No Hyrule, no Ganon, and no Zelda in sight: Link washes up on Koholint Island after a shipwreck and learns that the only way home is to wake the Wind Fish sleeping in an egg atop the mountain. Directed by Takashi Tezuka for the 1993 Game Boy, it reportedly began as an after-hours experiment in squeezing A Link to the Past onto the handheld before growing into its own game.
To reach the egg, Link collects eight Instruments of the Sirens from dungeons that play with ideas new to the series, including side-view underground passages, a long trading sequence, and a feather that lets him jump. The island is dreamlike, home to Goombas, a pet Chain Chomp and talking animals, and the story turns melancholy as its true nature emerges. A colorized DX edition followed on the Game Boy Color in 1998.
Tips for The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Equip the Roc's Feather and Pegasus Boots together to clear wide gaps with a running jump.
Stealing from the village shop is possible, but returning afterward ends badly and the game renames you THIEF.
Pressing all four buttons at once (A, B, Start, Select) brings up the save menu.
How to Play Zelda Link's Awakening
Click Play Now to launch Zelda Link's Awakening directly in your browser — no downloads or plugins needed. Z and X use the two items assigned to the A and B slots. Enter opens the inventory to swap items, and Shift brings up the island map. You can also connect a USB or Bluetooth gamepad for a more authentic feel.
Save states let you save your progress at any point. Create a free account to sync saves across devices. Press F11 for fullscreen mode.
Similar Games to The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
To play Zelda Link's Awakening, simply hit the "Play Now" button on this page. The game loads instantly in your browser using an embedded emulator — no plugins, downloads, or setup required.
Is Zelda Link's Awakening free to play?
Yes, Zelda Link's Awakening is completely free to play on RetroVault.GG. Just visit the game page and start playing in your browser.
What console is Zelda Link's Awakening for?
Zelda Link's Awakening was originally released for the Game Boy. On RetroVault.GG, you can play it online in your browser without needing the original console.
What genre is Zelda Link's Awakening?
Zelda Link's Awakening is a adventure game. It was made for the Game Boy.
Can I play Zelda Link's Awakening on my phone?
You can play Zelda Link's Awakening on any mobile device with a modern browser. The game adapts to your screen size with on-screen touch controls.