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, and reaching Western audiences in 2005, this game weaves a standalone narrative 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 chance to experience Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. Launched two decades ago, it was only the second Fire Emblem title to venture outside Japan and the last to grace the GBA. We praised it highly back in 2005, awarding it an 8.5/10, and noted, "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 enhancing the Nintendo Switch gaming experience. It offers online multiplayer capabilities, enabling you to play with or against friends, and a rich catalog of classic Nintendo games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and soon, the new GameCube libraries with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. A free seven-day trial is also available for newcomers.Speaking of the eagerly awaited Nintendo Switch 2, its release was initially slated for June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99. However, due to import tariffs introduced by President Trump, which caused financial market instability, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date was postponed in the U.S. Pre-orders are now set to begin on April 24, maintaining the same $449.99 price point.
Interested parties can register their interest with Nintendo for pre-orders of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories through the My Nintendo Store. Notification emails for purchasing will be dispatched on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to those with a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership and a minimum of 50 gameplay hours recorded by April 2, 2025.
