11. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GCN)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess took the series back to an art style closer to Ocarina of Time, albeit a little earthier and obviously benefiting from the power of the 'Cube. For many fans, it was the 'realistic' Zelda they'd been pining for after Nintendo took a left turn with The Wind Waker's cel-shading, and although it didn't quite strike all the right notes, it still features some breathtaking dungeons, memorably oddball characters, and a unique atmosphere.
Setting a precedent that Nintendo would later repeat with Breath of the Wild, Twilight Princess straddled generations, bookending the GameCube and launching the Wii with some added waggle and widescreen.
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
When we first heard that the 3DS entry in the venerable series would revisit the world of A Link To The Past, our excitement was tempered with trepidation. The SNES classic is sacred ground and after so many 3D iterations that stuck to its template, perhaps returning to that Hyrule might sully our memories, or worse, reveal that it wasn’t quite as good as we remember.
Of course, our concern was unwarranted – A Link Between Worlds proved to be spectacular. Like all the best mechanics in the series, its novel wall-painting transformation puzzles were so ingeniously simple that you wondered why the concept hadn’t been hit upon before. Great use of the system’s 3D feature brought Hyrule to life in a game that rivals the greatest in the series. If – shock! horror! – you’re reading this and you don’t own a 3DS, it’s time to track down a deal and play one of the very best games in a franchise of winners.
9. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
Known colloquially around these parts as Majora's Marmite, the three-day cycle added a constant pressure that turned off many players. However, that cycle is also key to the unique way Majora's Mask focuses on its cast of uncanny characters and soaks the adventure in melancholy and madness.
In fact, 'adventure' isn't quite the right word for this Zelda game. It's more of a Lynchian dreamscape in cartridge form, and one which isn't for everyone. The excellent 3DS remake is probably the best way to play these days thanks to some welcome additions for managing your limited time, although the original is conveniently available to play via Nintendo Switch Online. Wherever you play, the clockwork land of Termina offers something truly unique in the Zelda series.
Oh, and we don't really call it Majora's Marmite.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS)
As if its library wasn't impressive enough, the 3DS got a wonderful remaster of a game which collects ‘Best Game Of All Time’ awards like beer mats.
It was always going to be good, but Grezzo managed to strike the perfect balance between evoking nostalgia for the N64 original and carefully updating and polishing the experience to help it shine in the 21st century. It’s just like you remember, but going back and actually comparing the two reveals that it’s vastly improved in many areas, from UI to textures to character models. The modifications this remaster brought to the table make this the best way to play the game in the present day. And everybody should play Ocarina of Time.
7. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U)
In this HD remaster, Nintendo did a valiant job of breathing new life into what was already an exceptional Legend of Zelda title. It took the game’s timeless art style and gave it a glorious new HD sheen, while also making an extensive amount of worthwhile improvements to previously flawed aspects of the gameplay. Sailing across the Great Sea, discovering new islands, and exploring exciting dungeons — the designs of which still shine even today – has simply never been as much fun as it is on Wii U.
It’s fair to say that Nintendo could have done more in certain areas (there really isn’t anything substantial in the way of new content), and the updated lighting, though lovely in its own right, is not necessarily 'better'; it's heavy on the bloom compared to the sublime original. Still, The Wind Waker was never in need of a drastic overhaul; this refinement made welcome tweaks that brought it more in line with modern standards. A great game made (for the most part) even greater, then.
6. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN)
Given the 'Cel-da' controversy that blighted the game at its initial reveal, it's fitting that The Wind Waker has come to be so loved and admired over time. Where other games of the era struggle under the weight of modern high-definition scrutiny, Toon Link's maiden voyage looks almost as fresh as the day we first set out from Outset Isle to discover what had happened to the Hyrule we once knew.
It's not without flaws (and the HD remake on Wii U addressed many of them) but thinking back, we don't really remember the repetitive wind conducting, the infamous Triforce shard hunt or Tingle's sea chart extortion. No, it's the rainbow colours of the tempestuous ocean, the breezy panpipes of Dragon Roost and the salty self-reflection our voyages brought about that stick in the memory. Beneath the surface, it's very much a continuation of the 3D Zelda template laid down in Ocarina of Time, but there's undeniable magic in The Wind Waker, and in spite of its imperfections, it's still one of our very favourites of the series.
5. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one of the best games of all time, and if you haven't experienced it yourself... you probably have through one of the other Zelda games, such was its influence on the series and the action-adventure genre. It introduced many mainstays of the franchise, including various stalwart items and the idea of parallel worlds. Link could move diagonally and run thanks to the Pegasus Boots, and he could swipe his sword sideways, allowing for a much wider range when attacking.
