Talking Point: Which Zelda Game Should You Play First?

A Link to the Past, this ain“t even a question

Funnily enough I had this conversation yesterday.

I think it's probably best to start with Ocarina of time in terms of 3D games, it sets the basis of lore, doesn't really got any gimmick, along with setting the standard for 3D gameplay.

In terms of 2D games I think Link's Awakening on Switch, it's easiest game to get into that's 2D and it has no big story lol. Its very charming and simple for the most part and yet again, gets people used to what they'll see from 2D Zelda.
(Link to the Past is a good one too, I only say Link's Awakening because it has a modern remake and is a little shorter.)

Zelda is one of those series where it really doesn't matter. There are so many potential starting points, so just pick whichever looks good to you.

Edit: I guess to elaborate further, there are probably a handful of games that most people probably shouldn't start with, namely, the NES games and the wonky DS entries. But if those genuinely look like the most fun to you, go ahead.

That's a hard one.

I think Ocarina of Time is the absolute best all-around Zelda, the one that does everything right. But if you're totally new to 90s 3D games, you might be put off at first.

The other great all-rounder is, of course, A Link to the Past, but 2D Zelda plays differently from 3D Zelda. A Link to the Past does have the benefit, however, of being the most flawless Zelda. (Which doesn't mean it literally is flawless, but it gets closest.)

Meanwhile, the latest entry, Breath of the Wild, is such a divergence for the franchise that it doesn't really serve as an introduction to it, even if inevitably that's what it's become to many young gamers.

Don't overthink it. Like the look of one? Play it.

I chose A Link Between Worlds since it’s the closest to Triforce Heroes.

I honestly did not care about Zelda games before BOTW, so it really seems like a great option for newcomers.

i would have played a link to the past except at the time the legend of zelda and the adventure of link came out first and second..

it is funny how decades later the adventure of link always gets a bad rap i very much enjoyed the game..even in this poll it has gotten 0% support...

Literally any of them. They don't make bad ones. Even the ones we think are naff are still good games by any standard.

@Jacob1092

That's true. I often find myself thinking, "I love all Zeldas. Except Skyward Sword, that game sucked." But in truth it's still an excellent game and a solid 8. It's just that in the context of a franchise with so many GOAT contenders, it wavers in comparison.

Friend of mine for years would only play majoras mask

ocarina of time

I’d start with ocarina of time but play it on the 3ds if you can.

for Playing only 3D Zelda games, the best option is the original release order.

I started with Link's Awakening (later DX), then Link to the Past on GBA, Minish Cap, and the first 3d one was Windwaker for me, which came with OoT. Then I got the Collector's disc that also had Majora's Mask and the NES games (the NES games I never finished actually). From there on every single one and spin off and remake as it was released, on whatever platform it was released on mostly, and the Oracle games I first played on 3DS but also added complete to my collection. I haven't ever felt there was anything wrong with that order, or the need to tell anyone their order was wrong, so play whichever one seems most interesting to you first (or least so you can work your way UP instead of down). Or whatever suits best for whatever you look at most (availability on the platforms you have, price, whatever, there is no WRONG, it's just nice to make the connection between events in Hyrule whenever they are brought up in whatever game, if you have played a game that also refers to them from a different time).

I chose The Minish Cap because it's really simple and does a good job of introducing the themes and gameplay mechanics of the series. If you are only doing the 3D ones, then I'd choose Wind Waker for the same reason.
If you've never played Zelda before and for some reason are committing right now to playing all of them, then I might choose Breath of the Wild just to get it out of the way early since it's so bad.

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland

As a lifelong Zelda fan, if was to choose 3 games to represent the modern Zelda experience it would be:

• Ocarina of time
• Wind Waker
• BOTW

All are very different games but they each a represent a critical piece of the modern puzzle.

I would probably play those three if you don't just want to start with Ocarina of Time and play then in order from there.

It would for sure be a shame to skip Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess.

That being said, if I wanted to introduce someone to the series ahead of the upcoming game, it seems like BOTW would be the best single game for that.

@mrMike

Well, there is an overworld map. It's just a physical thing that came in the box.

But I do think more people should play and love the original Zelda. It's very, very good. But it cannot be stressed enough that the instruction manual is part of the experience. It's got all the onboarding in it.

@Wilforce One of these days I have to go back & finish that game before they port/remake it on Switch & force me to start over.

