It’s Time for the Underrated Zelda Co-Op Game from 2004 to Get Its Flowers

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With the upcoming Switch 2, Nintendo has a great chance to bring back Four Swords Adventures, a surprisingly good Legend of Zelda game that many players have overlooked. While the Zelda series is known for its consistent gameplay, it has occasionally tried new things, even before the massive success of Breath of the Wild. Four Swords Adventures was one of those innovative attempts.

The upcoming live-action Zelda movie in 2027 is generating a lot of excitement, but fans are hoping for some news about older games before 2026 ends. This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, and with the new Switch 2 bringing classic GameCube titles back to life, it’s a perfect time for remasters or updated versions of beloved Zelda games. While many are requesting those, Four Swords Adventures – a unique co-op title – deserves attention too.

The Switch 2’s Multiplayer Features are a Great Fit for Four Swords Adventures

While some fans don’t rank Four Swords Adventures very highly today, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad game. It has a lot of enjoyable features, especially its multiplayer mode, which offers a fresh take on the traditional Zelda puzzles. It’s a step up from the original Four Swords on the Game Boy Advance because you can play it by yourself, though it’s much more fun with friends – either cooperating in dungeons or playfully hindering each other. The main issue with the game was the limitations of the GameCube hardware for multiplayer, but a system like the Switch 2 would be perfect for it.

Playing the multiplayer mode of Four Swords Adventures on the GameCube was complicated. It needed four Game Boy Advances and special Link Cables – one of each for every player. This awkward setup kept many people from trying the game when it was first released. However, if the game were ported to the Switch 2, it could easily be updated to support standard local or even online co-op, instantly making this overlooked gem much more accessible.

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A revival of Four Swords Adventures makes sense, especially after Nintendo released the original Four Swords on the Switch Online Expansion Pack in 2024, updating the old link cable multiplayer for online play. While Four Swords Adventures built upon that foundation and deserves the same treatment, Tri Force Heroes is another cooperative Zelda game that could also use a modern port, though it’s a more recent title. Nintendo is already expanding its GameCube library on NSO, so adding Four Swords Adventures to the Switch 2 wouldn’t be a difficult addition, and bringing DS and 3DS titles to NSO would be a good move at some point.

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The upcoming Switch 2 could be perfect for a game like Four Swords Adventures, especially with its new GameShare feature. GameShare works similarly to the older Download Play on the DS, allowing multiple players to enjoy a game even if only one person owns it. This makes it easier and more affordable for friends to play together. For Four Swords Adventures, this means each player could use their own Switch 2 – just like using individual GBAs for the original game – but only one copy of the game would be needed. Instead of Link Cables, players would connect wirelessly.

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While many fans are hoping to see Twilight Princess on the Switch or an HD version of The Wind Waker from the Wii U, it’s worth remembering that some of the less popular Zelda games are also excellent. It’s uncertain if Nintendo will ever give Four Swords Adventures the attention it deserves, but now would be a perfect time.

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2026-02-20 05:05