Legend Of Zelda Gets Free 40th Anniversary Remake By Fans, For Fans

by

As a huge Zelda fan, I’m a little disappointed that the 40th anniversary celebrations have been pretty quiet so far. Nintendo hasn’t really made any big announcements – and honestly, a small update to Breath of the Wild doesn’t feel like enough! Tomorrow, February 21st, is the big day – it marks 40 years since the original Zelda came out on the Famicom in Japan back in 1986 (it took another year to reach the NES here). Luckily, a really cool fan-made remake of the very first Zelda just dropped, and it’s totally free to play, which is awesome!

Game developer jeb_yoshi has completely reimagined The Legend of Zelda and made it available for free on Game Jolt. Jeb emphasizes that this isn’t a commercial project, but a passion project that significantly expands upon the classic 40-year-old game. Originally intended as a simple update, the game now features new items, dungeons, characters, and enemies. We first discovered this impressive creation through a YouTube playthrough by BasementLet’sPlay, and you can watch their initial episode below.

Click here to go to Game Jolt and download Jeb’s reimagined The Legend of Zelda (Windows PC only).

The OG Zelda Just Got A Free Fan Remake

If you’re familiar with The Legend of Zelda, you’ll notice Jeb’s version is different right away. The overworld map has been completely redesigned, so you can’t rely on your memory to guide you. Everything has been changed – enemy locations, where items appear, and the dungeons themselves. Plus, the game’s art style has been updated. It’s best seen as a tribute to the original game and the Zelda series as a whole.

As a huge Zelda fan, I was so surprised exploring! I went looking for a Heart Container in that cave by the Southeast Sea, and instead of finding it, I ran into Ingo! It was weird, because I first met him in Ocarina of Time – he’s the guy who takes over Lon Lon Ranch when Ganondorf messes everything up. And get this – when I went to start the very first dungeon, the one from the original Legend of Zelda, Saria was there! She didn’t even exist until Ocarina of Time, so it was a really cool and unexpected easter egg!

This Is A Great Way To Celebrate Zelda’s 40th Anniversary

This recreation of the original The Legend of Zelda is a fantastic way to celebrate the series’ 40th anniversary, especially since Nintendo hasn’t released an official remake. It draws inspiration from across the entire Zelda timeline, even featuring music from later games. However, this version is really aimed at longtime fans—it’s not the best choice for newcomers. It’s designed for those who already know and love the original, constantly building on and subverting what players expect.

Honestly, playing this doesn’t quite feel like a true Zelda experience. They’ve got enemies running around from Super Mario Bros., like Boos, which is a little weird. But it’s still amazing! It really shows what an official remake of the original Zelda could look like if they modernized things. In a lot of ways, Nintendo already remade the first Zelda with Breath of the Wild – that game brought back the feeling of just wandering around and discovering things on your own, just like the original. Until Nintendo officially celebrates The Legend of Zelda’s anniversary, this remake is the best way to get that classic feeling!

Read More

2026-02-21 01:40