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Zelda: Link's Awakening walkthrough and guide to exploring the Nintendo Switch remake

Our walkthrough to the return of high-definition return of Kohohit Island.

Matthew Reynolds avatar
Guide by Matthew Reynolds Former Guides Editor
Updated on

Zelda: Link's Awakening returns, some 20 years since its DX colour version for a fully remade, high-definition version on Nintendo Switch.

Unlike remakes such as Capcom's Resident Evil 2, this isn't a game that updates a classic; Nintendo and developer Grezzo has been so faithful to the Game Boy original almost everything is as it once was - in many cases, keeping the exact same placement of the many blocks that form its overworld and many dungeons - meaning those who memorised the original will feel right at home.

That said, even with some welcome quality of life improvements, this is an old-school Zelda game - meaning it can be a real head scratcher, which is where our Zelda: Links Awakening walkthrough and series of Zelda: Link's Awakening guides come in.

Zelda: Link's Awakening walkthrough

For those who have recently played fellow Switch adventure Breath of the Wild, the structure of Link's Awakening is a blast to Zelda's illustrious past, taking you through a linear series of dungeons - and the events and items that gate keep them - in order to complete the game.

Even though it's not an open world, Link's Awakening isn't always straightforward.

The game won't often tell you explicitly where to go or what items you need to progress, and also encourages exploration through optional collectables - such as Heart Pieces and Seashells - as well as side-quests like the item trading sequence.

Starting Zelda: Link's Awakening

First dungeon

Second dungeon

Third dungeon

Fourth dungeon (it's now possible to get the Ocarina, by the way!)

Fifth dungeon

Sixth dungeon

Seventh dungeon

Eighth dungeon

Finishing Link's Awakening (make sure you complete the trading sequence first!)

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Other Zelda: Link's Awakening guides

As well as the above steps to take along the game's critical path, there are a number of other additional things to do and see too, which our series of other Zelda: Link's Awakening guides cover: