Summary
- Switch could see another Zelda remake before a successor launches in 2025, filling a gap in major releases with classic titles.
- Nintendo may release a remastered Zelda game in 2024 to extend Switch's life, following a trend of core Zelda game releases.
- Likely candidates for a Switch release in 2024 include Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, Ocarina of Time, and Majora's Mask.
The Legend of Zelda series has had a huge presence on the Nintendo Switch, which isn't surprising given how big of a franchise it is for Nintendo. Titles like Breath of the Wild, Link's Awakening, Skyward Sword HD, and, most recently, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, have proven to be some of the most popular releases for the console. However, there is still room for another release from the series on the Switch, and as the console's life winds down, now is the perfect time for another Zelda remake or remaster to cap off the Switch's excellent library.
Although Nintendo hasn't officially confirmed its existence, rumors suggest that the company is planning to launch the successor to the Switch in early 2025. As such, it makes sense that the Switch will see fewer major releases this year, with Nintendo likely prepping the Switch 2 to have more exciting titles ready for its launch. To fill this gap in major releases, Nintendo seems to be focusing on remakes and remasters of classic titles, such as Super Mario RPG and the upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, so the Zelda franchise could easily see another release before the next console launches.
A Zelda Remake or Remaster Could Help Fill Out the Switch's Final-Year Line-Up
Despite having just released Tears of the Kingdom in 2023, Nintendo could bolster its 2024 line-up with another Zelda game and help extend the Switch's waning life until its successor is ready for release. Nintendo has followed the trend of releasing a core Zelda game on the Switch every two years or so, beginning with Breath of the Wild in 2017, then Link's Awakening in 2019, Skyward Sword HD in 2021, and Tears of the Kingdom in 2023. While that might disqualify 2024 from seeing a new Zelda release, it is possible that a simple remastered entry in the franchise would be feasible to release in such a short time.
As it stands, Nintendo seems to be lacking a major release for the Holiday 2024 season, now that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has a confirmed release date of May 23 and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD has a confirmed release date of June 27. Some rumors are circulating that say Nintendo is planning to launch the highly-anticipated Metroid Prime 4 later this year, which would be a fitting swansong for the Switch. However, the company may want to keep it as a launch title for the Switch 2, opening the door for something like a remastered Zelda game to fill that Holiday 2024 release slot.
Zelda Games that Would Be Perfect for a Remake or Remaster in 2024
The Zelda series has a lot of great candidates for a remake or remaster, and the diversity between the different eras of the franchise means they will all likely appeal to a wide range of audiences. Remaking a game in the cute, clay-like art style of Link's Awakening's Switch remake would be perfect for other classic handheld entries like the Game Boy Color's Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, or the Game Boy Advance's Minish Cap. Although they have been remastered on the 3DS already, getting HD versions of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask would also be a very welcome addition to the Switch's library.
However, the most likely candidates to see a release on the Switch in 2024 are Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD, as they've been rumored to be coming to the Switch for some time. Both of those titles were remastered for the Wii U, and with how many Wii U games Nintendo has ported to the Switch, they seem like obvious omissions that many fans believe deserve to come to the console. The work of remastering them has already been done, so it wouldn't take much to get them ready for a Switch release, and Nintendo could even bundle them together like they did with the Super Mario 3D All-Stars compilation.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Franchise
- The Legend of Zelda
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
- How Long To Beat
- 59 Hours
- Metascore
- 96
