The Nintendo Switch is home to a number of games in The Legend of Zelda franchise, such as the award-winning open-world adventures of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the inventive Zelda-starring Echoes of Wisdom, and quite a few classic titles via a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Last but not least, we even got a remake of a sometimes-underrated entry: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.
Though it sports an all-new chibi art style and some basic quality-of-life features, such as improved menu navigation and button mapping features, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening on Nintendo Switch maintains the integrity of the 1993 Game Boy to ensure that both new and returning fans can enjoy the fourth game in the series just as it’s always been.
And with everything intact just as you’d expect, you can be certain that you’re getting a game with the same runtime as the original, too. But just how long is The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening on Nintendo Switch? And does it run any better on Switch 2? Let’s get into it.
How does Link’s Awakening run on Switch 2?
Unlike Tears of the Kingdom, and many other original Switch titles, Link’s Awakening doesn’t have a specific Switch 2 upgrade you can purchase. But that’s not to say the game didn’t receive any love when Nintendo’s new console dropped. On June 3, 2025, Link’s Awakening got a patch that optimizes the game’s visuals, upping the resolution and improving HDR support.
Link’s Awakening also ran into some troublesome framerate issues on the original Switch. Running on Switch 2, however, the issue has been dramatically improved, if not fixed entirely. So if you’re waiting on upgrading to a Switch 2 before diving into this remake, your patience will be rewarded with improved performance. Check out a direct comparison here:
How long is The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening?
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening will take the average player between 12-15 hours to reach the credits. Much of this time will be spent solving puzzles, talking to NPCs, and tracking down useful items required to complete your journey. But that doesn’t include finding every heart piece and seashell, finishing every trading sequence, or engaging with other optional tasks.
If you’re wanting to collect all of that stuff and see every bit of additional content, you’ll be looking at closer to 20-25 hours of play time in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. That’s a whole hell of a lot of Hyrulian fun, but it’ll require some patience (or a nifty guide), as there are some well-hidden secrets to be found throughout this bright and colorful version of Hyrule.
If you’re on the fence about this one, just remember that it’s a remake of a Game Boy game, for better and worse. It offers some memorable dungeons, a unique tale, and toy-like visuals that will appeal to newcomers and returning fans alike. But its fairly linear structure and occasionally frustrating old-school design philosophy may be a little polarizing, sticking out even more to those introduced to the franchise during the Breath of the Wild era.
If The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening sounds up your alley, though, it’s available now on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
