The Nintendo Switch boasts a variety of games from The Legend of Zelda series, including the acclaimed open-world adventures of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the innovative Echoes of Wisdom featuring Zelda herself, and several classic titles available through a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Additionally, there’s a remake of a sometimes-overlooked entry: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.

Featuring a brand-new chibi art style and enhanced quality-of-life features like improved menu navigation and button mapping, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening on Nintendo Switch preserves the essence of the 1993 Game Boy classic, ensuring both new players and long-time fans can enjoy the fourth game in the series as it was originally intended.

With everything intact as you’d hope, you can be assured of experiencing a game with the same duration as the original. But just how long does it take to complete The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening on Nintendo Switch? And does it perform better on Switch 2? Let’s delve into the details.

How does Link’s Awakening perform on Switch 2?

Unlike Tears of the Kingdom and many other original Switch games, Link’s Awakening does not have a specific Switch 2 upgrade available for purchase. Nevertheless, the game received some attention when Nintendo's new console launched. On June 3, 2025, Link’s Awakening received a patch that enhances the game’s visuals, increasing the resolution and improving HDR support.

Link’s Awakening initially faced some challenging framerate issues on the original Switch. However, when played on Switch 2, the issue has been significantly improved, if not entirely resolved. If you’re contemplating upgrading to a Switch 2 before diving into this remake, your patience will be rewarded with enhanced performance. Take a look at 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 dedicated to solving puzzles, interacting with NPCs, and locating essential items necessary to complete your adventure. This estimate doesn’t account for finding every heart piece and seashell, finishing every trading sequence, or engaging with other optional tasks.

If you’re eager to collect all of that content and explore every bit of additional material, you’ll be looking at closer to 20-25 hours of gameplay in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. That’s quite a substantial amount of Hyrulian entertainment, but it will require some patience (or a handy guide), as there are numerous well-hidden secrets scattered throughout this vibrant and colorful rendition of Hyrule.

If you’re undecided about this title, just remember it’s a remake of a Game Boy game, for better and worse. It offers some unforgettable dungeons, a unique story, and toy-like visuals that will captivate both newcomers and returning fans. However, its relatively linear structure and occasionally challenging old-school design may be a bit divisive, particularly for those who discovered the franchise during the Breath of the Wild era.

If The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening sounds like your kind of game, it’s available now on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.