Nintendo Surprises Fans with Stealth Drop of Classic Zelda Collection on Switch

In a move no one saw coming, Nintendo has shadow-dropped a digital collection of classic The Legend of Zelda titles on the Nintendo Switch eShop today, thrilling longtime fans and newcomers alike. Titled *The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Past Collection*, this surprise release bundles together four iconic games from the franchise’s rich history: *The Legend of Zelda* (NES), *Zelda II: The Adventure of Link*, *The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past*, and *The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX*.

What sets this collection apart is not just the convenience of modern accessibility, but the enhancements Nintendo has packaged with it. Each game features improved save states, optional graphical filters, and custom button remapping—a welcome modern twist that enhances accessibility while preserving the original experience. The collection also includes a new in-game museum mode, offering behind-the-scenes development art, trivia, and exclusive interviews with developers pulled from archived Nintendo Power issues.

The stealth launch follows Nintendo’s recent pattern of surprise releases, increasingly common during their Nintendo Direct presentations. While no Direct aired today, the collection appeared in the eShop early this morning, accompanied only by a brief tweet and a blog post from Nintendo of America. Within hours, the collection climbed into the Top 5 best-selling titles on the digital storefront.

Fan response has been overwhelmingly positive, with social media ablaze over the opportunity to play these classics on modern hardware without needing the Switch Online subscription. Notably, this marks the first time *Link’s Awakening DX*—the color-enhanced Game Boy Color edition—has been made available outside of its original platform and Virtual Console.

With no prior announcement or fanfare, Nintendo’s ninja-like drop has reinvigorated nostalgia and sparked speculation about future classic collections. Could a similar *Metroid* bundle be next? For now, fans are diving back into Hyrule, exploring dungeons and battling Ganon once again—this time, in the palm of their hands.

*The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Past Collection* is available now on the Nintendo Switch eShop for $39.99.