There's no shortage of 2D and 3D Zeldas to choose from these days, but this 16-bit entry codified the core elements of a 'Zelda game' for the decades that followed. It's still got that touch of magic about it many years later. Unmissable.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (GB)
It would be difficult to argue against The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening being the pinnacle of gaming on the Game Boy. The developers at Nintendo were able to squeeze an extremely lengthy quest into the package and push just about every facet of the handheld hardware to its limit. Not only is Link's Awakening not the dumbed-down Zelda adventure many initially feared it would be, but it turned out to be one of the best releases in the series and one that is beloved among Zelda fans the world over. It laid the foundation for so many Zelda mechanics we still see today, introducing flying on Cuccos, trading sequences, playing songs on an ocarina, fishing, and even mini-bosses.
For such a tiny game, Link's Awakening left enormous shockwaves in the Zelda franchise that we're still feeling today. If you want to experience the very best of what the portable system has to offer, do yourself a favour and get this (or the DX version for Game Boy Color with the extra dungeon that's handily available via Nintendo Switch Online) immediately. It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)
It’s impossible to talk about everything that makes The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom so incredible, and making many of those discoveries yourselves is part of the magic. It’s also impossible to overstate just how much there is to do in Hyrule this time around. Much like its predecessor, this is your playground for the next however many years to come, with a little sprinkling of that older Zelda fairy dust mixed into Breath of the Wild’s formula. It’s a glorious, triumphant sequel to one of the best video games of all time; absolute unfiltered bliss to lose yourself in for hundreds of hours. We can’t wait to see what the world will do with the game.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
What is there that hasn't already been said about this one? A seminal video game, Ocarina of Time brought The Legend of Zelda into the third dimension as successfully as the plumber made the leap in Super Mario 64. Yet where Nintendo could throw any playground-style idea into Mario's launch game, Ocarina had to tell a story and evoke a consistent mood throughout.
Going back these days, the frame rate and cumbersome menus may surprise you, and Hyrule Field feels decidedly smaller (more like a field, in fact) compared to the vast kingdom of Hyrule presented in Breath of the Wild, but the pure magic of the game still shines through any ageing systems. This set the template for not only every subsequent Zelda title, but also the majority of action-adventure games from the past two-and-a-half decades; no wonder it's so revered.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D on 3DS is the more streamlined version, but there are things that Grezzo's excellent remake couldn't quite recapture. Whether it's the Rumble Pak-powered Stone of Agony or the 64-bit mist hanging over Lake Hylia in the early hours, the N64 original still has that special something.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a landmark release, both for its franchise and Nintendo. It was the first time that Nintendo truly took on the open-world genre, and by arriving late to the party it embraced the strengths from top-of-the-class games while also forging its own unique identity. This game was a revolution for the series, but the Legend of Zelda essence is still there — its soul remains, and the end result is captivating. After years of following the same old template, Nintendo bravely took Zelda in a new direction, and delivered an absolute triumph which still has us regularly revisiting its iteration of Hyrule.
Breath of the Wild forged a new and exciting path ahead and we cannot wait to see where it takes the series.
There we have it – all the Legend of Zelda games ranked. Think we've missed something? Let us know below and we'll be sure to correct any administrative oversights! Remember, the ranking is subject to change even now. If you haven't rated the ones you've played, feel free to get rating and potentially affect the order.
What's your favourite Zelda? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments (143)
Link Between Worlds should be in the top 5, but solid list.
Majora's Mask (N64) is the best. I felt that way when it released, and I feel that way even more now after it has been followed up by many great but inferior Zelda games.
Cadence of Hyrule should be higher
Didn't we already have one of these? Well thanks for the new one! Now this wonderful comment will sit near the top of the list for everyone to see FOR ALL TIME.
No Zelda's Adventure ?!? What a lousy list.
BOTW is my favorite game by far and the only game that can top it is TOTK
Ha, this is stupid, N64 Majora's Mask isn't even on the list!
Edit: now it is.
No Oracle of Ages or Seasons? Onyx didn't die for this level of disrespect.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Breath Of The Wild has earned its place. Ocarina of time is phenomenal, but Breath Of The Wild is literally Ocarina but bigger and better looking, minus the ganondorf.
I too think that BotW is just a modern gaming marvel!
