The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Reviews

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Ken McKown
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Oct 9, 2019

Link’s Awakening is yet another outstanding addition to the Switch library.

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Oct 8, 2019

With so much competition, the Nintendo tax isn’t worth paying for this one, especially with such a packed release calendar over the next six months.

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Oct 8, 2019

The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening brings a classic story from the Game Boy era to the Switch with great results. I'm thrilled to have gotten to play this game again, and I hope you'll try it out too.

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90 / 100
Oct 7, 2019

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is one of the cutest and most unforgettable experiences you can ever had on a Nintendo Switch. The game is almost carbon copy of the original one but has that little touches to improve the experience. That is the kind of remake we always want to see.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Oct 6, 2019

The Nintendo Switch version of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a great way to (re)discover a once-forgotten Zelda game with a refined gameplay and an audiovisual overhaul, even if its most notable new feature is underwhelming.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 5, 2019

If you’ve never played Link’s Awakening because you never owned a Game Boy or are too young to have given it a chance, you have absolutely no excuses to miss the game again now. Link’s Awakening is simply a joy to play, and remains a love-letter to the franchise.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 4, 2019

Nintendo could’ve just taken the easy way out with Link’s Awakening. Instead, it brought back a gaming classic by remaking it from the ground up while keeping all the wonderful things that made games such as the original a bonafide treat. The new look won’t be for everyone and the Switch struggles at times when there’s too much going on. But those are minor quibbles for a game that reminds us why the top-down Zelda games were so beloved in the first place. Link’s Awakening is a charming remake done oh-so right. One last tip: don’t steal anything. Seriously.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 3, 2019

After 26 years, returning to Koholint Island was a pleasant escape that provided a thoroughly realized game world that I had forgotten how much I loved. Most players will finish Link’s Awakening in under 10 hours, though collecting every seashell and piece of heart, or journeying through Hero mode after finishing a normal playthrough, will extend that game time dramatically. To some gamers’ dismay, this game is priced at $59.99 retail and in the US eShop. Complaints range from the relatively short campaign and cartoonish graphics to the fact of it not being a new game at all, but I would be challenged to find a more polished and charming game in 2019. For me, the weird, wonderful world of Koholint Island, with all of its funny characters, clever dungeons, and inspired background music, made the price tag worth every penny.

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9 / 10
Oct 2, 2019

EXCELLENT - The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is a fantastic experience from start to finish. With an incredibly adorable art style and stunning soundtrack the most noticeable upgrades, it’s the improved control scheme that really makes this game more approachable than ever before. Newcomers can expect at least 15 hours of game (more if you want to collect everything), whereas veterans should have no trouble blowing through the game at a much quicker pace. The value will be in the eye of the beholder, but after seeing the credits roll I felt the $60 price tag was more than fair.

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Oct 2, 2019

The Legend of Zelda series is known for its quality across both consoles and handhelds, with the latter often standing out for their uniqueness within the franchise as a whole. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was a shining example of that on the Game Boy and once again proves why it deserves to be talked about among the best in the series with its remake on the Nintendo Switch.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2019

Despite its modest handheld origins, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a true console experience. With updated aesthetics and superior controls (especially for inventory), it's shaping up to carry on the Game Boy legacy and be both a critical and commercial hit. An innovative, generally light-hearted installment that's full of surprises, Zelda enthusiasts won't want to overlook this game. Link's Awakening is also an ideal entry for those who aren't Zelda fans.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 30, 2019

Link's Awakening is a remarkable remake of one of the more overlooked titles in the Legend of Zelda franchise.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 30, 2019

Zelda Link's Awakening is an extremely well done remake and stays true to the original in all of the best ways. The wonderful new art style and score make this hands-down my new favourite way to experience this classic. The lack of hand-holding may make things challenging for first-time younger players, but a solution is thankfully never too far away. Whether you've played the original a hundred times or have never experienced it at all, the Switch version is far and away the best way to p[lay it today.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2019

Link's Awakening is a cute little game from the past with updated visuals, but the outdated gameplay mechanics and overall simplicity kind of broke its charm.

Review in Russian | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 27, 2019

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening brings back the charm of classic 2D Zelda games with a modern touch. It is arguably one of the better old school Zelda games for newcomers to dip their toes in since the upgrade to the visual design has made it a great looking game. This does come at the cost of performance.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 27, 2019

From start to finish, Link’s Awakening was a delight. Its setting, cast, and quest stand apart from the rest of The Legend of Zelda series; and with its gorgeous visuals and added conveniences, it marks the perfect way to revisit this Game Boy classic.

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Sep 27, 2019

Despite the single-trackness, the journey itself is filled with wonderful side characters, colorful enemies and a certain mystery not found in other Zelda games. We can almost explain it as a small resort, a place where we can sit back and recover the forces after the hard fight against Ganon in Breath of the Wild.

Review in Swedish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 27, 2019

Legend of Zelda - Link’s Awakening is great remake of the classic. Beautiful visuals, updated controls and an added Dungeon builder all breath new life into the title. Despite some frame rate issues, the game is a blast to play through and worth picking up not only if you love Zelda but also for those looking for an easy point of entry into the franchise.

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9.5 / 10.0
Sep 27, 2019

It’s ironic, but not a coincidence that we experience a title, tailor made for handheld hardware make a solid return for Nintendo’s newest piece of kit. The charming, and nostalgic world of Zelda returns with this incredible adventure, proving that the franchise itself, will remain timeless with Link’s Awakening being one of the greatest entries ever.

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8.6 / 10.0
Sep 27, 2019

Young or old, new player or returning player, Link’s Awakening is a game everyone should experience. I’m happy to have in in my collection next to my original copy of the Game Boy title that I acquired in my youth. Check it out as soon as possible, you will not be disappointed. It is worth every rupee.

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