The Legend of Zeldais one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises, and for good reason. The series' multitude of groundbreaking titles have consistently challenged what players expect from aZeldagame,resulting in a huge variety of fresh and innovative experiences. With such a huge fanbase, anyone interested in exploring theZeldaseries won’t have any difficulty finding a copy of the franchise’s most recent titles to try out.
However, as popular as the series may be, not everyZeldagame is as easy to findas the most recent releases. While many of these titles have been made more readily available through services such as Nintendo Switch Online,there are certain versions of these belovedZeldagames that are becoming harder to find. In fact, many games in theZeldafranchise, for one reason or another, have become rarities that only the most dedicated collectors will be able to get a hold of.
10Four Swords Adventures
One Of The Least Successful Mainline Zelda Entries
It’s no surprise thatFour Swords Adventuresis one of the worst-selling games in theZeldafranchise. While the title itself offers a fun, unique multiplayer experience, it was severely limited in its accessibility, requiring all four players to connect their own Game Boy Advance devices to the GameCube to use as a controller.The barriers to entry would have been a turn-off for many players, resulting inFour Swords Adventures’s lackluster sales.
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With few copies ofFour Swords Adventuresbeing sold during its release, the title has become one of the harderZeldagames to get a hold of. This is certainly reflected in the game’s pricing, with one recent Complete In-Box (CIB) listing oneBayselling for $60 plus shipping and several going for over 70.It’s a steep price for a decades-old mainlineZeldagame, proving how hard it has become to find a copy ofFour Swords Adventures.
9The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
This Remaster Has Some Additional Offerings For Players
Twilight Princess HDis arguably the definitive way to experience this belovedZeldagame. Not only does the Wii U version offer a stunning graphical upgrade and some necessary improvements to controls, but it also includes brand-new features for players, including the more aggressive Hero Mode and a brand-new dungeon. While certainly an upgrade,Twilight Princess HD’srelease on the Wii U prevented the remaster from receiving the attention it deserved, becoming the weakest-selling version of the game.
The new dungeon added toTwilight Princess HDis only accessible through amiibo functionality. Specifically, players will need the Wolf Link amiibo in order to acces the dungeon, adding to the overall price if players want to enjoy the full experience.
With no sign ofTwilight Princessreceiving another rerelease anytime soon, the Wii U remaster remains the only way for players to access the quintessential version of this classic. However, because of its struggling sales on Wii U,Twilight Princess HDisquickly becoming a sought-after title in theZeldaseries. A pre-owned version of the game oneBayrecently sold for $100, a fairly standard going rate, will cost players $118.62, and copies that come in the outer box with a sealed Wolf Link amiibo included can easily go for $135 or more.
8Zelda 2: The Adventure Of Link (NES Classics GBA)
The First Time Zelda 2 Could Be Played On The Go
The Classic NES Series served as a fantastic addition to the GBA library. The inclusion of NES games on GBA allowed many of these titles to be played on the go for the very first time, includingZelda 2: The Adventure of Link. Even if the GBA port ofZelda 2was just a simple re-release,it still marks an important moment in the series' historythat fans will surely want to have as part of their collection.
While the originalThe Legend of Zeldawas also ported to GBA as part of the Classic NES Series,Zelda II’s lower sales have made it the more difficult and expensive title to obtain. Out of box, it can be found for $20, but a CIB version oneBayrecently sold for $70, and others have gone for over $100. Of course, withZelda 2having been rereleased multiple times,most recently for Nintendo Switch Online, this version of the NES classic is probably only for the most hardcore collectors.
7Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland
This Zelda Spinoff Was Only Released In Japan & Europe
Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeelandfor the DS isone of the more unusualgames in theZeldafranchise. The more traditional elements of theZeldaseries, like dungeon exploration and puzzle-solving, are mixed with a bigger emphasis on collecting rupees, which is directly linked to the player’s health and overall progression.The game is certainly a diversion from what manyZeldafans would come to expect, which possibly hindered its overall appeal.
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Tingle’s Rosy Rupeelandwas only ever released in Japan and Europe,which contributed significantly to the game’s low sales. As such, it has become one of the hardestZeldatitles to obtain, with recent sales oneBaystarting from around $115 and going up to $160 or more.Tingle’s Rosy Rupeelandis certainly a title thatZeldafans shouldn’t buy lightly, but there’s some consolation in the fact that region locks don’t exist on the DS, so a North American system will still be compatible.
6The Legend Of Zelda: Collector’s Edition
This Collection Included 4 Classic Titles Alongside Other Features
Many players looking to purchase a GameCube back in 2003 were granted a huge opportunity by Nintendo to immediately expand their library. Released as part of a GameCube bundle,The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Editionincluded 4 classicZeldatitles, from the original NES classic toOcarina of Time, alongside other bonus content.It remains as one of the few game compilations to have been released for theZeldaseries, marking a special moment in the franchise’s history.
As theCollector’s Editionwas never released individually, copies of the title are few and far between, making the compilation a difficult find. AnyZeldafan that tries to get their hands on the collection must overcome staggering prices, with one recenteBaylisting for the compilation in its case starting at $70, a fairly standard price. It’s a heavy price to pay fora selection of games that have been made accessible on multiple Nintendo consolessince, reducing the need for the compilation as a part of mostZeldafans' collections.
