Switch 2 Is The End Of An Era For An Iconic Nintendo Series

There’s no doubt that The Legend of Zelda franchise made history on the Nintendo Switch with the release of Breath of the Wild. This massive open-world game even went on to inspire the gaming industry as a whole, as several games that were released following it attempted to capture some of the elements that made BOTW so special.

Following that, Tears of the Kingdom expanded upon this iconic world even further, and even Zelda got her very own release on the Switch with Echoes of Wisdom. Unfortunately, while it’s been a great time to be a Zelda fan these last few years, this does ultimately leave the franchise in a bit of an awkward position heading into the Nintendo Switch 2 era.

Zelda Is Set For A Big Transition On Switch 2

Following TOTK & Echoes Of Wisdom, It’s Clear That Players Are Ready For Something New

Although we have yet to hear any word on what’s next for Zelda in terms of the Nintendo Switch 2, it seems pretty clear that Nintendo is going to be looking to try something new, rather than continue with the same ideas that they presented players on the Nintendo Switch.

Anyone who was around for the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild knows that, as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch, it undoubtedly played a significant role in initial console sales. Then, with the big release of Tears of the Kingdom happening in 2023 toward the end of the Switch’s lifespan, it was obvious at this point that Zelda was the series that defined the Switch.

That being said, TOTK wasn’t without its criticisms, as many found the game to be a bit too similar to BOTW, which ultimately led to burnout for a lot of players, and made it clear that the franchise would need to do something entirely new on the Switch 2 to re-capture their attention.

Zelda’s Switch Era Couldn’t Last Forever

Breath of the Wild Captured Lightning In A Bottle, But It’s Time To Say Goodbye

Although I wasn’t one of the many who bought a Nintendo Switch at launch, as I was a bit skeptical of Nintendo following the Wii U, even I was ultimately convinced to take the plunge just because of Breath of the Wild. Unlike previous Zelda games, BOTW presented Hyrule in a way we’d never seen before, with a massive open-world landscape and new interpretations of the Zelda formula that we were previously familiar with.

While it had every potential to be a major miss by Nintendo, as revamping major IPs can often trigger negative reactions from nostalgic fans, it seemed that almost everyone was on board with Nintendo taking a risk here. Then, following that success, Nintendo released the direct sequel, TOTK, to expand on that same world that players had become so invested in.

Although TOTK was heavily praised, and still is, for building on BOTW‘s foundation and adding gameplay elements that allowed players to finish the game by whatever means they could come up with, it also highlighted a glaring problem. As great as TOTK was, it lost the wonder element that BOTW had and made it clear that a direct sequel to TOTK would be the worst move for Nintendo to make.

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After 300 Hours In Zelda: BOTW, I Finally Figured Out Why I Like It More Than TOTK

After playing Breath of the Wild for over 300 hours, I have come to the conclusion that it is far superior to TOTK, and for one particular reason.

Of course, these weren’t the only Zelda releases on the Switch either, as Zelda ended up with her own Switch game as well, right at the tail end of the Switch’s lifespan. Unfortunately, while Zelda’s game, Echoes of Wisdom, was meant to target the audience of the Link’s Awakening remake, since they had a similar art and gameplay style, not many players were thrilled with it.

Overall, Echoes of Wisdom was seen as cute but simplistic and didn’t really stand out the way that Nintendo might’ve hoped it would. This reaction only further emphasized that players were ready to step away from Zelda games that feel like a rehash of something they’ve already experienced before and instead wanted something more original.

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Tears Of The Kingdom & Echoes Of Wisdom May Have Accidentally Started A New Zelda Gameplay Trend

Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom break a lot of traditional Zelda rules, and that shift in the formula might not go away any time soon.

So, that now leaves Nintendo with only one real option: start from the ground up. Like Breath of the Wild, Nintendo needs to work on reinventing the Zelda formula once again and do something fresh that remains faithful to key elements of the overall franchise if they hope to see a similar response from fans in the future.

The Future Of Zelda Is A Mystery For Now

The Nintendo Switch 2 Will See Its Own Unique Zelda Era, But It’s Unclear What That Will Look Like

Unfortunately, there’s no way to know for sure what Nintendo is planning at this point, but it seems likely that whatever is next for Zelda is probably in development already. However, given that Tears of the Kingdom was only released a few years ago, and Echoes of Wisdom was just last year, I doubt there’s any rush to get something out right away.

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The New Zelda Game On Switch 2 Must Borrow One Key Feature From One Of Zelda’s Most Overlooked Games

One Zelda game flew under the radar compared to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but it has an important narrative device for the series.

Not only that, but with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza being major games for the Switch 2 at the moment, Nintendo likely wants to give some of its other franchises a chance to breathe before launching a game that will overshadow everything else. Especially with Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and at some point, Gen 10, also launching on the Switch 2.

Of course, Zelda hasn’t gone completely ignored on the Switch 2 either, as both BOTW and TOTK got Switch 2 upgrades that enhanced the overall game and added new features. These upgrades, which are now technically Metacritic‘s first and second best games of 2025, have caused tons of players to revisit the series, giving Nintendo even more time to work on the next entry.

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Breath Of The Wild On Switch 2 Is Proof Nintendo Doesn’t Understand Its Fans Anymore

The Nintendo Switch 2’s version of the critically acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild shows Nintendo doesn’t understand its fans.

Overall, Nintendo certainly has a challenge ahead, but if it hopes to achieve even remotely the same success that it did with BOTW, The Legend of Zelda game on the Switch 2 will need to be something that completely re-imagines this beloved franchise in a way that will astonish both new and returning players. Of course, that’s easier said than done, since I’m one of those players, and even I’m unsure what exactly it is that I want from the franchise at this point.

Sources: Metacritic

Movie(s)

The Legend of Zelda (Live-Action)

Created by

Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka

The Legend of Zelda franchise follows the adventures of Link, an elf-like Hylian, and Princess Zelda as they protect the land of Hyrule from the evil warlord-turned-demon king Ganon. The series is known for its mix of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving elements, often revolving around the collection of the Triforce, a powerful relic left by the goddesses who created Hyrule. Each game features different incarnations of Link and Zelda, maintaining core elements while introducing new characters and settings.