Zelda Switch New Game, The Legend of Zelda series, one of the most iconic and beloved franchises in the gaming world, has seen an exciting evolution with the Nintendo Switch. From the groundbreaking open-world experience in Breath of the Wild to the remake of the classic Link’s Awakening, the Nintendo Switch has become the home of some of the most critically acclaimed Zelda games to date. As a new generation of players discovers these titles and long-time fans return to Hyrule, the New Game options on the Switch provide fresh ways to explore the rich worlds of Zelda.
In this article, we’ll dive into the various ways New Game options have been integrated into the Zelda games on the Nintendo Switch, and how these options enhance the replayability, challenges, and enjoyment for players.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – New Game+ and Hard Mode
Breath of the Wild, released in 2017, was a monumental release for the Zelda series and one of the biggest launch titles for the Nintendo Switch. With its massive open world, nonlinear storytelling, and revolutionary gameplay, Breath of the Wild took the franchise in a bold new direction, offering players unparalleled freedom in how they explore the world of Hyrule.
Hard Mode (A Form of New Game+)
Although Breath of the Wild does not feature a traditional New Game+ mode in the sense of carrying over gear, abilities, and progression from a completed game, it offers a challenging Hard Mode after you finish the main story. While not exactly a New Game+, Hard Mode serves a similar function by offering a much tougher experience for players who have already completed the game.
In Hard Mode, enemies are tougher, regenerating health as you engage with them, and new enemy camps are added in different parts of the map. The difficulty is significantly increased, pushing even seasoned players to rethink their combat strategies. Moreover, enemies in Hard Mode are marked with a higher level, and even the most basic monsters can be formidable foes, making exploration and battles more challenging.
Though Breath of the Wild doesn’t feature a complete NG+ mode, the inclusion of Hard Mode enhances the game’s replay value, encouraging players to revisit the world of Hyrule with a greater challenge.
The Champions’ Ballad DLC (Post-Game Content)
Another way to expand your adventure in Breath of the Wild is through the Champions’ Ballad DLC, which unlocks additional story content after the main game’s completion. This DLC not only provides more quests but also challenges players with a new set of dungeons and bosses. While it’s not a New Game+ mode, it provides a similar experience by giving players access to fresh content that ties into the existing game world.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Switch Remake)
Link’s Awakening for the Nintendo Switch is a charming and faithful remake of the 1993 Game Boy classic. With its colorful art style, revamped music, and enhanced gameplay mechanics, this reimagining of the classic game brings a fresh coat of paint to the nostalgic adventure.
Hero’s Mode (Harder Replay Option)
Once you complete the main story in Link’s Awakening on the Switch, you unlock Hero’s Mode, which acts as a hard mode and significantly increases the challenge of the game. In Hero’s Mode, enemies deal more damage, and Link’s health restores more slowly. Additionally, there are no healing items available, forcing players to rely on their skills and knowledge of the game’s world to succeed.
Hero’s Mode is the closest thing to a New Game+ feature in this title. While it doesn’t carry over any progress or items from your first playthrough, it enhances the difficulty in a way that feels similar to a NG+ mode, as it encourages players to revisit dungeons, puzzles, and combat encounters with new strategies. It’s an ideal option for players who want to revisit the game after finishing it and add a layer of complexity to their experience.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch Remaster)
The remastered version of Skyward Sword for the Nintendo Switch brings enhanced controls (with a more intuitive button-based control scheme) and upgraded visuals to the 2011 Wii title. Skyward Sword was a key entry in the Zelda series, offering players a unique blend of motion-controlled swordplay and dungeon puzzles.
Hero Mode (NG+ Equivalent)
In Skyward Sword HD, Hero Mode is available after you complete the main game. This mode is essentially New Game+ in that it retains the spirit of NG+ by offering a higher difficulty. In Hero Mode, enemies deal double the damage, and there are no heart drops, making healing much more difficult. Players will need to rely on their wits and combat prowess to survive.
Hero Mode in Skyward Sword HD doesn’t carry over items or progress, but it does allow you to replay the game with greater challenge and more strategic combat. This is a perfect mode for those who want to test their skills and experience the game from a new, more difficult perspective.
4. The Future of New Game+ in Zelda
While New Game+ as a traditional feature (where players can carry over abilities, weapons, and progression from a completed game) has been relatively sparse in the Zelda series, the Nintendo Switch has proven to be an ideal platform for pushing the boundaries of how Zelda games are designed and replayed. Several directions for incorporating NG+ in future Zelda titles are worth considering:
Carrying Over Abilities and Items
Many Zelda fans have expressed interest in seeing a true NG+ mode where players can carry over items, upgrades, and abilities. Imagine starting a second playthrough of Breath of the Wild with all your Champion abilities, weapons, and armor. This would give players the chance to explore the world in entirely new ways, perhaps even unlocking new secrets or previously inaccessible areas.
Alternate Routes or Multiple Endings
Another potential feature for New Game+ in a future Zelda game could be branching story paths or multiple endings. In this setup, starting a new game with certain items or knowledge from a previous playthrough could unlock different parts of the story or lead to alternate endings. This would encourage players to replay the game multiple times, each with a different experience depending on their progression from earlier playthroughs.
Reworked Dungeons and Boss Battles
Zelda games are known for their challenging dungeons and memorable boss battles, and a true NG+ mode could rework these elements for a more difficult, rewarding experience. Perhaps dungeons could have additional challenges or puzzle elements, or bosses could have new attack patterns or additional phases to make them even more challenging.
5. Conclusion: More Replayability for Zelda Fans
While the Legend of Zelda series on the Nintendo Switch doesn’t offer a traditional New Game+ feature in the sense that some RPGs do, the available “Hard Modes,” post-game content, and reworked difficulties in titles like Breath of the Wild, Link’s Awakening, and Skyward Sword HD offer a great deal of replayability. These features allow players to return to Hyrule (and beyond) with new challenges and experiences, making it feel like a fresh adventure even after completing the main story.
As the Zelda franchise continues to evolve, there’s no doubt that fans will continue to wish for more ways to revisit their favorite titles. Whether through NG+ modes, alternate story routes, or expanded post-game content, the desire for deeper replayability is likely to be a key element in future Zelda games on the Switch and beyond.
For now, fans can enjoy the exciting New Game options available in the Zelda series on the Nintendo Switch, offering endless opportunities to relive the magic of these classic games with new challenges and perspectives.
