The Legend of Zeldaseries may have experienced the best era in its 38-year history thanks to the Nintendo Switch. As one of the most iconic franchises in Nintendo’s repertoire, theZeldaseries has been well-adjusted to a long history of accolades and sales success. However, even withZelda’s well-established popularity, it would have been hard to predict the way that the series catapulted to new heights with the release of the Switch, obtaining sales numbers that even rival games from Nintendo’s biggest franchise,Super Mario.
This sudden surge in popularity was certainly a pleasant surprise when it first occurred. However, when looking back at theZeldafranchise’s history on the Switch, it’s not difficult to see how it managed to attain such huge success during that time. The sudden rejuvenation of the series' ambition, coupled with the revolutionary technology of Nintendo’s latest console, were key factors in broadening the appeal of theZeldafranchise, and shows the steps thatthe Switch 2 needs to take to ensure that success continues in the future.
The Switch Has Some Of The Best Zelda Games
These Games Served As A Reinvention For The Zelda Series
Possiblythe largest contributor to theZeldafranchise’s success on the Switch was due to its line-up of fantastic titlesthat looked to reinvent the series as a whole. For example,Breath of the Wildwas a major reason for the Switch’s hugely successful launch. The game was a groundbreaking release as it rejected many well-known conventions of theZeldaseries in favor of an expansive open world that players could explore to their heart’s content.
The “New” Zelda Timeline For TOTK & BOTW Might Not Be What It Seems
The newer version of the Legends of Zelda timeline has separated TOTK and BOTW into their own section, but this may not be what it seems.
The main appeal ofBOTWcomes in the unequivocal sense of freedomthat it grants the player. The game’s emphasis on exploration and experimentation made for one of theZeldaseries' most original entries, while also hearkening back to the very first title which the entire franchise is built upon.
Tears of the Kingdommerely expanded onBOTW’s best aspects, with the introduction of theUltrahand and Fuse mechanics, encouraging players to constantly experiment with their surroundings. The freedom and creativity demonstrated in bothBOTWandTOTKmakes their status as some of the series' best-selling entries hardly surprising.
The best aspect of all these entries is how they challenge the conventions of theZeldaseries, and the general perception of what aZeldagame is capable of.
Moreover,the Switch era saw theZeldafranchise continue to play around with spin-offsafter the initial success ofHyrule Warriorson Wii U. In fact,Age of Calamityserved as a great follow-upto the originalHyrule Warriors, maintaining the intensity of the fierce combat that came from the seamless fusion between theZeldaandDynasty Warriorsfranchises.
Cadence of Hyrulewas another amazing spin-off, fusing the top-downZeldagames with the rhythm-focused gameplay ofCrypt of the NecroDancerto create a groovy, fast-paced adventure that’s unlike anything the series has seen before.
The best aspect of all these entries is how they challenge the conventions of theZeldaseries, and the general perception of what aZeldagame is capable of. The emphasis on experimentation and ambition throughout the Switch era has resulted in a series of games that add a huge sense of variety to theZeldafranchise overall, while demonstrating the possibilities for even more creative entries in the future. It’s resulted in some of theZeldaseries' most creative titles that have opened the franchise to so many more players than before.
The Zelda Series Benefited From Being On A Hybrid Console
Many Titles Took Advantage Of The Switch’s Hybrid Technology
TheZeldaseries' spike in success was also thanks in part to the Switch itself, and its revolutionary hybrid technology. For example, the Switch’s hybrid features immediately broadened the appeal of theZeldaseries simply because of the tantalizing prospect of playing such huge, expansive titles while on the go.It made the purchase of a longer game likeBOTWmore viable, as players could put in the hours the title demanded, regardless of their gaming habits.
It also helps thatthe design of certainZeldagames fits the hybrid technology perfectly. The implementation ofshrines inBOTWandTOTKis a great example of how these titles can easily adapt to an individual player’s length of play and general gaming habits. Whether playing in small bursts, or for several hours at a time, players still get a satisfying experience as the abundance of shrines to complete allows for a constant sense of progress, making bothBOTWandTOTKideal games for the Switch.
10 Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Challenges For A Brutal Next Playthrough
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s flexibility in how to play allows players to get creative and set challenges to make the game harder.
Additionally, the Switch has been a huge boost for 2DZeldagames that were often stuck to handheld consoles previously. The more powerful hardware has allowed for titles such asLink’s AwakeningandEchoes of Wisdomto take full advantage, crafting a beautiful art style that couldn’t be achieved previously, while again adding a sense of variety to the manyZeldagames available on the console. The way that theZeldaseries seamlessly adapted to the Switch’s multiple ways of play gave players even more reason to pick up these titles, further contributing to the franchise’s success during this era.
How The Switch 2 Should Continue Zelda’s Success
The New Console Should Build On What The Switch Established
Having seen unbelievable success during the Switch era, it will surely be a priority for Nintendo to ensure that theZeldaseries maintains this momentum for theupcoming Switch 2. One way in which this could be accomplished is simply by continuing the methods that the series has already adopted for the Switch era.Zelda’s recent emphasis on experimentation and variety has proven to give some incredible experiences for the series, so maintaining this focus on the next console will allow the franchise to maintain its broad appeal.
The Switch 2 could also improve on its predecessor’s own shortcomings with theZeldaseries. While the Switch is home to an extensive list ofZeldagames, its backlog of classic titles doesn’t quite reach the heights of the Wii U. More specifically, beloved titles such asWind WakerandTwilight Princesshave yet to make an appearance on the Switch. It’s a missed opportunity that should be amended for the Switch 2, as it will allow newZeldafans introduced through newer titles likeBOTWorEchoes of Wisdomto experience these amazing entries for the very first time.
BecauseTwilight PrincessandWind Wakerhave not appeared on the Switch, it’s been heavily speculated that theseZeldagames will show up on theSwitch 2 around launch.
Nevertheless, it’s hard to deny that theZeldaseries' run during the Switch era has been nothing short of spectacular. The franchise’s recent run of groundbreaking titles has not only allowed for some of the biggest successes inZelda’s history, but has completely reinvented the series, while carving an ambitious path forward for future entries. With this in mind, it’s safe to say that the Switch is home to one of, if not the best, eras inThe Legend of Zelda’s history.
