Intelligent Systems’Fire Emblemfranchise is about as classically medieval fantasy-themed as video games come. Since the originalShadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, most every entry focuses on royalty, retainers, nobles, peasants, and anyone in-between coming together to face off against demons, dragons, and ruthless Empires looking to take over peaceful lands.
That being said, a lot of modern entries have attempted to shake things up with different thematic overlays.Fire Emblem Fatespresents a continent embroiled in warbetween the traditionally medieval European land of Nohr and the feudal Japanese-inspired land of Hoshido. Meanwhile, the latest gameFire Emblem: Three Housescenters around an academy not unlike Hogwarts for future warriors and leaders across three nations, with tensions bubbling just under the surface. While rumors suggest the next title in development is a remake, Intelligent Systems should consider a maritime theme whenever gets to its next original entry.
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Though dragons, dark mages, and cruel dictators are often the main antagonists inFire Emblemgames, pirates have been a ubiquitous threat from the beginning. Pirates and brigands are common beginner-level enemies, either as hired mercenaries or simply as gangs causing havoc for common folk - an injustice that pure-of-heart Lords like Marth cannot let stand. In fact, when players boot up 1990’sFire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light(either on NES or its recent English-localized Switch port), the first group they do battle with is the Galder Pirates. High-ranking member Gazzak is the first boss character to appear in the franchise.
Many entries include nautical missions where characters have to do battle aboard seafaring ships, withFire Emblem Gaidenand its remakeEchoes: Shadows of Valentianotable for having an extended Act 2 in which Celica’s army takes on numerous threats at sea. However, pirates aren’t always bad guys inFire Emblemgames. InShadow Dragon, Darros is a member of the Galder Pirates whom Marth can persuade to switch sides; again setting up for a trend of enemy recruitment that appears throughout the franchise. In a later entry,Sacred Stoneson Game Boy Advance, the trainee unit Ross can promote from his initial Journeyman class into a Pirate, letting him become a Berserker or Warrior afterward.
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Fire Emblem Heroes and Pirate-Themed Potential
The developer’s interest in pirates has seemingly become more pronounced through its successful mobile gacha gameFire Emblem Heroes.Heroesis a celebration of the franchise in that characters from every game can be summoned and used in battle, with more coming every other week or so. A Feh Channel update video released on July 06, 2025 revealed itsnext special summoning event is “Perilous Seas,“featuring characters in pirate garb for a festival who will only be available for a limited time.
Intelligent Systems has cycled through many themes for characters inHeroessince the game released in 2017, from holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and New Years' Eve to celebrations of summertime and weddings. This year marks the second annual pirate festival, featuring characters fromRadiant Dawn,Fates, andThracia 776, as well as a new take on the mobile game’s original character Surtr - ruler of the Norse Mythology-inspired Muspell.In 2020, the “Pirate’s Pride” eventincluded original character Veronica alongside representatives fromThe Binding Blade, Radiant Dawn, Genealogy of the Holy War,andFates. Most notably, a unique version of Darros fromShadow Dragoncould be recruited for free.
With this repeat interest, it’s surprising that Intelligent Systems hasn’t made a game based around the concept yet. Granted, many fans have expressed frustration with seafaring, ship-based combat missions in past entries, so it would take a lot of work to design a satisfying game around that conceit. However, givenIke has become one of the most recognizable charactersin the franchise for his role inPath of RadianceandRadiant Dawn, despite only being a mercenary, it’s easy to imagine aFire Emblemgame based around a pirate crew rather than a noble prince’s army could do well.
