Surprise! This 20-Year-Old Fire Emblem Game Has Just Stealth-Dropped onto Nintendo Switch Online

Surprise! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library, offering a delightful blast from the past for fans and newcomers alike.

Originally launched on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, this tactical RPG didn't reach Western audiences until 2005. It weaves a captivating standalone narrative around twin heirs to the Renais throne, Eirika and Ephraim, as they battle to liberate their kingdom and unravel the mystery of their former ally's betrayal.

For many, this marks the first chance to experience The Sacred Stones. Not only did it debut two decades ago, but it was also just the second Fire Emblem game to be released outside Japan and the last to grace the GBA platform.

In our 2005 review, we lauded Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones with an 8.5/10, noting: "Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is to the original Fire Emblem just as Advance Wars 2 was to the original Advance Wars. It's only a letdown in the sense that all this game really offers is an entirely different storyline on top of the pre-existing gameplay built for the GBA Fire Emblem released in 2003."

The Nintendo Switch Online service, a subscription-based platform for the Nintendo Switch, offers online multiplayer functionality and an expansive collection of classic games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and the soon-to-be-added new GameCube libraries. Subscribers can enjoy a free seven-day trial to explore its offerings.

In other exciting news, the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 was initially slated for release on June 5, 2025, priced at $449.99. However, due to delays caused by import tariffs in the United States, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have been rescheduled to go live on April 24, maintaining the original price point of $449.99.

You can register your interest with Nintendo to stay updated on pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories via the My Nintendo Store. Invitations to purchase will be distributed via email on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to users who have a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership and have logged at least 50 hours of gameplay as of April 2, 2025.