The people are yearning for classic ‘Zelda’: How to play in 2026

Even without a new game on the immediate horizon, 2026 feels like a big year for Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda franchise.

There’s been a larger-than-normal amount of chatter on social media and other parts of the internet about Zelda lately. Nostalgia-filled gamers are reminiscing about their favorite titles, characters, and moments from the series, while speculating about what is coming next. Heck, even I’ve been bouncing back and forth between older games in the series this past week.

Let’s dig into why classic Zelda is having such a moment, even in an off-year, and how you can get in on the action.