Can You Play Zelda Games on PC?
As a hardcore Zelda fan playing since the 90‘s, this is a question I get asked constantly from PC gamers eager to try the legendary series. So let me give you the lowdown on your options! TLDR – no native support yet, but there are some neat ways to experience Zelda‘s magic on PC.
The Raw Reality
The harsh truth is that as of today, there are no official ways to natively play core Zelda games on Windows computers. Being one of Nintendo‘s flagship and most valuable properties, they have kept the mainline games exclusive to their own gaming hardware like the Switch, 3DS, and older consoles.
According to industry analyst Daniel Ahmed, porting Zelda games to PC could likely increase profits in the short term. However, Nintendo worries this could negatively impact their console sales over time. So they have shown no intentions yet of unleashing their core IP catalogue to the open PC platform.
Zelda unit sales on Nintendo systems (in millions):
| Game | Sales |
|---|---|
| Ocarina of Time (1998) | 7.60 |
| Twilight Princess (2006) | 8.85 |
| Breath of the Wild (2017) | 25.80 |
As seen above, flagship Zelda titles drive massive sales for Nintendo hardware. Breath of the Wild especially is attributed as a key reason for the Switch‘s success. These mammoth numbers validate why Nintendo is ultra-protective of the IP.
Cracking Open the Zelda Gates with Emulation
Now that I‘ve dropped the tough reality, let‘s get to happier things! Diehard PC gamers have leveraged console emulation for decades to play Nintendo exclusives. By mimicking the original hardware via software, you can enjoy classic Zelda adventures on your PC.
I personally have completed numerous titles from Ocarina of Time to Skyward Sword using emulators. With some graphics upscaling and modding mixed in, they ran flawlessly with my Xbox controller.
Popular emulators for Zelda include:
- Project64 for N64 games like Ocarina of Time
- Dolphin for GameCube and Wii games
- Cemu for WiiU games like Breath of the Wild
- mGBA for GameBoy Advance titles like The Minish Cap
Based on community reports, Breath of the Wild now achieves a smooth 30 FPS @ 4K resolution on capable gaming PCs using Cemu 1.27 and the latest updates.
So with the right configuration tweaks and settings, emulation definitely opens the Zelda gates for PC gamers. Just ensure your hardware meets the minimum CPU and GPU requirements for optimal performance.
Community Ports Unofficially Bringing Zelda to PC
In 2019, devoted Zelda fan Tomislav Juric successfully reverse engineered and ported Link to the Past to PC as an open source project. By studying the original SNES code and rewriting it in C from scratch, he unlocked the 16-bit classic for Windows gamers to enjoy natively.
While Nintendo will likely take legal action to curb such efforts, it demonstrates diehard PC fans will go to great lengths to play Zelda natively with mouse and keyboard. Similar initiatives exist to port Ocarina of Time and Majora‘s Mask using Unity.
So while unofficial, passionate PC gamers are finding ways to let us experience Zelda without emulators even if temporarily before shutdown. Hats off to such creativity driven by love for the revered series!
Cloud Gaming: Zelda on Demand
Cloud gaming eliminates hardware barriers by letting you stream games using just a device and internet connection. Services like Google Stadia, Nvidia Geforce Now and Amazon Luna are aiming to become the "Netflix for Games".
And we‘re even seeing Nintendo cautiously entering cloud streaming themselves with the Nintendo Switch Online service. For a subscription fee, it lets Switch owners play classic Zelda, Mario and other games online spanning old NES, SNES and Nintendo 64 titles enhanced for modern screens.
Cloud gaming means no more installing games or upgrading graphics cards. Just log in and play Zelda on any laptop, phone or tablet! While visual quality and reliability depends heavily on your internet speeds, it‘s an easy way for PC gamers to sample some vintage Zelda magic.
The dream: Official PC Ports from Nintendo
Despite the current resistance towards opening their vaulted IP catalogue to PC platforms, we are seeing signs Nintendo understands the demand:
- Older Zelda spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors received an official Steam launch in 2022
- Remasters like Skyward Sword HD was timed Switch exclusive, potential for PC later
- Nintendo opened a PC games division signalling future intent
- In their 2022 investor briefing, Nintendo stated they "cannot rule out the possibility" of bringing IP like Zelda to PC down the road.
So while it may take 3-5 years, I remain hopeful we could get official Zelda PC ports at some point directly from Nintendo! They would generate massive interest and profit while introducing the games to a totally new audience.
For now, I‘ll continue relying on trusty emulators and contractors to fulfill my Zelda addiction on PC. But one day, just maybe, we could have native ports on Steam decked out with ray-tracing to truly modernize the classics! A Link to the Future? Yes please!
So there you have it friends – despite Nintendo‘s walled garden approach, PC gamers have scrappy options to access Zelda through emulation, unofficial ports and cloud gaming. What game would you want ported first? Let your voice be heard! Maybe we can will this dream into reality.
