I’ve been a bigLegend of Zeldafan for years, but I just recently realized a new direction I would love to see the series take. Although I enjoyedBreath of the Wildwhen it came out, Nintendo doubling down on the open-world model withTears of the Kingdomwasn’t my favorite move, and I struggled to get into the game. However, I really enjoyedEchoes of Wisdomand would love to see Nintendo experiment more with theZeldaIP.
I frequently replay oldZeldatitles, but I only recently realized that I do so for a very different reason than I initially got into them. As a kid,Ocarina of Timefelt huge, but now that I’ve played massive games likeElden Ring, its version of Hyrule feels quaint. That isn’t a bad thing it’s that feeling of comfort and familiarity that draws me back to olderZeldatitles. This is also why I think theZeldaseries should try its hand at a cozy game.
The Legend Of Zelda Would Be Perfect For A Cozy Game
Zelda Games Include Many Cozy Game Staples
Although they are primarily action-adventure games,theLegend of Zeldaseries has frequently included elements that are staples of cozy games. Fishing, collecting bugs, and carnival-style mini-games all frequently appear in theZeldafranchise, especially in its 3D entries. Games likeTwilight Princessalso included more action-packed mini-games, like its white-water canoeing or snowboarding games. Aside from a similar stock of mini-games,Zeldagames also have a good aesthetic for a cozy game.
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DiscountingTwilight Princess, which leaned more heavily into realism, the world ofZeldagames often has a somewhat cartoonish feel. This isespecially true in games likeWind Wakeror theLink’s Awakeningremake. The series also has plenty of cute creature types like Goron, Deku Scrubs, or even the redesignedRiver Zora inEchoes of Wisdom.These cute, cartoonish characters would feel perfectly at home in a cozy gameand players’ familiarity with them would also add a level of built-in comfort that cozy games from original IPs don’t have right off the bat.
Hyrule Nostalgia Would Help Players Feel At Home
Fond Feelings For Hyrule And Its Inhabitants Make It A Cozy Setting
As I said, the initial idea for aZeldacozy game was born from my nostalgia for the series setting, and I doubt I’m the only one who feels that. While recent games likeBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomhave sought to recapture a sense of adventure by making Hyrule larger and less familiar, I think taking the opposite approach would be perfect for creating a cozy game. Setting it in a familiar Hyrule that players have a strong connection to wouldimmediately make the game feel comfortable and familiar.
Now, I don’t think a cozyZeldagame could actually recycle a map from an older game. Not only would most of them be a bit too big, but they are also partially built around the action-oriented elements of the original games. However, I do thinkit would be possible to create a cozy Hyrule that is made up of familiar elementsfrom previous games.
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There could be a Lake Hylia for fishing, canoeing, and any other water-related mini-games that the game could include, likeOcarina of Time’s diving game. Death Mountain could easily be somewhere players could go to mine and collect resources, while places like Hyrule Castle Town or Kakariko Village could serve as a hub for shopping and interacting with NPCs.Players’ familiarity with these locations would help create a cozy feelingeven if they are changed slightly from their original forms.
The Zelda Series Is Known For Experimenting
Plenty Of Zelda Games Have Broken The Franchise Mould
Innovation is as much of a staple ofZeldagames as Link himself. While there are definitely similarities between games, there seems to be a concerted effort to ensure each new entry in the series is distinct from the last. This innovation is how we got things likeWind Waker’s flooded Hyrule and sailing mechanics, orBreath of the Wild’s open world that could be tackled in any order. The series has even played around with its genre before.
TheHyrule Warriorsgames were full-on action games, abandoning many of the series’ staples, andLink’s Crossbow Trainingwas a shooter. One of the strangest entries in the series wasCadence of Hyrule, a rhythm game that is a crossover withCrypt of the NecroDancer.These off-beat entries into theZeldaseries would indicate thatNintendo isn’t fully against taking theZeldaIP outside of its comfort zone. That said, as much as I would love for this to mean a cozyZeldagame is possible, I still have my doubts that it will actually happen.
Why I’m Sadly Skeptical A Zelda Cozy Game Will Happen
Zelda Games Tend To Tell A Specific Type Of Story
As fun as a cozyZeldagame sounds,I’m worried that it would be too big of a project for a spinoff from the main series.Cadence of HyruleandHyrule Warriorshad the gameplay ofNecroDancerandDynasty Warriorsrespectively as a basis. Creating a cozy game from the ground up might take too much focus from projects in the mainlineZeldaseries. It could also fall too far outside ofZelda’s brand integrity.
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I could point to something likeHyrule Warriorsand talk about how many essentialZeldaaspects it left out, butI don’t think it’s as big of a departure as a cozy game would be. As an action game,Hyrule Warriorswas able to retain the basic plot structure of Link fighting to save Hyrule. A cozyZeldawouldn’t just be a major gameplay departure, but also a major departure from the typical type of story told in theZeldauniverse.
I would love for Nintendo to prove me wrong and make a cozyLegend of Zeldagame, and I doubt I’m the only one who would play it. A game with the same nostalgic feel I get fromOcarina of TimeorTwilight Princesswith more laidback gameplay sounds like the perfect recipe for a relaxing playthrough. That said, I won’t hold my breath for something like it to be made, as it would likely be too much of a departure from the established style of story that theZeldafranchise likes to tell.
