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, it didn't reach Western audiences until 2005. This game follows the standalone 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 is the first chance to experience Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. Launched 20 years ago, it was only the second Fire Emblem title to be released outside Japan and the last to be developed for the GBA. Back in 2005, we gave it a solid 8.5/10, praising it by saying: "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 gaming platform. Subscribers enjoy online multiplayer functionality to play with or against friends, plus a curated collection of classic Nintendo games from the past 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 available for those curious to try it out.

On the topic of Nintendo's much-anticipated new console: the Nintendo Switch 2 was initially set to launch on June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99. However, due to import tariffs implemented by President Trump causing financial market fluctuations, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date was delayed in the United States. Pre-orders will now commence later this week on April 24, maintaining the original 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 via the My Nintendo Store. Invitations to purchase will be sent out 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.