The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is an action-adventure game that Nintendo EAD developed and Nintendo published for the Nintendo DS in 2007. It serves as a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the GameCube, picking up the story of Link and Tetra as they sail the open waters of the Great Sea in search of a mysterious ghost ship. What sets this entry apart from every other game in the long-running series is its complete reliance on the Nintendo DS touchscreen as the sole control method. Players draw movement paths for Link using the stylus, swipe across enemies to deliver strikes, and solve puzzles by writing notes and symbols directly onto the in-game map. The game also uses the DS microphone for a handful of clever moments, prompting players to blow into the system or call out specific words. This fresh approach gave Phantom Hourglass a distinct identity at launch and earned it wide recognition for its creativity, accessibility, and inventive use of the hardware.
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Screenshots

64 MB · NDS ROMs
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Specifications
| Platform | NDS ROMs |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action |
| File Size | 64 MB |
| Release Year | 2007 |
| Developer | Nintendo EAD |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is an action-adventure game that Nintendo EAD developed and Nintendo published for the Nintendo DS in 2007. It serves as a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the GameCube, picking up the story of Link and Tetra as they sail the open waters of the Great Sea in search of a mysterious ghost ship. What sets this entry apart from every other game in the long-running series is its complete reliance on the Nintendo DS touchscreen as the sole control method. Players draw movement paths for Link using the stylus, swipe across enemies to deliver strikes, and solve puzzles by writing notes and symbols directly onto the in-game map. The game also uses the DS microphone for a handful of clever moments, prompting players to blow into the system or call out specific words. This fresh approach gave Phantom Hourglass a distinct identity at launch and earned it wide recognition for its creativity, accessibility, and inventive use of the hardware.
The game sends players across a broad ocean world, visiting a string of islands and dungeons to gather ship parts, new tools, and sea charts. The central landmark is the Temple of the Ocean King, a recurring dungeon that Link must return to multiple times as the story moves forward, with deeper floors opening up after each boss he defeats in the outer world. This dungeon runs on a time limit tied to the Phantom Hourglass itself, pushing players to act quickly while evading the Phantom guardians that roam every floor. Players pick up and use a growing set of weapons, including the boomerang, bombs, a grappling hook, and a bow, with every action carried out through the stylus. The game also offers a Battle Mode for two players over local wireless, where one player directs Link and the other takes charge of Phantom soldiers. Each island presents its own terrain, cast of characters, and set of puzzles, spanning snowy highlands, tropical shores, and volcanic landscapes. Phantom Hourglass is a well-crafted, satisfying adventure and a standout title in the Nintendo DS catalog.