This blog spends a lot of time on consoles and controllers, but hardware isn't the only category worth a collector's attention — and honestly, it's a lot easier to justify buying more than one of these categories at a time. Here's what tends to hold up.
Art books
Officially licensed art and design books — collecting concept art, developer commentary, and behind-the-scenes material from specific games — are consistently some of the best-reviewed Zelda merchandise out there, and they age well since they're not tied to any particular hardware generation. If you only buy one category from this list, this is the one we'd point to first. Browse current listings.
Apparel
Officially licensed apparel ranges from subtle (a small embroidered Triforce) to loud (full box-art graphic tees), and quality varies a lot by license holder and print run. Older, no-longer-produced designs from past game launches tend to be harder to find and can carry a premium if you go looking for something specific rather than whatever's currently in stock. Browse current listings.
Pins and enamel collectibles
A genuinely low-cost, low-shelf-space way to collect broadly across the franchise instead of narrowly. Limited-run convention exclusives are the ones that tend to hold value best, precisely because the run size is small and disclosed up front, unlike a lot of general retail merchandise. Browse current listings.
Vinyl and CD soundtracks
Official soundtrack releases, particularly vinyl pressings, have become a more prominent category in recent years as physical music media has had a broader resurgence. These tend to be tied to specific game anniversaries or re-releases rather than being a constant, always-available product line. Browse current listings.
A general buying note
Officially licensed merchandise carries Nintendo's approval and usually better print/material quality; unlicensed fan-made goods can be well made too, but quality is inconsistent and they obviously don't carry the same official backing. Worth checking which category something falls into before buying, especially for anything priced like a premium collectible.
If hardware is still your main focus, our buyer's guide to existing Zelda Switch special editions covers that side of things.