? Who could have possibly guessed that!)
    4. Character Bloat. I know that since the game introduces permadeath, they need a staggering amount of characters to make sure players have a lot of resources. Regardless, the vast majority of these characters have their one chapter introduction and are never heard from again aside from support conversations. The game starts you with a cast of characters and wastes no time shoving more and more at you nearly every chapter which is nice until you have 30+ characters with as much depth as a kiddie pool and only 12 slots to commit to using. The "main cast" tends to favor the lords from every area you visit seeing how they're the only ones who make an appearance in cutscenes and this might be my personal issue but I didn't end up using any of them in my playthrough. 5. Gating off character development to ring proficiency/character class change in general. There comes a point in the story where you lose all of your rings and if you don't have your character's classes changed by then it's a LONG haul before you can get that specific ring/proficiency back. Why that was the design from the get-go is beyond me. Also character class upgrades, after the initial master seal, you spend the rest of the game resetting their level to 1 once they hit max. I did maybe 4 or 5 optional side battles and felt bored with my team already being at their final state way before the game is even close to being over. (Why is there no Assassin for example??? Yunaka stays a theif the whole game???) I know this review probably comes off as more nitpicky than an actual critique but that's because I've never had these exact issues in a previous FE game before. None of my issues have been involved of the character designs, I really think this game does a good job of showing us a wide variety of appearances from the various regions and how that affects things like their clothing and mannerisms. I really love how they fleshed out the weapon triangle, breaking enemies for free damage felt SO good. The Engage system was a really cool addition, I really liked how each character has their own transformation with the Emblems and the combat animations with their signature attacks felt incredibly powerful too. I wanted to like this game but I can't bring myself to finish it after so many gripes so I figured now would be my opportunity to submit my review among the sea of reviews here and leave this as my goodbye to Fire Emblem Engage.    … Expand
  29. Daniela_r2
    Jun 5, 2023
    0
    Boring characters and supports. The writing is almost insulting for human intelligence. You can't experiment on builds without a lot of farming and the lack of NG+ doesn't help. The game relies on massive reinforcements in almost every map to create tension (in a way no other fire emblem game I played did) but it becomes boring very quickly and horribly worsens the experience. The originalBoring characters and supports. The writing is almost insulting for human intelligence. You can't experiment on builds without a lot of farming and the lack of NG+ doesn't help. The game relies on massive reinforcements in almost every map to create tension (in a way no other fire emblem game I played did) but it becomes boring very quickly and horribly worsens the experience. The original fire emblem characters are not always respected in their characterization (expecially Eirika) and they managed to make all their conversations boring and Lyn's paralogue map isn't even from her game. Also the lack of paired endings is something that extremely disappointed me.

    The dlc takes everything I disliked about story and gameplay and made it even worse.

    All of this saddens me because no other fire emblem game disappointed me so much in the past.    … Expand
  30. Arylon
    Jun 2, 2023
    10
    Great character design
    Great art direction
    Great OST
    Best gameplay in the franchise
    Good but simple story
    Good character writing
    Engage is at the very least a top 3 FE.
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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best Switch Game of 2023
2
#2 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 129 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 102 out of 129
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 129
  3. Negative: 0 out of 129
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 24, 2024
    80
    Hogwarts Legacy is definitely a beautiful-looking game that doesn't have a groundbreaking story, but does have a beautiful world, a fun combat system, broomstick flying, and of course an incredible amount of side quests and missions. [Issue#325]
  2. Gamereactor Spain
    Oct 16, 2023
    80
    It’s a title where difficulty isn’t just about advancing mission after mission but doing so with as few casualties as possible. This makes Engage the perfect gateway to the series, as well as a handful of good memories for those already familiar with it. A game which perfectly balances periods of action with quiet, enjoyable interludes in which to chat with other characters, play minigames and try out new weapons.
    Read full review
  3. Pocket-lint
    Jun 23, 2023
    90
    Fire Emblem Engage is a superb strategy game that has taken a major technical leap forward, graphically superior to its predecessor in every meaningful way.It tells a well-meaning story that still manages to pack in a few surprisng twists, and while its social features are a little extraneous this time, it's still super relaxing to fall into its world.Multiplayer expands things even further, leaving us confident that the future is very, very bright for this excellent series.
    Read full review
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