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

Surprise! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has just been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library. Originally launched on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, it arrived in the West in 2005. This game follows the standalone story of the twin heirs to the throne of Renais, Eirika and Ephraim, as they battle to liberate their kingdom and unravel the mystery behind their former ally's betrayal.

For many, this marks the first chance to experience The Sacred Stones. Released 20 years ago, it was only the second Fire Emblem game to be released outside Japan and the last one developed for the GBA. We praised Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones back in 2005, giving it a 8.5/10 and 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 online gaming service designed for the Nintendo Switch platform. Subscribers enjoy online multiplayer capabilities, enabling them to play with or against friends, along with access to a vast collection of classic Nintendo games from four decades, including titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and, with the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the new GameCube libraries. A free seven-day trial is also available for new users to explore the service.

Speaking of Nintendo's much-anticipated new console: the Nintendo Switch 2 was initially slated to launch on June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99. However, due to delays in the United States caused by import tariffs introduced by President Trump, which disrupted financial markets, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date has been pushed back. Pre-orders will now open on April 24, maintaining the same price of $449.99.

You can register your interest with Nintendo to receive notifications about pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories through 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 gameplay hours as of April 2, 2025.