The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Games review
As of Oct 22, 2026, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is rated 85/100 on Metacritic (129 critic reviews), and 85/100 on OpenCritic (151 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Is The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom worth it in 2026?
Backed by matching 85/100 scores across well over a hundred reviews on both OpenCritic and Metacritic, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom successfully spotlights Zelda in the leading role. Sampled reviewers consistently praise how the game blends classic 2D dungeon progression with open-ended creativity and playful puzzle design. However, some critics observe that the experience occasionally holds back its ambition, and standard combat feels distinctly limited whenever you are outside of the Swordfighter Form. For those who prioritize cerebral experimentation over direct action, it delivers an imaginative and rewarding adventure.
Fans of top-down Zelda seeking open-ended puzzle experimentation, classic dungeon progression, and a fresh perspective playing as Zelda.
Action-focused players may be frustrated by limited basic combat moves outside of the Swordfighter Form, along with isolated complaints of restrained ambition and minor usability issues.
AI-generated editorial synthesis of the source scores and sampled review themes, not a hands-on test. Reviewer experiences and allegations are not independently verified facts.
Pros
- blending classic and modern7
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- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is far more than some second-tier spinoff, combining the expertly crafted dungeons and item progression you’d expect from a 2D Zelda with the...
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a refreshing, albeit brief, series experimentation that blends modern and classic series elements. Using brand-new magic to battle and solv...
- Echoes of Wisdom mixes Tears of the Kingdom with the classic top-down Zelda formula to create a charming adventure that is both forward-thinking and nostalgic.
- inventive puzzle design6
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- Thanks to playful puzzles and an imaginative reinvention of Hyrule's historic iconography, Echoes of Wisdom emerges as a bold and creative new chapter in Zelda's legend.
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is far more than some second-tier spinoff, combining the expertly crafted dungeons and item progression you’d expect from a 2D Zelda with the...
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a refreshing, albeit brief, series experimentation that blends modern and classic series elements. Using brand-new magic to battle and solv...
- zelda as protagonist5
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- Despite how much joy I mined conquering its temples and delving into its many rifts, at times it doesn’t push its ambition far enough. That never stops Echoes from being a warm hug...
- ... In the end, I finally got to experience a full, proper, no-asterisk Zelda adventure without having to explain, “Actually, you play as Link,” and I am grateful for the experienc...
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom should be the new standard for top-down Zelda going forward. Rather than abandoning the classic formula, Zelda has shown that the old and the...
- open-ended creativity5
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- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is far more than some second-tier spinoff, combining the expertly crafted dungeons and item progression you’d expect from a 2D Zelda with the...
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom should be the new standard for top-down Zelda going forward. Rather than abandoning the classic formula, Zelda has shown that the old and the...
- Echoes of Wisdom is a marvel both visually and gameplay-wise. It's riddled with clever puzzles and gives you total freedom to choose to save Hyrule in your own way. An outstanding...
Cons
- limited ambition2
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- Despite how much joy I mined conquering its temples and delving into its many rifts, at times it doesn’t push its ambition far enough. That never stops Echoes from being a warm hug...
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has the potential to become a whole new series on its own thanks to the many possibilities that Zelda introduces as the main character, both n...
- basic combat limitations1
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- Overall, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a good game but not a great one. The echoes setup is certainly cerebral, but the lack of basic combat moves outside of the Swordfighter Form is...
- minor usability issues1
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- Echoes of Wisdom is a marvel both visually and gameplay-wise. It's riddled with clever puzzles and gives you total freedom to choose to save Hyrule in your own way. An outstanding...
Themes and quotes are drawn from 20 sampled reviews with text. Each score above uses its source's displayed count. Theme counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.
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