The next Legend of Zelda game could make jumping between dimensions a core part of its gameplay, if a recent leak is to be believed. Nintendo has yet to offer any look at the next entry in the iconic fantasy series, but after a string of hits with Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and, to a lesser extent, Echoes of Wisdom, expectations are high. Now, fans may have their first glimpse at what the first mainline Legend of Zelda title on the Switch 2 could look like.
While there are no official details to look at, the next mainline Zelda game could be a turning point for the franchise. BOTW and TOTK took the series to new heights and rewrote the Zelda playbook, so any successor on the Switch 2 has some mighty shoes to fill. Nintendo will likely look to shake things up again after almost a decade of the BOTW and TOTK version of Hyrule, a process it began with Echoes of Wisdom, and a new leak claims to have some information on what that will entail.
New Zelda Game on Switch 2 Wish List
The next Zelda game on the Nintendo Switch 2 could open doors fans have only dreamed about, but there are a few specific ones that should be unlocked.
Leaker Suggests Switch 2 Zelda Game Could Feature “Cross-Dimensional” Puzzle-Solving
In a December 27 episode of the XboxEra podcast, co-host Shpeshal Nick went over some “cross-dimensional” gameplay features that a supposed inside source said will be in the next Legend of Zelda. According to the leak, the Switch 2’s first mainline Zelda game will use the same engine as BOTW and TOTK but with some technical improvements, given the new system’s more capable hardware. More interestingly, though, much of the puzzle-solving in the game will revolve around opening and pulling things through interdimensional tears. That does seem in line with the franchise’s current track, and after Echoes of Wisdom set a new bar for combat innovation, jumping between dimensions could be a logical next step in the series’ quest for greater player freedom.
Open-ended puzzles that emphasize player choice are one of the core pillars that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom established, and Echoes of Wisdom toyed with cross-dimensional themes and gameplay. Leaning harder into that idea does seem like a reasonable move for Nintendo amid that trend. Shpeshal Nick offered some specific examples of how this could play out, like leading a charging bull in one dimension to hit a target that unlocks a door in another. In another example, players could fill a room with water, causing a ball to rise on top of its surface in one dimension, which makes the same obstacle levitate in a different dimension.
The idea of multiple dimensions would be nothing new for the franchise, but it sounds like the next Zelda game could push the concept to new heights in terms of how it impacts gameplay. Whether these examples are accurate or not, many fans do expect Nintendo to swing big with the next mainline Zelda. While the series has reinvented itself a few times, BOTW changed the Zelda franchise more than any other title, so the bar is high. As for when fans can expect to get a proper look at the game, Shpeshal Nick said he had no information on a timeline, but that he expects the release to be years away.
As with all leaks and rumors, fans should take these details with a heavy grain of salt. Still, it’s exciting to think of what could be next for the beloved series. Looking beyond games, the Legend of Zelda movie is set to come out in May 2027, which gives players something more concrete to look forward to.
- Released
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September 26, 2024
- ESRB
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E10+ For Everyone 10+
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
