Following on from our reader-voted Top 50 Games of the Decade, Nintendo Life staff members will be picking their personal favourite Nintendo games between the years 2010-2019. Today, Gavin looks back nearly seven years and tries to remember the name of his kid...
Picking one's favourite game from a decade’s worth is a tough proposition. It involves quantifying something intangible. What does 'favourite' mean exactly? The games I've had most fun with were invariably tied up with people, places and periods of my life where the game itself was just a single element, one part of the puzzle. They're tied up inextricably with memory and these days I have trouble remembering what I did at the weekend. You might suggest looking at solid metrics like Most Played Game to help arrive at a decision, but is StreetPass Mii Plaza really my Game of the Decade?
My introduction to the Fire Emblem series was through Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. Having got in early with the 3DS (and paid top dollar before the price cut), I was eligible for the Ambassador Programme and the 20 Virtual Console games it gifted. I played through several of the exclusive GBA offerings for the very first time and Sacred Stones was one of them. I'd tried Advance Wars back in the day but somehow bounced off it (I should really go back and try again at some point), but Fire Emblem's mix of story and strategy hooked me immediately and I devoured Sacred Stones on my commute over a month in 2012.
Being a listener of the 8-4 Play podcast (check it out if you’re a fan of Japan, games or Japanese games), hearing that they were behind the translation of the upcoming 3DS entry encouraged me to dive in early, and digitally - a novelty for me at the time. I remember weighing up whether I wanted to wait until morning just to have a box or start playing that very night (a couple of days after the EU launch on Sunday 21st April 2013 according to my 3DS Activity Log - how I miss these stats on Switch). Impatience got the better of me, so I got it on the eShop and dived right in.
I don’t remember why, but for some reason I went straight in on Hard difficulty. Perhaps I'd heard that was the best way to play (it certainly is for the latest entry on Switch). Whatever the reason, it was the right choice; the pitch-perfect level of challenge that expertly walked the line between frustration and compulsion and had me hard resetting many, many times. Permadeath is a fundamental part of the series, but I wasn't about to let any of my team go gently (or not so gently) into that good night - not on my watch! In fact, I doubled my playtime through resets as I restarted battles again and again to make certain my entire team survived.
Where normally such a rigmarole would sour me on a game immediately, Awakening was brilliant enough to make hard resets essential. I simply had to go back, rethink, restrategise, and redeploy my team to attain victory. I was invested in all aspects of the game - the positioning, the strategy of terrain, character and weapon type, and the stories behind the characters themselves. Every component dovetailed to make Awakening one of the most challenging and satisfying games I've ever played.
Much of its appeal comes down to the writing. The web of interactions between all characters is complex and relationships are forged and strengthened in a system which puts friendships at the heart of the game, on and off the battlefield. Fighting alongside one another strengthens a pair's bond and you find yourself playing social engineer as well as coordinating offensives on enemy forts. The spunky Sully quickly stole my heart and we ended up marrying and fighting back-to-back on many occasions. We had a kid, too, although I'm hazy on the details. I told you I can't remember what I had for breakfast - you expect me to remember my kid's name? Sully, though! She sure sticks in the memory...
In addition to the synergy between narrative and gameplay, it's one of the games that used the 3DS' namesake function really well. The battlefield UI and map was well-designed and easy enough to parse without it, but the 3D effect separated each layer and made it a breeze to understand what was going on at a glance. A thrilling soundtrack and beautiful presentation rounded out what has to be one of the 3DS' most perfect packages: it would seem you lot agree, too. The game was so good that you really didn't notice the absence of feet for the entire cast.
You'd think that having enjoyed Awakening so much I'd have gone on to devour Fates and Shadows of Valentia, but other games got in the way. The latter, in particular, is one I'd like to return to at some point, but I've had Fire Emblem: Three Houses sitting on my Switch for months and have barely scratched the surface thanks to about thirty other games waiting to be played. This is what I do now - buy and collect brilliant games and never play the damn things. Maybe that's another factor in how fondly I look back on Awakening. Back then I had the time to pump 100+ hours into an SRPG and get totally lost in it, hard resetting over and over with no care for the clock.
