10 Overlooked Zelda Games To Play While Waiting For Echoes Of Wisdom (2024)

The Legend of Zelda's next entry has been revealed to be Echoes of Wisdom. However, the release date is far away, and there won't be any other game updates or additions to the series in the meantime. As a result, it's the perfect time to look to the past and play games that may have been overlooked.

As a series that's been active for decades, Zelda has no shortage of games set across its branching, convoluted timeline. Naturally, there are some games that stick out from the rest as the favorites, but they're far from the only options. These games, on the other hand, often end up being forgotten or brushed aside, but they're still worth trying out while waiting for Echoes of Wisdom.

10 Spirit Tracks Puts Link & Zelda On A Journey Together

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks was the second game in the series released for the Nintendo DS. This means that it makes use of both screens, the touchpad and stylus, and the mic as part of the game's mechanics. However, some of those mechanics aren't as smooth or intuitive as they could've been, and that makes some sections of the game a bit harder to get through, especially parts that involve the train whistle.

In this game, Link worked to become a train conductor, and it seemed like he almost had a normal life. However, evil finds a way, and Zelda is betrayed because Chancellor Cole wants to use her body to bring back Malladus. With her spirit separated from her body, she relies on help from Link to stop Malladus, providing aid along the way by possessing enemies and fighting in their bodies.

9 Link Gains The Ability To Shrink In The Minish Cap

Another game for a handheld system, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap was released for the Game Boy Advance. This game ended up overlooked for a long time for a few reasons, and the biggest one might just be how difficult it was to track down a cartridge before its re-release on the Wii U Virtual Console. Now, it's easier to play since being added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack classic games library.

Chronologically, Minish Cap is the second in the timeline, taking place after the events of Skyward Sword. After Vaati traps Zelda by turning her into stone and unleashes monsters into Hyrule, Link teams up with Ezlo, a magical hat, and starts his journey to restore the Picori Blade. Not only is this a story about helping Zelda and Hyrule, but it also tells about the creation of the Four Sword, a prominent item in the following game in the timeline.

8 Four Swords Provides A Unique Multiplayer Experience

Four Swords isn't exactly its own game, but instead a portion of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It makes up a unique section of the game that's multiplayer-only, which isn't seen in most Zelda titles. As part of A Link to the Past, the way to play this title was on the Game Boy Advance, but it later received its own port on DSiWare with new content and a single-player mode for its anniversary.

As a multiplayer game, the mechanics and style of Four Swords are different compared to the standard single-player modes. The Four Sword divides Link into four Links, and each one can only carry a single item at any one time, meaning that items have to be swapped out through the use of pedestals and used strategically, since Link can't just keep them in his inventory. To add a bit of competition, each player fights to gather Rupees, which aren't shared across all four Links.

7 Oracle Of Seasons Sends Link To Holodrum

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons was released for the Game Boy Color, but it's now available on Nintendo Switch Online, making it more accessible than it used to be. Link's central item for this journey is the Rod of Seasons, which lets Link change the seasons and affect the surrounding environment. The result is a unique approach to the types of puzzles that are included in the game.

In Oracle of Seasons, Link is called by the Triforce and taken to a dark forest where he finds Din, the Oracle of Seasons. However, she's kidnapped by Onox shortly after meeting Link and sealed into a crystal, which results in the Temple of Seasons sinking and causes the seasons to keep changing. From here, it's Link's task to gather essences capable of creating a seed that cleanses evil, which is crucial for rescuing Din.

6 Oracle Of Ages Takes Link To Labrynna

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages is connected to Oracle of Seasons, and it was also released for Game Boy Color, then later re-released on Nintendo Switch Online. This time, Link's key item is the Harp of Ages, which lets him travel between the past and present. In essence, the harp is similar to the Ocarina of Time, but it focuses on switching between the past and present instead of allowing him to teleport to various locations.

Just like in Oracle of Seasons, the Triforce calls Link and leads him to meet with Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. Instead of being sealed in crystal, Nayru is possessed by Veran, a sorceress who wants to kill the Maku Tree. Herpossession of Nayru disrupts the flow of time, and Link has to collect essences to both save Nayru and create a seed that lets him enter Veran's tower.

