If you’ve got a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, you might be surprised by just how many Legend of Zelda games you can actually play on it. The Switch era has been a fantastic time to be a Zelda fan. We got the massive open-world shake-up with Breath of the Wild, then its huge sequel Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo also gave us Link’s Awakening, Skyward Sword HD, and Echoes of Wisdom. On top of that, a bunch of older Zelda classics became available through Nintendo Switch Online.
And the lineup keeps growing.
The Nintendo Switch 2 already has enhanced versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is coming exclusively to Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
So if you’re wondering which Zelda games are on Nintendo Switch, which ones are worth your time, and what makes each one different, here’s a complete guide.
The Legend of Zelda Games on Switch
The main Zelda adventures you can play across Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 include:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Nintendo Switch 2, coming November 5, 2026
There are also Zelda spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, and the upcoming Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment on Nintendo Switch 2.
Plus, Nintendo offers classic Zelda titles through its Nintendo Classics services, so the Switch family is great for exploring older generations of the franchise. Nintendo’s current Zelda store page lists games across both Switch and Switch 2.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild completely changed the direction of the Zelda series. Instead of guiding you down a fairly linear path, Nintendo built a huge open world where exploration became the main event.
Link wakes up after a 100-year nap with no memory of what happened. Hyrule is in ruins, and you slowly piece together the story of how it all fell apart.
The game gives you a ton of freedom. You can climb mountains, glide across valleys, cook meals, hunt animals, fight monsters, stumble upon shrines, and explore villages without sticking to any strict order.
What makes Breath of the Wild special?
The physics system is a big part of it. Fire spreads through grass. Metal objects conduct electricity. Weather actually affects your journey. Rain makes climbing a pain. Different weapons behave differently. The environment itself becomes part of the gameplay.
That freedom makes Breath of the Wild feel less like a traditional level-based adventure and more like a giant fantasy playground.
Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo released a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with sharper visuals, smoother performance, faster loading, and HDR support. It also supports ZELDA NOTES, a companion feature through the Nintendo Switch App.
The Switch 2 Edition is available now.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
If Breath of the Wild opened up the world, Tears of the Kingdom blew it wide open.
This is the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, but it takes you way beyond the familiar surface of Hyrule.
There are three major layers to explore:
The Surface
The Hyrule you remember has changed quite a bit since Breath of the Wild.
The Sky
Floating islands are scattered above Hyrule, adding a whole new layer of exploration.
The Depths
A massive underground world sits beneath Hyrule, full of darkness, dangerous enemies, and mysterious locations.
Nintendo describes it as an adventure across the land, sky, and depths of Hyrule.
The Building System Changes Everything
One of the biggest differences between Tears of the Kingdom and earlier Zelda games is Link’s ability to manipulate objects.
You can combine things to build:
- Vehicles
- Flying machines
- Boats
- Weapons
- Bridges
- Platforms
- Contraptions
- Combat machines
That means two players can face the same problem and come up with completely different solutions. That creativity is a huge part of what makes Tears of the Kingdom feel so fresh.
Tears of the Kingdom on Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition improves the original with:
- Higher resolution
- Better frame rates
- Faster loading
- HDR
- Additional save functionality
- ZELDA NOTES support
Nintendo released the Switch 2 Edition on June 5, 2025.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Not every Zelda adventure needs a massive open world.
Link’s Awakening goes in the opposite direction.
The Nintendo Switch version is a charming remake of the classic, with a distinctive toy-like art style.
The story starts after Link’s ship gets caught in a storm. He wakes up on the mysterious island of Koholint.
But something’s off about the island. Link soon learns that escaping Koholint is tied to a strange entity called the Wind Fish.
Unlike Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Link’s Awakening is much more compact. It focuses on:
- Classic Zelda dungeons
- Puzzle solving
- Item progression
- Exploration
- Boss fights
- Character interactions
- Secrets
If you prefer classic Zelda design over huge open worlds, Link’s Awakening delivers a very different experience.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Skyward Sword HD brings one of the most important Zelda stories to Nintendo Switch.
The game originally launched on Wii, but Nintendo rebuilt it for Switch with better visuals and updated controls.
The story takes you to the origins of several key elements in Zelda mythology. Link starts his journey in Skyloft, a settlement floating high above the clouds. He eventually travels between Skyloft and the world below, uncovering an ancient story involving Zelda, the Master Sword, and a powerful evil.
Why Skyward Sword Is Important
The story is closely tied to the history of the Zelda universe. It explores the origins of the Master Sword and introduces characters and events that matter to the broader mythology.
The Switch version also gives you two control options: motion controls or button controls. That makes it much easier to play if you don’t want to rely on motion.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Echoes of Wisdom is one of the most unusual Zelda games on Switch because Princess Zelda is the playable hero.
Instead of Link being the one who rescues Zelda, the roles are flipped.
Link disappears after mysterious rifts start appearing across Hyrule. Zelda has to investigate and try to save the kingdom.
Her main tool is the Tri Rod. Rather than relying on traditional sword combat, Zelda can create “echoes” of objects and creatures she encounters. That means you can use the environment itself to solve puzzles and defeat enemies.
