Nintendo’s development ability is rarely questioned. The company is one of the most respected and beloved developers in the world and has a track record of releasing genre- and medium-defining games over a period of more than three decades and counting. And of all the various acclaimed games, games, and IPs that Nintendo works on, arguably none better showcases the game creator’s incredible development talent than The Legend of Zelda series.
THE Zelda games evolved in parallel with Nintendo consoles and software development. Since the original groundbreaking NES, there has been a Zelda game for virtually all Nintendo systems. The same applies to the Switch, which launched with a Zelda game, but Nintendo went further with the hybrid system, making almost every game in the series playable on the Switch, thanks to a combination of reissues, remasters, and retro catalog compatibility through subscriptions.
This list ranks each Zelda game that is available and playable on the Switch. This includes not only original games released for the Switch, as well as remastered and remade releases, but also games playable through the Nintendo Switch Online service, and any Zelda spin-offs available on the system.
14
Zelda 2: Link’s Adventure
This initial experimental title has aged quite poorly
One of the oldest games in the series is also the most difficult to play today. Zelda 2: Link’s Adventure was a very bold and experimental continuation of the original, opting to repeat the original, explicitly leaning towards becoming an action RPG. While it was a satisfying follow-up to the original from back in the day, the years haven’t been so kind to it and it’s a little difficult to go back to today.
13
The Legend of Zelda
Zelda revolutionized the industry
The original Zelda The game pioneered the action-adventure genre for consoles and also provided an experience unlike anything the industry had ever seen. ZeldaIts legacy lives on not only in the series it spawned, but also in numerous modern titles. that honor him to this day. That said, in a modern context, it’s hard to go back, so pretty much any of the other Zelda Games on the system would be preferable to this one.
12
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Deeply flawed, even after a series of improvements
Sword to the SkyThe 2011 launch marked the moment when the Zelda franchise’s adherence to the model that the seminal 1998 film The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time had become popular. While the Switch relaunch Sword to the Sky HD addressed many of the criticisms and complaints that the original Wii title received, particularly regarding Sword to the Skymotion controls, remains a deeply flawed game that represents one of the rare low points of the franchise.
11
Warriors of Hyrule: Age of Calamity
The Breath Of The Wild prequel that didn’t exist
The second collaboration between the Zelda series and Koei Tecmo Dynasty Warriors games were limited to the world and characters of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This led to a more narratively immersive experience, but it leads to Limited enemy and stage varietywhich stands out compared to the incredible cross-franchise representation of the original Hyrule Warriors game displayed.
10
The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom
The first adventure starring Princess Zelda is a delight
THE Zelda the series has been ongoing for over 35 years, but the namesake Princess Zelda herself had never been the main character of a main entry in the series until Echoes of Wisdom. A delicious twist on 2D Zelda formula in the line of new 3D open world games, Echoes of Wisdom is an incredibly fun, cozy and engaging title, recommended for both fans of the series and newcomers.
9
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
The One Hyrule Warriors Game to Rule Them All
THE Definitive Edition The name of this game isn’t just for show – Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is that the one Hyrule Warriors title to check out. Unifying an absurd amount of content from the original Wii U release, its DLC and its 3DS re-releasewhile enhancing performance and visuals, this celebration of Zelda The franchise is not just for fans, but also an excellent action game recommended to everyone in general.
8
The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
Underrated pair of 2D Zelda games
Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons are two completely different but interconnected 2D Zelda titles that focus on one aspect of the series each – Ages focusing on solving puzzles and Seasons about combat and action. Although many 2D Zelda games can be played on the Switch, these are among the best, and It’s still amazing how much they were able to achieve on the limited hardware of the original Game Boy Color for more than 20 years.
7
The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
The first portable Zelda game remains the best in the series
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was the first Zelda game to strive to build your world, characters and storywhich gave it a distinct flavor and vibrancy. Combine this with delightfully inventive iterations on the series’ then-codifying gameplay and Link’s Awakening It was a total slam dunk. The 2019 Switch remake of Link’s Awakening is undoubtedly the definitive way to play, but if you prefer the Game Boy version, it can also be played on the Switch through a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
6
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
A big adventure for a small system
The Minish cap It’s definitely 2D Zelda at its best – incredible dungeons, great mechanics, a fantastic set of bosses and game items, a charming and whimsical story filled with memorable characters and lots of secrets and side content. It’s all here and it’s beautiful toowith an art style that explicitly evokes The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakerwhich worked incredibly well with the game’s central gimmick of shrinking and observing things up close to scale.
5
The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
The Zelda series gets weird
How does one follow up on a success like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? Nintendo chose to do this in a completely different, more character-driven and weirder direction. Majora’s Mask turn the Zelda formula by adding a circular time limit and emphasizing side quests to really expand on the people inhabiting the twisted world of Termina, while also building Ocarina of Timeis pioneering mechanics. While its 3DS remake is not available on Switch, the original N64 game can be played by Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
4
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Still legendary
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was the first 3D entry in the series, and was a seminal title that pioneered and codified aspects of 3D game design that are still followed by action-adventure games to this day. But Ocarina of Time It’s not so beloved because of its significance, it’s beloved because it was a fantastic, incomparable game that still holds up nearly 30 years after release. While the 3DS remake is the definitive way to play the game and would have been preferred on the Switch, the original N64 version that is available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers is still a great way to play a great game.
3
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Build your own adventure
Following The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild It would always be a difficult act, but Tears of the Kingdom he accomplishes this with ease. It retains most of the same map as Breath of Nature used, although Nintendo changes it quite a bit and also adds two new layers with a new sky world and an underworld.
Furthermore, fills this gigantic expanse with an incredible amount of content, all of it fantastic – and that’s without even getting to the incredible new abilities Link gets in this game, from the incredible Ascend, which allows players to mock verticality, to the game-defining Ultrahand, which allows virtually any object in the world to be manipulated and combined with other objects to create entirely new things to solve any problems – or to create new ones.
2
The Legend Of Zelda: a link with the past
It’s still one of the best games ever made
A link to the past is where the Zelda the franchise and its tropes, motifs, and iconography have actually been codified. This game pioneered the franchise’s recurring “two worlds” structure and mechanics, and Metroidvania-style progression through the world and dungeons. Until Zelda mainstays like Master Sword and “Zelda’s Lullaby” debuted in this game. But A link to the past he is not only the first in these things, he is also the best. Even today, it’s as captivating and incredible as it was when he rewrote the book for an industry upon release. And it would be the best playable game in the series on the Switch if it weren’t for a certain launch title.
1
The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
A truly revolutionary adventure
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was Nintendo’s attempt to respond to the criticism of Zelda games becoming too linear and too limiting, and adhering too rigidly to the model encoded by A link to the past and Ocarina of Time. In the process, Nintendo created an open-world masterpiece that revolutionized the genre and the industry at large, with its diagetic design guiding players through the world, and its incredible systemic gameplay and non-linearity emphasizing player agency. above all. Breath of Nature has been cited as inspiration by countless developers in the years since its release, and to this day, it remains not only the best The Legend of Zelda game, but the best game overall to play on the Switch.