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My First Love, The Legend of Zelda, Turns 40 Today — Here's Why I Think the Series Has Survived and Thrived
The franchise's extensive library spans classic and modern titles with many available through Nintendo Switch Online subscription services, appealing to diverse player preferences.
- On the series' 40th anniversary, The Legend of Zelda invites fans to replay classics or try new games, with many titles accessible on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
- Behind the availability, Nintendo's NSO and Expansion Pack provide access to NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Nintendo 64 including Majora's Mask for $20 and $50 respectively.
- Among handheld and console releases, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link's side-scrolling, Majora's Mask's 3-day loop, and Wind Waker's cell-shaded seas highlight series variety.
- Despite broad coverage, some Zelda games remain unavailable on Switch, and many classics require paid NSO tiers, making access uneven for fans and players.
- Beyond mainline entries, spinoffs and cameo appearances offer varied play styles, while enhanced editions with 4K visuals and Nintendo Switch 2 host The Wind Waker.
20 Articles
20 Articles
There's so much to learn from Zelda, even 40 years later
An artist can’t possibly know the long-term impact their work will have on the world when they first unveil it. All they can do is create something they truly believe in, let it loose, and hope that it resonates with someone. Who knows if it will be derided, forgotten, or celebrated? The most important step is getting the thing out there.
Our Legends of Zelda: Celebrating Hyrule’s 40th Anniversary with Our Favorite Zelda Memories
I would not be in this line of work without The Legend of Zelda. It’s my favorite franchise of all time – video game or otherwise – and it’s the series that will always draw me back into gaming and Nintendo, no matter what. My story is not unique; I know several IGN editors who feel the exact same way. It’s not a secret to anyone that Zelda is critically important to so many of us here: we’ve awarded seven different Zelda games a 10/10 since IGN…
On 21 February 1986, the cult video game was released in Japan. Twenty-five years later, on the occasion of an exhibition at the Grand Palais, the artists of the Zelda Team of Nintendo sent a gift from Kyoto to "Liber". Since it is Zelda's birthday, it is clear from the cartons.
Released in Japan on February 21, 1986, the founding episode of the series "The Legend of Zelda" still represents an essential model of video games mixing exploration, puzzles and discoveries.
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Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
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