Intelligent Systems just surprised fans by dropping a new social deduction auto-battler mobile game called Fire Emblem Shadows. This asymmetrical PvPvE Fire Emblem title involves three heroes who collaborate against enemies, while one player secretly works with the antagonist.

Ever since the announcement of Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave during the recent Nintendo Direct, fans of the fire emblem series have had numerous reasons to be excited for new content. This new title will launch on the Switch 2 next year and seems to belong to the same universe as Three Houses and Three Hopes.

Fire Emblem Shadows – Mobile Social Deduction Auto-Battler

What players did not anticipate is that another Fire Emblem game was on the horizon, which officially launched on September 24, 2025, with very little fanfare. Fire Emblem Shadows is a new free-to-play mobile auto-battler and social deduction game that requires three players to unite against a horde of enemies, while one hero acts as a traitor secretly battling their teammates in the final round. If the Light players successfully identify the traitor, they gain a buff in battle, while the Shadow player has a distinct advantage if they can keep their identity hidden.

The plot of Fire Emblem Shadows follows Prince Kurt, who is exiled after a malevolent empire overruns his kingdom. Under the temptation of Fenris, goddess of shadow, the hero’s journey unfolds through two routes: the path of Light, where Kurt aims to reclaim his homeland from the empire, and the path of Shadow, seeking a bloody reprisal. The game features a variety of original characters alongside heroes and villains from classic Fire Emblem games, reinterpreted with a beastly twist. For instance, Fire Emblem: Blazing Blade’s Lyn appears with horse-like ears reminiscent of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, and transforms into a centaur when identified as the traitor.

Fan reactions to Fire Emblem Shadows have been a mixed bag thus far. Some players find the game promising, with compelling character designs and unique gameplay they hope will be refined further. Others, such as Redditor Hope_bringer, have criticized it as “under-developed,” pointing to the discordant visuals between character art and gameplay sprites, challenges faced in the traitor role in the social deduction gameplay, and exploitative Battle Pass-like monetization practices.

Despite the tagline “Trust No One,” it seems wise for gamers to experience Fire Emblem Shadows firsthand to form their own opinion. Although the game received minimal promotional efforts before launching, its naming reflects the surprise element of its drop.