The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

About The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Link wakes up on Koholint Island after his ship sinks during training. This 2019 remake by Grezzo brings that classic adventure to life with a fresh toy-like art style. You play as the hero in a single-player journey where animals talk and monsters roam freely. The game launched on Nintendo Switch on September 20, 2019, and is available on both Switch and Switch 2 platforms. It serves as a direct sequel to A Link to the Past while standing on its own. You explore a strange land filled with traps and dungeons to wake the Wind Fish. The story asks you to uncover why you are stranded away from Hyrule. Every corner of this island holds secrets or enemies ready for you.

Gameplay

You move Link through overworld areas and into sixteen unique dungeons using standard action controls. Each dungeon features a specific item that unlocks new paths or solves puzzles. You collect weapons like the hookshot and boomerang to defeat foes and open shortcuts. The remake lets you equip multiple items at once for better flexibility during combat. You can also review key conversations without interrupting your flow. Mini-games offer rewards like Super Mario dolls or Chamber Stones to build custom dungeons. Navigation feels smoother with a new map system that highlights points of interest. Sessions last hours as you hunt for hearts and collectibles in trap-ridden rooms.

What Players Think

Players and critics rate this remake highly with an 87 on Metacritic and an 84.6 from IGDB based on 301 ratings. The community mood leans heavily toward nostalgic satisfaction with a playful twist. Average playtime sits around 20 hours for a standard run while completionists spend closer to 35 hours finding every secret. Reviewers often mention the charming character interactions and the fun of creating Chamber Dungeons. Data shows that 78 percent of players finish the main story, which suggests strong engagement despite the puzzle difficulty spikes. The soundtrack arrangements receive frequent praise in user reviews for breathing new life into familiar tunes.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth your time if you want a polished adventure with solid puzzle mechanics. At its current price point on Switch or Switch 2, it offers over twenty hours of content plus extra mini-games. You can earn fifty-six achievements to track your progress through the world. The remake adds quality of life features without changing the core experience too much. It works best for people who enjoyed the original Game Boy title or those looking for a solid single-player game. Do not expect open-world freedom but do expect tight level design and memorable characters. Play it now before you forget how good that music sounds in stereo.

Storyline

After the events of A Link to the Past, the hero Link travels by ship to other countries to train for further threats. After being attacked at sea, Link's ship sinks and he finds himself stranded on Koholint Island. He awakens to see a beautiful woman looking down at him and soon learns the island has a giant egg on top of a mountain that the Wind Fish inhabits deep inside. Link is told to awaken the wind fish and all will be answered, so he sets out on another quest.