20-Year-Old Fire Emblem Game Now on Nintendo Switch Online!

Surprise! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has just been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library, giving players a chance to dive into this classic game. Originally released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, and reaching Western audiences in 2005, this title follows the gripping story of twin heirs, Eirika and Ephraim, as they battle to liberate their kingdom of Renais and unravel the mystery behind their former ally's betrayal.

For many, this marks the first opportunity to experience The Sacred Stones. Not only did it launch 20 years ago, but it was only the second Fire Emblem game to be released outside Japan, and the last to be developed for the GBA.

Back in 2005, we praised Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones with a score of 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."

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription-based service for the Nintendo Switch, offering online multiplayer, and a rich library of classic games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and soon, the new GameCube libraries with the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. A free seven-day trial is available for those curious to try it out.

Speaking of the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, originally slated for a June 5, 2025 release with a starting price of $449.99, its pre-order date faced a delay in the United States due to import tariffs introduced by President Trump, which caused financial market fluctuations. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 are now set to begin on April 24, maintaining the same price of $449.99.

Interested parties can register their interest with Nintendo to receive notifications about 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 those who have a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership and have logged at least 50 gameplay hours by April 2, 2025.