Best Nintendo 3DS Zelda Games

The Legend of Zelda is one in all Nintendo’s most beloved & closely guarded franchises. It has graced practically each console because it premiered in 1986 in Japan. The one exception is the Digital Boy however that hardly counts.

Having all that being stated, often most consoles are solely fortunate sufficient to have one, perhaps two titles per system. The 3DS, however, had much more; granted, two video games have been remasters, one was a port from the Wii U, and some others have been outdated titles launched by way of the Digital Console. Nonetheless, the 3DS made it straightforward to take the Zelda classics on the go, however some are extra value the price of entry than others.

Up to date September 29, 2023, by Mark Sammut: This text with the greatest 3DS Zelda video games has been up to date to incorporate every recreation’s specs.

Hyperlink’s Awakening DX – No Rating

An up to date model of 1993’s Hyperlink’s Awakening for the Recreation Boy, the DX iteration debuted in 1998 on the Recreation Boy Coloration. Moreover a colour elevate, Hyperlink’s Awakening DX included a few tweaks and alterations, such because the introduction of a brand new photographer mechanic together with a facet quest to go along with it. There may be even a brand new dungeon designed particularly to benefit from the expanded colour palette provided by the GBC. In 2011, Hyperlink’s Awakening DX was launched on the 3DS’ Digital Console, making it available to a contemporary viewers.

Zelda DS Video games That Are Backward Suitable With The 3DS

• The Legend of Zelda:
  Spirit Tracks
  – 87

• The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
  – 90

Because the 2DS and 3DS have been designed to be backward appropriate with the Nintendo DS, the hand held consoles launched with lots of of implausible video games already of their libraries. Naturally, this choice included a few Legend of Zelda titles, together with the good Phantom Hourglass​​​​​​. Technically, these are usually not 3DS video games, however they need to be talked about since they are often skilled on the platform.

11 Hyrule Warriors Legends – 70

The New 3DS line of handhelds didn’t have many exclusives however this Wii U port of Hyrule Warriors was one in all them. It really did work on regular 3DS items, however poorly. No matter handheld one performed it on, the essential factor to notice right here is the brand new content material. The enlargement was primarily led by The Wind Waker.

The Wind Waker enlargement added story bits from the sport together with together with Tetra, Toon Hyperlink, and King Daphnes as playable characters. Not solely that however Linkle additionally bought her personal storyline. It was a great port of an already weird recreation. It is not the greatest 3DS Zelda recreation, however it’s value a attempt for die-hard Zelda followers on the lookout for a multiplayer expertise in Hyrule.

10 The Legend Of Zelda: Tri Drive Heroes – 73

The Legend of Zelda collection has been dabbling with multiplayer for nigh on many years now. All of it started with 4 Swords, which created a number of Hyperlinks. That’s how a lot of the multiplayer Zelda video games work, together with Tri Drive Heroes.

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Whereas attention-grabbing, none of those multiplayer outings have really nailed multiplayer. So as to get probably the most out of Tri Drive Heroes, one wants three mates. It may be performed alone however it’s cumbersome. It is from the greatest Zelda 3DS recreation, however a minimum of it had Obtain Play choices in order that just one individual wanted the sport.

9 Zelda 2: The Journey of Hyperlink – 73

The second Legend of Zelda recreation did not even use the title of the primary entry, not like different video games within the collection. Referred to as Zelda 2: The Journey Of Hyperlink, gamers are tasked with waking up the sleeping Zelda after she was cursed. It is a brutally laborious recreation that performs nothing like different Legend of Zelda video games because of its side-scrolling motion and experience-based leveling.

It is among the lowest-rated Legend of Zelda video games, partially resulting from its problem, however largely for its full deviation from the hallowed gameplay of the primary. The workforce rapidly went again to the top-down view with A Hyperlink To The Previous a number of years later, however it’s nonetheless value testing as one of many few Zelda video games for 3DS that do not use the basic Zelda formulation in any respect.

8 The Legend Of Zelda – 84

The one which began all of it, The Legend of Zelda was groundbreaking when it debuted on the NES. These days, the sport’s lack of path could be a bit off-putting to fashionable gamers, however the title’s dungeons maintain up pretty properly. If a comparatively new fan is trying to revisit the franchise’s pre-Ocarina of Time titles, The Legend of Zelda needs to be the second they fight after A Hyperlink To The Previous. Like many basic entries within the collection, Nintendo finally launch the NES masterpiece on the 3DS’s Digital Console.

