Hey y’all! I got a regular ol switch and trying to find games similar to Fire Emblem. I like the story aspect of it, the multiple endings of who you can choose to marry, and the romance! The fighting is a bonus but not needed. I was originally thinking of otome games, but those don’t super have much “your choice matters” which is what I’m really going after.
Any advice would be appreciated! I’m mainly planning on looking on the secondhand market :)
what otome games have you played that don’t give you much of a choice? that’s very different from my experience, and I’m pretty curious.
fire emblem three houses is more or less the only game in the franchise to have this level of story variation, the other recent entries still have the romance but are pretty linear.
generally, do you want more of the story variation based on your decision or more of the romance?
Your choice VERY much matters in three houses. As in, drastically change the story
honestly for me, nothing has come close.
Might be worth checking out Persona 3 Reload tho. It's an RPG with similar relationship type focus. (Altho combat is very different to Fire Emblem type of game).
Not multiple endings, but you might enjoy 13 Sentinels.
Life is Strange
You can play any of them in any order. I suggest Life is Strange 2
i am wanting something more like three houses as well but i am enjoying the whole package so far, that being said visual novels might be your best bet. i would suggest the persona series as there is a whole slew of social simulation aspects but it is also dungeon crawling too.
so from what i have heard you might want to try the hundred line defense academy (i dont think there is romance in it though but over 100 endings and very heavy on the VN aspect). i have heard good things about guardians of azuma but the combat is not like fire emblem at all but there is social sim elements and marriage mixed in with farming too (i have not played it yet either, i own it)
Divinity: Original sin 2 perhaps?
Final Fantasy Tactics plays like Fire Emblem
Ai The Somnium files has multiple endings, but it ultimately culminates into one true ending.
Undertale and Deltarune let you go on vastly different paths depending on the way you choose to play the game.
The Stanley Parable has many many endings, but it's very short playthroughs to get them all, and it's more of a light-hearted comedy game (with some darker/existential themes).
Griftland is more of a roguelike card game, but in each routes you can take different paths based on how you deal with encounters (violence or diplomacy), and there are 3 stories following three different main characters that cross paths from time to time.
if you're willing to stretch the definition of romance game but really want a game where EVERY choice affects the narrative: SLAY THE PRINCESS.
Hmmm....... There's not many people to choose from but Catherine has different story endings. I've only played two of them but I plan on going back for more.
Focusing on “who you choose to marry” and “romance” but not necessarily combat:
-100 objects in your apartment all become hot, human and dateable in Date Everything. Dating sim.
-Create your character then start working at a video arcade where the game tracks the complexity of your relationships with seven different romanceable candidates in Arcade Spirits. Dating sim.
-You can marry any romanceable candidate and even divorce and get married to someone else within the same save file in Wylde Flowers. Every line is voiced and there are several for variety. Story is integrated into quests that span seasons.
-While there are a bunch of Story of Seasons games and they all have marriage options, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life focuses more on the marriage aspect and focuses its story around that a lot more than other games. Farming sim.
-Rune Factory 3 Special is a spinoff of Story of Seasons that adds simple combat & features a “Newlywed Mode” which are adventures unlocked after marriage with any of the 11 eligible bachelorettes.
-Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma has a strong Japanese historical aesthetic and fully-voiced romance scenarios with every one of the marriage candidates. Includes farming & combat.