A Link To The Past because
1. It's an all time classic that everyone should play at least once.
2. It's an easy game to get hold of. Free if you have the online subscription.
3. It introduces so many of the standard Zelda gameplay ideas.

Well you can't really recommend the Oracle games, the Four Swords games, Minish Cap, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks and A Link Between Worlds because they're only on now expensive/discontinued systems. Hence probably A Link to the Past for 2D Zelda and Ocarina of Time for 3D Zelda so A Link to the Past overall given I wouldn't recommend NSO Expansion Pack in its current state.

The first game on the NES is the most accessible, followed by A Link to the Past. The rest of the series is pretty meh outside those two games, and largely worth skipping. Minish Cap was ok for a single playthrough, but lacks the replayability of the games mentioned in the former.

There’s not really a correct answer, but I would say if you’re looking for a classic experience that’s still accessible, go for either Wind Waker or LTTP. I started with BOTW and discovered more games in the series from there, but it’s very much unlike all the others, and that was mainly just due to my curiosity.

I think Skyward Sword HD or Breath of the Wild should be someone's first Zelda game. But it all depends on the player's choice. My first game was Twilight Princess. Then I got BOTW and Skyward Sword HD. I wouldn't be surprised if Link's Awakening could be someone's first game.

I really depends on the player:

• Into challenging games? Take a NES Zelda or an Oracle game
• Want a game for beginners? Wind Waker or Twilight Princess
• Into interesting narratives? Majoras Mask
• Into open world gameplay? BOTW

Zelda is such a diverse franchise, I think it's impossible to represent it with a single game.

Meh do yourself a favour, skip the 2D ones and go straight to Ocarina of Time

Chronologically it would be Skyward Sword that you should play first. And i'd recommend the HD version over the original wii version because it looks more clearer and plays smoother.

If I’m recommending a first Zelda to an experienced gamer, I’d say Ocarina of Time or A Link to the Past.

For someone that doesn’t play many games, I’d say a more approachable title like the remakes of Skyward Sword or Link’s Awakening on Switch. Heck, even Minish Cap if you can snag that.

There aren’t many bad places to start. It’s a great franchise… I just wouldn’t start with the DS titles 😂

A Link To The Past right off the bat.

@johnedwin I like Zelda II as well, and it was actually the first one I ever played, but I do find it very tough to recommend as the starting point for someone new to Zelda. Not only is it the most difficult Zelda game, it is also differs the most in design from the other entries.

@Max_the_German Yup!
Ocarina of Time is amazing, yes, but it hasn’t aged nearly as well as A Link to the Past.

Why isn't four swords adventure here?

So starting with the start makes sense, but if you've made it this far without playing the original, chances are you're not ready for the full thrown-in-the-deep-end Zelda experience. You could go with the most recent, but it's hard to appreciate it without being grounded in Zelda's history.

Link to the Past, though, is timeless. Accessible even to today's picky audiences, and a solid representation of what to expect when you're Zelda-ing.

MY first Zelda was OOT. Since then I've had an on again, off again relationship with the series. Basically I love and revere OOT, Twillight Princess and Breath Of Wild. I really don't care for the other Zelda games, whether they're 2d, toonified, motion controlled, sidescrolling or whatever.

At this point, I would recommend starting with BOTW because it's the biggest and the best.

I feel like you should choose the one that made you curious to try in the first place.

It depends on how much of a history lesson you want. If you just want to have more context for Tears of the Kingdom, you could probably just watch through all BotW's cutscenes in an hour or so. Not like it had much of a story to begin with, and at this point, playing the last game might actually diminish the fun of exploring the new one depending on how similar they are. If you're trying to play the whole series or cover the major releases, I'd say you should just start with the first game and keep a walkthrough/wiki on hand to guide you through the more obtuse bits. If the 2D games don't interest you, then you can probably just play the 3D ones in release order, though yeah, you might want to go with the 3DS versions of Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask if you can. That's how I played them my first time, and if I didn't know better, I'd have had no idea they were 20+ year old games.

