Summary
While there are still some popular first-party Nintendo franchises which are gradually making their way over to the company’s latest system,TheLegend of Zeldaseries already has a plethora of exciting entries that are readily available on theSwitch 2for fans to dive into. Thanks to the upgraded hardware, many of theZeldagames released for the first Switch now look and run much better on the brand-new console handheld hybrid, making it the go-to for those who want to get the most out of these excellent games.
The available options don’t stop there though, as, thanks to Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo has been able to offer a staggering roster ofLegend of Zeldagames for newcomers and long-time fans alike to enjoy. When stacking them up against one another though, these arethe very bestZeldagames to play on the Switch 2right now, ranked according to how well they play on the system, and their overall quality in general.
WhenSkyward Swordfirst launched in 2011, it was clear that the game had a lot of potential, but what turned many people away from it were the clunkymotion controls, which dampened the overall gameplay experience. Thankfully, Nintendo took note of this and decided to refine the controls for the Switch port, so while players can still choose to use their own movements to control Link’s sword slashes, it feels much more responsive thanks to the Joycons, especially the ones built for the Switch 2.
In terms of the game itself,Skyward Swordfeatures a compelling story, a lovable cast of characters, and some of the best dungeons in the entire series, which pose just enough challenge without ever becoming annoying. It may feel a tad linear by today’s standards, and a few of the environments can start to get a little repetitive by the conclusion, but these are ultimately small drawbacks to an otherwise great game which can be played right now on the Switch 2.
ThoughMajora’s Maskmay play very similarly toOcarina of Timewhich came before, it takes on a much darker and more serious aesthetic to help it feel different. With the moon barreling towards the planet, players are tasked with collecting masks, gathering resources, and helping out NPCs in order to try and save the world from annihilation, creating an intense and suspenseful gameplay loop where Link always has something to get up to.
This specific port ofMajora’s Maskis theNintendo 64 version, which can be played on Nintendo Switch Online. While it does still feature the big black borders on each side of the screen, the game admittedly runs very well, and this is ultimately one of the cheapest ways to play it. It’s a shame that players are unable to actually buy and own this classic title for themselves, since it’s only available through this subscription model.
It seemed a certainty toZeldafans thatThe Wind Wakerwould make its way to the Switch eventually, but this didn’t end up happening, at least, not until the Switch 2 was released. When introducing the new GameCube catalog of games for Nintendo Switch Online members, the very first game revealed was none other thanTheWind Waker. It definitely would have been nice for this to be the HD version with all of its quality of life features, especially the Swift Sail, but it seems likely Nintendo is holding this back for a re-release in the future.
Instead, this is a direct GameCube port which looks and feels exactly like the original, which is far from a bad thing considering how much of a classic it is. Being able to traverse the wide open seas while hopping off on islands and exploring dungeons along the way provides an incredibly addictive gameplay loop where players are constantly on the move, learning more about the world as they go. Combine all of this with arguablythe most creative art direction seen in the franchise, alongside a great story and refined combat, and it’s no wonder whyTheWind Wakeris so highly acclaimed among the Zelda fanbase.
Just like withMajora’s Mask,Ocarina of Timeis playable through the Nintendo Switch Online catalog, with this being one of the most accessible ways to play this classic entry in the modern day. There’s so much to love aboutOcarina of Time, from the elegant soundtrack that plays in the background to the giant roster of characters, all the way to the engaging combat system, but what really makes it stand out as something special is how it manages to feel like one big grand adventure.
Riding across Hyrule Field and exploring each part of the environment makesOcarina of Timefeel like an exciting precursor to the open-worldZeldagames that would come much later. Many creditOcarina of Timefor being one ofthe first 3D adventure games, and while this can understandably result in parts of the game feeling a bit dated, on the other hand, it’s an absolute joy to experience this experimental title which ultimately shotZeldainto the mainstream.
For a long while, it was difficult forZeldafans to experience the game that kicked off the franchise due to how old and inaccessible it was. Unsurprisingly, people were so overjoyed when it was announced thata fully-fledged remakeofLink’s Awakeningwould be making its way to the Switch. With a charming new visual upgrade and a greatly improved gameplay system,Link’s Awakeningis a short but sweet adventure and an absolute blast to play.
The game moves at a nice pace thanks to the lack of filler content, with every item and area feeling relevant to the story so that nothing feels like wasted time. While the game was already well-received on the original Switch, it did have a few technical hiccups, such as random frame rate drops which would end up disrupting the immersion. Fans will be happy to know that the remake runs at a smooth 60 frames per second the whole way through on Nintendo’s latest system. When paired with the bigger screen in handheld mode, this is undoubtedly the best system for playingThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.
It’s clear that when developingEchoes of Wisdom, Nintendo was inspired to create a game that replicated the heart and soul of the classic entries while also providing something entirely new and unique for players to enjoy. While the game therefore shares the same chibi art style and vibrant aesthetic of theLink’s Awakeningremake, it also features pretty interesting gameplay mechanics that are an absolute blast to play around with, specificallythe Echo system.
Considering Zelda herself isn’t much of a fighter, she instead is able to summon Echoes, which are essentially items that can be used in a myriad of different ways. For example, if players are low on health, they can summon a bed to take a quick nap, but if they’re face-to-face with an enemy, they might want to summon a Bombfish, or even another monster to do their dirty work for them. With over 120 of these Echoes up for grabs, there’s a ton of creative freedom granted to the player, and though the game did have trouble running at a stable frame rate on the first Switch, the Switch 2’s upgraded hardware negates these issues entirely, allowing players to enjoy the game the way it was intended.
2The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Upgraded Visuals, 3D Sound, And Smoother Frame Rate On Switch 2
Just when it felt like theZeldaseries was starting to get a little predictable,Breath of the Wildcame along and changed everything. This game ditches the linearity that so many fans were accustomed to in order to dive head-first into the open-world genre. As soon as players exit the cave Link wakes up in at the beginning of the game, they are free to explore Hyrule at their leisure, allowing them to create their own story while still engaging in the main plot and the sub-stories.
Breath of the Wildwas already considered a technical marvel on the first Switch, but thanks to the upgrade pack, it looks even better on Switch 2, especially in docked mode where it can run at a clean 1440p resolution and at 60 frames per second. Nintendo also included a few other small additions which help to improve the game even more, such as faster loading times, which allow players to get into the action as quickly as possible without ever being taken out of the experience.
Breath of the Wildwas alreadya highly ambitious game, but Nintendo aimed to go even further with the sequel,Tears of the Kingdom. At a glance, the map of Hyrule may look more or less identical, but thanks to the addition of the Sky Islands and the Depths, which reside below the surface, it means there are a ton of new areas to explore, ensuring the game doesn’t feel repetitive even for devotedBotWfans. What really drew so many people to the game, though, was the selection of new abilities that Link can make use of during his adventure.
The main example of this is the Ultra Hand, an ability which allows Link to build structures, vehicles, and platforms by combining anything he finds in the wild. There’s also the Fuse ability, where he can combine items with his own weapons and shields to help in taking out some of the game’s tougher enemies. Inserting mechanics that are this complex and dense ultimately meant that the game struggled to run consistently when it was first released. This certainly isn’t the case on the Switch 2, where the game maintains a consistent 60 frames per second, even when players are combining multiple items at once to create a brand-new car or flying machine.Breath of the Wildwas already an excellent game, butTears of the Kingdomimproves on everything that made it so special, and it is without a doubt the bestLegend of Zeldagame on the Switch 2 so far.
