For years, The Legend of Zelda was a beloved Nintendo franchise, but not necessarily a top-tier seller like Mario Kart or Pokémon. That narrative has completely changed. With Tears of the Kingdom reaching 21.55 million copies and Breath of the Wild surpassing 32.62 million, Zelda is no longer a niche adventure, it’s a system seller.
Why Zelda Is Dominating Now
Several factors have propelled Zelda into the upper echelon of Nintendo franchises:
- Open-World Evolution: Breath of the Wild redefined the franchise with non-linear exploration and a fully open world, bringing in a massive new audience.
- Critical Acclaim & Awards: Tears of the Kingdom built upon its predecessor’s mechanics and has already become one of the fastest-selling Zelda games ever.
- Spin-Offs Are Performing Well: Echoes of Wisdom has already sold 3.91 million copies, proving that even Zelda spin-offs can generate serious revenue.
Zelda’s Role in the Switch 2 Era
With the Switch 2 coming in 2025, Zelda will be a key franchise moving forward. There are several ways Nintendo might leverage its newfound sales power:
- A Major Launch Title? Will a new Zelda game arrive early in the Switch 2’s life cycle to drive sales?
- Remasters & Ports: Could we see HD versions of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess reintroduced to capitalize on Zelda’s success?
- Expanded Spin-Offs: Given Echoes of Wisdom’s strong start, Nintendo might explore more Zelda spin-offs to diversify the franchise.
Final Thoughts
Zelda is no longer just a beloved adventure series—it’s a top-tier commercial juggernaut. With Tears of the Kingdomand Breath of the Wild setting sales records, and Echoes of Wisdom proving spin-offs have legs, Zelda is primed to play a massive role in the Switch 2 era.