Fire Emblem Sneaks onto Nintendo Switch Online

Exciting news! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has officially joined the Nintendo Switch Online game collection.

Initially launched for the Game Boy Advance in 2004, this classic didn't reach Western audiences until 2005. The story follows royal twins Eirika and Ephraim as they battle to reclaim their kingdom of Renais while unraveling their former ally's shocking betrayal.

For many players, this marks their first chance to experience The Sacred Stones. Not only was it released two decades ago, but it was also only the second Fire Emblem title localized internationally at the time, serving as the franchise's final GBA installment.

We gave Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones an 8.5/10 in our original 2005 review, praising it as: "What Advance Wars 2 was to its predecessor, Sacred Stones achieves for Fire Emblem. While maintaining the excellent GBA gameplay established in 2003, it delivers a completely fresh narrative experience."

Nintendo Switch Online offers paid access to multiplayer gaming and a vast retro library featuring classics from NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64 — plus upcoming GameCube titles with the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. New users can enjoy a seven-day free trial.

Speaking of Nintendo's next console: The Nintendo Switch 2 was originally scheduled for June 5, 2025 at $449.99 MSRP. However, pre-orders faced unexpected delays in the U.S. due to tariff policies affecting market conditions. Nintendo has now confirmed pre-orders will open April 24, maintaining the $449.99 launch price.

Interested buyers can currently sign up for notifications through Nintendo's official channels. Purchase invitations will prioritize longtime Nintendo Switch Online subscribers (12+ months) with at least 50 gameplay hours recorded by April 2, 2025.