So, there we are - I went with Fire Emblem: Awakening. Shout-outs to Super Mario Galaxy 2, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Dark Souls II, Breath of the Wild, Overcooked and about forty others, but Awakening was particularly special for me. Is it categorically my ‘favourite’ game of the last decade? Pah, I'm not sure what that even means anymore. All I know is that it’s a phenomenal game that's worth hunting down a 3DS to play.
Comments 69
Rigged. Definitely rigged.
Characters have no feet!
Gavin has no feet!
It was easily my fav FE but also the last one made that I've liked.
Unless you count thee FE warriors game for Switch.
Timeless classic this one is.
Really can’t argue this. Was an amazing game, well written, and excellent gameplay. I personally woulda went with a Zelda title most likely, or Witcher 3. The truth is there’s at least 10-15 games that are equally tied for game of the decade.
That poll NL ran a couple weeks back on top games where I could sort by each decade.... yeah... that just showed how many AMAZING titles there have been over the years, and especially recently.
I feel as though since 3DS we’ve entered another golden era of gaming, much like SNES/Genesis times. I mean we’ve had stuff like FE:Awakening, Zelda Link Between Worlds, Xenoblade Chronicles, Stardew Valley, Octopath Traveler, Witcher 3, Skyrim, God of War.... this is just naming a handful of games that are all equally decade winning titles.
My favourite game of all time; let alone the decade. Blows Three Houses out of the water.
Absolute banger of a game. It got me fully into the series as I’d played the GBA ones but they didn’t click with me the same way. I adored playing Robin as matchmaker to the stars, setting up potential beaus for my baby farm. For whatever reason, every game I play ends up Chrom x Olivia, partly because it’s rather difficult since you get her last chapter and because Inigo and Lucina being siblings works well. The actual game is probably the easiest outside Birthright but if you want a challenge there’s always Lunatic. It’s probably game of the decade for me, at least on Nintendo consoles alongside Mario Odyssey, Galaxy 2 and Rune Factory 4.
P.S. Lon’qu is officially known as Bone’me’daddy amongst my friends due to obvious reasons.
How could this game be better than what 3 Houses brings to the table?
It's probably the best SRPG I've played in 17 years.
I'm afraid to say I still haven't played a Fire Emblem game. Not proud of it!
I truly liked Shadows of Valencia more. I couldn’t get into FE: Awakening’s story. But....I’m happy a 3DS game is game of the decade nonetheless.
I am not sure when this started to happen to me but I am finding out that I am collecting games instead of playing them. For the longest time, I've liked doing almost everything in a game before moving on to another game. I admit I am slow but now I think I am going to have to play games a lot faster because my backlog is so huge. It's either slow down or ask gaming companies to not come out with anything this year. :/
Kid Icarus Uprising wins game of the decade for me.
@Xylnox I feel the same way. My backlog is the biggest it’s been in years. I’m just now playing Witcher 3, and I’ve owned the game 3 times - Ps4, Xb1, and Switch. Granted I have kids, so having tv time for a game like Witcher isn’t a common occurrence in my house. But it’s just one of many many games I have yet to get around to or finish.
Typically I but most games as they release, but lately, thanks to my backlog, I’ve been holding off for sales when it comes to third party titles or indies.
Well, I guess I have to admit that, even as someone who's not the biggest fan of Fire Emblem (don't get me wrong, I think they're fantastic games, but I'm not that big into SRPG games), Awakening was a masterpiece. The story, gameplay, and the OST? Easily one of the most memorable I've experienced on the 3DS.
I remember playing the game and then acting out attack animations out and talking about the game with my best friend back in the day. Not even my best game on the system, Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS, could do that. So yeah, Awakening? Definitely a game that everyone should have for their 3DS.
A great game, but Fire Emblem Three Houses obliterates it in every aspect. On the other hand, w/o the success of Awakening, the series would have died and we would have no Three Houses (or Echoes).
I really enjoy this game, and it got me into fire emblem properly, but Three Houses has better plot, maps, characters and music imo. There isn't a thing about Awakening I prefer to Three Houses!
