Nintendo’s new Zelda handheld feels like a hint at things to come

Last holiday, Nintendo released Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros., a handheld that The technical aspect Play the original Super Mario Bros. Its tiny screen. However, how many people have actually walked to the Mushroom Kingdom with this tiny gadget? This portable was an inflictor of arthritis because it had so many buttons.

I was asking myself the big question: “Why?” What’s the point of releasing a console that makes you feel bad while playing video games? I eventually realized that it wasn’t meant for people to play Mario; it was a thank you to the fans who have already played the game to death. You don’t experience it. It’s displayed.

This year, Nintendo has produced Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda, a follow-up celebrating a trio of early Zelda games. It’s similarly tiny and will look adorable on a display case. This time, however, I’ve opted to keep it on my desk for its intended purpose: playing video games.

Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda is more substantial than its predecessor and a better fit for the hardware’s limitations. All three games contain the original Legend of ZeldaNES sequel; and Game Boy entry Link’s Awakening. And, like the Mario edition, this device includes a digital clock, a classic Game & Watch minigame (with Zelda-inspired art), and a retro plastic shell — the throwback industrial design gently improved by the inclusion of a USB-C slot for charging the internal battery.

The significant difference between the Mario and Zelda editions has little to do with creative decisions on Nintendo’s part. Zelda, purely on a design level, just happens to be a better fit for the small device, Link’s adventure requiring less precision than the plumber’s platforming. Link’s Awakening in particular is a natural fit — the Game & Watch hardware acts as a more portable GameBoy with a far better, backlit screen.

Is the Game & Watch the best place to play these Zelda games? It’s not. It’s still too small! And most of these games Can be found on Nintendo’s other hardware. But if you’re going to drop $49.99 on this sort of gizmo, it’s nice to know it can comfortably do what’s written on the tin without causing hand cramps.

It is worth it to buy a brand new Steam game? Frankly, I suspect most collectors have already made up their minds, and that’s who Nintendo is targeting.

Back to the question of “Why do these exist?”

The Game & Watch limited editions fit within a budding trend at Nintendo. Nintendo has returned to toy manufacturing, putting stand-alone toys on store shelves in order to profit from the holiday rush. 2016 saw the NES Classic Edition sell out in the US, followed by the Super NES Classic Edition a year later. Last year, Nintendo shifted its tangible dose of nostalgia to handheld games, reviving the dusty Game & Watch brand.

Although Nintendo has been around for more than 100 years in the collectible and toy business, since the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System their creative and financial resources have mostly been focused on the core consoles, and their software. This holiday gift trend of the past five years suggests the company is still willing to flirt with these bits of ephemera, stuff that theoretically serves a purpose (the Classic Editions and Game & Watch handhelds play games) but in practice exists to evoke a feeling.

We’ve seen Nintendo rely on nostalgia throughout its history. It’s easy to think of ways for Nintendo to follow up these successes, like Game & Watch: Metroid or N64 Classic Edition. This toy-making trend should not slow down, but I do hope it continues to grow. Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda is a delightful holiday gift for 2021, but I can’t help but wonder what the House of Mario could create in 2022.

These holiday trinkets may be created by Nintendo designers to cash in on the hardcore fan memories. But the care that goes into each device — the design, the clever retail presentation, the craft of it all — has me excited by the idea that somewhere, deep in the company’s bowels, a handful of creators keep the company’s legacy of toymaking alive. And, maybe one day, they won’t simply need to feed nostalgia. Maybe one day, a company that has made toys for over a century will make some stand-alone trinket that’s entirely new.

Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda was released on Nov. 12. Nintendo supplied a portable to review the product. Vox Media is an affiliate partner. They do not affect editorial content. However, Vox Media might earn commissions on products sold via affiliate links. Here are some links to help you find. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.