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

Surprise! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has just been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library. Originally released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, this game didn't make its way to the West until 2005. The Sacred Stones tells a captivating standalone story of twin heirs to the throne of Renais, Eirika and Ephraim, as they strive 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. Not only did it launch 20 years ago, but it was also only the second Fire Emblem game to be released outside Japan and the last to be developed for the GBA. We at [ttpp] rated Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones highly, giving it an 8.5/10 back in 2005. Our review stated, "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 for the Nintendo Switch platform. It offers online multiplayer functionality, enabling you to play with or against friends, and includes a diverse collection of classic Nintendo games from four decades, spanning titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and soon, with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the new GameCube libraries. A free seven-day trial is available for new users to explore the service.

Speaking of the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, it was originally slated to launch on June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99. However, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders faced delays in the United States due to import tariffs imposed by President Trump, which caused financial market volatility. As a result, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are now set to go live on April 24, maintaining the same price of $449.99.

Currently, you can register your interest with Nintendo for pre-orders of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories via the My Nintendo Store. Invitations to purchase will be distributed through 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.