7 The Legend Of Zelda: 4 Swords Anniversary Version – 85

DSiWare releases are primarily related to the DS, however since 4 Swords Anniversary Version debuted after the launch of the 3DS, the sport shall be talked about on this dialogue. Initially launched as a companion piece for the GBA’s A Hyperlink to the Previous, 4 Swords noticed Zelda embrace multiplayer as gamers labored their method by dungeons whereas attempting to gather rupees.

The Anniversary Version was solely obtainable for a few years, and the sport has not been downloadable since round 2014. This bundle not solely remastered the Recreation Boy Advance title but in addition included a single-player mode to make the title extra accessible.

6 The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap – 89

The Minish Cap is a particular case as, not like most different Digital Console releases, this title was solely obtainable to individuals who certified for the 3DS Ambassador Program. The unique Legend of Zelda was additionally a part of this initiative, however whereas that recreation finally garnered a standalone launch, The Minish Cap was not so fortunate. That stated, the sport was added to the Wii U Digital Console, so it was obtainable for some time.

5 The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Masks 3D – 89

Majora’s Masks is a divisive entry amongst Zelda followers. Together with being a shorter Zelda recreation than Ocarina of TIme, Majora’s Masks prioritized facet content material together with setting the sport on a 72-hour in-game timer that was all the time counting down.

Majora’s Masks 3D sought to make the expertise extra accessible, arguably making it the definitive model for contemporary players. One fortunately added function was the flexibility to avoid wasting and fast-travel extra typically. Whereas time constraints weren’t lifted (the timer is definitely sooner in Majora’s Masks 3D,) all of the quality-of-life additions make this difficult to note.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: A Hyperlink Between Worlds – 91

By and huge, A Hyperlink Between Worlds is the greatest Zelda 3DS recreation that’s its personal authentic IP, not a port. In some ways, it can also really feel like a remake as ALBW reuses plenty of A Hyperlink to the Previous’s world albeit barely altered. This recreation is the Majora’s Masks of A Hyperlink to the Previous in different phrases.

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Reused content material apart, the flexibility to go 2D and discover new areas between cracks was an immersive capacity that appears good in 3D besides. A Hyperlink Between Worlds additionally bucked the pattern for the collection by including in a store that allowed gamers to lease gear to sort out the dungeons in virtually any order. The story’s twist additionally made a great wink to the collection’ tried and true tropes.

3 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages & Oracle of Seasons – 92

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons have been launched back-to-back for the Recreation Boy Coloration with a port launched for 3DS in 2013, 12 years after the sport’s authentic launch. Each video games have been a “sequel” to Hyperlink’s Awakening, that includes a lot of the identical designs and gameplay as their predecessor.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons are two Zelda video games for 3DS that also maintain up in the present day. The one variations between the 2 are the colours within the recreation and their gameplay focus: Ages focuses on puzzles and endurance, whereas Seasons is all about preventing.

Whereas these video games shouldn’t have conventional pages on Metacritic, they are listed with a 92 here.

2 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D – 94

It was because of Ocarina of Time’s success on the 3DS that Majora’s Masks was even thought-about. The N64 authentic stays the best-reviewed Zelda of all time on high of being within the high ten greatest video games of all time on Metacritic. This 3DS remake is barely beneath that; nonetheless, scores apart, that is really the higher model. Just like the Majora’s Masks version, this recreation mounted some points like increasing the stock slot choices by way of a easy faucet of the underside display.

This made the Water Temple, as only one instance, a lot simpler to navigate. It additionally appears nice on the hand held. Is Ocarina of Time actually the perfect Zelda recreation of all time? Sure and no. It did so much for the franchise, however A Hyperlink to the Previous is up there as properly. As for the greatest 3DS Zelda recreation, these final three are positively value enjoying whereas the primary two have a number of caveats.

1 The Legend of Zelda: A Hyperlink To The Previous – 95

The Legend of Zelda: A Hyperlink To The Previous presently holds the best Metacritic rating of any Legend of Zelda recreation obtainable on the 3DS, and it is actually up there by way of the collection as a complete. After the relative failure of Zelda II: The Journey of Hyperlink, the Zelda collection was revived by this implausible third entry.

It’s a lengthy recreation rife with intrigue and fight and puzzle mechanics instantly impressed by the primary recreation. It is nonetheless held by some to be the perfect Zelda recreation ever made, regardless of it being practically 40 years outdated now, and it is one of many few 3DS Zelda video games value enjoying – even when the pixel-art graphics look just a little dated by in the present day’s requirements.

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