Top 10 Legend of Zelda Games of All Time

It’s hard to imagine the gaming world without “The Legend of Zelda.” So remarkable was the first entry that its influence can still be felt today. It was the first console game to let players save progress, first to have a second, harder playthrough, and featured one of the first non-linear video game worlds. While its “save the princess” story was simple, its world was not. Secrets were uncovered in the most unlikely of places. And challenges like enemy hordes and tantalizing dungeons kept players exploring. It was as close to an epic quest that video games could pull off at the time. And while it may not be the “Zelda” most choose to revisit, it’s still a classic in every sense of the word.

Nintendo made history when they released “Link’s Awakening” for the Game Boy in 1993. The fourth in the series was the first portable entry. But it’s the 2019 remake, with several appreciated quality of life improvements, that deserves this spot. The story follows a shipwrecked Link on Koholint Island as he gathers magical instruments to awaken the world-creating Wind Fish. That’s already one of the more intriguing “Zelda” storylines. But the Switch version utilizes one of the most delightful art styles in the franchise. This clay diorama aesthetic made rediscovering the 26-year-old map immensely fun. It’s not without its flaws though, as some of the nuanced details were lost in the remake, and the Chamber Dungeon was a dud, but for new players it remains the best way to visit Koholint.

No game is without its criticism, and “Skyward Sword” has received its fair share. But the game was also a monumental step forward for the series when it comes to storytelling. It followed the Hylians in a city above the clouds, sent to safety long ago by their Goddess. As the game set at the beginning of the Zelda timeline, it provided fans with mountains of lore. It also featured one of the strongest relationships between Link and Zelda as the two grew up together. New, inventive items helped craft exceedingly entertaining dungeons and boss fights, one of which was the vile, skin-crawl-inducing villain, Ghirahim. It may have suffered slightly for using a familiar formula, but it still did more with that formula than most franchises could.

Creating a sequel over 20 years later may seem strange, especially to a title as monumental as “A Link to the Past.” But Nintendo produced another exceptional entry with “A Link Between Worlds.” Set centuries later, this 3DS title focused on the connection between Hyrule and its dark counterpart, Lorule. What made the game such a breath of fresh air was how non-linearly you could approach its dungeons. Instead of discovering items, Link could rent whatever he needed. This made it so you could tackle challenges in whatever order you wanted. Link also had the ability to turn into a painting, letting us explore both two and three-dimensionally. Discovering how this power could let us reach new areas and solve puzzles was endlessly enjoyable.

As a swan song for the GameCube and a Wii launch title, “Twilight Princess” went back to its roots after the cel shaded “Wind Waker.” But it did so with the mature aplomb of a franchise trying to reinvent itself. With this came nightmarish imagery clashing fantastically against a pristine kingdom (Dark Link). But it also birthed the story of a people fighting not to be swallowed by darkness, both literal and figurative. Additionally, it benefited from Link’s new wolf form, an enigmatic villain, and one of, if not the most well-defined companion in Link’s long history: Midna. Also in this bleak concoction were “Zelda” staples like an arsenal of new toys and treacherous dungeons, which both lead to some pretty stellar boss fights (Stallord).

Though it may not have been what many were expecting after the awesome “Space World Tech Demo”, “The Wind Waker” proved that that was a good thing. Focusing on a flooded Hyrule, with mountaintops becoming islands, this world already differed from most games in the series. But what really set it apart was its art style. Cel shaded graphics made it look like a moving work of art. And it also helped Toon Link become the most expressive incarnation of the famous hero. Sailing around the Great Sea, charting mysterious islands and uncovering their secrets, made us feel more like explorers than any previous entry. With elements both familiar and new, “The Wind Waker” paid homage to its heritage while simultaneously carving its own path. And it’s one we loved venturing down.

While the follow-up to “Ocarina of Time” isn’t as revered as its predecessor, “Majora’s Mask” is arguably the most distinctive game in the franchise. Set in the twisted land of Termina, Link became entangled in the lives of its citizens while a terrifying moon spelled destruction above. In addition to new gameplay mechanics, like being able to turn into different species, it also brought new elements to storytelling. NPCs that had their own schedules and moral quandaries, which had never been so fleshed out. Through them, the game explored the loss of love (Anju and Kafei), coming to terms with death (Darmani), and familial reconnection (Pamela). It’s about as non-traditional as “Zelda” gets. But it's unsettling art direction and emotionally complex sidequests have helped it become a cult favorite.

It doesn’t get much more classic “Zelda” than this. With the SNES came more powerful graphics and improved controls. And the only “Zelda” to release on the console took full advantage of the new hardware while creating a timeless experience. “A Link to the Past” gave us more Hyrule history than ever before, introducing both the Triforce and the Master Sword. But it also introduced the concept of traveling between two different worlds; a joyous realization of twice the map’s size. More weapons, more temples, more secrets, more enemies to vanquish. It was bigger and bolder than the games that came before it. And it influenced the route “Zelda” would go down for decades to come.

In 2017, Nintendo rejuvenated “Zelda” with one of the best games of all time. Link awakens in a desolate Hyrule a century after falling to Ganon, who has been kept at bay by Zelda ever since. But just like the original, its story is simple so as not to get in the way of what this masterpiece has to offer. You can go anywhere and climb anything in this gigantic landscape. And the vast amount of content and variety will ensure that you continue. Here, Hyrule draws you in more than ever before. Maybe you’ll spend your play session tracking down shrines. Maybe you’ll tackle a daunting divine beast. Whatever you do, you’re sure to be distracted by moments of genuine, unexpected beauty.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.


“Oracle of Ages/Seasons” (2001)


“Four Swords Adventures” (2004)


“The Minish Cap” (2005)


“Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda” (2019)


“Spirit Tracks” (2009)

It’s the biggest gaming cliché to say it, but “Ocarina of Time” is a true work of art. Transitioning to a 3D landscape for the first time may have been tricky. But you’d never know it with how masterfully Nintendo pulled it off. Its ingenious targeting system is still being used today. It has some of the most iconic music in all of gaming. And at the time, it flawlessly captured the grandiose feeling of adventure. If “A Link to the Past” influenced the path every “Zelda” would follow, then “Ocarina of Time” influenced the path of the entire medium of video games. Its release was a truly historic moment. And even decades later, it wouldn’t feel right giving the crown to any other entry.