Surprise! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has now been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library. Originally released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, it arrived in the West in 2005. This game follows the gripping 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 marks the first chance to experience The Sacred Stones. Launched 20 years ago, it was only the second Fire Emblem title to be released outside Japan and the last developed for the GBA. We at IGN found Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones to be exceptional, awarding it an 8.5/10 back in 2005. Our review highlighted, "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 for the Nintendo Switch, offering online multiplayer, cooperative play with friends, and a vast library of classic Nintendo games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and soon, with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the new GameCube libraries. New users can enjoy a free seven-day trial.
Speaking of Nintendo's eagerly awaited new console: the Nintendo Switch 2 was 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 enacted by President Trump, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date has been pushed back. Pre-orders are now set to go live on April 24, with the price still set at $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 distributed by 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 as of April 2, 2025.