@TheBigBlue BotW is great but it doesn't have dozens of memorable moments like OoT, does it? I've completed BotW 4 times and almost nothing stands out in my mind. It's a fun exploratory experience for sure, but everything kind of blend together with the open world. The Lost Woods, Hyrule Castle, and Divine Beasts are the only memorable parts. Whereas in OoT, nearly every area, character, song, cut scene, dungeon, and boss is engraved in my mind.
That said, I probably do prefer BotW, but I would never say that it's "literally Ocarina but bigger." The experiences are quite vastly different, and without the fact that they both feature Link, I don't think most people would objectively find the games all that similar at all.
Disagree about BOTW, but eh.
@IceCatraz @Strumpan A tagging mishap — they're all present now.
Link's Awakening DX, A Link to the Past, Majora's Mask, Four Sword Adventures and BotW are my favorites and in that order. Most Zelda games are amazing but these are the ones I play time and again. When will they give us a Paper Zelda game???
Minish Cap deserves to be in the top 10. Skyward Sword deserves to be in the bottom 2.
Nothing makes me more tempted to believe the average person has objectively awful taste than seeing Breath of the Wild, Link to the Past, and Wind Waker in the top 5 while Twilight Princess barely makes 10 and Skyward Sword doesn't even make 20.
My favourite is Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild is seriously overrated, but that's just my opinion, clearly a majority thinks differently.
They all great and gave us hours of fun.
The top 10 can be in any order
Not gonna lie, it's a little odd seeing the remastered versions ranked lower than the original games.
@dartmonkey The incredible Link’s Awakening Switch remake is absent!
Now… let’s all vote it into the top 10!
I definitely wouldn't rank Skyward Sword that low myself, but I know how divisive that game was.
Ok I was looking at where the Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland was and while scrolling I was "ok, not the last... wait it made it to top 20? TOP 10?" All that emotional rollercoaster only to see that it's not on the list at all.
@somnambulance It ain’t now. 😉 Thanks 👍
No Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity?
@NintendoByNature
I think it comes down how it was at the time it was released. Sure, the remakes are still great games, but they don't have the same impact as when the originals were released.
For instance, OoT on N64 has blurryness in distances and short draw distances, making it visually a much more mysterious game than later releases, and it subtracts a lot from it, personally.
@Strumpan Yes it is…?
I agree… even though the Tingle duology aren’t technically a Zelda game… they should be considered.
Also Age of Calamity is missing.
And … sigh … BOTW shouldn’t even be in the top 3-5 ….. I think many people see through all the wrongs of that game as time passes by
Twilight Ptincess is the most disrespected Zelda title, while Wind Waker is the most overrated.
Link To The Past is still the best Zelda game made, I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't made a 3D remake of it.
@marandahir Now it is. It wasn't at first.
Fascinating that the only remakes in the top ten are Ocarina of Time 3D at No. 7 and The Wind Waker HD at no. 6.
These were the only remakes that were pretty much universally loved, to my recollection, and they both felt like substantial improvements on their predecessors akin to that of Metroid Prime Remastered or Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition that they are THE definitive way to play the game.
While I loved the TPHD, SSHD, LADX, LAHD, HWL, HWDE, and MM3D remakes, I understand where each of those get criticized.
TPHD had the amiibo-locked hard mode and bonus dungeons. I had the amiibo, but I get the complaint. It also was less of an improvement on TP than WWHD was on TWW.
MM3D may be an improvement in nearly every way on MM - save perhaps the boss fights, the location of the Stone Mask and Giant's Mask, the Zora swimming, and the change in tone when you're not personally scared about losing your progress now that you can perma-save at anytime or even just close the 3DS to put the game to sleep. I personally prefer 100% of the changes in the game, but I get the complaints.
SSHD and the Hyrule Warrior remakes are only listed above because their base titles are considered "not good enough" to make the top ten. I loved them, though.
Link's Awakening's 2 remakes — I'm surprised neither made the top ten, but not surprised that the original GB version is #3 on the list. There's something about the originality of the first version of the game that even if Link's Awakening DX is strictly superior version of the exact same game, it lacked the punch and newness that the 1993 GB title had. And LA for S (what I call LAHD), it's amazing and I love it to death but it feels quite different from the game boy game. This is how I want to see remakes of other similar game boy titles (The Frog for Whom The Bell Tolls; Zelda Oracle series) but if you don't like it becasue of how different it looks from both the manual/box art of LA and from the tiny sprite art of the game, I get it.
@Strumpan now I see that, having read the rest of the comments. Sorry and thank you!
Link's Awakening was amazing, but better than A Link to the Past? No way!
Well... No. The order is a bit rough. Not surprising, but a bit rough.