5The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time: Master Quest
A More Difficult Rendition Of The N64 Classic
TheCollector’s Editionwasn’t the only time thatOcarina of Timewas ported to the GameCube. Players in North America who pre-orderedWind Wakerwere given a port ofOcarina of Timeas a pre-order bonus, which included the all-newMaster Quest. This version ofOcarina of Timegave seasoned players a fresh experience, introducing tougher enemies earlier on, while altering the dungeons to create a more challenging experience.
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Similar to theCollector’s Edition, the lack of an individual release makes this version of the N64 classic a rare find, althoughthis port is arguably more highly sought after because of theMaster Questversion. Like theCollector’s Edition, 70$ is a fairly common price, but some recenteBaylistings have come in a bit lower at around $60. At a relatively high price, manyZeldafans desperate to try out theMaster Questwill likely look towards the more accessibleOcarina of Timeremaster for 3DS, which offers the same challenging experience.
4Link: The Faces Of Evil
The Game Is Just One Of Many Infamous CD-i Titles
Nintendo’s connection to the Philips CD-i remains one of the biggest low points of the company’s history, and the system’s manyZeldatitles are proof of this. WhileLink: The Faces of Evil’s poorly animated cutscenes are the most common point of criticism, the gameplay is considered to be equally horrific,with sloppy controls and horrendous visuals.Link: The Faces Of Evilis one of many titles that failed to legitimize the CD-i as a true gaming console, resulting in its poor sales.
None of the Philips CD-i games that include Nintendo IP were developed or published by the company itself. Nintendo simply gave Philips the license to use its characters. BothLink: The Faces of EvilandZelda: The Wand of Gamelonwere developed by Animation Magic, while both games were published by Philips Interactive Media.
Since few players ever owned the CD-i, and even fewer ownedLink: The Faces of Evil, the title has easily become one of the most difficultZeldagames to find. For anyZeldafan that wants to add this infamous title to their collection, it will require them to pay incredibly high prices, with one recenteBaysale of an untested copy going for $234 and copies that include the outer slipcover sometimes selling for double that. Of course,that doesn’t even account for the CD-i console neededto see whatThe Faces Of Evilhas to offer.
3Zelda: The Wand Of Gamelon
Princess Zelda’s First Game In The Starring Role
WhileEchoes of Wisdommarked Princess Zelda’s first lead role in a mainline entry,Zelda: The Wand of Gamelonwas the first game to make the character fully playable. Unfortunately,The Wand of Gamelonplays identically toThe Faces of Evil, right down to its awkward controls and terrible cutscenes,failing to make Zelda’s first big adventure stand out. Add that to its release on the CD-i, and it becomes no surprise how the game met a similar fate toThe Faces of Evil.
LikeThe Faces of Evil,The Wand of Gamelonisn’t easy to obtain.One copy recently sold for $177 oneBay, but the two tend to command similar prices in the long run, so checking listings on the average day or springing for a new copy could easily reach prices that soar above $300 or $400.
2Zelda (Game & Watch)
The Game Is One Of Link’s Earliest Adventures
One of the earliest titles in theZeldaseries came in the form of a Game & Watch system. Bearing a striking resemblance to thegameplay ofThe Adventure of Link,Zeldafor the Game & Watch saw players traverse through chambers while fighting a multitude of enemies to obtain a high score. While nowhere near the scale of more beloved entries,Zeldafor the Game & Watch serves asa valuable insight into the early days of the franchise as it was gaining popularity among players.
The Zelda series received another Game & Watch as part of the franchise’s 35th anniversary. This version of the system served as one of the few game compilations for the series, including playable versions ofThe Legend of Zelda,Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, andThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, as well as an altered version of the gameVerminthat includes Link.
Nowadays,many Game & Watch devices are becoming harder to find, andZeldais no exception. One recent in-box system sold for $337 oneBay, and some have sold for north of $600. While getting a loose system for around $150 is more achievable, its high cost shows not only the rarity ofZeldafor the Game & Watch, but also its significance as a reminder of how the series has evolved across several decades.
1Zelda’s Adventure
Zelda’s Most Infamous Game Is Its Most Expensive
Rounding out the Philips CD-i trilogy of games,Zelda’s Adventurearguably represents the lowest point of the entire franchise. While adopting a more traditional approach,Zelda’s Adventurehas been widely criticized for its terrible gameplay and abhorrent graphics,which attempt a realistic art style on the less-than-capable CD-i. Because of this,Zelda’s Adventureis often considered among the worst titles in theZeldafranchise and the entire CD-i catalog.
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The infamous reputation ofZelda’s Adventure, coupled with its release on the less-than-successful CD-i, has resulted in the game becoming an extremely difficult find. When the game does appear,it is often attached with an unbelievable price tag. For example, one recenteBaylisting ofZelda’s Adventurewith a water-damaged manual sold for $855, and it’s not uncommon to see prices over $1,000, making this game the hardest and most expensive title to find in the entireZeldafranchise.
Source: eBay (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)
