Every Zelda Nintendo Console, Ranked From Worst To Best

Updated Sep 22, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Ben Brosofsky has been writing for Screen Rant since 2022 and editing since 2024. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor's in Cinema & Media Arts. Writing serves as a much-needed distraction from tackling a backlog of Steam games that will never be surmounted. Nintendo has released a strong array of special edition consoles over the years, more than a few of them styled after The Legend of Zelda. Among Nintendo's top franchises, The Legend of Zelda boasts some of the strongest iconography, with emblems like the gold Hyrule Crest making for striking possibilities. Various home consoles and handhelds alike feature a wide array of designs that draw inspiration from both The Legend of Zelda at large and from individual games across the series. Nintendo's first couple of forays into Zelda-themed systems came in the form of Game & Watch handhelds, but the series didn't make its mark on the plastic of Nintendo's flagship systems until the Game Boy Advance SP. Releases have ebbed and flowed since then, seeing a peak with the 3DS and its younger 2DS sibling but continuing into the Switch and Switch 2 era. 13 Link Edition 2DS The original 2DS marks an awkward entry in Nintendo's handheld devices, removing the 3DS's hinge and titular dimensional capabilities in favor of a chunky slab of a system. These changes make it a good fit for younger children, but the product tends to lack a certain appeal outside that age range. After a long lineage of pocketable handhelds, the shape of the 2DS makes it a hard sell. The sole Zelda variant for this system does little to elevate its appeal, servicing its theme with only a basic color swap. Although the green body, brown borders, and yellow buttons admirably emulate the color scheme of Link's iconic green Zelda tunic, the lack of any custom patterning makes this feel like a minor entry next to other Zelda consoles. It doesn't look bad, but it just doesn't bring all that much to the table. 12 Silver Phantom Hourglass DS Lite The first of two DS Lite editions that tied in with Phantom Hourglass, the silver model makes a decent effort while failing to live up to its full potential. Its custom decals give it a mark of distinction lacking in the Link edition of the 2DS, but these designs unfortunately fall short in comparison to alternatives. A monochrome image of Link chasing after his fairy companion Ciela should appeal to fans of Link's toon style from Wind Waker, but the Phantom Hourglass logo that flanks it feels more like advertising than art. Released only in the United Kingdom, the silver Phantom Hourglass DS saw a limited run of 1,000 editions that ensures its scarcity today. Although the system might not hold paramount appeal for the average Zelda fan, serious collectors and big Phantom Hourglass fans might be driven to seek it out. In the case of Zelda handhelds, silver just so happens to be rarer than gold. 11 Wind Waker Wii U Although neat in concept, the gamepad of the Wii U never made a great selling point for the console. Few games integrated it particularly well, and its awkward, plastic-y feel and appearance made the system feel clumsier than its predecessor. Elaborate scrollwork making use of Zelda's detailed Hylian alphabet marks a decent effort at improving this aesthetic, but it still can't quite make the gamepad elegant. The Wii U's The Wind Waker console might still have ranked higher among Zelda Nintendo consoles if there was more to it than just the gamepad, but unfortunately the customization ends there. With the console remaining a plain black box, the Wii U The Wind Waker system isn't all that different from pairing a black Wii with a Skyward Sword remote or a standard Switch with the joycons released for the game's remaster. It's better than nothing, but it's still a missed opportunity. 10 Gold Phantom Hourglass DS Lite The North American Phantom Hourglass edition DS Lite marks a general improvement over its limited European counterpart. The gold color scheme is more wholly evocative of the Zelda games all across the timeline, and the inclusion of the Triforce comes across as less gimmicky than printed logo text. It's a simple design and less connected to its bundled game, but the effect is timeless. The DS Lite might rank higher if it was the only Zelda edition Nintendo handheld to adopt a gold color scheme and emblazoned Triforce. This basic pattern, however, is a familiar one, and other versions edge the DS Lite out in execution. All the same, Zelda fans looking to play Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks on an appropriately themed DS should be more than satisfied. 