Save file · The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda
First release on record 21 Feb 1986 · action-adventure
The Legend of Zelda is Nintendo's original single-player action-adventure. Players control Link across Hyrule with a sword, a shield and their wits, collecting eight Triforce fragments to rescue Princess Zelda and defeat Ganon. Nintendo released the game in Japan in February 1986 on the Family Computer Disk System, then on the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in 1987 and in Europe on 15 November 1987. There is no PC edition. On Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 it is included in Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics, which requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership from 3.99 USD per month or 19.99 USD per year in the United States. ESRB rates the title E for Everyone with Mild Fantasy Violence. Nintendo's European listing shows PEGI 7 with Violence. It suits one player who wants that first top-down Hyrule quest and will keep Switch Online active.
Researched from the official pages · Updated
| First release | Japan, February 1986, Family Computer Disk System |
|---|---|
| Later NES dates | North America 1987; Europe 15 November 1987 |
| Current platforms | Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 via Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics (Nintendo Switch Online) |
| Developer / publisher | Nintendo / Nintendo |
| Price (US, 2026-10-29) | No standalone eShop SKU; Nintendo Switch Online from 3.99 USD / 1 month or 19.99 USD / 12 months · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Modes | 1 player; Nintendo Classics adds online screen-share and turn-taking |
| Age rating | ESRB E (Mild Fantasy Violence); PEGI 7 (Violence) |
| PC needs | No official PC release |
| Goal | Collect 8 Triforce fragments, rescue Princess Zelda, defeat Ganon |
Where can you play the original The Legend of Zelda now
On current hardware, Nintendo includes the original game in Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. That application requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo's US newsroom places this title in the base NES library, so Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is not required. Older official copies exist on NES cartridge, Game Boy Advance (Europe, 9 July 2004), Wii Virtual Console (Europe, 16 February 2007), Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console (Europe, 12 April 2012) and Wii U Virtual Console (Europe, 29 August 2013). Nintendo of Europe ended eShop purchases for Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family on 27 March 2023. The game is also one of 30 titles built into Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo's European Wii U listing states that Virtual Console copy is the US version of the game.
When did Nintendo release it, and why do 1986 and 1987 both appear
Nintendo's 40th-anniversary history says Link's debut adventure came out in Japan in 1986 and lists the European NES date as 15 November 1987. A Nintendo UK interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka and Koji Kondo states the game launched in Japan at the same time as the Family Computer Disk System in February 1986. That disk peripheral was sold only in Japan; outside Japan the game used a cartridge. Nintendo's US newsroom calls it the original 1987 game that started the series, which matches the North American NES year. Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics labels the title 1986. Those official pages do not publish a North American month and day. The same 40th-anniversary catalogue puts Super NES only under later series entries, not under this first game.
What does it cost on US Nintendo stores
Nintendo does not sell this 1986 game as a standalone US eShop SKU. Access on Switch is bundled with Nintendo Switch Online. In the United States an individual plan is 3.99 USD for one month, 7.99 USD for three months, or 19.99 USD for 12 months. A family plan covering up to 8 Nintendo accounts is 34.99 USD for 12 months. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is 49.99 USD individual or 79.99 USD family per year and is not required for the NES original. Membership auto-renews at the then-current price unless cancelled. The NES Classics application is 153 MB on Switch and Switch 2. Wireless NES controllers are an optional members-only accessory and are not required to play.
Does it have multiplayer, crossplay or a PC edition
Nintendo's European NES and Game Boy Advance listings set players at 1. There is no official PC release and therefore no Steam Deck rating. On Nintendo Classics, friends can connect online and share a screen; in single-player games they take turns at the controls, and a hand-shaped cursor can point at the other player's screen. That is a Nintendo Classics service around the NES library, not a two-player campaign inside Hyrule. Official pages do not describe split-screen, crossplay or cross-progression for this title. Nintendo Switch Online offers Save Data Cloud for compatible games. The Classics app lists 13 interface languages. The NES, Wii, 3DS and Wii U product pages list the game itself in English. Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility is supported, with behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch.
What age rating should parents check
ESRB rates The Legend of Zelda E for Everyone with Mild Fantasy Violence and no interactive elements, listing Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 3DS, Wii and Wii U. Nintendo's European NES, Wii, 3DS and Wii U pages show PEGI 7 with a Violence descriptor. The Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics store page carries a separate collection rating of Mild Violence and Suggestive Themes with Users Interact, because that application hosts many NES games plus online features. Dedicated USK, CERO and Australian Classification board pages for this 1986 title were not found during this research.
Is there paid DLC, and what is the Second Quest
Nintendo's current store pages list no paid downloadable content or expansion for the original The Legend of Zelda. After the main quest, a Second Quest is available; Nintendo's Classic Mini interview treats that harder follow-up as part of the original Japanese disk design. European publisher copy asks you to retrieve eight Triforce fragments, rescue Princess Zelda and defeat Ganon, with dungeons to explore and secrets to find. On Nintendo Classics you can rewind by holding ZL and ZR. Those extras come with the membership library rather than as add-on packs.