My top 3 (not in order) would include:
Majora's Mask
Skyward Sword
Breath of the Wild
Tri Force Heroes also very underrated.
Them's fighting words.
My top 5 (obviously not objective):
1. Majora's Mask
2. Breath of the Wild
3. A Link Between Worlds
4. Ocarina of Time
5. Twilight Princess
A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds are great, but I think the best 2D one is Link's Awakening, original or DX. The remake didn't really do it for me - I think it needs d-pad control and the "grid" map system.
Wind Waker is my favourite 3D one as I think it had a magical tone, perfect gameplay and the right balance of linear plot and optional exploration. Ocarina of Time is 2nd, I'd say the 3DS one for now. Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess (GC or Wii U) battle for 3rd place.
If Nintendo would remake Ocarina of Time with visuals as good as Metroid Prime Remastered, that would be one impressive piece of software.
I don't really care where each game falls. Most of the bigguns are special to me for their own reasons, and I'm not going to relitigate the strengths and weaknesses of BotW especially. I love that game.
That said Skyward Sword is just not for me at all, it seems. I keep trying with that game. Bores me to tears.
A Link to the Past should be third. Awakening is great, but ALttP is pure MAGIC.
I loved the open world of BOTW and the crafting mechanism but absolutely hated the fact that they didnt include themed dungeons. I know there were the shrines but the were not anywhere near as good as the full blown dungeons from previous Zelda titles imo. The degradable weapons were not my bag and broke far too quickly. Also the bosses absolutely sucked. I hope the new game has dungeons otherwise it will be a hard pass from me. (ive avoided everything on the game up until now)
Not enough love for A Link Between Worlds and Spirit Tracks. Both are amazing games.
I personally would put the Switch remake of Link's Awakening above the originals, Wind Waker HD above the original, and the 3DS remakes of OoT and MM above the originals.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes the number one spot. Not disappointed!
Twilight Princess, A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening (2019), and the very first game are interchangeable depending on my mood. Don't care about the rest; either because of a lack of interest, or being disappointed.
Sad to see Zelda II rank so low on the list
Having just played it for the first time a couple of weeks ago, Link's Awakening Remake is criminally low on this list.
Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time, A link to the Past and Majora's mask are all better than Breath of the Wild, in my opinion
@Kasparius agree!! Easy top 5
Breath of the Wild on its throne, where it belongs.
Majora's Mask 3D, The Wind Waker HD, A Link Between Worlds, and A Link to the Past would fill out the rest of my top five.
Hopefully Tears of the Kingdom hits a new series high. Less than two months left!
I don't absolutely agree with this list
@ThainEshKelch that makes sense I suppose
@FleaBag_11 Cheers!
Why are the Skyward Swords so low? HD was so good, and definitely much better than the Wii version.
I didn’t realize until now that SS is so disliked. I didn’t really like the Wii version, but the port was great. Also, why are the originals above the remakes/ports?
@Strumpan um, you mean #8?
tri force heroes. 😔
my wife (then girlfriend) and i were HYPED when this came out, bought (if memory serves) TWO copies so we could play through a 2d zelda TOGETHER(!!!) ....only to find that its a one OR three player game, not a 1-3 player game. 😮💨
i mean seriously who can get the same group of three people together enough to actually play through a game like this? children, i suppose.
ive not seen this requirement ever in a game, before or since.
such a wasted opportunity (and money.)
@JH1022 Link to the Past is nowhere near the best Zelda and it hasn't aged well. Its own sequel does everything better. Link's Awakening is just better in every capacity right down to dungeon design, the overworld, gameplay, characters, story and exploration.
I really wanted to like Skyward Sword, but I just didn’t gel with that one. I might give it another shot, but the intro is so sluggish. You need to caffeinate yourself or your fall asleep wandering around that boring first dungeon.
Top five: 1. Breath of the Wild 2. Link’s Awakening 3. Link to the Past 4. Wind Waker 5. Ocarina
@NotTelevision Yeah Skyward Sword has a very heavy narrative. They went back on that with BOTW.
Not bad!
For me, 1.BotW 2.WW 3.OoA 4.MM 5.OoT
Holy overrated twilight princess
@LikelySatan Same and personally I like even Skyward Sword (finally finished it thanks to the Switch version), but absolutely fair if that one's not for you!
That's a terrible "best of list"!!! Zelda: wand of Gamelon should definitely be #1.
I don’t understand why people love OoT so much. It is not a bad game in the least, but I think it sits somewhere around 5 or 6 to me on a list. I didn’t play it when it came out, but played it about 6 years ago for the first time. I would out BoTW, Links Awakening, the original, and maybe even Skyward Sword above it. Not knocking it, and totally respect people ranking it highly, it’s just interesting to me how I love the series and definitely don’t agree with the majority on this one.
