Why Nintendo Should Unleash a Flood of Non-Canon Zelda Spinoffs

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For nearly four decades, “The Legend of Zelda” has stood as one of Nintendo’s most iconic series, dating back to its initial release in 1986. Across this timeframe, a total of twenty primary installments have been launched on at least ten distinct Nintendo platforms, with eight additional high-definition remasters or adaptations. However, even with these substantial numbers, enthusiasts of “The Legend of Zelda” frequently express a desire for more content within the series.

In other words, the “The Legend of Zelda” series typically launches a new game approximately every two years, with occasional remasters or updates. Although some fans appreciate the gap between releases, others desire more frequent installments. Nintendo could potentially find a middle ground by concentrating on non-canonical spinoffs similar to games like “Cadence of Hyrule” and “Hyrule Warriors”.

The Argument for The Legend of Zelda to Receive More Non-Canon Spinoffs

More Spinoffs Would Continue to Cement Zelda as a Flagship Nintendo Franchise

Although “The Legend of Zelda” is a long-standing, iconic series for Nintendo, it doesn’t produce games as frequently as the “Mario” franchise does. While the intervals between major “Mario” releases may stretch up to five years, there are consistently numerous spinoff “Mario” titles in development, ensuring that at least one new “Mario” game is launched every year.

Regardless if it’s a new installment of one of Mario’s diverse sports series such as Mario Kart, a fresh 2D or 3D adventure featuring Mario himself, or an offshoot title like Luigi’s Mansion or WarioWare, there’s always a new Mario game on the horizon that gamers eagerly anticipate. Despite The Legend of Zelda franchise being widely popular and its characters being well-known within the gaming community, it could potentially benefit from more regular exposure.

The Legend of Zelda Franchise is Ripe for More Diverse Experiences

The “Legend of Zelda” series, spanning various decades, has assumed numerous forms, ranging from a 2D dungeon-exploring game to a dynamic 3D action-adventure, and even pioneering an expansive open-world format. However, these are merely the beginning of the potential manifestations that “The Legend of Zelda” can take on.

In the past, spin-off titles such as “Cadence of Hyrule”, “Hyrule Warriors”, and even “Link’s Crossbow Training” have demonstrated the versatility of the “Legend of Zelda” series when it ventures into various gameplay styles. It also suggests that freedom from strict adherence to canon allows developers more creative leeway within the franchise.

While some elements within “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity” are officially recognized as part of the series’ lore, many fans tend to view the game’s narrative with a degree of skepticism.

There are numerous opportunities for expanding the Zelda series. Nintendo might consider creating a fighting game or side-scrolling beat-em-up based on Zelda. Alternatively, they could develop a sports game set in the Zelda universe, provided it’s given a suitable backstory. Moreover, many capable studios within Nintendo, such as ArtePiazza (responsible for the 2023 Super Mario RPG remake) and Intelligent Systems (creators of WarioWare), could be tasked with experimenting with the Zelda intellectual property.

It Would Probably Be Financially Beneficial for Nintendo to Release More Zelda Spinoffs

It might be surprising to know that not many spin-off games from the series “Zelda” have been launched in recent times. Besides the controversial CD-i Zelda games and some DS games starring Tingle, the only spin-offs include Cadence of Hyrule, Link’s Crossbow Training, and the two Hyrule Warriors titles.

As a devoted fan, I must say that these spin-offs have held their own quite impressively in the gaming world. For instance, it’s estimated that “Link’s Crossbow Training” moved around 5.7 million units, while “Hyrule Warriors” and its editions/ports came close to the 2 million mark. The latest Zelda spin-off, “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity,” has already surpassed 4 million sales! Granted, they may not reach the astronomical figures of “Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (32.29 million as of September 2024), but they’re comparable to many of Mario’s sports spinoffs, which is nothing to sneeze at!

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2025-01-22 00:55