With the popularity of the Switch, Nintendo has made an effort to make as many Zelda games as possible accessible on the system.The Legend of Zeldaseries is closely tied to the success of the Switch, withBreath of the Wildstrongly contributing to the early success of the console.
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Over the years since the Switch’s launch, and with the inception of Nintendo Switch Online, a large number of the mainline entries in the Zelda series are now available to play wherever you go on the console. However, there are still some key entries missing. So, which Zelda games are you going to have to go cross-console to complete?
9The Wind Waker
The earliest single-player adventure of Link’s that is not available on the Switch isThe Wind Waker. This sea-faring adventure is well-known for being the first game to feature Toon Link. The game was the first mainline Zelda game on the Game Cube, and because of how much of a cult classic it became, it was given an HD remaster and ported onto the Wii U in 2013.
This version of the game barely utilizes the Wii U Game Pad, so a port onto Switch seemed like an inevitability, but as the Switch gets older, it feels like Wind Waker might have been overlooked.
8Twilight Princess
Twilight Princessis the second single-player Zelda game that launched on the Game Cube, but also served as a launch title for the Wii as well. This darker take on the Zelda formula was massively popular, and the grand narrative was exactly what Zelda fans were looking for.
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Like The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess received a Wii U remake, this time in 2016, the last year before the Switch succeeded the Wii U. In spite of the close release date, no effort has been made to port either iteration of this gothic Zelda title onto the Switch.
7Phantom Hourglass
The first new Zelda game that launched on the Nintendo DS was Phantom Hourglass, and this served as a direct sequel to The Wind Waker. Toon Link is controlled using the touch screen, taking full advantage of the DS hardware, this is used for a unique take on combat, and to guide his new sailboat across the ocean.
While directly porting Phantom Hourglass would be tricky given the reliance on the touch screen, a Link’s Awakening style re-imagining would be the perfect way to get this story on the Switch.
6Spirit Tracks
Spirit Tracks follows up on Phantom Hourglass generations later in a world now on land connected by trains. While the train mechanic is controversial to some Zelda fans, it is used as an ingenious method to connect the settlements in place of an open world that would have not been conceivable on the original DS.
Like Phantom Hourglass, this game heavily relies on touch screen controls so a direct port would not work, but it would also benefit from a similar remake to Link’s Awakening as well.
5A Link Between Worlds
Another single player Zelda game that is not available on the Switch is A Link Between Worlds. This well-regarded 3DS game is a new take on the 2D Zelda classic, A Link To The Past (available using Nintendo Switch Online).
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While the game built on the foundations of A Link to the Past, it has a completely new story, and uses a new mechanic where Link can turn into a painting to traverse the map in unique ways. Unlike the DS Zelda games, A Link Between Worlds doesn’t rely on the touch screen and would be a much more simple port.
4Four Swords
While Zelda’s multiplayer gamesare often overlooked in favour of the single-player offerings, they are still plenty of fun and contribute to the overarching Legend of Zelda narrative. For example, Four Swords originally launched as a pack-in bonus for the Game Boy Advance port of A Link to the Past, but it is also the series introduction to recurring villain Vaati.
This title lets you control one of four colour-coded Links with friends and is a quick but fun adventure to play through. This title was a free download ported onto the 3DS for an anniversary in 2011, and the game proved itself again as a fun multiplayer entry on handheld consoles.
3Four Swords Adventures
The original Four Swords was popular enough to warrant a full original sequel with Four Swords Adventures. This title is one of the less accessible Zelda titles, with it being a Game Cube exclusive that was intended to be played using Game Boy Advance’s as controllers.
The periphery needed to do this, and the game itself, are both quite expensive and rare to find, making this Zelda title one of the more difficult to access and play. This is a shame since, out of all the multiplayer Zelda games, this has some of the most engaging and unique gameplay.
2Tri Force Heroes
Another original multiplayer Zelda adventure is Tri Force Heroes, which built upon the foundations set up by the Four Swords games, only with a little more depth, and getting rid of the purple Link, making this a three-player adventure.
This game has a focus on co-operation and communication, but also fashion. Link can collect materials throughout the levels and turn these into outfits, giving your Link unique buffs. We can see this mechanic being carried into Breath of the Wild, and it is fun to think that this mechanic was inspired by Tri Force Heroes.
13DS Remakes
While both the original N64Ocarina of Timeand Majora’s Mask are available to play on Switch using Nintendo Switch Online, their 3DS, remakes launched in 2011 and 2015 respectively, are still stuck on the original console.
While the original versions are still fun to play, the 3DS remakes are generally considered the better way to play, with smoother visuals, and various quality of life improvements. It is great that Switch players have a method to play these entries, but when a superior version is locked on older technology, it feels like a wasted opportunity.
