With Fable and Exodus coming in 2027, all my RPG hopes for 2026 are now pinned on Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave

The Nintendo Direct June 2026 showcase dropped a familiar theme that immediately consumed all of my attention. Why? Because I instantly knew it was the Spirit Dais theme from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which scores any scene featuring Sothis – a mysterious deity-like figure who's directly tied to protagonist Byleth. By playing it in our latest look at Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave for even just the briefest moment, Nintendo created a palpable connection to Three Houses. And as a Fire Emblem diehard who counts the 2019 entry among my favorite games of all-time, nothing could excite me more.

In fact, now that Fable has been delayed into 2027, and Exodus – which is very Mass Effect coded – is also setting its sights on next year, Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave has skyrocketed to the top of my 2026 RPG wishlist. And now that we have a release date which puts it squarely in the same month as the new vampire role-playing adventure, The Blood of the Dawnwalker, I'm calling it right now: September promises to be one to beat this year for anyone who lives and breathes RPGs like I do.

New heroes

I absolutely adore Fire Emblem, having grown up playing the likes of Fire Emblem Path of Radiance on the GameCube, and Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones on the GBA. I also firmly believe Fire Emblem Awakening and Fire Emblem Fates are some of the best 3DS games ever. But, for me, Three Houses has remained firmly at the top of the charts, and I think I've been waiting for another entry to reach the same kind of heights.

Now, I'm not saying Fortune's Weave should be Three Houses: Part 2, but I'm absolutely here for the link between the two, however tangential that may turn out to be. With an older Sothis appearing (and that telltale theme playing when she did), there's some kind of connection. Maybe Sothis will once again act as a goddess of guidance to the new protagonist, or feed into the story in a way that could even reference Byleth. But, before I start spinning more theories, what really speaks to me is the direction Fortune's Weave appears to be going in… and it's one that could make me as invested as Three Houses' academic, student-teacher bonding set-up.

Set in the Dagdan Empire, we'll be stepping into an "intertwining story of strength and steel" as we take part in the "Heroic Games". From the trailer, it's giving gladiator tournament vibes, and I'm here for it. With four main heroes taking part in the games who each have their own motivations for being there, I'm already getting the sense that they could potentially represent different routes, not unlike the way the three student houses in Garreg Mach Monastery in Three Houses do.

With Cai, a young boy who's determined to save his imprisoned father, Dietrich, a swordsman on the hunt for a stronger foe to best him, Theodora, a queen trying to fulfill the dream of her homeland, and Leda, a musician who's out for revenge, I can't wait to sink my teeth into their storylines and see how they're interwoven with each other and ours. Not unlike the Academy, The Heroic Games could serve as the ideal set up to develop lasting relationships, and get invested in the characters as you spend time with them.

I loved the way Three Houses made me feel like I had an impactful role in the lives of the students I helped and taught, and I'm already drawn to Fortune's Weave's "training ground" idea. Surely it'll be all too easy to develop bonds as you train and go through the tests of the "Heroic Games" together.

Of course, only time will tell if Fortune's Weave can steal my heart in the same way that Three Houses did. But I'm already hopeful. And with Fable clearing out of 2026's way, I think it's the RPG I'm most excited about right now – besides The Blood of Dawnwalker. One thing's for sure: September promises to be a memorable month for RPG fans everywhere.

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