If you want it, you’ll have to move quick, before Nintendo banishes it to the Twilight Realm.
I have a confession to make. While the 2-D Zelda games like the original Legend of Zelda for the NES and A Link to the Past on the SNES are some of my favorite games of all time, I’ve never been able to get into any of the 3-D Zelda games. I can’t deny that Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess are good games — they have millions of fans after all — but I personally never got more than a dungeon or two into either of them.
With the recent release of Breath of the Wild, I’ve found myself wishing for a new, hugely expansive 2-D Zelda game…and thanks to one fan-created game, myself and other gamers like me might just get that chance.
Say hello to Breath of the NES, a Zelda fangame by WinterDrakeDev. It transforms Breath of the Wild into, well, a different dimension. Watch the trailer video here:
To be fair, the game is currently only officially a demo, but there’s quite a lot packed in. I only tested it out for about half an hour before writing this, but after discovering secrets, exploring unmapped territory, and dying approximately a billion times, it really felt like I was playing a near-perfect hybrid between the oldest and newest Zelda games.
Of course, the game has its flaws. No background music is a little strange (though I just played my own Zelda tunes to compensate), and not being able to change the controls to your liking was a little annoying. The lack of a save feature also makes dying quite brutal, though all of these issues are things that the developer says will be fixed in upcoming releases.
If you want to give Breath of the NES a try for yourself, then head over to the developer’s website to download it… while you still can! It’s only a matter of time before Nintendo gets wind of this, shuts it down, and it goes the way of Pokémon Uranium and Super Mario 64 Last Impact.
Source: Winterdrake via My Game News Flash, Game Spark
Images: YouTube/Micropig Gaming

The trailer for Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is finally here, and it’s absolutely breathtaking!
Cosplayer makes impressive replica of a remote bomb from Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Zelda hacker arrested by police in Japan for selling modified Breath of the Wild save data
Zelda fan’s Sheikah Slate turns charging his phone into a scene from Breath of the Wild【Video】
Turn your iPhone into a Sheikah Slate with official Nintendo Zelda: Breath of the Wild phone case
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Is this Japan’s most extreme cherry blossom viewing? Leap, cycle and climb through 2,500 sakura
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Tokyo’s Ueno Station has an unmanned noodle restaurant on its platform, and its no-joke good
Number of foreigners living in Japan has grown 50 percent in four years, hits historic high
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
What do you eat when you catch a cold? We asked 11 of our Japanese reporters
Is Daiso’s microwave Japanese rolled omelet maker worth your time and money? [Taste test]
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Pikachu and Eevee become handmade Lladró porcelain sculptures to celebrate Pokémon’s 30th birthday
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japanese mom/hardcore Zelda fan makes huge hand-drawn map of Breath of the Wild’s world【Photos】
Birth of new kusoge legend — Zelda wannabe has copied Zelda music, all-original crazy bugs【Vids】
Beautiful Legend of Zelda Lego set is series’ first buildable block crossover【Photos】
VR Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey modes coming, for free, from Nintendo
Light-up Master Sword, Rupee dishes, and heart notebook all part of new Legend of Zelda merch line
Legend of Zelda-flavor fried chicken coming to convenience stores in Japan, other Hyrule chow too
Downloadable content announced for new Legend of Zelda game before the game’s release
Zelda’s Master Cycle comes into the real world as amazing ridable cardboard art【Video】
Live-action Legend of Zelda movie releases first on-set, in-costume images【Photos】
Zelda gamers get it: real-life secret, bomb-able entrance to dungeon found in Japan
The Legend of Zelda’s Link is here to help you navigate Google Maps’ dungeons today!
Zelda isn’t the Nintendo anime adaptation Japanese fans want to see most, survey says
Zelda: Twilight Princess manga creators tease overseas release
Live-action Legend of Zelda movie reveals cast for roles of Link and Zelda
The Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake we’re still waiting for【Video】
New Legend of Zelda tabletop book heading to gamer book shelves
Foreigners welcomed to apply for jobs as designers on Nintendo’s new Legend of Zelda game