Fire Emblem: Three Houses was the Digital Trends 2019 Game of the Year, and for very good reason. The turn-based role-playing game from Nintendo features a tremendous story and strategic combat, and as its name implies, there are three different houses to choose from in order to add replayability. Actually, there were three houses, as the game’s latest DLC pack is adding a secret fourth house.
Releasing as part of the game’s Expansion Pass on February 12, Fire Emblem: Three Houses — Cindered Shadows is a new side story that follows the previously secret Ashen Wolves house. It isn’t a full-fledged house filled with numerous characters like the other three, but it includes four students, as well as a new Abyss area to explore. The house itself is located underneath the Garreg Mach Monastery, which is where the other three houses are located. It’s also going to be the newest playable stage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which is also adding protagonist Byleth to the game.
You won’t be limited to using the new characters in just the new side content, either. Once you have progressed in the expansion’s story, you’ll be able to bring them up to the surface and use them in the rest of the game. Balthus is a brawler who can make use of claws to deliver damage up close, Hapi is a magic-wielding knight, Yuri deals damage with a sword, and Constance is a flying unit who also wields magic. Using them in tandem could make your fight above ground substantially easier.
You’ll be able to get Cindered Shadows as part of the Expansion Pass, which is available to purchase now for $25. It includes extra cosmetic items, challenges, units, quests, and even a sauna. The game has received free updates, too, adding more battle appearance options and raising the save slot cap from 5 to 25. This will let you try every combination of units you can think of as you battle through the game’s dark and emotional storyline.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is available now exclusively for Nintendo Switch. Only one version of the game is available, so you don’t need to buy multiple copies for the full content as you do with the Pokémon series.
