The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's biggest and most beloved properties, so it's little wonder that fans can play many of its entries on the Nintendo Switch, in some capacity. The console has become one of the highest-selling of all time, with plenty of new AAA experiences to help it along including Metroid Dread, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Luigi's Mansion 3, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses. While these have been welcomed by fans, and most garnered critical acclaim, Mario and Link's place as Nintendo's most beloved characters is solidified. Having plenty of offerings in both franchises on the hybrid system has done well to elevate the appeal of the Switch.
Nintendo's history is varied, with games set across a handful of genres and characters of all backgrounds making up its legacy. The Legend of Zelda has been there since the beginning, and numerous new games on each piece of hardware have always felt like a console generation's main event. From Ocarina of Time on the N64 to Breath of the Wild on the Wii U and Switch, it has always been a big deal. While most Zelda games can be played or will soon be playable on the newest hardware, the lack of any representation from the GameCube titles - The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess - is a strange omission.
The GameCube Featured Zelda in its Prime
While the series has shivted between many formats, including open worlds, 2D top-down adventures, and 3D hub worlds, Zelda really seemed to hit its stride on the GameCube. The shift to 3D was jarring for many series, and though the N64 Zelda games made this transition with limited hiccups, the GameCube was where Nintendo could refine its edges and improve upon what it learned to make truly great 3D titles. Without the system that carried the company through the early-to-mid 2000s, it's hard to imagine the Zelda franchise would be at the same place it is today.
The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are poles apart in tone, aesthetics, and storytelling. Twilight Princess is a darker take on the classic Zelda story, while The Wind Waker is a swashbuckling adventure across the high seas, exploring islands and engaging in fan-favorite Zelda content. Both received overdue remasters for the Wii U, showing that their mechanics have mostly aged gracefully (with some alterations) and can still provide a satisfying experience.
The Switch is a Perfect System for All Legend of Zelda Games
One of the biggest problems with remasters of both The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess is that they were released on the Wii U, a system with a fate already sealed by the time either title launched. It was the right idea at perhaps the worst time in the company's history. The arrival and subsequent success of the Nintendo Switch rendered the Wii U largely superfluous just a few months into its successor's life, and ports of Wii U games have continually launched throughout the current console generation.
With The Minish Cap and Link's Awakening DX launching on Switch through Nintendo Switch Online following the February 2023 Nintendo Direct, a huge number of games in the franchise can now be played on the same system. This is good news for fans of the IP, but it means the lack of the GameCube titles is even more obvious. They were instrumental in how The Legend of Zelda would be shaped moving forward, and before the Switch is replaced it should complete the set by allowing owners the chance to revisit all of Link's adventures.