@Riderkicker As much as fans of the mainline titles love to hate on it - I truly do believe that everyone should give them it a chance. Zelda is defined by the puzzles, and Triforce Heroes perfectly captures the classic puzzle format in a bite-sized formula that can be shared with friends and family.

from a production standpoint it felt like Nintendo soft-rebooted some things with the SNES as games back then were a bit different in concept and it was OK to just do the same thing again with better visuals and better tech (and back then a hardware gen would really make a difference).
Thats why I am pretty happy that my 1st Zelda game was A Link to the Past followed by Link's Awakening and I wouldn't change this. But that might also be because I was 12/13 at that time which is a very immersive time to be a gamer.
But ALTTP also ages gracefully in every way and is just still so much fun to play while also setting some paradigms in stone that would be repeated over and over again until Skyward Sword.

From today's gamer standpoint I am not sure if I would recommend playing Ocarina of Time if you don't feel nostalgic about it. I played it on NSO and its aged horribly and as Nintendo used that gamestructure so often over again, there really are enough games in that series that deliver a lot of things that made OoT still a great game while also looking and controlling better.
But then again I would absolutely recommend Majora's Mask even if it is just as clunky as it is still one of the most outstanding games ever made. And knowing OoT sort of helps.

I didn't really love Wind Waker when it came out. Not ecause of the Chibi look which really polarized like Apple VS Android back in the days. But I did really like that look and especially what they did with it. In some ways it was the most stylish game Nintendo ever did up to that point. But it was rushed and incomplete which was an absolute sin in my Zelda-fanboy eyes. Thats why I absolutely highly recommend playing the HD version on WiiU. The infamous rushed ending doesn't get fixed, but it feels a bit less broken and all in all that HD version is really good.

Everything else is not so important to play again. I felt like Nintendo tried to do a very Playstationy game with Twilight Princess which wasn't always a bad thing and ended up in having some pretty cool scenes but it also never felt as original and especially in early hours the wolf thing can be superboring and tedious. But is it nice to play through? Sure.
Skyward Sword, i absolutely adored this game when it came out. a few years later, I tried to play it again and boy, did motion controls age bad. They totally had their time and some things like aiming in Metroid Prime 3 is still cool. But SS is sadly not that much fun anymore. Still in terms of getting some Zelda Lore, SS is quite a huge title connecting some loose threads. And maybe I'm alone but I did like Nintendo's attempts to offer some new and different villains in that game as I was, especially after TP, supertired of playing the exact same thing again as TP is basically a softreboot of Ocarina of Time which is at least in some ways a soft reboot of the 2D Zeldas, always fighting against Ganon. SS at times felt a bit like it wanted to step out of these shadows, sometimes it seemed a bit too desperate, but for the most part it did its thing.

It's hard not to say the original is it lays the groundwork for literally everything Zelda, however the "formula" really solidifies in A Link to the Past, so definitely one of those two. I jsut replayed A Link to the Past again and it never ceases to amaze - it's an absolute classic (though Zelda on NES is as well).

Zelda Link between worlds on New 3DS XL (aka the better version of Link to the Past)

In my own experience, the first Zelda game I actually played was oracle of seasons, or at least I tried, I was very young at the time and had a bad attention span. The second one I played however that actually got me into the franchise was Twilight Princess. (Funny how people attack the current hype now when it was bashed so hard when it came out apparently). Anyway, the first thing that caught my attention at the time was being a wolf, I loved wolves, and then it became much more than that and I loved the story. I played WW second, then OT, MM, and SS, then BOTW. I have yet to delve into any of the others, but plan to.

Just wait for Tears of the Kingdom.

@Freddyfred A very good pick indeed

The good thing about starting any game in this series is you don’t have to worry about chronological order and can begin pretty much anywhere and not be lost.

I’d still suggest the NES original as it provides the blueprint for the others going forward and is less complicated.

I'd suggest starting with the first Zelda after all. It's also in CGC whose combination of save states and rewind arguably alleviate a significant lot of what "has considerably aged" from a modern gamer's perspective. I grew up on such stuff yet even my own Zelda 2 playthrough is well and oiled by these features nowadays. And like Super Mario Bros, Zelda 1 is a game that shaped a lot of the video game medium as we know it.

I would say BOTW or Link’s Awakening. Both are easily accessible games. I’ve tried Ocarina, was let down by the controls. But after all I’m just a Zelda novice.

All the Legend of Zelda 2 haters are just missing out. It was formative for me, and honestly it was defining of an entire genre. Go on and hate, but it broke serious ground. Not playing it is a hugely missed opportunity.

ALttP is a great start for its influence, iconic themes, and enjoyability. Problem is, it's only downhill from there.

