Daily Debate: Does Platforming Have a Place in a Zelda Game?

Platforming is a genre of gaming that requires the player to jump and climb to reach a specific goal. Classic platformers include Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog. The Legend of Zelda has classically been categorized as an RPG, but would a Zelda title ever become a platformer?

The only way I could ever see a Zelda game being a platformer would be that it would be an indy title. You can jump in Zelda games, but generally it’s not to reach a goal point, but to reach another section of the map. For instance, in Breath of the Wild I would need to make Link jump in order to avoid lava in the Eldin region or to jump and paraglide off of a Shiekah Tower. Whereas in Mario games I need to jump to reach different platforms to eventually reach the goal post at the end of the game. This has been true of most Mario games, barring Mario Odyssey which feels a little less platform-y. Platformers are usually a start to finish kind of game, where Zelda and other RPGs are area/world map driven.  A Zelda game being a platformer would feel odd and out of place. I once heard an argument for one saying that it would be something “different” for the Zelda series. Why fix what works? The Zelda series has traditionally been an RPG, and should stay that way. Changing the game type for Zelda would feel like changing the whole series.

What you think? Would a platforming style game work for the Zelda series? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below!

Heather Beard

Hi I’m Heather! I’m Senior Editor and Art Director at Zelda Dungeon and I’ve been a member of the ZD team since 2019. I am a graphic designer, artist, and nerdy mom to an awesome little boy. When my nose isn’t in a book, working on my novel or watching anime you can find me curled up with my cats Mandy-Lynn and Daisy Mae.