The game uses a visual style similar to the toy-like look of Link’s Awakening, but the gameplay is very different.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Nintendo Switch 2
One of the biggest Zelda releases coming to Nintendo Switch 2 is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Nintendo is rebuilding the classic Nintendo 64 adventure specifically for Switch 2.
The game releases on:
November 5, 2026
and is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
This isn’t just the original N64 game running through emulation. Nintendo says it’s built from the ground up for Switch 2.
It includes:
- Overhauled visuals
- Voiced cutscenes
- Expanded dialogue
- Symphonic orchestral music
- Enhanced controls
- Modern camera movement
- Jumping
- Dashing
- ZELDA NOTES support
The story follows young Link as he gets caught up in Ganondorf’s attempt to grab the Triforce and take over Hyrule. The Ocarina itself plays a big role, especially with the game’s famous time-travel mechanics.
Hyrule Warriors Games on Switch
The Zelda experience on Switch isn’t just traditional Zelda adventures. Nintendo also has the Hyrule Warriors games.
These are action-heavy spin-offs where you fight huge numbers of enemies on large battlefields.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity takes place around the events leading up to Breath of the Wild. It focuses on the Great Calamity and lets you play as characters like:
- Link
- Zelda
- The four Champions
- Impa
- Other playable characters
Instead of solving traditional dungeons, the focus is on large-scale combat against tons of enemies. The original Switch version is also playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition mixes Zelda characters and mythology with fast-paced Warriors gameplay. You can control a big selection of heroes and villains while battling waves of enemies. It supports one or two players on a single Switch system. It also includes content from previous versions, making it a hefty package for action-focused Zelda fans.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Nintendo Switch 2 also has another major Zelda Warriors game: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
Released on November 6, 2025, it explores the previously unseen story of the Imprisoning War referenced in Tears of the Kingdom. You can fight as characters including:
- Princess Zelda
- King Rauru
- Sonia
- Mineru
- Other legendary heroes
The game focuses on large-scale battles and includes cooperative-style character attacks called Sync Strikes.
Which Zelda Game Should You Play First?
There’s no single right way to get into the series. Your pick depends on what you’re in the mood for.
Want a huge open world?
Start with Breath of the Wild.
Want the biggest open-world Zelda adventure?
Try Tears of the Kingdom.
Prefer classic Zelda dungeons?
Link’s Awakening is a great choice.
Want Zelda mythology and motion-based origins?
Try Skyward Sword HD.
Want to play as Princess Zelda?
Go with Echoes of Wisdom.
Want a legendary classic rebuilt for modern hardware?
Ocarina of Time arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
Want massive battles instead of traditional exploration?
Try Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity or Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
Zelda Games on Switch vs Switch 2
Nintendo’s current lineup makes the distinction between Switch and Switch 2 increasingly important.
The original Nintendo Switch has major Zelda releases such as:
- Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom
- Link’s Awakening
- Skyward Sword HD
- Echoes of Wisdom
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
- Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
Nintendo Switch 2 adds enhanced versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, plus the rebuilt Ocarina of Time.
Nintendo’s official Zelda store page lists 15 Zelda games playable on Nintendo Switch and 5 associated with Nintendo Switch 2, though that category includes different editions and related titles, not just mainline adventures.
The Best Thing About Zelda on Switch
The best part of having Zelda on Switch isn’t just the number of games. It’s the variety.
You can go from the massive open world of Breath of the Wild to the compact, dungeon-focused design of Link’s Awakening. You can play as Link in Tears of the Kingdom, then switch perspectives entirely with Echoes of Wisdom and play as Zelda. You can explore the origins of Zelda mythology in Skyward Sword HD or experience the rebuilt Ocarina of Time when it hits Switch 2.
And if traditional exploration isn’t your thing, the Hyrule Warriors games offer a completely different, combat-focused take on the Zelda universe.
Final Thoughts
The Nintendo Switch generation has given The Legend of Zelda one of its broadest collections of playable adventures.
From the open-world freedom of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom to the classic structure of Link’s Awakening, there’s a Zelda experience for just about every kind of player.
The arrival of Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026 adds another major chapter, with Nintendo rebuilding the classic specifically for its newer hardware.
Whether you’re discovering Hyrule for the first time or returning after years away, the Switch family has become a remarkably convenient place to experience the Zelda series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Legend of Zelda available on Nintendo Switch?
Yes. Multiple Zelda games are available on Nintendo Switch, including Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Link’s Awakening, Skyward Sword HD, and Echoes of Wisdom. Nintendo also offers classic Zelda games through its Nintendo Classics services.
Is Tears of the Kingdom available on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes. Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on June 5, 2025, with improved resolution, frame rates, loading, and other Switch 2 features.
Is Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes. The Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is available with improved visuals, performance, faster loading, and ZELDA NOTES support.
Is Ocarina of Time coming to Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
Can you play as Zelda in a Zelda game on Switch?
Yes. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom puts Princess Zelda in the lead role and gives her the Tri Rod, which lets her create echoes of objects and creatures.
Which Zelda game is the sequel to Breath of the Wild?
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild.