@Xylnox same here. I'm trying to play catch up and get through my back catalog as much as I can before Animal Crossing for Switch launches. Because once that game launches, if past games in the series are any indication, I'm pretty much going to have to give up on catching up for awhile.
Are you kidding me?! That’s a good game, and I greatly enjoyed it when I played it many years ago, but no. It isn’t even in my top 20, sorry. No way.
@Knighty_IX That track is my favourite from the whole series. I was so happy it made the cut in Smash to represent Awakening.
Can’t get into FE .... This was the first one I played... enjoyed it a bit until the end ..... but I 100% honestly think Advance Wars is the superior strategy game.
It's a good game I guess, but I did'nt love it. Shadows of Valentia on the other hand.. Definitely my favorite 3ds fire emblem game.
Good game but Zelda Breath of the Wild is way above for me. Also the 2 Mario Galaxy would come above than FE
Fire Emblem rules!
My game of the decade goes to The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. It's been a while since we last got a good original free-roaming 2D Zelda game.
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I loved this game. And Tharja. Obviously. And also so glad it saved such a great franchise. Was not that hot on Fates but loved Shadows of Valentia. Yet to pick up Three Houses though.
I really like this game but "Game of the Decade"? What?
@RetiredR "Ruined it"
Its literally the reason FE is even still a thing, not even taking into account that the whole dating mechanic is pretty insignificant in Three Houses.
Awakening's a good game, but Conquest is easily my pick. Awakening doesn't even begin to touch the crazy level of refinement that went into Conquest's mechanics and gameplay.
Got Awakening last October and I've completed it three times and I loved it every time. Such a great game. Hope it gets a HD remake on Switch.
Three Houses is better
@Dm9982 Ya, I love playing games for their story or gameplay but I am going to have to stop buying so many games. I might just stick with the triple AAA games and some indies. You know with how many good games are coming out, I wonder if this would be considered the Golden Age for gaming. I dunno.
@nintendork64 ya, I am going to get Animal Crossing too but this will be my first time playing one of those games. I am looking forward to it too.
I can respect this choice. Awakening revived Fire Emblem after it was more or less floating in limbo. This was the game to make or break the franchise. Without it, the controversial Fates wouldn't exist, and the amazing Three Houses wouldn't exist. Three Houses is my favorite RPG of all time. And while I haven't played Awakening, I know to give credit where its due. Thanks for this game!
Since it's of the decade I guess I can understand a bit more, if 3 Houses had a bit more time I think it could replace it for some people. Personally I tried to play awakening, and got a little bit of play out of it, but it wasn't until 3 houses that I finally fully enjoyed a Fire Emblem game. Maybe I just enjoyed some of the simplifications of stuff there. However you also can't ignore Awakening reviving the FE franchise though.
Wack. Game sucks
Definitely respect the choice, but I haven't played Three Houses yet! Hard was too Hard for me in Awakening...wish I had the patience. I got to like, chapter 5.
I guess if you are a huge fire emblem fanatic this makes sense, but this is serious stretch
Excellent pick Gav! Definitely my favorite Fire Emblem!
With regards to all those complaining that this ‘isn’t game of the decade’. LOOK AT THE TAGLINE! This is the writer’s personal pick for his game of the decade and he’s shared his views on why. Jeez, people take this stuff so seriously when it’s an entirely subjective concept.
Decade for me would be Breath of the Wild.
I simply do not think I could possibly choose 1 game as a game of the decade.
But Awakening would certainly be a candidate! It's probably in the top 10 best games I have ever played! If they just gave it a coat of HD paint and dropped it on Switch with all the DLC, I'm sold at 60 dollars, no question!
Great game but i hate the 3DS controls they are the worst ever the circle pad and the new nub mini thumb thing made me get rid of my 3ds even though i love the games i hope they port more to the switch.
Unpopular opinion: I don’t really like this game. To be fair, I’ve never really liked strategy games and I’ve never really liked fire emblem in general.
Mine is Horizon Chase Turbo.
This was my GotD too.
@Paraka "I don't like this game, these guys opinions say is best game, rigged!!!!!"
