Forgotten Retro Zelda Game Leaked for Switch

by

A previously unknown game from the classic The Legend of Zelda series, called The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets, might be released on the Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, according to a recent leak. The Legend of Zelda franchise is celebrating its 40th anniversary this February, having first launched in Japan on the Famicom in 1986. While most Zelda games have been incredibly popular, this 16-bit title is largely unfamiliar to fans.

The original Zelda games arrived in the West during the 1980s and offered very different ways to play. The first game had a simple overhead view, with little story or interaction. Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link completely changed things up, featuring challenging side-scrolling levels and towns full of people Link could talk to. When the Super Nintendo came out, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in 1991 pushed the series forward with imaginative dungeons, improved combat, and new items like the Hookshot.

16-Bit Zelda Game from 1997 May Finally Release Outside Japan

Image via ObscureVideoGames

Following the popular Nintendo 64 games Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, there was a lesser-known 16-bit Zelda game that continued the story of A Link to the Past. However, this game, The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets, was only released in very small numbers outside of Japan. Recent reports from leaker Nash Weedle suggest it might be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. Nintendo hasn’t officially announced anything about this previously obscure Zelda title, but if the rumors are true, fans could be in for something special.

Released in 1997, six years after A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets was built using the same technology, characters, and world as the earlier 16-bit game, and played similarly. It did, however, feature new dungeons and a story that took place several years after Ganon’s defeat. This game was unique because it could only be played on a Super Famicon console connected to a Satellaview system. It was released in four weekly episodes, each playable for about an hour, and players had a limited time to access them. The game also included timed events and a scoring system where players could win real prizes based on their performance during each play session.

Image via Etsy

Something unique about The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets is that it didn’t feature Link as the main character. Instead, players controlled the Hero of Light, and their character’s appearance was based on the profile they created using the now-defunct BS-X Broadcasting System. While that system is gone, Nintendo has continued to offer personalized gaming experiences through features like Miis, which started on the Wii. Converting Miis into 16-bit sprites for a new game could be a fairly straightforward process.

Image via Nintendo

If The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets does come to the Switch 2, the unique features that made the original game stand out could actually be a good thing. Last year, Dispatch from AdHoc Studio was a big hit, and releasing it in episodes between October 22nd and November 12th built anticipation with each new installment. While Ancient Stone Tablets doesn’t have as much story, following a similar weekly release schedule could give Nintendo Switch 2 owners something to eagerly look forward to.

Read More

2026-01-24 02:05