Botw isnt really a intro to what zelda is a franchise at all tbh

Link's Crossbow Training should be an option at the very least... I mean, before you start a quest don't you have to prepare?

In all seriousness though, just pick one you fancy and go from there.

... Wun can only hope.

I find this topic fascinating. It's FOMO at its highest - how to enter such a long-running series?

I believe the truth is a sad one - that if you didn't experience it at (or near) the time, then it is too late to truly experience older titles.

We have simply become too accustomed to modern ways of gaming to have the patience to play and genuinely enjoy older games (unless we did play them at time of release, in which case nostalgia and muscle memory can make them as enjoyable still).

I think if you missed out on 'essential' games, and if you do go back and play them in order to understand the lore/origins, then you must go into them expecting it to be a bit of a chore. If you didn't play them at the time, most games age.

I'd be fascinated to hear others' thoughts on this!

@elvestinkle I agree, even today Zelda II remains a hugely influential game. Many modern favorites such as Hollow Knight, Shovel Knight and Infernax were inspired by Zelda II, I doubt they were drawing from a garbage source material.

There's really not a bad place to start.

Except Majora's Mask. Don't start with Majora's Mask.

It's definitely Breath of the Wild. Don't make someone who is new to the series, probably a child, suffer through bad graphics and old cables (or an emulator), probably a broken controller... when they don't even know if they like it yet. Realise the power that nostalgia has and that this person doesn't have any of it. If they like Breath of the Wild, then they can play Ocarina of Time. If they don't, then maybe they should still play Ocarina of Time (because Breath of the Wild be very different). But don't make them play Ocarina of Time first. And the suggestion that if it's not Breath of the Wild maybe it shouldn't be Ocarina of Time either? Don't make me laugh.

@elvestinkle I did try to play Zelda 2, but what I found was absolutely nothing except difficulty. I could have dedicated my life to it in other to "git gud", but I found much more enjoyment and relief by instead "git don't play it".

I'd advice anyone to try Breath of the Wild first. Only because it is the newest and hasn't really shown its age yet.
After that I'd tell them to try whatever is easiest to get a hold of.
If they're new Switch owners, it would make sense to show them Ocarina and Skyward Sword, then they just pick whatever appeals to them.

No gatekeeping or elitism allowed.

Zelda is for everyone, so a beginner can start just about anywhere and usually have a good time.

ALTTP might be the quintessential 2D Zelda game, but it frustrated me to pieces the first time I played it. Not gonna lie, it turned me off Zelda for a while. As far as 2D Zeldas go, I think Minish Cap is the best starting place.

As for 3D Zeldas, I think any entry in the series is a good place.

@Rambler I have no choice but to upvote this comment.

Maybe someone mentioned already, but this poll would have benefited from grouping the same game/different versions under one option I think Like why would it matter if starting with an HD remaster or the original, plus it splits the votes when I'd really like to see which game is voted on the most. Yes, I can sum it up manually but I'm old and tired ;D

I actually had this discussion with someone yesterday who is interested in getting into the series. I gave them the option of going for either Ocarina of Time if they want the basis of the whole franchise, or Breath of the Wild if they wanted a completely different, modern take on the franchise.

I'm genuinely surprised more people voted for the N64 version of Ocarina of Time. Outside of the 3DS becoming increasingly inaccessible, Ocarina of Time 3D excels above the original in every way, while keeping faithful to the original with even the most minor of details (even keeping some glitches intentionally). It even brings the player something a lot more faithful to the art style than the original ever did. It doesn't suffer the same fate of Majora's Mask in terms of gameplay. I really see no reason why it is considerably inferior, unless this is blind nostalgia we're seeing.

If someone hasn't played Zelda I'd recommend whichever one appeals to them or can get ahold of... depending on if its a "gamer" of not I'm not gonna sit here and recommend nes games but more likely the latest (and greatest imo) botw.

For the average gamer, I think Link's Awakening remake makes a MUCH better intro to 2D Zelda than Link to the Past.

Also, for the average gamer, Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess will be a MUCH better intro to 3D Zelda than Breath of the Wild. I love BotW a lot but it can be really intimidating for someone wanting to dip their toes into Zelda for the first time.

@ModdedInkling

The original N64 Zeldas have a particular vibe, mood, and darkness to them that later Zeldas never returned to. They used the limitations of the N64 to convey atmosphere in clever, enduring ways. The 3DS remakes upped the contrast and brightness, which fits a handheld context in which you may be playing under the sun, but departs from the original aesthetic. It's not nostalgia but different visuals inspiring different emotions.

