Ewan is Deputy Editor for ScreenRant's gaming section and former Editor of GAMINGbible
I'm going to share a little secret with you: I think The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is one of the greatest video games of all time. I also believe in my heart that it's the most beautiful-looking video game ever created.
That's just the way of it. Sure, PlayStation might have cutting-edge games like The Last Of Us Part 2 that push technology to the limits, but give me a little cartoon fella pootling around in a boat any day of the week. The Wind Waker was a visually striking game when it came out in 2002, and the original GameCube version still holds up in 2026. Zelda: The Wind Waker In 4k Is Beautiful Still the best-looking of all the Zelda adventures While The Wind Waker doesn't need touching up to be beautiful, this 4K remaster trailer shows us that with just a little sharpening, the original GameCube classic can look like it was released yesterday. Created by Henriko Magnifico , this unofficial remaster takes the GameCube Wind Waker rather than the HD re-release for Wii U and sprinkles some magic on it. The results, as you can see below, speak for themselves. You might be asking why anyone would want a 4K remaster of the GameCube Wind Waker when The Wind Waker HD exists, and it's a fair question. While The Wind Waker HD certainly is a gorgeous game, and makes some very welcome quality of life improvements, the lighting in the game is a point of contention. Everything is that much brighter, and uses a little too much bloom. Also, any time Link stands next to a torch in The Wind Waker HD, it looks like he's made of clay, which is a pretty strange and I think unintended effect. The Wind Waker 4K, meanwhile, maintains the exact style and intent of the original release, just with a much sharper resolution. If we could add a Swift Sail to it, it would be genuine Game Of The Century material in my eyes. I'd Settle For The Wind Waker HD On Switch 2 Any day now... right? My small issues with The Wind Waker HD aside, it's still the best way to play the game in 2026. What a shame it still isn't available on Nintendo Switch, right? It's possible to play the original Wind Waker on Switch 2 via the console's GameCube library for Switch Online subscribers, but it's hard to go back to when you know there's a vastly superior version out there trapped on the Wii U. Subscribe to the newsletter for Wind Waker insights Explore remaster debates — subscribe to the newsletter for deeper Zelda coverage, side-by-side remaster analysis, preservation context, and thoughtful takes on Wind Waker and other classic game restorations. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. 2026, of course, marks the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, so with any luck Nintendo will finally release The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. It's about time, surely? The Legend of Zelda Movie The Legend of Zelda Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka Upcoming Films The Legend of Zelda First TV Show The Legend of Zelda First Episode Air Date September 8, 1989 Cast Jonathan Potts, Cyndy Preston
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