8 Best Zelda Games for Switch – 2026 Guide to Hyrule Adventures

Our Top Picks for Zelda Games for Switch

Picking the best Zelda game for Switch isn’t easy – this franchise is stacked with legends. But if you just grabbed a console or want to start with the heavy hitters or try to grab something for sale, these three are absolute must-plays.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

ACTION-ADVENTURE

This is the game where you just play your way. Climb mountains, cook meals, spam bombs – it’s a fully open world. Many fans still call it the peak of the whole Legend of Zelda saga.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

ACTION-ADVENTURE

Pure joy if you love to wander or create. It’s the direct sequel to Breath, but with insane freedom: build contraptions, soar through the skies, dive into underground zones.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

ACTION-ADVENTURE

A remake that makes the classic even better. A small, charming world with toy-like visuals, clever dungeons, and cozy vibes.

Each of these titles deserves a spot in your Switch games library. All of these games are worth full price, without even waiting for a sale. But that’s just the start – keep scrolling to check out the full list of iconic Zelda adventures.

Best 8 Zelda Games for Switch to Fill Your Long Weekend

Here’s my personal list of the 8 top Zelda games for Switch. I’ve spent way too many hours roaming Hyrule, testing remakes, and replaying the classics, so trust me – these are the ones worth your time. You’ll find everything here:

giant open worlds, puzzle-heavy dungeons, and chill adventures perfect for a long weekend.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Best Open-World Adventure

• Our score
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• Wii U, Switch, Switch 2
• Creator/s
• Nintendo EPD
• Average playtime
• 50½ Hours
• Metacritic score
• Honestly, for me,
• Breath of the Wild

is pure magic. You drop into a huge, open world where you can do almost anything you want. Climb mountains, swim in rivers, glide with your paraglider, hunt monsters, and even cook your own food. Everything looks amazing, the world feels alive, and every corner of Hyrule hides secrets. There’s no scripted path, you decide where to go and what to do.

To get the most out of these adventures, make sure to play on a high-quality gaming monitor for the best visuals.

The Sheikah Slate is a total game-changer for Link! With it, you can mark spots on the map and snap photos of items, monsters, and enemies.

All your shots go into the Hyrule Compendium – a handy album that helps you track down rare stuff.

Plus, the Slate lets you set remote bombs, move metal objects, freeze water into ice blocks, and even temporarily stop certain things in their tracks.

Why we chose it

I’ve personally spent hundreds of hours here. Every adventure feels unique, and you can make up your own stories.

Love thrills and freedom? This game is for you.

Final Verdict:

If you want to feel like a true hero and explore a massive, living world full of freedom and wonder, grab Breath of the Wild. It’s easily one of the top Zelda games on Switch, and it won’t get boring even after hundreds of hours.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Most Creative Sandbox

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• Switch, Switch 2
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• Between 55 and 70 hours
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• Tears of the Kingdom
• is the direct follow-up to
• Breath of the Wild

, but with even more freedom and creativity. I play as Link again, but now I can build machines, combine weapons, and even fly through the air. The world is bigger than ever, with sky islands, dungeons, and new abilities like Ultrahand and Fuse. Everything looks amazing, and experimenting is just pure joy.

In Tears of the Kingdom, mysterious Zonai devices make their debut – perfect for combat, exploration, puzzles, and even building vehicles like rockets, sleds, and fans. Link uses the Purah Pad with abilities like Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, and Recall, plus the learnable Autobuild. Ultrahand lets you grab and move objects, connect them together, and combine them with Zonai devices to build all sorts of crazy vehicles and contraptions.

Why we chose it If you loved Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom is a must-play. You get total freedom: build anything, mix items, and solve puzzles your way. Every choice you make affects the world, and it’s super satisfying.

Final Verdict:

Tears of the Kingdom isn’t just a game; it’s a sandbox where you can be whoever you want and do whatever you like. Love experiments and freedom? Then this is one of the top Nintendo Switch games right now.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Best Cute Remake

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Game Boy, Switch 1993 (original), 2019 (Switch remake)

Creator/s Nintendo EAD Average playtime 14–16 hours Metacritic score Link’s Awakening is a remake of the classic Game Boy game, but with modern graphics and gameplay. This time, Link ends up on the mysterious Koholint Island. You explore the world, solve puzzles, and collect magical items to awaken the Wind Fish and find your way home.

Link’s sword, shield, and upgrades are always equipped, letting you map more items to your action buttons than in the original. Mini-games got a boost too – the claw crane game now actually feels like real physics.

Plus, as you progress through dungeons, you can collect their rooms to build your own dungeons by visiting Dampé in his cabin.

Why we chose it

If you love old titles with cool new features, this one is for you. It keeps the spirit of the original but looks and plays modern. Every corner of the island is full of surprises and secrets.

Final Verdict:

This isn’t just a remake, it’s a true return to the classic adventure with a modern twist. Want to feel the vibe of old-school titles with today’s comfort? This is one of the best games to try.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time [Best Legendary Classic]

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• Switch (NSO + Expansion Pack), Nintendo 64, GameCube
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• Nintendo EAD
• Average playtime
• 26–30 hours
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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

• is

the classic that made half the world believe in the magic of 3D adventures.

One moment you’re a tiny forest kid poking around Kokiri Village, and the next you’re shouldering the fate of Hyrule with a sword, shield, and a fairy that won’t stop yelling “Hey, listen!” The plotline feels timeless, the dungeons are brilliantly designed, and the sense of freedom was groundbreaking for its era.

What really makes Ocarina special is how well it still holds up.

Riding Epona across Hyrule Field, discovering secrets with your ocarina, or solving clever puzzles feels just as satisfying today as it did back in 1998. Sure, the graphics have aged, but the magic hasn’t. It’s the kind of game you start “just to check out” and somehow end up sinking hours into because it still knows how to pull you in.

Why we chose it If you want to see how 3D adventures began, Ocarina of Time is a must-play. It set the foundation for many modern mechanics and is still super fun today.

Final Verdict:

Ocarina of Time is a cultural phenomenon. If you want to feel the spirit of classic adventures and see why it’s considered one of the greatest, you need to try it on the Nintendo Switch. It’s truly one of the most amazing Switch games for kids.