The Nintendo Switch 2 still does not have access to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and it’s something that I want to see rectified immediately. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was Nintendo’s answer to the criticisms aimed at The Wind Waker‘s cartoony, cel-shaded art style. Twilight Princess was a return to the darker art style used in games like Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, with an older Link as the protagonist. It earned widespread critical acclaim and was even a cross-gen release, capping off the GameCube generation and serving as a launch title for the Wii.
I have a personal connection to Twilight Princess because without it, I don’t know that I would be writing about video games today. In 2006, I went through a phase where I stopped caring about video games. I was a teenager and was basically interested in dating and nothing else.
Nintendo Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Double Dip With The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
After the reveal that Zelda: The Wind Waker’s GameCube version would make its way to the Switch 2, Nintendo shouldn’t be afraid to double dip on it.
Twilight Princess Belongs on Switch
On Christmas break that year, I had nothing to do. My girlfriend at the time was out of town, and I was bored, so on a whim, I decided to rent The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the GameCube from Movie Gallery (RIP). I figured it would keep me entertained for a couple of days, but I honestly didn’t expect to play it much. Instead, I became completely and utterly engrossed. I could not stop playing, and by the time the credits rolled, I was obsessed with gaming yet again. I am always chasing the high of playing through Twilight Princess for the first time, and while I can never do that, I would love the opportunity to at least replay it on modern hardware.
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Unfortunately, Zelda: Twilight Princess is still not on Switch 2 at the time of this writing. The game received an HD remaster for the Wii U that I actually bought at launch, but never got around to playing it because of work-related gaming commitments. By the time I got to a point where I could reasonably make time to replay older games, years had passed, and I want to keep my sealed copy of the game with its Wolf Link amiibo and all. Beyond that, my Wii U is packed away, and I would simply prefer to play the game on the Switch or Switch 2.
There are multiple avenues for Nintendo to bring Twilight Princess to the Switch and Switch 2. One possibility is porting the HD remaster. In fact, a Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Switch port has been rumored for years, yet still hasn’t been officially announced. Another possibility is bringing the GameCube version of Twilight Princess to the Switch 2’s Nintendo Classics section. After all, Wind Waker‘s GameCube version is on Switch Online, so why not Twilight Princess?
Twilight Princess Isn’t the Only Zelda Unavailable on Switch 2
Thanks to Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics service and the fact that the Switch 2 is backward compatible with the Switch 1, the vast majority of main series Zelda games are readily available to play on Nintendo’s latest home console/handheld hybrid. But there are still missing games besides my beloved Twilight Princess.
List of Zelda Games Still Not on Switch 2
- Four Swords Adventures
- Twilight Princess
- Phantom Hourglass
- Spirit Tracks
- A Link Between Worlds
- Tri Force Heroes
Besides these, there are many Zelda spin-off games unavailable on modern hardware, plus the HD version of The Wind Waker that was released for Wii U. Here’s hoping that the Zelda 40th anniversary celebrations include announcements about when franchise fans can expect to see some of these classic games make the jump to Switch and Switch 2.
- Released
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November 19, 2006
- ESRB
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T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Engine
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Proprietary Engine









