September has been a packed month for new releases, with a number of games launching within a few weeks of each other. Whilst all of the games, including Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Control Resonant and The Blood of Dawnwalker, have their highlights, it’s Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave that still stands out to us. Intelligent Systems’ new strategy RPG for Nintendo Switch 2 launched on 17 September to some of the strongest reviews of 2026, outscoring the month’s other big-budget releases in terms of critical reception.
Four heroes, one tournament
The story revolves around four lords (Cai, Leda, Dietrich and Theodora), each competing in the Heroic Games in order to have their wish granted. Eshmel watches over the four lords and, through time manipulation, prepares them for the impending war against a demon god. The campaign consists of three acts, and you can switch between the four heroes’ routes rather than finishing one first, with a large overworld to explore containing numerous dungeons, towns and over 80 characters that can be recruited to join the player’s party. The battles are classic grid-based tactics, but with a number of twists including Blaze Arts, which trade a hero’s health for power, and the removal of the weapon triangle.
Praise, with a few caveats
Nintendo Life felt battles have never been better in the series and liked the four leads, but thought the pacing sags in the second and third acts, found Eshmel surplus to requirements, and was not taken with the turn-based Clash Battles in dungeons. Game Informer praised the soundtrack, visuals and story payoffs, while finding the free-time activities and resource management repetitive over a very long run. VGC called it one of the boldest strategy RPGs around and praised its protagonists, though it too found the Clash system weak and support-rank grinding a chore.
Critic scores and details last checked in September 2026.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Release date | 17 September 2026 |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Developer | Intelligent Systems |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Critic score | 89 Top Critic Average, 98% of critics recommend (OpenCritic, as of Sep 2026) |
Verdict
Fortune’s Weave is the most ambitious Fire Emblem yet, and critics largely agree the ambition pays off where it matters most, on the battlefield. Its size is also its weakness. The downtime systems pile up, and the late acts lose some momentum. If you have a Switch 2 and any fondness for tactics games, this is the one to buy this autumn; just clear some space in your calendar first.
Quick questions
Do you need to have played other Fire Emblem games?
No. It is a standalone story with its own world and cast, and Nintendo Life noted that each hero’s opening act works as a full tutorial. Game Informer did warn that the sheer number of systems can be intimidating for newcomers, so expect a slower first few hours while the game layers everything on.
How long is Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave?
Very long. The amount of time Nintendo Life spent to complete 3 out of 4 possible story routes was approximately 80 hours. The amount of time spent reaching the end of the story from the start was more than 130 hours for Game Informer. VGC noted that later playthroughs of the game can skip parts of the story and use unlocked experience boosts to make replaying as a different hero much less work.
Does it have permadeath?
It’s an option, really. Nintendo Life confirmed there is permadeath, and casual mode for new players to the franchise. You can choose to avoid the downtime activities if you want to, and there’s an auto-levelling option to aid those trying to complete the story.
More Review of the Month: Previous pick: August 2026, Big Walk
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