@ModdedInkling Ease of access could be a factor.

@sketchturner I don't agree.
For Twilight Princess "Yeah, you gotta buy this old game and an old outdated console, and if you want the best possible exprience you have to dump the game and play it on an emulator with custom settings and a wide screen fix".
"Yeah, Ocarina was revulutionary for its time, but it only ran at 25 fps and has no free camera, and the best version is not on Switch but on 3ds".

Thankfully, Zelda isn't kingdom hearts in terms of continuity. That's why I think it's best to introduce a new player to the latest entry, BOTW. That might make it EASIER for the person to work their way backwards later, and appreciate where it all came from.

1. I reckon 2D is the way to go, but I replayed A Link To The Past recently with my girlfirend and it confused to *****. A much better starting point is (careful) Link's Awakening, original or remake.

2. Skyward Sword. I know. Ocarina is fabbo but gee whiz has it aged, 3DS included. Skyward Sword is way better than it get's credit for and minus motion controls the perfect 3D entry for a newbie.

3. BOTW. Obvs. It might not be the most Zelda Zelda, but the little details blow almost everyone away. Looses it's charm a touch once you crack it but the first 20 hours or so are mesmerising.

4. Don't even bother. I love Wind Waker, Majoras Mask, even Twilight Princess but once you've shown someone BOTW they'll struggle to go back.

I have a couple of recommendations depending on the type of gamer of where to start.

If you want the quintessential Zelda in it's blueprint, 2D form, I recommend starting with ALttP-- It's everything the original Zelda couldn't be and is very playable even today.

If you want to start with 3D Zeldas, I recommend OoT.

If you want the latest Zelda that's built upon the past Zeldas and blazed a new (yet similar to the original Zelda) formula, then jump into BOTW.

If you want historical context and want to know the origins, start with the original.

Lastly, if you're a fan of chronological order/proper story canon, then start with Skyward Sword.

TriForce Heroes may get a lot of criticism but I was able to introduce my two boys who are 7 & 5 to the game and the teamwork required to solve the puzzles, which was equal parts hilarious and frustrating with the totem mechanic.

Majora's Mask is the most complex (and one of the best), it is definitely not the one to play first. Start with a Link to the Past and play in order to see the evolution from there. The evolution from 2D to 3D was the best of any game series. I did not think as much of the Gamecube/Wii trio as they were far too easy in comparison.

My nephew really doesn’t like pixel art. But he very much enjoyed link’s awakening on the Switch. Simple, easy to understand, not too expansive.

I think it’s the best entry to start with for our young-uns.

With Ocarina of Time afterwards. Also an easy to understand story, and all games afterwards have references to that game so it’s kinda a must to play it as one of the first Zelda’s.

I’m starting my 4yr old off with Skyward Sword HD. We can basically co-op by sharing two joy cons and he can pass his off to me when the going gets too tough. Can’t really think a better way to start him on his journey of Zelda fandom.

The order I would play the first few:

• A Link to the Past
• Ocarina of Time
• Link's Awakening DX
• Wind Waker
• Breath of the Wild

From this point I'd imagine you'd have an understanding of the series' many directions and develop a favorite style

@upisdown I agree, but there are ways to modernize old games and keeping much of the experience intact.

Some mentioned the usual emualtor stuff like save states and rewind. Not too fan of them myself. But something like Phantasy Star 1 Ages on Switch is a great example of doing it right (2x gold and xp, dungeon map etc.).

Old games need careful thought put into them to make them approachable for a modern new audience. OOT3D did many things right.

I've introduced many players to older games and been both successful and not successful in doing it. Generally if the gameplay catches on, then the older-looking graphics don't matter too much.

I started with Spirit Tracks, and I don’t really recommend that, as it’s fairly mediocre by Zelda standards.
I’d say start with Link to the Past, because it’s the best at introducing you to the Zelda formula.

Playing Majora’s Mask for the first time at the moment, on 3DS, and I totally get why it’s getting 0 per cent on the poll. That said, it should totally be one everybody plays once they’re familiar with the series. What an amazing game. It’s up with the best of all of them.

If the idea is to prepare people for TotK, though, everyone should start with BotW.

Glad to see that I'm in good company with the majority "A Link to The Past" voter base of NL.

