Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 has landed and is already showing just how much betterZelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomperform on their respective Switch 2 editions, all eyes are looking ahead to the next game in theLegend of Zeldaseries, whatever it may be. Before the launch ofBreath of the Wild, the franchise was more iterative than innovative, although each entry still did its best to stand out as unique in the increasingly massive library of installments. However, now thatBreath of the Wild,Tears of the Kingdom, and most recently,Echoes of Wisdom, have all capitalized on the innovative groundwork laid byBotW, curiosity has set in about what could possibly come next for the series.
It’s clear thatThe Legend of Zeldahas moved into territory it can’t backtrack on now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it should stay put either. As such, the next mainline entry has its work cut out for it. Should the next bigZeldagame on the Switch 2 be something other than a mainline installment, though, there are plenty of other ways the franchise could capitalize on the console’s new hardware and growing popularity, with remasters, hd ports, and creative spin-offs being just a few.
Hopes for the Next Big Zelda Game on Switch 2
An Open-World Zelda That Breaks Free From BotW’s Legacy
At this point, it might be tough to go back on the open-world formula introduced byZelda: Breath of the Wild. Sure, the series has almost always featured some form ofopen-ended exploration, but it has never been a truly open world untilBreath of the Wild. Now, the immense success of this new era ofZeldasuggests the series should continue trodding the path it has already laid before itself over the last few mainline entries. However, it should arguably do so in a way that breaks free fromBreath of the Wild’s legacy.
It’s clear thatThe Legend of Zeldahas moved into territory it can’t backtrack on now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it should stay put either.
In other words, the nextZeldagame shouldn’t just be a reskin ofBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom. Instead, it needs to somehow retain the open-world formula that popularized those entries in the first place and still feel like a different game. Elements like a completely new map, revamped mechanics, better voiced dialogue and deeper storytelling, diverse biomes, more distinct bosses, and a betterweapon durability system(or lack thereof) would all help the nextZeldagame on the Switch 2 to distinguish itself.
An Ocarina of Time Remaster and HD Classic Ports Would Be a Dream Come True
Should the nextZeldagame not be a new mainline entry, though, there is still plenty of room for remasters and HD classic ports to show themselves. At the top of many wish lists is anOcarina of Timeremaster. Despite being themost belovedZeldagameever made, it is still over two decades old and it shows. Delivering a remaster for it on the Switch 2 would be the best thing since it was remastered to utilize the Nintendo 3DS' 3D capabilities.
One of the most popular things to do right now withOcarina of Timeis to remake it using Unreal Engine 5, and the footage that has dropped for it makes the game look stunning.
Even ifOcarina of Timeweren’t remastered for the Switch 2,Majora’s MaskandTwilight Princessarguably should be. Countless rumors have swirled aboutTwilight Princess, in particular, being remastered, but that conversation has yet to manifest itself in reality. Then there areHD classic ports likeThe Wind Wakerthat would likely be received with open arms on the Switch 2, especially considering the GameCube port on there currently is in the game’s original resolution for some reason.
More Creative Spin-Offs
Last but not least, the nextZeldagame on the Switch 2 could subvert expectations by being a more creative spin-off instead.Hyrule Warriorsis moving forward with a new entry for its own series, but theZeldafranchise could do even more. AZelda"maker" game similar toSuper Mario Maker, for example, would be a great answer to one of Nintendo’s best creative series, allowing players to potentially create their ownZeldadungeonsor even entire worlds. Of course, launching a game like this ahead of the next mainline entry might lead to widespread disappointment among fans.
Whatever direction Nintendo decides to take, the nextZeldagame on the Switch 2 has the chance to take the franchise to new heights in a way that feels fresh again, especially thanks to the console’s improved power. Whether it’s a newopen-worldZeldagame, a long-awaited remaster, or a creative spin-off, there are plenty of ways the series can continue to grow without losing what makes it special.
