Nintendo hasn’t given up on mobile just yet: it just shadowdropped a brand new mobile game, Fire Emblem Shadows.
Developed by Intelligent Systems and Dena, it’s a Fire Emblem spin-off blending real-time strategy, role-playing and social deduction.
It’s out now worldwide, and is free to play, with IAPs for Gem packs ranging from $0.79 to $77.99.
It’s the first new addition to Nintendo’s mobile game portfolio since Pikmin Bloom in 2021 (which is not really a game per se – it’s more like a gamified walking app, made mostly by Niantic).
Nintendo has also released a Music app, its Nintendo Today news app and a Japan-only kids app called Hey Mario in the last few months. In February, Nintendo said that it is still “actively working on new mobile games”, despite halting new content in its mobile Mario Kart and Animal Crossing games in recent years.
As of January 2025, Appmagic figures suggested Nintendo had earned over $1.6bn from its mobile games, over half of which came from Fire Emblem Heroes.
“The gameplay of Fire Emblem Shadows combines real-time strategy and social deduction,” says Nintendo. “One of the three allies participating in each battle is secretly a treacherous disciple of shadow. Players choose to take on the role of either a disciple of light, aiming to find their way through the labyrinth, or a disciple of shadow.”
“After the initial battle, players vote to determine who they believe is the treacherous disciple of shadow,” Nintendo continues.
“The outcome of the vote affects whether the next battle is more favorable or more challenging. Whether the disciples of light can correctly discover the traitor – or the disciple of shadow can successfully deceive the others – holds the key to how the next battle unfolds.”
