Two Unannounced Legend of Zelda Games Have Leaked — Here Is Everything We Know

Nintendo has a massive Legend of Zelda lineup in the works for the franchise's 40th anniversary in 2026, and leaks have revealed two major unannounced projects. One is a 2D top-down title that may star Ganondorf for the first time, and the other is the next open-world mainline sequel. Alongside the already-confirmed Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2, these games represent the broadest coordinated Zelda release plan in years.

What Two Unannounced Zelda Games Were Leaked?

The most concrete leaks have come from a pattern of internal codenames tied to past Zelda titles. In January 2025, a tweet listed three codenames — Richard, Edward, and Bernard — that were subsequently linked to Zelda projects. "Richard" was the codename for the Link's Awakening remake and "Edward" was the internal work-in-progress title for Echoes of Wisdom . This left "Bernard" as the next unannounced codename in the sequence .

Here is what leaks have revealed about each project:

1. A New 2D Top-Down Zelda Game (Codename "Bernard")

• How it leaked: Leaker Nash Weedle posted on X on April 26, 2026, saying "Hero, wake up, the drums are resounding for 2027" while quoting the codename chain "Richard > Edward > Bernard" . He later clarified in a May 6 podcast that this refers to a new 2D Zelda game targeting a 2027 release on Switch 2 .
• Credited director/developer: No specific director has been confirmed in leaked materials. The project is reported to be co-developed by Nintendo and Grezzo, the studio that handled Link's Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom .
• Protagonist/angle: Nash Weedle has claimed that this 2D game may center on Ganondorf rather than Link — a major departure for the franchise that would make Ganondorf the playable protagonist for the first time .
• Platform context: Nintendo Switch 2 .

2. A New Open-World Mainline Zelda Sequel

• How it leaked: Multiple leakers — including Nate the Hate, Nash Weedle, and Shpeshal Nick — have independently indicated that Nintendo is working on a new open-world Zelda game in the vein of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom . Early reports identified the project through premature database or source code listings before any official announcement .
• Credited director/developer: No specific director is named in leaked sources. Given the scale and style, it is widely assumed to be the next mainline 3D entry from Nintendo EPD, the same division that produced Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom .
• Development stage: Reports suggest it is in active development and further along than the 2D title, with speculation it could be revealed in late 2026 or early-to-mid 2027 . Leaker Shpeshal Nick has described the game as a cross-dimensional adventure with new gameplay gimmicks .
• Platform context: Nintendo Switch 2 .

How the Leaks Fit Into the 40th Anniversary Lineup

The Already-Confirmed Ocarina of Time Remake

The Ocarina of Time remake is the one project that has moved from rumor to confirmed reality. Nintendo officially acknowledged it during the June 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct after it was widely leaked by Nate the Hate, who stated it would be a full ground-up remake (not an HD remaster) for Switch 2, planned as the big Holiday 2026 release . The remake reportedly runs on a new engine with updated physics and was intended to be the Direct's "one more thing" reveal .

The Broader 40th Anniversary Slate

2026 marks the franchise's 40th anniversary, and Nintendo's apparent strategy is a multi-pronged release slate:

Project	Target	Status
Ocarina of Time remake (Switch 2)	Holiday 2026	Confirmed
New 2D Zelda (Switch 2)	2027	Leaked / rumored
New open-world mainline Zelda (Switch 2)	TBA (likely 2027–2028)	Leaked / rumored

This follows a pattern Nintendo has used before: pairing an N64-era remake or remaster with a new entry to cover both nostalgia and innovation. Historically, the Ocarina of Time 3D remake launched in 2011 and Majora's Mask 3D followed in 2015, each alongside new Zelda releases. The current plan mirrors that — the Ocarina of Time remake serves as the tentpole anniversary title for 2026, while the 2D and open-world projects extend the franchise's reach into 2027 and beyond .

Historical Pattern of Pairing N64 Adventures

The N64 pairing strategy has been clear: Nintendo often revisits its two N64 Zelda games together. With the new Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2 in 2026, speculation persists that a Majora's Mask remake or remaster could also be in the pipeline, though no direct leak currently supports that .

Bottom Line

Two unannounced Zelda games have been leaked — a 2D top-down Ganondorf-centric title (codename "Bernard") aiming for 2027, and a next open-world mainline Zelda presumably further out. Neither has an officially named director in leaked materials. Together with the confirmed Ocarina of Time remake, they form a 40th-anniversary lineup that honors the N64 era with a full remake while also pushing the series forward with new 2D and open-world entries on Switch 2.

⚠️ Important caveat: All information about the unannounced 2D and open-world titles comes from leakers and third-party reports. Only the Ocarina of Time remake has been officially confirmed by Nintendo as of June 2026. Treat unconfirmed leaks as rumors until Nintendo makes an official announcement.