Ahead of the release of Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave later this year, Nintendo has added Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to the Switch 2’s library of GameCube classics. Regarded as one of the best entries in the entire franchise, Path of Radiance will be available for all Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.
First released in 2005, Path of Radiance earned critical acclaim for its dark storyline, mature themes, and for being the first 3D Fire Emblem game. Set on the fictional continent of Tellius, the game follows the mercenary Ike and his companions as they set out to rescue a princess and save the kingdom of Crimea from the invading nation of Daein.
Like previous Fire Emblem games, Path of Radiance is a turn-based tactical RPG that features permadeath: Any character who falls in battle is permanently lost for the rest of the game. A sequel–Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn–was released for the Nintendo Wii in 2007.
The GameCube Classics library has slowly grown since its launch last year and now includes games like Super Mario Strikers, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and F-Zero GX. Each game benefits from a higher resolution than the original releases, and for an extra touch of authenticity, Nintendo sells a wireless controller designed after the original GameCube controller.
While it doesn’t have a concrete release date yet, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is expected to arrive later this year. The game was revealed in September 2025, and the debut trailer hinted that it could be set in the same continuity as 2019’s Fire Emblem: Three Houses.