The Legend of Zelda fans have been waiting anxiously for Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD to come to the Nintendo Switch, and while no official plans have been announced at the time of this writing, hopefully 2026 is when Nintendo finally decides to pull the trigger. The Legend of Zelda remains one of the most popular video game franchises in the world, so it's a shame that some of its best games are trapped on older hardware.

While Wii U fans waited for Breath of the Wild, Nintendo released gorgeous HD remasters of The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess to help tide them over. The remasters gave the GameCube classics high-definition makeovers and made other notable improvements, with Wind Waker HD streamlining the controversial Triforce quest and making it possible for players to sail faster than they could in the original. Twilgith Princess HD also made quality-of-life improvements that resulted in an overall better-paced game compared to the 2006 game.

New Theory Suggests Zelda: Wind Waker Could Be Coming to the Switch
With Wind Waker and Twilight Princess HD Rumors, Another Zelda Port Would Complete The Trifecta

Rumors are flying that a few GameCube Zelda adventures will be making a comeback, and one greatly deserves another chance at life.

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Nintendo ported nearly every major Wii U game to the Switch, and so many fans assumed that Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD would just be a matter of time. Rumors have persisted for years that the Zelda remasters are on the way for the Switch and some claims have been made that the ports are even ready to go, with Nintendo just waiting for the right time to pull the trigger. With no new Zelda game confirmed for 2026, next year may very well be the best time to finally bring the HD remasters of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess to not just the Switch, but the Switch 2 as well.

The original version of The Wind Waker is playable on the Switch through the Switch Online Expansion Pack on the Switch 2, but the improvements made in the remaster are significant enough that it's easy to see many Switch 2 gamers pick up the new game anyway. Beyond that, there is still a massive install base for the original Switch console, and they have no way of playing Wind Waker. Twilight Princess is completely unavailable on the Switch or the Switch 2, and so it would be an even bigger deal if the HD version of that game was ported. At the very least, one has to imagine that the GameCube version could eventually come to Switch Online like Wind Waker did.

Some kind of Zelda game has been released every year since 2023. Tears of the Kingdom dropped in 2023, and Echoes of Wisdom followed in 2024. The Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom launched in 2025. Chances are Nintendo will want to release something for Zelda fans to buy in 2026 as well, and unless there's a brand-new game in the franchise it has up its sleeve, the HD remasters of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess could perfectly fill the void.

Every Zelda Game You Can Play on Switch and Switch 2

  • The Legend of Zelda
  • Adventure of Link
  • A Link to the Past
  • Link's Awakening (original and remake)
  • Ocarina of Time
  • Majora's Mask
  • Oracle of Seasons
  • Oracle of Ages
  • Four Swords
  • The Minish Cap
  • Wind Waker (Switch 2 only)
  • Skyward Sword
  • Breath of the Wild
  • Echoes of Wisdom
  • Tears of the Kingdom

At the time of this writing, there are 15 main series Zelda games playable on the Switch 2, and 14 playable on the original Switch. Co-op GameCube game Four Swords Adventures, DS titles Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, 3DS games A Link Between Worlds and Tri Force Heroes, and Twilight Princess are the only ones that are missing. Maybe DS games will eventually come to Switch online and that's how Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks can get their time back in the spotlight. Four Swords Adventures' best path to Switch would also be through Switch Online, though that would mean it's only available to Switch 2 gamers. The 3DS games probably need remasters (ports of the 3DS Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask remakes would also be greatly appreciated), and considering the general disdain the fandom has for Tri Force Heroes, it may be one Zelda game that is forever trapped on older hardware.

2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Zelda franchise, which makes it the perfect time to bring these classic games to modern consoles.

Regardless, it would be nice to have the entire main series Legend of Zelda franchise playable on one system. Time will tell if that will ever happen, but ports of Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD aren't unreasonable. Hopefully they finally make their way to the Switch and Switch 2 next year, and if not, here's hoping Nintendo has still some surprises in store for Zelda fans to celebrate the beloved franchise's big 40th anniversary.

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The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Tag Page Cover Art

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

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Action
Adventure
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Released
November 19, 2006
ESRB
T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Engine
Proprietary Engine
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WHERE TO PLAY

PHYSICAL
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Genre(s)
Action, Adventure