This 22-Year Old Zelda Spin-Off Proves Nintendo's Series Is Missing Out On One Crucial Market

While these titles may have gone on to define subsequent entries in the Zelda series, not all game-changing ideas seem to stick. One of these ideas is multiplayer, which Nintendo has experimented with for only a few games in the Zelda series. However, the idea of a multiplayer Zelda game arguably holds the most potential for future entries in the series. In fact, Nintendo's first attempt at a co-op Zelda game provides a great showcase for how the series could finally break into the multiplayer market, providing an entirely original experience in the process.

Zelda Multiplayer Games Haven't Been Very Successful

Nintendo Doesn't Show The Same Ambition With Zelda Multiplayer Games

While Zelda multiplayer games have been around for quite some time, none of them have managed to find huge success. Starting with Four Swords in 2002, which was released as a side mode alongside a port of A Link to the Past, the series boasts only 3 mainline co-op entries, with the last title, Tri Force Heroes, releasing all the way back in 2015. Moreover, despite all three games being well-received, each title had some issues that hindered their overall potential.

For starters, some of the Zelda multiplayer games had some huge barriers to entry that limited their overall accessibility. Four Swords Adventures is the most notorious example, with players requiring the game, a GameCube and 4 Game Boy Advance devices with their own link cables in order to enjoy the full experience, creating a logistical nightmare for Zelda fans. Meanwhile, despite the games taking heavy inspiration from previous Zelda entries in gameplay and presentation, each title opted for a more rigid, level-based structure compared to the freedom that other entries granted to players.

There was a clear lack of enthusiasm from Nintendo to push multiplayer further within the Zelda series. The linear structure and reliance on elements of previous titles made for some generally fun Zelda games that lacked the same sense of ambition that so many other entries have demonstrated. Add that to its lack of accessibility, and it becomes even more clear how these titles are among the worst-selling games in Zelda's 39-year history.

Zelda Multiplayer Has A Lot Of Potential

Four Swords Is Proof Of What A Zelda Multiplayer Game Could Accomplish

The lack of Zelda multiplayer games is a shame, as they bolster a huge amount of potential. The idea of a co-op adventure game fits perfectly with the Zelda series' emphasis on experimentation and exploration, with the increased number of players adding an extra level of chaos to the traditional gameplay. Moreover, Zelda multiplayer games could arguably elicit a greater sense of discovery and achievement, as these feelings are now part of a shared experience between multiple players at once, creating a sense of community that a single-player title couldn't offer.

Four Swords is a great example of the hidden potential within Zelda multiplayer games, offering a great template for future games to build upon. While the side mode adopts the same basic structure for every playthrough, the dungeons that the players must traverse through are randomly generated each time, making each adventure different from the last. Players are not only given a constant sense of curiosity that comes with exploring the unknown, but the constantly rearranging dungeons place greater emphasis on teamwork and communication in order to proceed.

It's that camaraderie required to succeed that gives Zelda multiplayer games a unique edge compared to other entries. When Four Swords is at its best, the game captures that excitement and emphasis on exploration that other Zelda titles provide, while allowing it to be shared between multiple players at once. This singular side mode is proof of the potential for a Zelda multiplayer game to provide a truly special adventure if Nintendo is willing to put the same ambition it gives to the series' single-player offerings.

What A New Zelda Multiplayer Game Should Be Like

Future Entries Should Grant More Freedom to Players

There are many ways in which Nintendo could improve on its previous attempts to create an incredible Zelda multiplayer experience. For starters, a new Zelda multiplayer game should abandon the linear level-based structure in exchange for a more open gameplay experience. While a world on the scale of a game like Breath of the Wild could be far too daunting, players should be granted more freedom to explore in the same way many single-player Zelda titles allow, while emphasizing the need for teamwork and communication to avoid complete catastrophe.

Moreover, a multiplayer game provides a perfect opportunity for the Zelda series to explore certain other genres and playstyles. For example, Four Swords's randomly generated dungeons could be utilized as part of a roguelike co-op Zelda game. Having players traverse a completely new world with each attempt maintains that sense of discovery and urge to explore while creating a unique challenge unlike what the series has seen before, once again demonstrating that level of ambition that previous multiplayer entries were sorely lacking.

Of course, future Zelda multiplayer titles will see greater success with better accessibility, something more accomplishable with online play, while a new entry should allow for multiple players on a single system. With a far more attentive and ambitious approach from Nintendo, the Zelda series could see the same success with its multiplayer titles in the same way as its single-player offerings. It would not only elevate the series' status as a franchise willing to experiment and challenge conventions, but it would also deliver an entirely original Legend of Zelda experience in the process.