Here’s how every Fire Emblem game runs on Switch 2 – FE Three Houses, Warriors, Three Hopes, Engage, and More

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Following my adventures in Tales of, Monster Hunter, Dragon Quest, and Xenoblade, I’m excited to explore another beloved RPG series on my new Nintendo Switch 2, this time with Fire Emblem. There are numerous Fire Emblem games accessible on the Nintendo Switch through native releases and Nintendo Switch Online. Similar to previous features, I will be assessing load times, performance, and other aspects when testing on both the Nintendo Switch 2 and original Nintendo Switch. Today’s focus is on several Fire Emblem titles such as Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Fire Emblem Warriors, Fire Emblem Engage, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, and many more.

In my excitement for potential enhancements in future Fire Emblem games, especially if they’re intended for a Nintendo Switch 2 or an updated edition, let me share some of my thoughts as a dedicated fan. Today, I’ve tested load times using both the internal memory and SD card on my Nintendo Switch OLED with the digital versions of each game. To ensure accuracy, I’ve aggressively pressed A to hasten loading and skipped publisher and developer logos when possible. Here’s what I hope to see in these future releases:

1. Improved load times: Faster loading screens would make gameplay smoother and more enjoyable, especially during intense battles or transitions between maps.
2. Enhanced graphics: While the current games are visually appealing, a bump in resolution or texture detail could bring the world of Fire Emblem to life even more.
3. New game modes: Additional game modes, such as a challenging “hard mode” or an innovative puzzle-based mini-game, could offer new ways for players to engage with the series.
4. Cross-platform multiplayer: Allowing players on different systems (such as Nintendo Switch 2 and mobile devices) to compete against each other would expand the Fire Emblem community and create more opportunities for strategic matchups.
5. Customization options: Offering a wider range of customization choices, including character outfits, weapon skins, and map designs, could let players express their unique creativity within the game.

How does Fire Emblem: Three Houses run on Nintendo Switch 2?

Despite devoting countless hours to Fire Emblem: Three Houses on the Nintendo Switch, I can’t ignore its technical issues, such as unstable performance and subpar visuals. I grew accustomed to the absence of anti-aliasing and poor draw distance, but the performance woes—especially when navigating the Monastery or certain combat animations—were persistent annoyances. Moving the cursor during battles sometimes felt laggy.

On the Nintendo Switch 2, there’s not much to say about visual upgrades because it looks almost identical. However, the significant improvement lies in performance, which now maintains a smooth 30fps experience with only occasional hiccups. In the various save files I loaded across different stages of the game, it runs smoothly and loads significantly faster than on the original Switch version.

Test conditionNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2
Dashboard to title screen22-2310-11
Loading a save from title screen to in-game11-125-6
Loading a battle24-258-9

Note: All load times above are in seconds.











What we want from a Fire Emblem: Three Houses Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

In my opinion, Fire Emblem: Three Houses could greatly benefit from an updated version on the Switch 2, similar to Xenoblade Chronicles 2. This new version should include a 60fps frame rate, support for resolutions ranging from 1440p to 4K when docked, and 1080p resolution for handheld play. Additionally, some form of anti-aliasing would enhance the visuals significantly. While I’d be thrilled if the game itself underwent changes, I wouldn’t mind if this new version came with additional content. If a paid upgrade or patch is in the works, simply offering a 60fps cap and higher resolutions would suffice for me. I absolutely love this game and would gladly replay it again.

How does Fire Emblem Engage run on Nintendo Switch 2?

On the original Nintendo Switch, Fire Emblem Engage performed well and consistently hit its targeted 30 frames per second, with only occasional softness in visuals during certain situations. On the upgraded Nintendo Switch, the main difference lies in significantly reduced load times across all aspects of the game. Overall, while it was already a solid experience on the original Switch, playing Fire Emblem Engage on the newer model provides a more stable and faster-loading performance.

Test conditionNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2
Dashboard to title screen4422
Loading a save from title screen to in-game219
Loading a story battle with skipping40-45 26

Keep in mind that all load times mentioned are in seconds, and they encompass both the process of connecting online and loading a battle.











What we want from a Fire Emblem Engage Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

As a dedicated fan, I can confidently say that Fire Emblem Engage stands out as the most visually stunning game in the series on Nintendo Switch. To take its beauty to the next level, it could greatly benefit from an enhanced draw distance, smooth 60fps performance, and support for higher resolutions like 1080p handheld and 1440p or more when docked. If these enhancements were included in a potential Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade or even a free patch focusing on improved resolution and draw distance, it would be truly amazing. Furthermore, the game’s art direction would shine even brighter with proper High Dynamic Range (HDR) support.

How does Fire Emblem Warriors run on Nintendo Switch 2?

On the original Nintendo Switch, Fire Emblem Warriors offered two modes: a Quality mode aiming for 30 frames per second (fps) and a Performance mode targeting 60fps at a lower resolution, only available in docked mode. These frame rates were not consistently met. In handheld mode, the game had a single mode set at 30fps with a resolution that was noticeably below native but not excessively so. With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 (or New Nintendo Switch), the game now runs smoothly at its target frame rate and boasts faster load times compared to the original console version. I’ve always appreciated Fire Emblem Warriors for its smooth performance on the platform, so it’s great to see that it has become even more stable on the updated model.

Test conditionNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2
Dashboard to title screen14-167-9
Loading a save from title screen to in-game15-166-8
Loading a battle8-93-4

Note: All load times above are in seconds.







