There are 29 mainline The Legend of Zelda games. Once Echoes of Wisdom arrives in the fall, that number will go up. That total does not, however, include the various remakes. Of those, there have been quite a few and there will likely be even more in the future. It’s very common for game studios to remake old games for a variety of reasons. Money and an appreciation for the players who still want to play it are two big ones.
The Legend of Zelda has so many iconic games in its 38-year history, and players would jump at the chance to play an updated version of most of them again. They may have perfected the formula with the Link’s Awakening remake and if they follow that, there are more than a few old titles that deserve to be brought to the modern age. Here’s our list of the most deserving candidates.
The Legend of Zelda Games that Need Remakes
While Nintendo shocked everyone by announcing a new game for the Switch’s last legs instead of a remake, they are surely not done remaking old games and the Zelda franchise has plenty of them to choose from. Plenty have already been remade. In fact, the majority of them have at least one remake if not two. Others have been left in the annals of history, but that won’t be true forever. Here are the top candidates.
The Legend of Zelda (1986)
It is baffling that the original title in this epic franchise hasn’t been given a remake yet. It is 38 years old and is a classic of the genre. Even today, it holds up as an impressive feat of gaming and a wholly fun experience. If it were brought to the modern age with updated graphics (perhaps in the Link’s Awakening) style, it would be perfect. It’s such a beloved title and even though it’s available on Nintendo Switch Online, it should be remastered. This would give it some much-needed quality-of-life changes and could introduce side quests and more to do in the first version of Hyrule.
Minish Cap
Minish Cap is the only game in the main series that wasn’t totally developed by Nintendo, which may throw a wrench in this idea. It was aided by Capcom, which could be why it hasn’t been given a remake yet. Either way, it’s a fun, whimsical title that deserves to be remade. With modern game engines and better graphics, the Minish world could be incredible. The size-changing mechanic is such a great part of the gameplay and it could be so much better if it were made again today.
A Link Between Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds might be a tricky one to remake for a couple of reasons. For starters, it’s the newest game not in the Breath of the Wild run, w which means it’s hardly a candidate for a return ahead of others. Furthermore, it is a game designed for a console (Nintendo 3DS) that has unique and specific controls. Those would have to be redone from the ground up to make it work perfectly on the Switch. However, it’s a great game with such a fun spin on the 2-D style that it would be a shame if it remained locked behind the 3DS forever.
Phantom Hourglass
The same problem that plagues the potential development of a new version of A Link Between Worlds would plague Phantom Hourglass since it was developed for the Nintendo DS. Regardless, it is a classic and fun game that is locked behind a very old console. The 3DS is at least pretty recent and a lot of gamers still have one, but the original DS (or DSi) is less common. To bring it to the Switch or Switch 2 is certainly easier said than done, but Tetra, Linebeck, and others have been lost to Zelda games for far too long.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The only game on this list that already has a remake, Ocarina of Time deserves another one. It’s been 11 years since the remake came out for the 3DS. The original is available on Nintendo Switch Online Expansion, but it suffers from being 26 years old. The graphics are blocky and the gameplay is not really smooth. Despite all its faults, it still shines and is heralded as one of the best video games (not just Zelda games) of all time.
Remaking it in the modern style with better graphics and controls would allow a modern audience to experience it and for everyone to develop an even stronger love for perhaps the magnum opus of this series. It would also make quite a lot of money since most people don’t own a physical copy of the game. Even if they do, it’s for an ancient console, so a Switch version would sell like hotcakes.
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