8 Awesome Video Games That Have Launched 2016 With A Bang

6. Fire Emblem: Fates

"Okay, enough with the indie stuff! Where are the real games!?" you may be screaming. Well, enter Fire Emblem: Fates, the only series next to Yakuza to have a high fan-demand in the West for more ports, considering its Eastern-only origins. To that end, developer Intelligent Systems actually released this last year in Japan, and have only just gotten round to making an American version, with a European release still up in the air. Regardless, at least more gamers around the globe can get their hands on the series potent 'anime art-meets-turn-based warfare' mixup, as it really is one of the most enjoyable in the genre so far. Combat is a more old-school looking affair than that of XCOM, Invisible Inc. or Massive Chalice, instead positioning your units on a rigid grid and tasking you to plan many moves ahead. Different squares can benefit warriors in different ways, as can all sorts of weapon and item combos - a 'casual' game this definitely is not, as to get the most out of Fire Emblem, you need to know your heroes' abilities inside out, before being ready to act and react on the fly. A story ties the titular fate of all your characters together, with (optional) perma-death being applied to any who fall in the various battles you'll partake in. The game was even released in multiple versions to cater to the impressive cast on offer, and like predecessor Awakening, Fates makes no bones about catering to consumers who like their games stat-heavy and full of high-octane, risk-it-all scenarios.