Is a game released on 2017 still retrogaming? It is if you played on a Wii-U, the abandoned last-generation console of Nintendo. Yes, it was also released on a Nintendo Switch, as exactly the same game with a very small bump in resolution (from 720p to 900p). Originally it was planned as a Wii-U exclusive, but it took Nintendo a few extra years to get it right. And they did.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild took everything we loved about 2D-Zeldas (top down) without the graphical awkwardness of the early 3D Zelda days (hello, Nintendo64!). It’s one of the best games ever made, where you can spend easily 100+ hours to finish it (and 200-300 to complete it) and feel sad when you do. You’ll never get back that feeling of fragility and discovery you felt as when you started the game. This new world is your oyster as you systematically discover how to survive and thrive. And yes, fulfil the quests and master the shrines (dungeon-like temple where you need to solve a puzzle). Some of them are trivial, some of them complex or far-fetched, most of them fun.

The 2 DLCs, The Master Trials and The Champions’ Ballad don’t add much to the story, but they bring quality of life improvements and also gameplay modes, items, and extra trials and shrines. If you play the game today, it’s worth it to get these expansions as well.

Have a look at “How to play retrogames?” if you don’t know how to play retrogames.

This is a beautiful game with interesting puzzles and… a story. Another perfect example of SNES-level graphics on a small handheld. The game takes a little investment in the beginning because it starts slowly, certainly if you’re not familiar with the action-adventure genre The quests will become clearer and the speed will pick up. You will be stuck more than once (actually, lots of time). You’ll want to finish it in one go, but this open world game will keep you occupied for way, way, longer than you expected. It’s the perfect introduction to rich library of 2D Zelda games.

Have a look at “How to play retrogames?” if you don’t know how to play retrogames.

This game returns to the top-down perspective of the first Zelda while making the game graphically stunning (the NES graphics ages less well compared to the SNES/GBA sequels). Even today, more than 30 years later, it’s pretty much the pattern to follow for pixel-art games. This game is long and hard, but at the same time extremely rewarding. It’s a must-play classic.

Have a look at “How to play retrogames?” if you don’t know how to play retrogames.