The Legend of Zelda sets the standard for action-adventure gaming. What is so interesting about the series is that it does not necessarily fit into a perfect box. While the game feels most like an action-adventure, there are also some action RPG elements, and certain entries lean ever more into that genre than others. What is not debatable, however, is how iconic the franchise has been in the gaming world, setting new standards that all other games attempted to achieve.
Since 1986, The Legend of Zelda franchise has been an iconic part of Nintendo’s video game lore, having sold over 169 million copies worldwide since its creation. While the storyline between each entry is loosely tied together within the Hyrule timeline that is occasionally quite confusing, each entry to the series can be accessible on it’s own. There have been a few direct sequels, but even then, the storyline is contained enough to at least be approachable.
A Variety Of Legend Of Zelda Games
Not every game was a top-notch entry, but one could argue that every single entry in the 21-game mainline catalog has been a success and enjoyable, even if they weren’t the highest ranked. With additional spin-off games, a plethora of remasters and remakes, and now an upcoming film, The Legend of Zelda has truly become a pop-culture sensation, one that influences the genre around them. Because of that, the fans of the franchise have a strong passion for their favorite entries, which differ across personal taste.
With each entry bringing its unique flair and charm, any game could be considered the best. However, these five entries are approachable, engaging, and withstand the test of time. Any gamer who has not yet tried the series could enter at these points and thoroughly enjoy the experience.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Gamecube, Wii, Wii U)
Perhaps the most polarising entry in the entire franchise, Twilight Princess brings an entirely different energy than most of the other releases. If Majora’s Mask was the darkest entry in the series subtly, Twilight Princess refused to hide its dark atmosphere and leaned into it. If “Teen Angst” were a video game, it would be Twilight Princess. The atmosphere is just so different for a game like Zelda, and it completely mystifies you. The added wolf transformation mechanic was unique and exciting, and the level design is some of the best the series has to offer.
The game has its flaws. Namely, it is more linear than other entries, thus taking some adventure opportunities away. It was not as well received initially, but since its release, it has grown in support and popularity. The most essential foundations of any game are story, mechanics, and atmosphere, and Twilight Princess hits on all those elements.The game may be the most under-appreciated in the entire series.
4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Virtual Consoles, Switch Online)
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one of the first entries in the series, and the one that truly established the franchise as a staying force. Many people fell in love with this game, and it manages to still hold up from 1991 until today. The first game that made you feel transported into an actual world, A Link to the Past gave you a new understanding of what the series could be.
Unlike the previous entries, players were not just handed tasks to complete. The game gave a forboding atmosphere and opened up the idea of true adventure. The rain that would come and go, the plot switch from Light Hyrule to Dark Hyrule partway through, and the introduction of true franchise-defining lore, all set the stage for what the series would become. This game challenged our thinking as to what made a great action adventure, and defined the game landscape at the time. It truly was a work of genius.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom (Switch, Switch 2)
Typically, combining two separate games feels a bit like cheating. However, these entries are so closely tied together and define the modern gaming landscape that to pull them apart does not feel right. Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to Breath of the Wild, and it takes the mechanics and strengths of the original and bolsters them even further. Link and Zelda are both essential to the plot, which continues over time between the two games.
Objectively, The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is the best game of the series purely by what it was able to accomplish. First off, the game was truly and unabashedly an open world with limitless options. This game had probably the single greatest open world ever designed, one that game after game has attempted to replicate since. The option to do literally anything and go anywhere, combined with the expansive regions and never-ending things and shrines to discover, made for a true multitude of ways to reach the same outcome. Add in the stunning imagery and an interesting and dynamic story, and this game completely redefined the video game industry.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom took everything that made Breath of the Wild great and managed to improve it by adding even more options and levels in the sky and underground to travel through, further expanding the massive sandbox. The pair of games is shifting the game industry as we know it, with other major game series trying to copy the open-world feel (Sonic Frontiers, Pokemon Legends, and even Mario Kart World). The game accomplished so much, but that doesn’t mean certain mechanics were flawed. The cooking mechanic and the constantly breaking weapons frustrated many players. That said, this game truly is a master piece and master class in design.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64, GameCube, 3DS, Virtual Consoles, Switch Online)
It is possible that this spot could be the most controversial ranking on the list. The Legend of Zelda Majora’s Mask came out just one year after Ocarina of Time and often got overshadowed by the latter in public opinion. Please make no mistake, though; this game was equally as iconic as its predecessor. Perhaps the darkest storyline in the entire series, the juxtaposition between quaint music and, at times, playful town atmospheres to the looming depression, anxiety, and stress-inducing 3-day end-of-time loop is powerful and perfectly executed.
The time-based mechanic is one players are not used to in the series, and replaying the same days over as gamers progress the plot is not for everyone, but objectively, the mechanic worked. Players feel the urgency in everything they do. The game transports you. It’s classic Zelda, yet it stands up as entirely unique and different. Moreover, it holds up time and time again. This game is a true top-mantle quality entry and should get the iconic label it deserves.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, GameCube, 3DS, Virtual Consoles, Switch Online)
There is a fairly number one consensus in The Legend of Zelda series, and it currently sits at number three on the list. Recency bias plays a part there, whereas The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time feeds nostalgia. Were there some flaws? Sure, as all games have. However, this entry was about as near to perfection as a game in the late nineties could get. Ocarina of Time broke the mold of gaming, opening players up to free world exploration in 3D. The game was not fully open-world, but it was beyond anything players had experienced before. It built foundations that the gaming world has since built upon.
The storyline was well thought out and powerfully sad. The ability to drive that internal feeling and the potential for emotional connections that could be created in the players made the game what it is. Even the music was iconic for the time. The mechanics worked incredibly well, and there were interesting dungeons and exploration opportunities. Ultimately, this game is one of the most recognizable games, not just in the series but in the entire gaming industry, for a reason. Not every single element stands the test of time, but the legacy of the game carries it to the top of the list.
Final Thoughts
The Legend of Zelda is one of the greatest franchises to come to gaming. Throughout its entries, the game has worked to revolutionize the industry time and time again. Challenging players to new mechanics, even when they did not always work, made each entry exciting, exploratory, and inventive. The series has made itself a staple in households across the world, and it does not appear that it will be changing any time soon.
