Platform guide
All Zelda Wii U games
Four Zelda discs came out for the Wii U: two HD remasters of GameCube games, a crowd-fighting spin-off, and Breath of the Wild — which launched on this console on the same day as on the Switch, and is still the cheapest way to play it on original hardware.
The short answer
Breath of the Wild (2017) — same game as on the Switch, far cheaper on a disc. The Wind Waker HD (2013) is the remaster that gained the most. Twilight Princess HD (2016) came with a Wolf Link amiibo in bundles, which is worth checking for. Hyrule Warriors (2014) is the spin-off.
Every Zelda Wii U disc, in release order
| Game | Year (EU) | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| The Wind Waker HD | 2013 | HD remaster of the 2003 GameCube game |
| Hyrule Warriors | 2014 | Spin-off — Koei Tecmo crossover |
| Twilight Princess HD | 2016 | HD remaster of the 2006 game |
| Breath of the Wild | 2017 | Main game — released on Wii U and Switch the same day |
Game by game — the buying notes
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (2013)
The cel-shaded classic rebuilt for the Wii U: better lighting, a faster sail, and the map moved to the GamePad screen so you stop pausing. The Triforce hunt that dragged in the original was cut down. Of the two HD remasters this is the one that gained most from the work, and it is the cheaper of the two second-hand.
Hyrule Warriors (2014)
Not a Zelda made by Nintendo but a Dynasty Warriors game in Zelda costume: hundreds of enemies at once, a large roster, no puzzles to speak of. Later expanded on the 3DS as Hyrule Warriors Legends and on the Switch as Definitive Edition, both of which carry more content — buy the Wii U disc for the price, not for completeness.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (2016)
The darkest mainline Zelda, remastered with a rebalanced Cave of Ordeals and a much less tedious Twilight realm. Sold in Europe alongside a Wolf Link amiibo in bundles — that figure carries a save between games and is worth real money on its own, so check whether a listing includes it. Scarcer than Wind Waker HD.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
The Wii U version came out on 3 March 2017, the same day as the Switch one, and it is the same game: same map, same physics, same shrines. It runs at a lower resolution and loads more slowly, and it does not get the Switch DLC. What it is, is by far the cheapest way to play Breath of the Wild on original hardware — often a fraction of the Switch price.
The cheapest way into Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild came out on the Wii U and the Switch on the same day — 3 March 2017 — and it is the same game on both: the same map, the same physics, the same shrines and the same ending. The Wii U version runs at a lower resolution, loads more slowly and never got the downloadable content. In exchange it typically costs a fraction of the Switch cartridge, because far fewer people were looking for it. If you own a Wii U and have not played it, that is the single best value on this list — and if you are buying a console to play it on, a second-hand Wii U with the game costs less than the game alone on a Switch.
Or buy one that has already been checked
Every disc we sell is play-tested on real hardware and listed exactly as it is, with the case, manual and any amiibo or extra described honestly. We have been doing this since 2019, with 1400+ verified reviews at 5.0★, and we ship tracked to all 27 EU countries.
Browse tested Wii U gamesQuestions we get asked
How many Zelda games are there on the Wii U?
Four discs: The Wind Waker HD (2013), Hyrule Warriors (2014), Twilight Princess HD (2016) and Breath of the Wild (2017). Two of those are HD remasters of GameCube games, one is a Koei Tecmo spin-off, and one is a mainline Zelda that launched here on the same day as on the Switch.
Is Breath of the Wild on Wii U the same game as on Switch?
The same game, yes — same map, same shrines, same physics, released on the same day, 3 March 2017. The differences are technical: the Wii U version runs at a lower resolution, loads more slowly, and never received the downloadable content the Switch version got. For a first playthrough it is the same hundred hours, and the disc usually costs a fraction of the Switch cartridge.
Which Zelda Wii U game should I buy first?
Breath of the Wild if you have not played it — the Wii U disc is the cheapest route into it. The Wind Waker HD if you want the remaster that gained the most from being redone. Twilight Princess HD after those, and Hyrule Warriors only if you want the crowd-fighting spin-off.
What is the Wolf Link amiibo that came with Twilight Princess HD?
A figure sold in the European bundle with the game. In Twilight Princess HD it unlocks a dungeon, and it also carries a save that later worked with Breath of the Wild, where it summons Wolf Link as a companion. It is worth money on its own, so a bundle listing that includes it is worth noticeably more than the bare disc — check which one you are buying.
Do I need the GamePad?
Yes, and here it earns its keep: the Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD put the map and inventory on it so you stop pausing, and Breath of the Wild uses it as a map you glance at. A Wii U without a working GamePad is close to useless generally — replacements are scarce and expensive, so check that a console listing includes one.
Are Wii U discs region-locked?
Yes. A European disc plays on a European Wii U, not on an American or Japanese one. Everything we sell is the European version unless the product page says otherwise.
Do you ship Zelda Wii U games across the EU?
Yes — tracked shipping from the Netherlands to all 27 EU countries, no customs charges inside the EU, and 30 days to return an order. Your country’s exact rate appears at checkout before you pay.
The originals these remaster: all Zelda GameCube games — on a handheld: 3DS, DS or Game Boy Advance. Or the whole series in order.
Dutch reader? Wii U-games — het hele aanbod in het Nederlands.