Love that a link to the past is the top choice! Well done you voters haha

Voted for LoZ1. It's not as archaic as people think. It's definitely a great time, but use a guide.

Initially, I did not like Zelda at all. I just wouldn't like it. But the moment I played BOTW, everything changed. I was hooked on the series and loved everything in it.

For people who are reluctant to try out a Zelda game, they should try BOTW first.

But for people who are pretty familiar with the franchise and want a Zelda game to experience first, I'd say Ocarina of Time, as it introduces a lot of mechanics later seen in 3D Zelda games.

I'm part of the minority who believes that the best way to know a game is to know its roots, so I vote for the original LOZ. It's where I was introduced to the series as a child, and is the very first RPG I ever finished (and in one sitting no less, as I played on an old borrowed cartridge with an already-faulty battery). I still occasionally fire it up to experience it once more. It's that good.

Just start with the original. It makes you appreciate the later ones all the more as you work your way to them.

Personally, I will always say the original. Yes, in the official timeline, it takes place later down the road, but it basically established the formula for the series, introduced us to the universe and the main characters, and is simple enough to play that anyone can pick it up with little to no trouble.

The first Zelda I ever beat was Ocarina Of Time. I've been a Zelda fan ever since. 😎 💯

I think I would go with the original…but a few things I would add. I remember playing the original when I was a kid, it was amazing. Then I didn’t play another LoZ game for probably 25 years, then I got Ocarina on 3DS and beat it. Honestly though, it didn’t live up to the hype at all for me. A few years later I got the NES Classic and played the original when my daughter was first born, another amazing experience. Then I started diggin into other LoZ games, Link Between Worlds, LoZ 2, Link to the Past, and I was in love. Got a Switch in 2020, first game was BoTW and it was somehow exactly what the original felt like in the 80’s but just…more. So, idk, but I wouldn’t say Ocarina, graphics of that age are just painful to me, but the older games still hold up.

@johnedwin Don’t worry, its not at zero anymore.

I disagree with alot of you i have and will recommend a new player from a timeline aspect Skyward Sword and in the vote why put the same game but different console separate?
Or my favourite MM if they don't care whats going on but really you have to play OoT before
Please don't reply the emails on me phone do my head in

@arnold337 just testing

I feel like 90% of the comments are just saying to play what game they are the most nostalgic for. For peat sake, the original game and Zelda 2 are not great starting points.

Honestly the best game for beginners is wind waker if you can get it or links awakening for the switch ( he says fully knowing that these were his first Zelda games).

@johnedwin Adventure of Link actually was my first Zelda game and it’s still one of my favorites, but I do understand why it’s hard to recommend as somebody’s introduction to Zelda. It’s a very different beast from the rest of the series.

I’ve always said LA because it’s one of the easier games, it has a decent story that isn’t so redundant as the “3 items then Master Sword then more dungeons the Ganon” formula that got recycled a few too many times.
For people saying LttP, I don’t think that is accessible to the average beginner.

Go with whatever you can get your hand on.

i hope can vote a Warrior type legend zelda ..is a good start to know the character

I'd go with Minish cap!

It's one of the easier Zelda's, It's on the short side, has a gorgeous artstyle and soundtrack. I also like that it's early in the time line and you don't need any prior knowledge of the franchise!

@blindsquarel Bingo. Telling someone to play them in release order is the best way to turn them off the series.

@Max_the_German Agreed. It was the game that really defined the series in terms of mechanics and story/lore. After that it makes sense to try one of the 3D entries, probably OoT, but Wind Waker would be a great second.

I enjoyed reading the many different viewpoints everyone shared. The Legend of Zelda is my favorite series in gaming so I’m always happy to distract myself by thinking about it.

My thoughts: if someone has never played the series, I’d advise them to start with the most recent games so they feel they’re part of what’s happening now, and can be involved in the conversation and get excited for Tears of the Kingdom. So I’d say Breath of the Wild or Skyward Sword.

I dont know this is a thought question.
Depending on the system

3DS for top down ALBW (great for commute playing) and Minish cap
3D OOT and MM are great but you can spend a long time getting from a to b

If you have the switch.
LTTP and the first,
Then I would play the N64 games, twilight princess,WW and skyward sword

Finally BoTW

Or just BoTW as it’s just one of the best games ever.