9 New 3DS XL Hyrule Edition The New 3DS XL Hyrule Edition opts for a prominent display of the Hylian Crest instead of the Triforce alone. Here, the Crest of Link's canon Hylian bloodline is rendered as a highly intricate pattern stamped across a surface of gleaming gold. This makes for one of the most immediately striking Zelda Nintendo consoles, extravagant in a way that is sure to draw the eye. The interior of the New 3DS XL Hyrule Edition, on the other hand, is more commonplace than the exterior. A matte black shell and buttons get the job done, but offer little in the way of inspiration, and the color-coded letters on the face buttons of the New 3DS XL feels slightly out of place. All the same, these are only minor drawbacks to a beautiful handheld. 8 Hyrule Edition Switch Lite The Hyrule Edition Switch Lite takes a similar approach to the New 3DS XL Hyrule Edition, focusing on a gold color scheme and the Hylian Crest. This time, though, the overall affair is more committed to a metallic gold palette, making for a more striking display overall. Rather than occupying half of the design, the black buttons provide the perfect accent to the color scheme. While the Switch Lite is a more affordable console than the standard Switch, this version makes it feel like a premium offering. All the same, some other Switch iterations edge it out with more unique designs. 7 Nintendo Switch OLED Tears Of The Kingdom Edition The original Switch never received a Breath of the Wild edition, but the OLED hardware iteration landed a Tears of the Kingdom variant. This is as detailed as it gets, with complex designs based on the Zonai from the game and a green, black, gold, and white color scheme. As a striking display piece, this is undeniably one of the most interesting The Legend of Zelda models and a massive calling card for any collection. At the same time, it feels like committing to either black or white as the focus could have resulted in something even stronger than mixing both together with such abandon. 6 New 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition The Majora's Mask variant of the New 3DS XL acts as an obvious successor to the Hyrule Edition. A reflective gold exterior once more houses a central image flanked by corner patterning, but in this case the primary design is of the titular mask from the strange Majora's Mask, possibly the darkest Zelda game. The corner patterning also features more discrete details, showing the faces of several important characters from the game. This Zelda Nintendo handheld mostly gains an edge over the Hyrule Edition by merit of its uniqueness. No other system bears a Majora's Mask theme, and that tie-in is accomplished in a more artistic way than the silver Phantom Hourglass DS Lite's misfired attempt. This one may only be for Majora's Mask fans, but players who enjoy Zelda's odder Nintendo 64 outing could flaunt this handheld with pride. 5 Zelda Game Boy Advance SP The clamshell design of the GBA SP has stood the test of time, informing generations of handheld successors, and the Zelda variant of the system is even better. This design covers the basics, emblazoning the Triforce on the exterior of the system and placing the Hylian Crest in the bottom corner of the interior. This look still offers a great alternative to playing GBA games through Nintendo Switch Online's library. The Zelda GBA SP's real claim to fame comes from its status as the original Zelda-themed Nintendo console. For a first try, it's a resounding success, and the particularly beautiful gold finish and centralized Triforce hold up better than the DS Lite that attempted a similar concept. The GBA SP may boast one of the simplest designs of a Zelda handheld, but sometimes it's all about sticking the landing. 4 Ocarina Of Time 3DS The first of the many Zelda variants to grace the various incarnations of the 3DS, the Ocarina of Time edition of the original model knocked it out of the park from the start. Opting for a much smaller Hylian Crest than the Hyrule Edition would later emblazon, this particular model screams class in a way that an Aqua Blue or Flame Red 3DS never could. The overall effect of the Zelda: Ocarina of Time design is brought home by an interior that neatly completes the theme without much effort. A gold 3D switch and gold lettering on buttons help this Zelda Nintendo handheld feel like a comprehensive effort in a way that the New 3DS XL editions never quite achieve.