Zelda games on Nintendo Switch
There are so many games in the Zelda franchise, but some key entries are missing from the Nintendo Switch library. Some Zelda games have aged better than others, and the Switch offers access to some of the best games from across multiple generations, but there are still plenty of quality Zelda games that have yet to make their way to Nintendo’s portable console.
While the Big N has been busy bringing many Zelda games to Switch, including ports of SNES classics like A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, there are still some notable entries that haven’t made it over. Some of these Zelda games are missing from the Switch library because they have been remade on Wii U, but there’s been no sign of a Switch port. Others are more straightforward ports that would be a simple matter of dragging and dropping the game files onto the eShop, but they’ve been overlooked.
Here are all the Zelda games that you can play on Nintendo Switch, including direct ports, ports, and remakes.
Zelda games missing from Nintendo Switch
Here are all the Zelda games that aren’t on Nintendo Switch:
All of the above Zelda games are missing from the Nintendo Switch library, and there is no sign of any of them coming to the console in the near future.
Nintendo has a long history of remaking Zelda games, and many of these remakes are available on the Wii U. However, there are some notable entries that have yet to make it to Switch, and their absence is somewhat baffling. The Zelda Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, for example, have been remade on Wii U, but there has been no word of a Switch port.
The Zelda Wind Waker and Twilight Princess ports on Wii U heavily relied on the touchscreen, which could be a challenge to port to Switch. However, a reimagining like Link’s Awakening could work, and the core game would still be enjoyable on the Switch’s screen. It’s also possible that these Zelda games will never make it to Switch, despite their popularity among fans.
The Zelda game Direct ports is often overlooked, but they’re worth playing. A Link Between Worlds is a sequel to A Link to the Past and is a simple port, while Four Swords and Tri Force Heroes are multiplayer Zelda games that are still fun. Unfortunately, Four Swords Adventures, a GameCube exclusive, is difficult to access due to the expense of the GameCube/GBA link cable and its corresponding peripherals. Tri Force Heroes introduced the fashion mechanic, which influenced Breath of the Wild, and Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask are available on Switch through Nintendo Switch Online, but the DS remakes are exclusive to the original console.
Naturally, the 3DS remakes are generally considered superior to the originals, with improved visuals and quality of life features. It’s a missed opportunity that Switch doesn’t offer these enhanced versions, but there’s no indication that they’ll ever make it to the portable console.
And that’s everything you need to know about all the Zelda games you can play on Nintendo Switch. For other essential Nintendo games, read our list of best N64 games, the best GameCube games, or the best Nintendo Switch games, with the latter category including both new games and those from the previous generation.