I'd always say A Link to the Past. The best introduction to the logic and puzzle aspects, long enough to be satisfying and the first introduction to some enduring mechanics.

After that, Ocarina of Time, although on the 3DS as the Water Temple stinks otherwise.

A link to the past brought me in, Minish Cap cemented my love, Wind Waker opened my eyes to the 3d console games... I would start my future child with A link to the past, it has everything!

Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link is objectively the best place to start.

Wind Waker HD is like a bridge between the two best Zelda games, Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild, so I'd pick WW for an experienced gamer.

But if it was someone new to gaming, I'd probably suggest Breath of the Wild for its wonder and the way it eases the player in.

After playing Link to the Past approximately a million billion times (without owning it, somehow), I tried to play Ocarina of Time SO many times on SO many consoles (okay, three?), and it kind of ruined the series for me.

I have been asked a couple times about this and my answer is usually Wind Waker

I would say start with the newest one and work your way backwards. If I was 9 right now I would (maybe, maybe not given the rating ) be gifted BotW. So I figure most younger folks should start there (or hyrule warriors), I feel.

@Bomberman64 yeah I'm not a fan of altering games by way of emulators but if it makes a game more enjoyable/accessible for someone else then good for them! Game are to be enjoyed.
What did you mean by 'Old games need careful thought put into them to make them approachable for a modern new audience.'? Do you mean the devs should think about it at the time or that emulators need to consider it for older games?

I say start at the beginning, but for most I would say OoT as it sets the majority story threads in motion and establishes most of the framework for future titles.

@upisdown Yep, couldn't agree more. What I meant is that I prefer curated rereleases, whether emulated or made otherwise, where it's not just "We have 100 games and they all have the same features of fast forward, rewind and save states but no game-specific enhancements." but instead something like what I described for Phantasy Star with its Etrian Odyssey-like auto-mapping among many things.

For most people, Breath of the Wild is the correct answer. It's better to start with the most recent one, get some investment in and then start discovering the back catalog, rather than try to play a more outdated game and alienating yourself in the process.

I've done the mistake of starting with the oldest game of a series many times and then I played the newest, got hooked, and then enjoyed the oldest ones too because at that point I was already invested in the franchise.

I said the original at first, but I also kind of interpreted the question a specific way that maybe wasn’t intended. I understood it as “Someone wants to get into Zelda, where should they start?” As in, they know they like it and want to dive in. But if we are talking how to get someone who doesn’t know it, hooked, I would change my answer to either Links Awakening or Breath of The Wild. LA, because it merges the old with new aesthetic and BoTW because it is brilliant and a lot of people don’t want to play old games. Though I do know a lot of people that just didn’t like BoTW, so it’s a gamble.

I'd have to say either start with the original NES game or Wind Waker.

Played through all of the games by release order a few years ago and I loved the natural progression in gameplay/graphics, etc.

Breath of the Wild is a great opportunity to enter the series without being burdened by lore. It also is the prequel to Tears of the Kingdom.

I think the obvious answer to me is Ocarina of Time, which has become the core of the series' timeline, and introduces lore and franchise-spanning concepts in a very appealing way.

I think the more honest answer is I don't think it really matters. As long as there's some aspect that grabs you and pushes you to complete it, you can start with whatever game you like. Your chances of landing on a dud are pretty slim with Zelda.

The first 2 Zelda games I ever played were Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask but… chronologically, Skyward Sword is the first Zelda game in the time line.

It depends on the gaming experience of the player. About a year ago, I watched my nephew, who was 4 years old at the time, struggle tremendously with dual analog sticks and the sheer number of inputs on Super Mario Odyssey and figuring out where he was in the stage but he was able to at least control Link, make some reasonable progress and recognize where he was at with Link’s Awakening on the Switch. Which one do you think he plays more now? 3D games are not always the best place to start.

This is a nice disscusion and poll.

To me, I feel like you could start with any and that's fine. There may be some better to start with but any seems fine as well.

The only thing I can think is that Skyward Sword reveals certain mysterious plot points on other games, but I don't really see a problem starting with it either.

I forgot about that, though. From a difficulty perspective I suppose an easier Zelda to beat? Wind Waker onwards maybe? But even if you can't easily beat it, I think any before Wind Waker is otherwise a good starting point too.

Get a day one ambassador 3DS (for Minish Cap, and with some luck the DSi Four Swords), and get al the Zelda you can get on it, and unplug from the internet again so no one can tell you where to start. Don't return to thank me later. You'll want to thank me twice now. Still, don't.

