Can you play Wind Waker on Switch?

Wind Waker was one of the more divisive Legend of Zelda games when it hit the global scene back in 2003. The cartoony graphics and lengthy travel times in this seafaring adventure were an instant put-off for some. But over the years, this indirect sequel to the iconic Ocarina of Time has found a warm home in the hearts of an army of Zelda fans.

Yup, Wind Waker’s charm is practically impossible to resist. The art, the action, the music, the story – it all combines into arguably one of the best instalments in the LoZ franchise… so why are we still waiting for Wind Waker to port to the Switch?

Nintendo has ported so many other games from its extensive back catalog, it feels absolutely criminal at this point that Wind Waker has been left to gather dust on the Gamecube shelves.

So if that’s all you want, then here’s your answer: no, you can’t play Wind Waker on the Switch.

But if you want to explore this topic like any great Zelda quest, read on…
 

LoZ Wind Waker HD

Just like with Twilight Princess, Nintendo released an HD remaster of Wind Waker for the Wii U, though at least this time, it was a few years before the Switch arrived. Still, it hardly makes the hurt any less…

Rumors of a Switch Wind Waker have been tied to a Twilight Princess port since the Switch was released back in 2017 pretty much. And after the success of new Zelda games like Breath of the Wild and 2023’s Tears of the Kingdom, you’d be forgiven for thinking these fan favorite LoZ instalments were just around the corner.

Sadly, guard up, Link, because we’re going to burst your bubble a bit now…
 

The chances are looking mournfully slim. Especially since Eiji Aonuma, Zelda’s long-time Director/Producer, has openly said “We aren't really concerned with our older games anymore. We prefer to look to the future”.

Since TotK, rumors for both a Wind Waker and Twilight Princess Switch port have died down. And, until new whispers put wind back in our sails, so, we’re sad to say, has our hope (along with the majority of fans’ hope, too).

Maybe when Nintendo releases Switch 2, eh?

Is there a sneaky way to play Wind Waker on Switch?

We admire your moxy, bub, but no. The only way to play Wind Waker on Switch would involve time-traveling to a year when Nintendo has finally given us a Wind Waker Switch port, or discovering a magic lamp and using one of your genie’s benevolent wishes to make it so.

There is no way to play Wind Waker on Switch.

Dig around the internet enough and you’ll find plenty of stories from frustrated fans who’ve tried to emulate Wind Waker on their Switch and only got out a wildly unusable laggy excuse for a game.

Be patient and wait for a port. Though we do have one more tip below.

So where can you play Wind Waker in 2024?

The best way to play Wind Waker depends on your preferences (and what you can get hold of!). You’ll either need a Gamecube and the original release, or a Wii U and the Wind Waker HD remaster.

Since the Wii U eShop closed in March 2023, the only way to play Wind Waker these days is with a physical copy of either the original or remastered game.