Game Boy · Action-Adventure / RPG
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Certified classic
| System | Game Boy |
|---|---|
| Released | 1993 |
| Genre | Action-Adventure, RPG |
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Weekend project (Roughly 6–20 hours) |
| Series | The Legend of Zelda |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 30 |
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is an action-adventure game released in 1993 for the Game Boy, developed by Nintendo. It blends action-adventure and RPG elements.
It landed about 4 years into the Game Boy's life. Other notable Game Boy releases from 1993 include Darkwing Duck, Kirby's Pinball Land and Mega Man IV. Among the 20 Game Boy action-adventure games in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.
It is part of the The Legend of Zelda series. The series also appears on other systems with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA). Nintendo also made Pokémon Yellow, Super Mario Land and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins for the Game Boy.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to get lost in a long quest
- you have time for a weekend project (roughly 6–20 hours)
- you want to experience one of the Game Boy's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you want a game you can finish in one short session
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is like
Action-adventures blend real-time combat with exploration, puzzles and item collection. You open up a larger world gradually as new tools let you reach places you couldn't before.
Tip for newcomers: Keep a mental (or paper) map of locked doors and unreachable ledges; most action-adventures expect you to come back once you find the right item.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening cheats & codes
42 codes on file (Game Genie, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Infinite Energy | FA0-999-4C1 |
|---|---|
| Get 5 Rupees For Each Single Rupee | 054-EE9-E6E |
| Get 50 Rupees For Each Single Rupee | 324-EE9-E6E |
| Get 255 Rupees For Each Single Rupee | FF4-EE9-E6E |
| You Will Always Shoot Arrows (Have Them Or Not) Without Depleting Your Supply | 12E-79E-EFA |
| Changes Soundtrack | 345-DCB-356 |
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.
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Playing Game Boy games today
Game Boy games were designed for short bursts on the go, which makes them ideal for a coffee break today. Many are available through Nintendo Switch Online, and original carts play on any later Game Boy model.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening FAQ
When did The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening come out on the Game Boy?
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was released for the Game Boy in 1993.
Who made The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening?
It was developed by Nintendo.
Is The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening multiplayer?
No. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a single-player game.
How long does The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening take to play?
As an action-adventure game, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening typically falls into the "Weekend project" category: roughly 6–20 hours. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.