5 Phantom Hourglass Captures The Essence Of The Wind Waker

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass takes place before Spirit Tracks, and it was also released on the Nintendo DS. This means that it also makes use of elements unique to the DS, such as the touchscreen and stylus. As for its setting, Link travels between islands in the World of the Ocean King, which makes the world feel similar to The Wind Waker's Great Sea (the two oceanic regions are adjacent), and Tetra even makes an appearance as Link's friend.

Set after the events of Wind Waker, Link travels around the Great Sea with Tetra and comes across the Ghost Ship. Tetra is captured inside the ship, but Link is unable to help her and instead falls into the ocean, later washing ashore on an island where he meets characters willing to help him rescue Tetra. In order to rescue her, Link has to use the Phantom Hourglass, which helps him find the spirits in the Temple of the Ocean King that are needed to save her.

4 Link Travels Between Hyrule And Lorule In A Link Between Worlds

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is set some time after the events of A Link to the Past. It was released for the Nintendo DS, and even received a sequel two years after its release called Tri Force Heroes. In this game, the primary feature is Link's ability to become 2D and merge into walls, which lets him enter Lorule as well as explore areas that would otherwise be inaccessible to him.

In the beginning of A Link Between Worlds, Link, a blacksmith's apprentice, simply takes the task of delivering a sword to Hyrule Castle, and he ends up starting a journey to fight against Yuga. Link ends up with the Pendant of Courage and a curse that lets him merge onto walls, both of which are required for his goal of helping both Hyrule and Lorule against Yuga. Unfortunately, a history of war combined with present day betrayal and theft make this a difficult task for Link.

3 Tri Force Heroes Makes Another Attempt At Multiplayer Gameplay

Set after A Link Between Worlds, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes tries to bring a multiplayer experience to the Nintendo 3DS by using a similar set-up to Four Swords. In this game, three variations of Link need to work together to solve puzzles, and each one starts a level with different items, meaning that some strategizing is required to help each other make progress. Unfortunately, the online matchmaking functionality could make playing this game a bit difficult.

Tri Force Heroes takes place before the Era of Decline on the branch of the timeline that results in Link's failure in Ocarina of Time. However, Tri Force Heroes' setting and story are much more lighthearted compared to other titles, and it has a focus on fashion due to taking place in the fashion-obsessed kingdom of Hytopia. In this game, Link has to solve the crisis of Hytopia's princess being cursed with wearing a jumpsuit.

2 Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity Brings The Action To Hyrule

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a hack-and-slash game like its prequel, Hyrule Warriors, and it expands on the world of Breath of the Wild. Most of thegameplay revolves around large battles and strategic objectives, but there are also puzzles that require the use of items from Breath of the Wild, such as the Sheikah Slate and paraglider. Additionally, Link isn't the only option for playable characters, and even Divine Beasts can be controlled and used against enemies.

Time travel and alternate timelines play a role in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and as a result, it provides a happy ending that can help ease the pain that the Champions went through in Breath of the Wild. When a Guardian is sent back from the future and warns Hyrule about Calamity Ganon's return, the kingdom is able to prepare. The Guardian also plays a crucial role in summoning help from the future that changes the fate of several characters.

1 Changes From The First Game Make Zelda 2 Overlooked

Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link took a different path from the first game in the series, and a lot of the gameplay elements that it featured haven't been included in a main game since then. Zelda 2 shifted to put a much heavier focus on RPG elements compared to its predecessor. In a lot of ways, it seems inspired by Castlevania due to the side scrolling style and system that had Link gain experience points and gave him limited numbers of lives.

In Zelda 2, Link gains a mark that looks like the Hyrule Crest on the back of his hand, and he searches for Impa to get answers. This leads to Impa revealing that the original Princess Zelda is trapped in a sleeping spell, but still alive and sealed behind a door that Link is now able to open due to the mark on his hand. From there, Link takes the task of waking up Zelda from her enchanted sleep.

As a series that has lasted for decades and continues to produce incredible games, there are a lot of gems that end up overlooked in favor of the most popular titles. Although some of them are more difficult to find now due to age and the systems they originally released on, Nintendo Switch Online helps out by providing access to older games. With a new game on the horizon, playing overlooked games can help pass the time while waiting for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Franchise

The Legend of Zelda

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

September 26, 2024

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Genre(s)

Adventure

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+