Link to the Past. No contest.

Best game on the SNES. Hands down. How can it possibly be anything else?

I played Wind Waker first and it's absolutely THE entry point that will make you love Zelda. The only downside is that since this is the best Zelda, nothing else will ever live up to the name. Majora comes close, but nothing will truly replace the Wind Waker. It is hard for me to accept that I will never play it for the first time again.

Glad to be part of the Zedla II 1%.

I know this is a year’s end repost, but I deleted my original comment and amend it to this: I think most should start with Breath of the Wild.

Ultimately this is the correct answer because, besides being arguably the best of the Zelda games (despite, and partially because of deviating from the excellent traditional formula), it’s simply where the series is at now. Let’s be honest, none of the Zelda games actually build on a previous game’s story. I really think even Majora’s Mask isn’t significantly more enjoyable for playing OoT first. They’re all fine candidates for an entry into the series, so one may as well pick it up at the current entry, then go back and enjoy past entries if they so choose. That way, when TotK comes out, they’ll have played the most recent entry and will have a better idea of what to expect than they would if coming from LttP or OoT (as amazing as those games are).

I dont think it is wise to play OoT first. Its SO good that even the other Zeldas look like bland games in comparison. For example, Wind Waker on its own? A great game. But after playing OoT it feels like "walking forward in laughable wannabe dungeons: the game"

I went with A Link to the Past based on quality and approachability.

BOTW is a contender, but my concern would be less about a player feeling lost in the world of the game, but rather concerns that other games in the series would feel restrictive or small by comparison. However, there is something to be said about being able to spin-off into Age of Calamity before diving into the upcoming Tears game.

People new to zelda should start out with botw because they can wander around and do things on their own but old titles force you to do stuff and put you on a set path and its not as easy to get the hang of.

Ocarina of Time No questions! But it’s lame you can’t buy the most iconic game on Switch!:/

I am currently playing Oracle of Ages for the first time and I'm having a blast. I was not expecting it to be this good.

I think that the best starting point for a Zelda Game can be between OOT or Alttp, but I'm leaning towards OOT because it's gives you a great base in terms of the lore and story. I personally don't think Botw is a great game to start out with because it may create a false expectation that all Zelda games are like that, don't get me wrong, Botw is one of my favorite games but, that's just how I see it.

A Link to The Past followed by Breath of The Wild, easy.

You get a good taste of where it came from and where it is now.

Thankfully still have my wiiu, can play zelda ww hd and tp hd again!

I think you can't go wrong with OoT. I mean it just nails the balance between imersiveness of the world and solid game design. However on those points I feel like Wind Waker's world is more immersive, I really lived that feeling of sailing into the blue yonder, not know what funny island I was going to happen across. From a design perspective I'd give it to LttP, it was my first Zelda game and it converted me to the series for the sheer amount of things to do, see and explore for a 2d game of that time.
I admit, having only got back into games a bit over a year ago, I'm still catching up so I still haven't got around to BotW (want to finish Dark Souls first!)
The other point where Zelda game excel is the music, with all games having haunting soundtracks. However, I feel like OoT also has the best one, every single tune is an absolute classic!

The 3ds version of Ocarina of Time is still my favorite zelda game. It's the same as the original but with better graphics. It's a shame it'll never be ported to the switch. I'd love to see it on a bigger screen. Sorry BOTW, but I don't care much for the weapons durability system. But you're my 2nd favorite

@Wilforce Interesting; I chose it because it was the most non-linear - you could enter any dungeon as long as you had some rupees to rent what you needed to get in!

It was Aonuma's test run for Breath of the Wild's "Open Air" concept, which makes it more mechanically accessible than Link to the Past.

@Robster64 I think OoT really stands out for being able to express a wide breadth of mood - there are moments of cheerfulness, joy, humor, and hope mixed in episodes of melancholy, despair, fear, and even horror.

Excellent point about that particular soundtrack - it is key to adding nuance to the mood that the rest of the world sets up.

I think Ocarina of Time is the perfect Zelda game to start with

First one I ever played was Ocarina of Time on the 2DS. First one I ever completed was BOTW on the Switch. Still one of my favourite open world games.

Breath of the Wild isn't a Zelda game in any way but the name.

The original is the best to start, but it that's too retro, then I'd say Link to the Past.