Best way to purchase/play all Legend of Zelda Games?

Question

I was a huge Zelda fan when I was a kid. Now, I want to play and beat every Zelda game just for fun. Here are the games I own and do not own.

OWN:
-Ocarina of Time
-Majora's Mask
-Twilight Princess
-A Link To The Past
-Oracle of Ages/Seasons (might not work)
-Adventure of Link
-The Legend of Zelda

DO NOT OWN:
-Wind Waker
-Four Swords Adventure
-Minish Cap
-Link's Awakening
-Phantom Hourglass
-Spirit Tracks
-Skyward Sword
-A Link Between Worlds
-Triforce Heroes
-Breath of the Wild

What is the best way to purchase the games I do not own in order to save money? I don't have my Gameboy anymore but, I want to be able to own all these games somehow without buying a separate system just for one game.

Answer 1

If you want to legally purchase & play all the games as efficiently as possible, you only need 2 systems: Wii U & 2/3DS as they've been all releases & re-released on these systems.



The Wii U exclusive games are...



* Zelda: Minish Cap (GBA VC)

* Zelda: Wind Waker HD

* Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

* Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii VC)

* Zelda: Breath of the Wild



For 2/3DS exclusives are...



* Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

* Zelda: Triforce Heroes

* Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (GBC VC)

* Zelda: Oracle of Ages / Seasons (GBC VC)



All other games in the Zelda series can be purchased on either system (via Virtual Console services & retail re-releases), so you can choose the one you prefer to play on.



Hope this helps!

Answer 2

For the GB games virtual console is probably best, but for DS and Wii games it's probably worth checking out CEX or GAME for preowned ones and eBay because they might be cheaper that the virtual console versions, especially if you're planning on buying physical copies of the newer games because they'll be cheaper online or in store. I got my spirit tracks game for £4 in GAME and most of the games you have for like £5-£6 each from eBay.

Answer 3

Between the Wii U and 3DS and virtual consoles on both, you should be able to obtain each of the missing ones on one of those or the other with a few exceptions.



Wii U has Wind Waker HD and Breath of the Wild, plus virtual console for Minish Cap. Skyward Sword is compatible with Wii U but you'll need to purchase a Wii Remote with Motion Plus.

3DS has the Links Awakening on VC I'm fairly sure and all the DS zeldas are compatible with 3DS.



The only one that isn't on either of those systems is Four Swords Adventures, which needs either a GameCube or original Wii.

Answer 4

You can use an emulator if you do not own the console.

For the games, there are lots of site that allow you to download ROMs (like emuparadise).

For legal stuff (just to know), if you possess an original copy of the game or a proof that you buyed it, you can download and keep it stored for as long as you want.

If you don't own the game, then you can only download it once and store it for 24h from download date (most people don't care about this).

This doesn't apply on product no more protected by copyright law.

Answer 5

Some of the older ones, such as Link's Awakening may be available to download onto your phone. The newer ones, however, probably wouldn't be available to download.