@nessisonett honestly, the replies are hilarious when people see an opinion diffrent than theirs
Never have played Fire Emblem. Maybe one day I will. Personally, I'd have to go with Super Mario Odyssey. That game was pure joy and I found the capture mechanic to be awesome. Galaxy 2 was also fantastic.
I’ll admit. I haven’t played Fire Emblem games, but I thought Galaxy 2 was a near perfect game. Breath of the Wild revolutionized open world gaming, and I was not a huge Zelda fans at that point. This would need to be awfully good to beat those two games.
This was my first Fire Emblem game and I absolutely loved it. I picked it up cheap on the recommendation of a friend and I was hooked within the first few hours. It's in my top 5 favourite 3DS games and in general, one of the best games I've played. Solid choice.
I tried the game, but never completely got into it. I think part of the reason is just that I suck. I'm terrible at strategy games. TBH, I'm sad I couldn't get into it. Maybe I should try it again someday.
Nice Read. Fire Emblem Awakening is a Masterpiece.
The only argument that could be made against it, imo, is how well it compares against Fire Emblem Three Houses.
Personally, I think that Three Houses is the better of the two. It's an equally solid game that just took more risk deviating from the series. In the end, you have a slightly better all around game, imo of course. Regardless, both of these games saved this franchise, at their own time.
I just couldn't Vote for Awakening, knowing that it's True Successor came out within the same decade.
LOL I never finished playing this game. I kept losing interest a quarter of the way in each playthrough and than moved on to something else. I was never really invested in the world or characters either. I'm not much for the anime fantasy stuff going on. Just didn't excite me.
Fantastic game, loved every minute of it.
I absolutely love Fire Emblem Awakening; it's what drew me into the Fire Emblem series and made me track down some of the older entries. I still need to catch up on a few games as well; besides both Tellius entries being quite pricey and hard to track down, I also still need to play FE Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, the Birthright half of Fire Emblem Fates, and I don't even own Three Houses yet.
No feet, but that aside the game was phenomenal. It absolutely saved the franchise. It’s crazy to think that 3 Houses easily may not have happened.
That art is so great. It practically sold the first issue of NF magazine by itself for me.
As for the game itself, I really enjoyed it while I was playing it. But I don't think I'll ever want to revisit it.
My personal game of the decade is hands down breath of the wild, an absolute masterpiece that for me nuke the other Zelda games out the water. Even after 3 years I am still taken back with the game nuances, the love in this game is something I have personally not seen. My 4th playthrough and I’m just as much engrossed in its beauty and immersive gameplay then I was on my first.
Definitely one of my top games of all time. I poured insane amounts of time into it, and even bought several of the DLC maps. Considering I hardly ever finish any video games and almost never buy DLC, that's saying quite a bit.
Three Houses is a great game, but it hasn't held my attention like Awakening did. I bought 3H at launch and haven't finished it yet, because other games keep pulling me away. NOTHING could pull me away from Awakening while I was playing it. Even when I did buy other games, I kept going back to Awakening, even after I finished the story.
I'm almost tempted to fire up my 3DS right now and start a whole new Awakening campaign.
I loved Street Pass! But I by far piut in the most time into Mk8 and mk8d...
Great game, but I can't rank it above the GBA or Radiant games.
Amazing game!!! I had it #1 on my 3DS list until they ported my ALL-TIME Favorite game to 3DS, you guessed it, the original Xenoblade Chronicles.
My Games of the decade are
#1-Xenoblade Chronicles
#2-Xenoblade Chronicles X
#3 Zelda Breath of the Wild
#4 Fire Emblem Awakening
Looks like the author and I have similar tastes I just put this game #4 instead of #1
Funny, this is probably the biggest Switch release that I always had the least interest in.
@Doofenshmirtz - Yep, rigged. Fight me.
The only 3DS Fire Emblem I haven't played (I wasn't into the series at the time)
After all of the great things I've heard about it, I think I might finally give it a go sometime this year
Well chosen I fully agree its a game I sometimes go back to but for the life of me I cant stop marrying Robin to Chrom.
@Paraka ok
I also got my start on Fire Emblem through "Sacred Stones" (which I need to get back to someday) and the Ambassador Program, but what sold me on "Awakening" were the brilliant demo and the option to turn off permadeath.
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