Surprise! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has just been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library. Originally launched on the Game Boy Advance in 2004 and arriving in the West in 2005, this game weaves a standalone narrative centered around the twin heirs to the Renais throne, Eirika and Ephraim. Their journey is one of liberation and discovery, as they strive to free their kingdom and unravel the mystery of their former ally's betrayal.

For many, this marks the first chance to experience The Sacred Stones. Released two decades ago, it was only the second Fire Emblem title to venture outside Japan and the last to be crafted for the GBA.

In our 2005 review, we hailed Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones with a score of 8.5/10, noting: "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, offering online multiplayer capabilities and a rich catalog of classic Nintendo titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and the upcoming new GameCube libraries with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. A free seven-day trial is available for newcomers to explore these features.

Speaking of the eagerly awaited new console, the Nintendo Switch 2 was initially slated for release on June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99. However, due to delayed pre-orders in the United States following import tariffs enacted by President Trump, the pre-order date has been rescheduled to April 24, maintaining the same price point of $449.99.

You can register your interest with Nintendo to receive notifications about pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories through the My Nintendo Store. Invitations 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 logged by April 2, 2025.