The Legend of Zelda series was introduced to the gaming world in 1986, almost forty years ago. Since then, there have been 22 entries, each adding its own unique charm and gameplay style.
Creating a ranked list for one of the best franchises in gaming history is a challenging task, as most vastly differ from one another and played their part in putting the franchise where it is today. I will be ranking the Zelda games based on their replay value, level design, and new ideas they brought to the table.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword was initially released on the Nintendo Wii and was the first Zelda game to include motion controls as a primary means of combat. Swinging your Wii remote as a way to slash your sword was a welcomed feature, making the player more involved in combat than ever.
Skyward Sword has some negatives, like an excruciatingly long tutorial level and annoying in-game companion, but the dungeon design and cool gadgets make up for it. I can’t help but revisit this game once a year to play through the game’s seven “classic-style” dungeons, a formula left out in the newer entries.
9. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (2019)
Remakes have become the norm in the gaming industry, so it makes sense that Zelda would eventually get one. Link’s Awakening 2019, initially released in 1993, is a remake built from the ground up and is better than the original in almost every way.
Remade for a modern audience, Link’s Awakening 2019 brought nothing short of beautiful visuals, a HUD that allows players to be more equipped at a time, and minigames with realistic physics. It also brought nostalgia, one of the best things a video game can do, returning memories of the older Zeldas.
There’s nothing better than playing the remake of Link’s Awakening on the handheld version of the Switch, and I highly recommend you play it ASAP.
8. The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is the one that started it all and brought us the iconic name in the industry today. You can’t call yourself a die-hard Link or Zelda fan unless you have at least tried to play the original, which you can do so through Nintendo Switch Online.
Every Zelda game you have enjoyed owes a big “thank you” to the original Legend of Zelda. It created a sense of adventure, where you would explore to find dungeons, defeat challenging enemies, and obtain equipment to make progress more manageable. A formula that would define the series today.
Don’t let its age scare you off; you’ll discover secrets to uncover, just like the modern entries of the franchise.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask
Majoras Mask can be considered the sequel to Ocarina of Time, but it’s also its own thing. Using the same level design of Ocarina of Time, Majoras Mask went for a darker and more disturbing tone — in the best way possible.
The most unique part of Majoras Mask that makes it stand out from other Zelda games is the addition of masks, equipment that can be used to turn Link into a creature or friendly face. With each mask comes a new ability for Link, adding freedom to how a player interacts with combat and exploration.
Then there’s the story, arguably the darkest in the entire series. Your job is to stop the Moon from crashing into the planet, ending civilization once and for all. It’s a challenging task to try and complete, but one well worth it.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Each Zelda game brings its novelty idea, and Twilight Princess is no different in that regard. It just happens that Twilight Princess’s “novelty idea” is what makes it one of the best Zelda games in the series. I’m talking about turning into a dog, of course.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess follows the usual formula of exploration and dungeon crawling but adds a layer to puzzles where you must swap between regular Link and dog Link. While playing as the dog and entering the “Twilight Realm,” you can see stuff you usually couldn’t. This simple idea required more thinking on the player’s part, and I absolutely loved it for that.
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5. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Playing Wind Waker was like watching a cartoon simultaneously, as Nintendo went with a different graphics style. The cartoon made the game pop on screen, and you couldn’t help but be amazed.
It’s not just the graphics that make Wind Waker one of the best; it’s also the level design and fantastic music in the game. All Zelda games have great taste in music, and some even explored the player using instruments, but Wind Waker took this further to make it a core element. The player would control the wind with their instrument, which is crucial in progression.
Exploration is fantastic in Wind Waker, too, where the player can access a ship to discover new islands on the horizon. The cartoon graphics of the sea and levels, fantastic music, and pure joy make Wind Waker one of the best Zelda games ever created.
4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
A Link to the Past is the third mainline entry in the Zelda series and is considered the best by many due to how well-balanced the game is. The game’s progression in difficulty is perfect, where each boss and dungeon is fine-tuned for a fair yet challenging experience. This is a key reason why A Link to the Past is so fun to play.
Like Twilight Princess, A Link to the Past featured two worlds — Dark and Light. This mechanic would essentially take one level and make it act as two, adding more exploration for the player. You’ll find secrets in one world, switch to another, and find another secret in the next world. It was brilliant.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda on an open-world map? Count me in. Breath of the Wild took everything you loved about Link and friends into a massive open world scale, improving exploration and enhancing combat mechanics.
While I understand why some players could be upset about the lack of dungeons, which Divine Beasts replaced, it still holds the charm the series is so good at creating. Even more so through its fully animated cutscenes and profound storywriting.
You will spend hours upon hours discovering new locations and hidden secrets, solving shrine puzzles, completing side quests, etc. It has everything that makes open-world games so loved by many, but this time, it includes Link, and who can complain about that?
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time was released (1998) when the Zelda franchise needed a fresh coat of paint. Nintendo did this by making it into a 3D game, the first for the series. This fact alone makes Ocarina of Time arguably the most influential Zelda game to date, changing the future of the series for good.
Besides making the big adjustment to a 3D world, Ocarina of Time also has the best dungeons in the entire series. When you think of dungeons or temples, you think of Ocarina of Time. The Fire, Water, and Forest Temples (to name a few) were all flawlessly designed with complex puzzles and boss variety to make them stand out.
It was also just plain cool to switch between young and old Link through the Temple of Time and Master Sword. Because of this, Ocarina of Time was the game that got me into the Zelda series and introduced me to the legendary Master sword, so there’s always a special place in my heart for it.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Unironically, the most recent addition to the Zelda franchise is also the best one ever made. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is similar to its Breath of the Wild counterpart, taking place on the same map, but adds an emphasis on physics. And that’s what makes the game so extraordinary: the mind-blowing physics.
You can create anything you want, explore however you like, explode anything, etc, all through the Fusing and Ultrahand abilities. This game demands you to bring your inner physicist out of you to discover your own way to play. I honestly don’t understand how Nintendo pulled off such a complex mechanic where everything, and I mean everything, you can think of works.
Want to make a rocket ship? You can. How about a motorcycle? It’s possible. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is hands down the best Zelda game ever made.
There you have it, the best Zelda games ranked. If you’re looking for more ranked lists, check out our ranking of the best Elder Scroll games.
