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.
Nov 14, 2019

Link’s Awakening may have been intriguing and weird a decade and a half ago, but every other game in the series has done what this one does - but better. The game feels overly tedious and drawn out because it doesn’t clearly communicate anything to the player. All the magic seems to have left Link’s Awakening as it’s aged, but luckily for you, there are other great Zelda games on the Switch.

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60 / 100
Sep 24, 2019

Link’s Awakening is comfort food; nothing more and nothing less.

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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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Sep 22, 2019

This remake of the classic 1993 adventure isn’t as polished as I expected, sporting a new physics system and camera angle that introduce entirely new problems. It’s wonderful to think that Link’s Awakening on the Switch will introduce one of Link’s most intriguing adventures to a new generation, but it’s obvious that the goal was to replicate the aesthetics rather than the feel.

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GameSpew
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Sep 25, 2019

There’s no denying Link’s Awakening is a very enjoyable adventure, however. It hits you right in the nostalgia spot if you’ve played before, and even if you haven’t it stands up well against more modern titles.

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7.5 / 10.0
Nov 16, 2019

Link's Awakening is a joyous adventure and a treat for the eyes, marred by some minor performance hiccups. It's truly a shame that this title is following up the most ambitious entry in the series' history and feels dissapointingly small in comparison.

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Link's Awakening is a cute little game from the past with updated visuals, but the outdated gameplay mechanics and overall simplicity kind of broke its charm.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

Jan 15, 2021

As a full-priced Switch game, it just feels like it’s too much of a fun-sized package, which doesn’t really reflect the fact that it’s still a damn good game.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 11, 2019

We are talking about a special title of the series, a side story, a Legend of Zelda without Zelda and Triforce, a game so classic and at the same time quirky, that probably wins our attention with its Master Sword.

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Geeks Under Grace
Adam Mueller
8 / 10.0
Nov 25, 2019

Though an excellent example of a classic Zelda scroller with beautiful graphics, Link's Awakening struggles with it's lack of content, making justification of it's 60-dollar price tag difficult.

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8 / 10
Oct 24, 2019

An extremely faithful adaption of a true Nintendo classic from the company's early years, with some well-needed changes to justify the full price tag in today's gaming landscape sprinkled on top for good measure.

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Sep 26, 2019

This is undoubtedly now the definitive way of playing the great game that is Link’s Awakening. There are far worse games options on the market, and as it stands, an updated version of Link’s Awakening is simply a great game in 2019.

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4 / 5.0
Sep 26, 2019

It’s the perfect game for anyone looking for just the right title to dip a toe into the Zelda universe and proves quality top-down RPGs are not a lost art.

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8 / 10
Sep 21, 2019

"The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" proves to be a charming remake with a modern look and the popular game mechanics of the original. Once again, the mystical island of Cocolint will be the setting for puzzles, research and immersion in a world full of wondrous creatures. Although "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" has a contemporary look, connoisseurs of the classic will quickly recognize the individual locations and enemies. Only the dungeon editor still lets air up and offers a rather entertaining pleasure. Zelda lovers and retro fans can indulge in nostalgia with "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" and should not miss this title.

Review in German | Read full review

4 / 5.0
Sep 26, 2019

An incredible achievement for its time and with the incredible makeover it has not lost its luster. It might be short by today's standards, but it's a dense and rich experience with a captivating charm.

Review in Arabic | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 24, 2019

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a delightful remake of an excellent game. A lot of its strength is predicated on the fact that it was built on an already exceptional Zelda game, and if you have any nostalgia for the Game Boy version, you'll be charmed by this update. The game's only real flaws are its overall short length and the frustrating frame rate issues. If you're a Zelda fan, it's still absolutely worth checking out, and if the frame rate issues get patched, this title will be the best way to play the handheld classic.

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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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4 / 5.0
Sep 24, 2019

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a sensational remake of this Game Boy Classic

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8 / 10.0
Sep 24, 2019

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on the Switch proves that this beloved classic truly is timeless.

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4 / 5.0
Sep 23, 2019

Link's Awakening was a massive hit when it was first released, and today it's still just as amazing as it was 26 years ago.

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