Nintendo has steadily been building the Switch's library since its launch in 2017 with plenty of first-party games published for the hybrid handheld system. One series that has had a big impact on the Switch is Fire Emblem. The series has recently been in a dry spell in terms of mainline announcements, and a new remake of a fan favorite would be very beneficial for both Nintendo and the series. With Fire Emblem Awakening approaching its tenth anniversary in the West, now is a great time to give the game another moment in the spotlight.
Fire Emblem is a medieval tactical RPG series developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo that originated on the Famicom. Over the years, the games have evolved while maintaining its turn-based battles on a chess board-like grid, with some exceptions like the recent spinoff Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. That game is a hack-and-slash action-RPG, meaning it's been years since the last traditional Fire Emblem game, Three Houses -- something a remake of a pivotal title like Awakening could rectify.
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Fire Emblem Awakening was released in April 2012 in Japan and internationally in 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS. At the time, the series' sales were diminishing, and Awakening was planned as the bookend for the series in case it was not profitable enough. Aspects of the older games were present and forefront, like the plot of Awakening being in the distant future of the original Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light and referencing its main character, Marth, in the plot. The developers introduced some quality-of-life changes to make Awakening a good starting point for series newcomers, such as giving difficulty options and the choice to disable "permadeath," a series staple that eliminated characters from the game once they fell in battle.
These efforts were praised for appealing both fans and new players. Since Awakening's success, Fire Emblem has received more attention. Its accessibility changes were included in later games while maintaining popular elements like support conversations that add depth to their characters beyond their combat capabilities. These conversations serve as tools for sharing deeper backstories that add depth to the story and can impact each character's ending.
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Awakening was exactly what the series needed to keep going, helping the once niche series find mainstream success. With next year marking a decade since the international release of the classic installment, it would be the perfect time to give the series a remake in the vein of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Giving Awakening graphical improvements, more support conversations, and quality-of-life changes from more recent Fire Emblem games would bring it in line with modern gaming standards without changing why the original was so well-received.
A remake like this would be optimal for those who do not have access to the 3DS or its catalog and give newer fans a way to enjoy one of the classics of the series. It would also keep Awakening and its DLC accessible even after the 3DS eShop shuts down in March 2023. Fire Emblem Awakening was an early classic of the Nintendo 3DS that heavily impacted the series and turned new players into dedicated fans. With a big anniversary coming up right as the game becomes harder to access on its original platform, now is the perfect time to give Awakening a chance to reach a new audience.