Nintendo struck gold when they developedThe Legend of Zeldafor the Famicom in 1986. Their fantasy adventure series would become one of gaming’s legendary hallmarks. Thirty-four years later,The Legend of Zeldacontinues to set the gold standard and gains the world’s attention with every subsequent release.
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Despite this legendary series offering well over a dozen classic games, ten can only fit a handful of favorites. Please also keep in mind that ports, remasters, and collections that are featured in thesite’s top tenare omitted.
10Minish Cap - GBA (2005) - 89
Minish Capwas the first original single-player Zelda game on the Game Boy Advance. Using the cel-shaded art style from Four Swords and Wind Waker, this took Link to the land of the Picori. While featuring the 2D gameplay familiar for A Link to the Past fans, the new twist came with the ability to shrink into a tiny being.
WhileMinish Capwas beautiful and charming, it was also short and fairly easy. Even though once normal-sized enemies could become giants against Minish Link, it provided for some entertaining boss battles. Despite only six dungeons and not terribly challenging boss fights,Minish Capoffered incredibly fun areas to explore and some epic new sword techniques.
9Phantom Hourglass - DS (2007) - 90
Link’s debut on the Nintendo DS offered a stylus-only control scheme. Set after the Wind Waker, this story entails Link and Tetra’s journey to discover a new Hyrule. Using the stylus, Link will explore the oceans, chart sea routes, make a map, and even solve puzzles.
Phantom Hourglassdid not offer the most immersive innovation with fairly standard weapons and combat. The DS' screens and stylus, however, offered a new level of innovation. Plus it introduced charming characters, such as Ciela and Linebeck, to the series.
8A Link Between Worlds - 3DS (2013) - 91
The sequel to the gloriousA Link to the Past, A Link Between Worldstook place in the same realm but a different era. Featuring a Dark World, Link also gained the ability to become a drawing. This allowed him to slip through cracks as well as flatten himself up against walls to solve puzzles.
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This near-perfect, polished adventure recreated the best parts of its predecessor while innovating at the same time. It played the part of throwback to the SNES while introducing new fans to the best of 2D Zelda.A Link Between Worldsmanaged to culminate into an unforgettable adventure with strategic puzzles, noteworthy world design, and perhaps the best ending in the series.
7Skyward Sword - Wii (2011) - 93
When Nintendo releasedSkyward Swordfor the Wii, it became the first original, mainline Zelda game to debut on the system. AsTwilight Princesswas initially a GameCube title, the Wii version did not yet implement 1:1 motion control. Skyward Sword’s ability to interact with the Wii Remote allowed players to slash at multiple angles. This lead to Nintendo utilizing creative battle mechanics against powerful opponents.
Skyward Sword took place at thebeginningof the entire Hyrule Saga. It introduced the Goddess Hylia, the demon Demise, and the origins of the Hyrule Kingdom. Many of these elements, including the Master Sword’s spirit, Fi, would later appear in Hyrule Warriors.
6A Link to the Past - SNES/GBA (1992/2002) - 95
While the Game Boy Advance version made it into Metacritic’s top ten - largely due to the time-release window - it is otherwise a near-direct port of the SNES masterpiece.A Link to the Pastfeatured an incredibly large-sized inventory menu and the largest dungeon count in the series.
What madeA Link to the Past special was its high level of world-building at the time. This not only included fleshing out Hyrule but its counterpart, the Dark World, as well.A Link to the Pastcompletely overhauled the 2D gameplay of the original NESLegend of Zelda. It would later set the foundation for the storylines of future games as well as the gameplay forLink’s Awakening, Oracles, Minish Cap,andA Link Between Worlds.
5Majora’s Mask - N64 (2000) - 95
Released two years after Nintendo’s colossal success, Ocarina of Time,Majora’s Masktook Link to the world of Termina. Set as a parallel world to Hyrule, it was in danger of being destroyed by a moon within three days time. Link had to gain masks, master the Ocarina, and solve people’s troubles in order to stop Majora’s Mask from destroying the world.
Majora’s Maskwas developed in only six months and was series producer Eiji Aonuma’s first game as the lead. However, the dark turns it took stuck out in the memory of many fans.Majora’s Maskbecame renowned for tugging heartstrings in a way the series never has since.
4Twilight Princess - GameCube/Wii (2006) - 96
After the cel-shadedWind Waker, fans demanded a return to form the way of the N64 titles. Twilight Princess' E3 2004 debut sent shockwaves through the convention and the internet as many fans rejoiced over the seeming “return” for the series and Adult Link.
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Twilight Princessintroduced Link’s Wolf transformation as well as the snooty princess sidekick, Midna. Featuring a darker, heavier tone than past games, Hyrule was in danger of being consumed by the Twilight Realm. At the time it became the largest adventure in the series as well. Note that thisGameCube/Wiititle also received a remaster on Wii U.
3The Wind Waker - GameCube (2003) - 96
Originally, theWind Waker’s cel-shaded graphics did not receive a warm reception. The cartoonish style took a complete 180 from the shonen anime-style featured inOcarina of TimeandMajora’s Mask.Despite this, however,Wind Wakerbecame an immense success.
Wind Wakerevolved onOcarina of Time’s combat by adding attack combos and parrying. The animations were truly one-of-a-kind and aged phenomenally.Wind Wakerwould later receive a full-scale remaster on theWii Uwhich featured updated visuals and quality-of-life improvements.
2Breath of the Wild - Wii U/Switch (2017) - 97
Nintendo shattered expectations when they showcased the Switch. Their latest piece of hardware was set to showcase gorgeous visuals and, with that, a new Zelda game to launch the system. The gorgeous, cel-shaded title took the animation and colors ofWind Wakerand melded it with the style players loved in Ocarina andMajora’s Mask.
Breath of the Wildbecame known for being the first full-console Zelda experience that could be played on a handheld system. Roughly 100 hours in length, thischallenging titleincluded 120 mini-dungeons and tons of quests to tackle before entering Hyrule Castle to save the world once again. This beautiful adventure included full voice acting, tons of lore, and some of the most emotional moments in the series.
1Ocarina of Time - N64 (1998) - 99
Nintendo’s standard for Zelda games is the one everyone remembers which redefined gaming as we know it.Ocarina of Time’s 3D gameplay, combat, day/night system, and button mapping featured elements well ahead of its time.
Every 3D Zelda title was always compared toOcarina of Time. The measuring stick of the series built the world of Hyrule, featured incredibly polished gameplay, and includednumerous side-quests. The 3DS remake featured faster framerate, perfected visuals, a boss rush mode, and even the Master Quest version once exclusive to a GameCube bonus disc. Perhaps one day players might see yetanother re-release.
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