Ranking the top 10 games on Nintendo Switch

7. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

I tried to avoid remakes for this list as much as possible, but since the original Link’s Awakening came out on Game Boy back in 1993, this revamped remake is a completely fresh experience for a brand new generation. And like most Legend of Zelda games, it is exceptionally well-designed. With incredible dungeons, smart puzzles and a variety of enemies, items and weapons, it never feels stale, even for those who have played through the original multiple times.

There’s no question the narrative in Link’s Awakening is among the darkest in any Zelda game, but you wouldn’t know it by the delightfully cartoonish graphics that make everything look like it’s plucked right out of a Polly Pocket playset. That’s not to say this is a children’s game, however; quite a few of this game’s more dastardly puzzles gave even this 28-year-old pause, and the colorful but artificial art style matches the game’s increasing vibe that something is not right on Koholint Island.

While the game dutifully remakes the original nearly frame by frame, its attention to detail in upgrading every single inch is quite remarkable. The combat is simple, but surprisingly fun for a classic 2D side-scroller remake. Many of the original’s more haranguing bits (limited item slots, no stamp functions on the map for backtracking, no warp spots, etc.) are all addressed in the most minimal, effective way, making this new game an improved version without totally changing up the formula.

Aside from the occasional frame rate issues that come with the territory of turning the original, separated sections of the map into a seamless open world, Link’s Awakening is a nearly flawless remake made for both diehard fans of the Game Boy version and newcomers to the series alike.