Highlights

  • A Link Between Worlds is a timeless game that remains as good today as it was when it was released 10 years ago, showcasing why Zelda shouldn't abandon the 2D format.
  • The game's 2D perspective, beautiful map, and simple combat make it charming and accessible for both kids and nostalgic adults.
  • A Link Between Worlds proves that the conventional 2D format still has merit and can push the Zelda franchise forward, even in the face of more ambitious open-world games like Breath of the Wild.

Few franchises in gaming can say they have a history and legacy quite as big and important as The Legend of Zelda. It's moved through several different revisions with each new piece of hardware, and with a few exceptions, has done so with grace since the very beginning. The 3DS was a big change for Nintendo, but it brought with it lots of worthwhile experiences, including The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

The game is now celebrating its tenth anniversary, and like the 1992 masterpiece that inspired it, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is as good today as the day it hit shelves and the eShop. It's timeless, and even after all these years, it's the best example of why Zelda shouldn't give up on the 2D format.

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Zeda Sequels A Link Between Worlds

It's easy to look at 2013's A Link Between Worlds and see a game that is imitating more than it is innovating. Its release was sandwiched between 2011's Skyward Sword and 2017's Breath of the Wild. Each of those games were big, bold, and polar opposites, and the 3DS outing largely served as a familiar, but fun interstitial where Zelda fans could seek comfort while the bigger games try to set a new standard. It succeeded in doing this, but its ability to hearken back to the past doesn't diminish its role in shaping the future.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds released in Europe and North America on November 22, 2013, the same day as the Xbox One.

The 2D perspective is charming, the map is beautiful, and the combat's simplicity was a draw rather than something that detracted from the experience. The story was cute, and the presentation being less serious than other games in the series made it suitable for kids, as well as adults looking for the nostalgic feel of last century's offerings. A Link Between Worlds is easy to pick up and play and instantly gives fans of the property something they can appreciate.

Link Between Worlds 10th Internal

Though A Link Between Worlds wears its inspiration from A Link to the Past like a badge of honor, its modern influences are easy to spot. It isn't entirely a throwback to the SNES classic as the art style and nonlinear approach to dungeons keep it firmly rooted in the 21st century. Link can purchase or buy dungeon items from Ravio's shop, only restricted by how many Rupees they cost. This means the game can be completed in any order instead of the traditional method of going from place to place in a pre-set sequence. It does well to make A Link Between Worlds feel modern, and though Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are vastly different products, they draw the same inspiration with the loose hand-holding to prioritize player freedom.

A Link Between Worlds is instrumental in understanding that there's merit in the old way of doing things. Its epic, but pocket-sized adventure is as good today as it was ten years ago. It might be a common belief that Zelda has outgrown the conventional 2D format, but there hasn't been a similarly designed, all-new game like it since A Link Between Worlds. One might think that Nintendo simply can't improve on it, which is testament to its continued quality.

While the 2019 Switch remake of Link's Awakening felt like a retro game with a gorgeous new skin, A Link Between Worlds is far from outdated. Its innovations can still be appreciated ten years after its release on the 3DS. It remains one of the best titles in the whole series, and the biggest proof that an all-new 2D Zelda game can push the franchise forward. The more ambitious open-world games are commendable in their own right, but it's clear with the top-down titles that The Legend of Zelda can provide a fun experience and tough challenge in more than one way.