Release dates by platform
| Platform | Date | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Computer Disk System | Feb 1986 | Japan | Released |
| Nintendo Entertainment System | 1987 | North America | Released |
| Nintendo Entertainment System | 15 Nov 1987 | Europe | Released |
| Game Boy Advance | 09 Jul 2004 | Europe | Released |
| Wii Virtual Console | 16 Feb 2007 | Europe | Released |
| Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console | 12 Apr 2012 | Europe | Released |
| Wii U Virtual Console | 29 Aug 2013 | Europe | Released |
| Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics (Nintendo Switch) | 18 Sep 2018 | United States | Released |
Prices and editions
| Store | Edition | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Online (US) | Individual 1-month membership (includes NES Classics) | $3.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch Online (US) | Individual 3-month membership (includes NES Classics) | $7.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch Online (US) | Individual 12-month membership (includes NES Classics) | $19.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch Online (US) | Family 12-month membership, up to 8 Nintendo accounts (includes NES Classics) | $34.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo eShop (US) | Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics (The Legend of Zelda included; not sold separately) | — | 29 Oct 2026 |
Prices change often; each is the store's own price on the day shown.
Modes and features
| Feature | On record | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Single-player | 1 player | Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy Advance, Wii Virtual Console, Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console |
| Online multiplayer | Nintendo Classics can share a screen online; in single-player games players take turns. The 1986 quest itself is 1 player. | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Local or split-screen | Not listed for this title; European product pages set players at 1 | Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy Advance |
| Crossplay | Not stated on official pages for this title | — |
| Cross-progression | Not stated on official pages for this title | — |
| Controller support | Wii Virtual Console: Wii Classic Controller, Wii Remote, GameCube Controller. Wii U Virtual Console adds Wii U Pro Controller and Wii U GamePad. Nintendo Classics: optional wireless NES controllers, not required. | Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch |
| Cloud saves | Nintendo Switch Online Save Data Cloud for compatible games; NES Classics also lets you save and resume | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Supported languages (game) | English on NES, Wii, 3DS and Wii U listings | Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii Virtual Console, Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console |
| Supported languages (NES Classics app) | 13 languages: American English, British English, French, Canadian French, Spanish, Latin American Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Korean | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Steam Deck rating | No Steam release | — |
| Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility | Supported; game behavior is consistent with Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Rewind | Hold ZL + ZR in Nintendo Classics | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Off-TV Play | Listed on the European NES / Virtual Console product page | Wii U Virtual Console |
| App size | 153 MB on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 for NES Classics | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
Age ratings
| Board | Rating | Content descriptors |
|---|---|---|
| ESRB | E | Mild Fantasy Violence |
| PEGI | PEGI 7 | Violence |
FAQ
Who developed and published The Legend of Zelda
Nintendo's Game Boy Advance product page names Nintendo as both developer and publisher. The European NES page also lists Nintendo as publisher. A Nintendo UK interview records Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka and Koji Kondo working on the original Family Computer Disk System version.
Do you need Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack for the NES original
No. Nintendo's US newsroom lists The Legend of Zelda with the standard NES, Super NES and Game Boy library. Expansion Pack is described for Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, GameCube and related extras, at 49.99 USD individual or 79.99 USD family per year in the United States.
Can you still buy the Wii U or Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console download
Nintendo of Europe states that as of 27 March 2023 it is no longer possible to make purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Existing owners keep what they already bought. The current official digital path is Nintendo Classics on Switch.
Why was the Japanese original on a disk instead of a cartridge
Miyamoto, Tezuka and Kondo told Nintendo that the game launched with the Family Computer Disk System in February 1986. The disks held more data than ROM cartridges and allowed players to save. That peripheral was sold only in Japan, so the game came out on cartridge overseas, with a sealed map rather than the Japanese booklet.
Does Nintendo Classic Mini: NES include this game without Switch Online
Yes. Nintendo's European NES page says The Legend of Zelda is one of 30 classic titles built into Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System. That hardware path does not use the Switch Online membership described for Nintendo Classics.
Our take
The original The Legend of Zelda suits a single player who wants Link's first Hyrule map, eight Triforce fragments and a fight with Ganon on Nintendo hardware. The version to pick is Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics on Switch or Switch 2, because Nintendo still distributes that app and it needs only the standard Switch Online plan, not Expansion Pack. Confirm the US price of 19.99 USD a year or 3.99 USD a month, leave 153 MB free, and accept auto-renewal. This path does not exist on PC. Physical NES, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo Classic Mini copies remain options on hardware you already own. Wii U and 3DS eShop stopped new downloads on 27 March 2023.
Best for: Players with Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 who already pay for Nintendo Switch Online; Anyone who wants the original 1-player Hyrule quest with eight Triforce fragments; Households guided by ESRB E or PEGI 7.
Not for: PC-only players; Anyone unwilling to keep a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for the current digital copy; Players expecting a native two-player campaign or crossplay through Hyrule.
Which version: Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 with a standard Nintendo Switch Online membership
Built only from the official facts above. We don't review games we haven't played, and nothing here is paid.
Sources
The record
Every line has its source and the day it was read- Dates on record
- 21 Feb 1986 Wikidata · read 26 Oct 2026
- Developers on record
- Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development, NintendoRoles are not on record, so we name no single developer.Wikidata · role not verified
- Publishers on record
- Nintendo Wikidata
- Genres
- action-adventure game Wikidata
- Modes
- single-player Wikidata
- Age ratings on record
- Wikidata
- Series
- The Legend of Zelda Wikidata
- Platforms on record
- SwitchWii UGame Boy AdvanceNintendo Entertainment SystemFamicom Disk SystemSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemWiiVirtual ConsoleNintendo GameCube on Wikidata · on Wikidata without a reference. A platform missing here is not proof it is absent.
Facts: Wikidata Q12395 (CC0), revision 2559227143, read 26 Oct 2026, researched by VGKami Games Research (VGK-WIKIDATA-CENTRE-20261028-V3d). Spotted a wrong fact? Tell us.
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