In this main game experience, you step into the role of a professor at the prestigious Officer’s Academy on the continent of Fódlan. This land is maintained by the Church of Seiros, and the academy serves as a training ground for the continent's future leaders. You are tasked with teaching one of three distinct houses, each filled with unique students representing different territories. Your responsibilities extend to both their academic development and their participation in turn-based, tactical RPG battles. The narrative unfolds based on the house you choose and the decisions you make throughout your time at the academy.

The Setting and Premise

Fódlan is a continent where the Church of Seiros holds significant influence, maintaining order through institutions like the Officer’s Academy. As a professor, you are immersed in an environment where students from various backgrounds and allegiances converge. The story delves into themes of leadership, loyalty, and the impact of conflict, all explored through the lives of the academy's students and faculty. The choices you make as a professor directly influence the unfolding events and the fate of Fódlan.

Core Gameplay Mechanics: Strategy and Social Simulation

This game offers a dual gameplay loop, combining deep tactical combat with elements of social simulation and academy management. The core experience is divided into two primary phases:

Academy Life

During the academic phase, players manage their time at the Officer’s Academy. This involves:

Instructing students to enhance their skills and learn new abilities.
Building relationships with students and faculty through conversations and shared activities.
Exploring the academy grounds to uncover secrets and undertake quests.
Strategizing student class progression and equipment to prepare them for combat.

Tactical Battles

When conflict arises, the game transitions to grid-based, turn-based tactical combat. Key features include:

Strategic positioning and movement of units on the battlefield.
Leveraging character classes, unique abilities, and weapon types for tactical advantage.
Managing unit durability and utilizing support actions to assist allies.
Engaging with mechanics such as "Combat Arts" that introduce additional layers of strategic decision-making.

What Makes This Game Unique?

The distinctive fusion of character-driven social simulation and challenging tactical RPG combat sets this game apart. The emphasis on fostering bonds with students directly influences their effectiveness in battle, creating a strong connection between narrative progression and gameplay mechanics. The branching storyline, determined by the chosen house and player decisions, contributes to significant replayability.

The Impact of Your Choices

Your role as a professor is pivotal. The relationships you cultivate and the guidance you provide will shape your students into capable warriors or leave them unprepared for the challenges ahead. This interconnectedness between personal development and strategic combat is a defining characteristic of the experience.

Game Information

This main game title was released on 2019-07-26 for the Nintendo Switch. It encompasses genres such as Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, and Adventure.

Additional Content

The game features 2 DLCs available for purchase, offering additional content to enhance the player's experience.