The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

When, after the breathtaking installment The Wind Waker, word came that Link would head to a handheld console, skepticism reigned. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass from 2007, however, proved that the cult series could be transferred to a touchscreen without losing its soul. The game is a direct sequel to the story from The Wind Waker and shares its charming comic-book visual style.

The boldest decision was to build the entire control scheme around the stylus. Link moves wherever the player points, attacks are issued by touching an enemy, and the stylus also serves for solving puzzles, drawing boomerang paths, or jotting notes directly onto the map. This approach was controversial at first but proved surprisingly intuitive and natural for the DS.

Development was handled by the internal studio Nintendo EAD. The game cleverly uses both screens and other hardware features, including the microphone and closing the console, which is part of one of its best-known puzzles. Central to it is the mysterious Temple of the Ocean King, to which the player returns repeatedly, a design element much debated at the time.

The cultural significance lies in the fact that Phantom Hourglass was the first fully original Zelda entry designed from the ground up for touch controls. It became a great commercial success and ranks among the best-selling Zelda games ever, confirming that the series has a firm place on handhelds.

For players seeking an adventure full of sailing the seas, exploring islands and clever puzzles, Phantom Hourglass is an ideal choice. It is accessible, visually enchanting and, within the possibilities of touch controls, masterfully designed.

Why play: The first Zelda designed for the stylus, with enchanting graphics and inventive puzzles on a seafaring adventure.