#Collecting #Legend #Zelda #Franchise #WorthPoint
The mid-1980s were an incredible time for Nintendo, as the famous company created many video game series that would become beloved worldwide for decades to come. Hit series like Super Mario Brothers and Metroid will soon celebrate their 40th anniversaries, and so shall Zelda.
The Legend of Zelda, released in 1986, introduced gamers to the world of Hyrule and the now-iconic characters of Link, Zelda, and Ganon, as well as the Triforce of Power. The game featured an adventure across an expansive open world, highly impressive by the standards of console games at the time. The Legend of Zelda would enjoy a great number of sequels, often pushing the limits of gaming technology, with A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and Wind Waker all showcasing the capabilities of the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and GameCube, respectively. The franchise has become one of the most recognizable and popular video game series of all time.
Tears of the Kingdom, the newest title in the series, was released only last year but has already sold over twenty million copies and met with critical acclaim. Fans won’t have to wait long for more adventures, as Echoes of Wisdom is set to release this September—and it will give fans the chance to take control of Princess Zelda herself for the first time in any non-spinoff Zelda game.
Zelda Games
Of course, the games would be the most logical starting point for collecting The Legend of Zelda. Naturally, an original sealed copy of the 1986 original costs an astronomical amount of money these days—a first-edition 1987 North American release sold for $600,000 in 2022.
Fortunately, you won’t have to pay over half a million just to own an NES copy of the game—a sealed copy of the less rare “Classic Series” release (a label used by Nintendo in the late ’80s to let buyers identify highly-rated games) goes for around $1,000. Unsealed copies are even cheaper, going for as low as $40. These copies are still a cool thing for any collector to own and they are sure to increase in value as they become less common.
Subsequent games can be picked up more cheaply. The Adventure of Link in 1987—controversial for its experimental shift in gameplay style, which was abandoned by the rest of the sequels—goes for around $3,000 if sealed, and far less if not sealed. Collectors on tighter budgets might want to check out unboxed copies of the NES games. The cartridges on their own can be very cheap—an Adventure of Link cartridge can go for as cheaply as $6.
Other games of interest to collectors include 1992’s A Link to the Past and 1998’s The Ocarina of Time, both critically acclaimed. Again, sealed copies will, of course, fetch high prices. A sealed copy of A Link to the Past with a WATA rating of 9.8 (A+) sold for $182,000 in 2022, while a sealed collector’s edition of Ocarina of Time—complete with the original T-shirt and guidebook—sold for $150,000 last year. Unsealed copies, or the cartridges on their own, will be far less. An unboxed cartridge of A Link to the Past can go for as low as $35.
For more recent games in the franchise, many are still on the market, but each has a collectors edition. The limited-edition of 2017’s hugely popular Breath of the Wild, for example, can go for several hundred dollars. It features a statuette of the Master Sword, which in itself is a collectible.
Zelda Models
Like any popular game series, The Legend of Zelda has spawned countless collectible figures and models. There are far too many to name, but big-name companies like Figma have produced Zelda ranges, often at very affordable prices. Their Twilight Princess Link figure, for example, goes for under $30. The iconic Nendoroid series has produced Zelda models, too, with a Nendoroid Link available for around $50.
On the more expensive and more collectible end of the Zelda model scene are the First 4 Figures range. These high-quality models have great attention to detail and are priced accordingly. The most valuable is the “Link on Epona” statue. This superb model, depicting Link riding his famous horse, goes for $2,500. There are, of course, some cheaper, but no less excellent, models in the same range. You can get a collectible model of Princess Zelda for a little over $60. Any serious collector will want to check these out.
Other Items
Zelda’s popularity has ensured that merchandise is ubiquitous. From canvas art to clothing, you can find just about anything with a Zelda theme. Board games may be of interest to collectors. The USAopoly chess set features some beautifully sculptured figures and goes for $290. Monopoly has gotten in on the Zelda action, too, with a special collectors edition, which goes for $80.
A beautiful Tears of the Kingdom-themed jigsaw puzzle, created by famous jigsaw manufacturers Ravensburg, can be picked up very cheaply, and now is a great time to do so, as it’s sure to become a collectible as time goes on.
The Popularity Will Continue to Grow
The Legend of Zelda series has not only delighted gamers worldwide with its exciting adventures and memorable characters but has also created a rich market for collectors. Whether you are starting with the games, expanding into figures and models, or finding more unusual items, the world of Zelda collectibles offers something for every fan and collector.
With new games and new merchandise continuously hitting the market, the popularity of Zelda will only continue to grow. Now is an ideal time to get in on the collection—or play the games, if you’ve missed out on them until now.
Matthew Doherty is a writer, editor, and teacher specializing in all things history-related. His work has been published in the UK Defence Journal, the Small Wars Journal, and The Collector. He holds an MSc from the University of Edinburgh and a BA from the University of Leeds. In his spare time, he also writes science fiction stories.
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