Nintendo's lawyers are about to enter a dark pact with Bandai Namco, as an indie developer has mixed the original Legend of Zelda on the NES with arcade classic The Tower of Druaga, in a crossover that's available to play online for free.
The original Legend of Zelda needs no introduction, being one of the best games on the NES, and kicking off one of the most beloved gaming franchises of all time. The Tower of Druaga doesn't have quite the same legacy, being a popular Namco arcade game from the '80s, which was a hit back in its day, but never had the staying power of Link and pals, seeing only sporadic sequels over the following decades.
Link is stealing the main character role from Gilgamesh, the hero of The Tower of Druaga, or at least he is in one fan game. Osmose has announced on BlueSky that they've created a demo for a crossover title between the original Legend of Zelda and The Tower of Druaga, which can be played here for free via a browser, with either controller or keyboard.
PRINCE GANONDORF HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED BY THE DEMON QUEEN ZELDAGA ASCEND THE TOWER OF ZELDAGA TO SAVE HIM, BUT BE WARNED EVERY ROOM HOLDS A SECRET! OUT NOW legitimatebusiness.biz/tower/ — Osmose (@osmose.bsky.social) 2026-09-17T15:04:27.173Z
The Tower Of Zeldaga Brings Two '80s Classics Together
The Tower of Zeldaga puts the original Link from the first Legend of Zelda into the dungeon from The Tower of Druaga, with familiar foes waiting around every corner. Only this time around, it's the fair Prince Ganondorf who has been kidnapped by the evil demon queen Zeldaga, with Link needing to wield the Master Sword against an unfamiliar foe.
Those expecting The Tower of Zeldaga to be some straight sprite swap mod will be pleasantly surprised, as each room holds a secret for the player to discover. Even though it's a browser game, it's possible to continue progress in The Tower of Zeldaga, meaning doors will remain open after being unlocked, so there's no need to keep running around, grabbing the same keys.
The Tower of Zeldaga puts the original Link from the first Legend of Zelda into the 60th-floor dungeon from The Tower of Druaga, with familiar foes waiting around every corner.
So, is any of this legal? That's the kind of question that passes through the brain, shortly before Nintendo unleashes its nine lawyers from the fortress of Barad-dur and stabs people who make fan games with their Morgul blades, stealing millions of dollars from their bank accounts.
The Legend of Zeldaga is also using copyrighted material from Bandai Namco, a company that happens to be on close terms with Nintendo, working on some of the company's best games, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Though it wouldn't exactly need the might of both companies to destroy one indie developer, as one legal letter is sure to kill The Legend of Zeldaga.
Hopefully, the fact that The Legend of Zeldaga is a free game made by a passionate fan will shield the game from legal action. After all, Nintendo and Bandai Namco have nothing to gain from crushing such a small project, and all they will get is bad publicity for being heavy-handed with legal threats.
The Legend of Zeldaga is a fun time for people who love the old-school, top-down Zelda games, especially the dungeons, as it's all about the combat and finding keys. It's not like it's difficult to play the classic Zelda titles, with the Nintendo Switch 2 featuring most of them, with more on the way, like the remake of Ocarina of Time, but people who have played those games to death can try out The Legend of Zeldaga while it's still available.