It’s been a few years since a new Fire Emblem game showed up on the Switch! We had Fire Emblem: Three Houses in 2019 and Engage in 2023, but it’s been relatively quiet since then. In the meantime, we have seen similar sorts of games show up. One of the ones that is quite good at offering the same sort of atmosphere and experience is the indie Sword & Axe series Dark Deity. Fortunately for both Switch and Switch 2 owners, a port of Dark Deity 2 showed up while we wait and as we already established, it’s a great follow-up and remains a wonderful Fire Emblem like for us while we wait.
The first thing I really like about Dark Deity 2 is that this is a true sequel, unlike most Fire Emblem games. It takes place a number of years after the original game, so we see the progression in Verroa and what happened after Irving Sildairan and his friends “saved the day” the first time around. We come to understand the cost of service of Order of the Eternals, and what happens when Irving’s children Gwyn, Riordan, and Arthur continue on their own journey to save and unite kingdoms. It calls to mind the more generational aspects of Nintendo’s series, such as entries like Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade and The Binding Blade, or Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn. However, at the same time, if you are new to the series, it’s absolutely fine to start here since the focus is on the new generation of heroes.
Next is that Dark Deity 2 is inspired by the older Fire Emblem experiences. While I do enjoy and even love the modern approach and presentation in the installments that appeared on the Switch, I adore some great spritework on very clear grids with spaces. The execution of the maps and direction in Sword & Axe’s series feels very purposeful. We get objectives that aren’t as simple as defeating every foe or reaching one spot. Once we get into a mission, there can be some major objectives to complete to succeed. This kicks off immediately, with the first chapter involving getting to a point in some crumbling ruins, then the following battle tasking us with evacuations and defeating the leader of some forces. From there, we need to make a pivotal decision about which group of endangered individuals we aid, and of course that influences other elements in the story.
While I have brought up ways in which Dark Deity 2 is similar to Fire Emblem and how that’s great for those of us with a Switch or Switch 2 waiting for a new game, the ways in which it is different also highlight how welcome it is on the systems’ library. It focuses a little more on equipment and growth, due to crafting elements that can influence weapons held and character potential. We aren’t worrying about durability. But we do need to consider if a weapon that is “stronger” could be better due to other elements and stats. While I miss the grave wounds system in the first game, which permanently punished you in a permadeath sort of way for poor tactical decisions, this sequel instead temporarily injures people for an encounter. When you build up relationships with characters by being around each other when attacking, you don’t need to be clustered together and there are other tangible bonuses listed for hitting tiers.
But I suppose one of the other reasons I especially appreciate Dark Deity 2 being on the Switch now is the sense of variety it provides. The Fire Emblem style can be very different than other sorts of strategy games. We have seen a number of great tactical titles on the console lately! Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero showed up on te system earlier in 2025. We’re getting Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles on both the Switch and Switch 2 in September 2025. But there’s the idea of set units, relationship building, proper formations, crafting, and fear of a negative effect based on your poor decisions present in Dark Deity 2 that those other games don’t offer.
There really is only one downside, and that’s its font size. It’s fine for conversations. It’s generally okay in major menus like the options and home screen. When it gets into finer details in menus and on maps, then it’s pretty bad! The screenshots above this paragraph? They’re from the first few chapters in some of the areas where things get kind of small and don’t feature any spoilers. The one when it comes to making a decision? Okay, that’s fine. The notification about a penalty for the next battle due to a unit falling and the main menu showing details about things like relationships? Not great!
Dark Deity 2 just feels like a strong addition to the Switch and Switch 2 library, especially if someone enjoys playing strategy games on a handheld device. It’s challenging. The stages force you to consider all your objectives and weigh the hazards of someone being in poor condition to achieve a goal. It has the relationship building with tangible boons. There’s a story that does reward you for keeping up, but doesn’t penalize you for coming in fresh. It’s just generally lovely.
Dark Deity 2 is available for the Switch and PC.