What we want from a Fire Emblem Warriors Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

In light of its age, it seems more beneficial to provide an update that enables players to experience the quality mode at 60 frames per second (fps), rather than choosing to play at a reduced resolution while maintaining 60fps or opting for a higher resolution but only at 30fps. Additionally, if possible, a future patch could be implemented to support 1080p handheld gameplay, as the current handheld version is restricted to lower resolutions with 30fps.

How does Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes run on Nintendo Switch 2?

Among Koei Tecmo’s Warriors games from the previous generation, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is another title I enjoy quite a bit. Despite some issues with performance on Switch, it never became unplayable like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity did. The main problem with Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes lies in its visuals, particularly the lack of effective anti-aliasing and a dynamic resolution that isn’t always optimal.

In the updated version of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes for Nintendo Switch 2, you’ll notice a significant improvement in performance compared to its predecessor. The frame rate frequently hits 60fps, which is a marked upgrade from the 30s that the original Switch version ran most of the time. I recall expressing disappointment over the absence of a 30fps cap option in the original game, but surprisingly, not having any frame rate cap has resulted in an impressive performance boost on the new console. If you missed out on Three Hopes on the first Switch and enjoyed Fire Emblem: Three Houses, I strongly recommend giving it a try on the upgraded Switch 2. Additionally, I tested the split-screen mode, and across the board, it performs better than on the original Switch. While I didn’t play extensively enough to confirm if it is consistently locked at 60fps, during my brief testing in split-screen mode, it felt very close.

Test conditionNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2
Dashboard to title screen45-4719-20
Loading a save from title screen to in-game175-6
Loading a battle43

Note: All load times above are in seconds.









What we want from a Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes performs exceptionally well on Nintendo Switch 2, yet the visual quality could be significantly enhanced through a potential update or patch. This enhancement would help reduce aliasing, a common issue in the game, and potentially boost resolution as well. It’s worth noting that Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is an outstanding addition to the Warriors series, not just for Fire Emblem enthusiasts.

How does Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light run on Nintendo Switch 2?

For completeness, I’ve added every Fire Emblem game I could find, but there isn’t much to discuss about Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, particularly regarding its performance on the Nintendo Switch 2. Although it loads a bit faster on the new console, it offers essentially the same experience on both systems in terms of gameplay.

Test conditionNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2
Dashboard to gameplay32
Time to load bookmarkInstantInstant

Note: All load times above are in seconds.



What we want from a Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

In essence, there’s not much more to request here except for the game to support 4K scaling while docked and 1080p scaling when handheld. Ideally, I’d like this game to be re-released so that those who missed purchasing it earlier can now buy it. Since I own both the Limited Edition and digital versions, I have it myself. However, I’m aware that many others missed out on this opportunity. If a new release isn’t feasible, I’d be thrilled if this game could at least be added to Nintendo Switch Online.

This version aims to convey the same message in simpler and more conversational language.

How does Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore run on Nintendo Switch 2?

On Nintendo Switch, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore seemed to run just as smoothly whether played in docked or handheld mode, both targeting 720p resolution for both gameplay and UI. This led to occasional visual artifacts like shimmering or a grainy appearance during movement. Due to this, I found myself preferring the handheld version because it matched my screen size. Upon upgrading to Switch OLED, the game looks no different and lacks significant improvement. The loading times are slightly faster, but overall, the original Nintendo Switch release could have been more optimized for a smoother experience.

Test conditionNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2
Dashboard to title screen6-74-5
Loading a save from title screen to in-game43
Loading Area of Aspiration3-42-3

Note: All load times above are in seconds.





What we want from a Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

As an ardent fan, I’m yearning for an upgrade or update of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore for the Switch 2, if possible, that includes enhanced resolution support. In handheld mode, let’s aim for 1080p, and in docked mode, let’s not settle for less than 1440p or even 4K. Although I understand it might be wishful thinking, an improvement in image quality would significantly elevate the game’s visual appeal on the Switch 2. The current aesthetic is stunning, but it’s a pity that the game is limited to only 720p resolution even now.

How do the Nintendo Switch Online Fire Emblem games run on Nintendo Switch 2?

I’ll take another look at this when Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance becomes available on the Nintendo Switch Online app for GameCube games. However, there are other Fire Emblem games available across various Nintendo Classic apps. These include Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light on the Famicom app, Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem on the Super Famicom app, Fire Emblem Genealogy of the Holy War on the Super Famicom App, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade on the Game Boy Advance app, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade on the Game Boy Advance app, and Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones on the Game Boy Advance app.

Among Fire Emblem games, only Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (known simply as Fire Emblem) and Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones are available in English. The rest, except for Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light if you purchased its standalone digital release while it was still available, are only in Japanese. Unfortunately, since these apps have not been updated for Nintendo Switch 2, I could only compare their loading times on Switch 2 versus Switch 1. Both versions took approximately 7 seconds to load, and the games loaded instantly following that. Beyond this, I didn’t notice any discernible difference in game performance or loading times when playing on Switch 1 compared to Switch 2.









What we want from Nintendo Switch Online Fire Emblem Games on Nintendo Switch 2

I’m hoping Nintendo will enhance their Nintendo Switch Online classic apps, similar to Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade, to improve compatibility with 1080p handheld mode and 4K resolution when docked. Additionally, it would be great if they could add English or EFIGS language support for games that haven’t been localized yet in the future.

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2025-07-12 20:57