This list is based on audience voting. I'd like to hear from that guy who said that BotW is really a 8/10 game after the honeymoon period. It seems most players rate it as the best Zelda and that can be no less than 10/10.
@JohnnyMind I want to like it. Hope I do some day.
Breath of the Wild is great game no question but its not a great Zelda game by any stretch.
Hyrule Warriors AOC is underrated
Tip three for me would be 1. Ocarina, 2. Wind Waker, 3. Breath of the Wild. After that not sure, one of the 2d ones, maybe link to the past. Ocarina and wind waker are the most magical and have the best ideas in them. Breath of the wild in 3rd for its incredible art style despite fewer great gaming ideas and fewer memorable characters. MM was amazing but a bit gimmicky, twilight princess was really good - a lot better than skyward sword which fell flat.
@Dr_Corndog Yeah they did make one already.
@AstraeaV I think that would be a lot of fun
@NotTelevision
Day 4 of Skyward Sword with no sleep. Soda getting flat. Fi just won't...stop.......talking!!!
@sketchturner
You said: "BotW is great but it doesn't have dozens of memorable moments like OoT, does it? I've completed BotW 4 times and almost nothing stands out in my mind."
Your statement is a bit of a head-scratcher. BotW has tons of memorable moments.
I could go on and on.
I grew up with Ocarina of Time and played it with all vigor when it first released on the N64. Breath of the Wild held just as many memorable moments for me. Probably more, if I'm being real.
I think skyward sword should have been ranked higher because it has great dungeons and a good story the only bad part about it to me is the getting off skyloft
also link crossbow training is the best game ever made
So TOTK is better than BOTW in almost every way, but BOTW tops the rankings, how does that work? Anyway Ocarina is still tops for me.
On my list TOTK made it to nr1 2nd is now ocarina of time, 3rd majoras mask and 4th ia Breath of the wild.
@Gracetrack But non of those are memorable "Zelda" moments and could easily have come from any open world game. Most of the ones you highlighted reminds me of my time playing ESO.
There is no feeling of progression in BotW or TotK compared with okder entries in the series, you get all of the needed tools in the few minutes of the game and the rest of the "game" is opening towers and random NPC fetch quests (like every ubisoft open world game to date).
For me the joy in Zelda games has always been getting a new Item and then figuring out how to use it to beat the dungeon and subsequent boss.
Link's Awakening is an impressive Game Boy game, but vastly overrated. There, I said it.
@Sinton when did you play it? Cause i think that matters.
Breath of the Wild better than Ocarina of Time, a game that completely changed gaming forever? Madness
I can't see BotW as number one anymore whatever your views are on the new style Zelda games.
While it feels somewhat more magical in its reveal because it is brand new, TotK is just so so much more complete as a game and can be played in such a way that straddles the line between traditional 3d Zeldas and BotW.
My top 5 and not sure what order I'd place them: -
Tears of the Kingdom
A Link to the Past
Link's Awakening - any version, all great.
Majora's Mask
Then it is between Ocarina and Wind Waker for the last spot depending on my mood.
@Sinton I consider it one of the best games in the series: weird, new and classic at the same time. The ost, the narrative, the dungeons are all among the best in the series; and the remake makes everything better, with controls finally more intuitive and confortable. In my opinion deserves to be in the top 5
@Il_Nintenditore depends on your criteria though.
In the pantheon of the greatest games it is right up there but if you view it through a filter of how it holds up today you can make a case that it is a lesser game.
But I also think your comment under-sells BotW because that game has changed what we see as possible in an open world game.
@Wheatly 6 years after Ocarina of Time, gaming introduced enemy targeting and revolutioned 3D traversal in adventure games.
Breath of the Wild takes the open world formula made popular by Ubisoft (enemy camps, towers to climb to reveal map areas) and fills it with an amazing world that feels alive thanks to physics. One created the concept of 3D adventure, the other took an existing formula and made it original (and great). I think the two cannot be compared
and here come the pretzels!
I’ve played TOTK for 5 hours and I can already say it’s a better game than botw
Link between worlds, link to the past, minish cap, botw and Tears of the Kingdom are my top 5 to play. Loooove them
Nearly finished totk and it's excellent, but can't put my finger on exactly why I still prefer botw over it.
Important to note:
When the review went up, there were "User Ratings" given to Tears of the Kingdom that were absolutely ridiculously low, probably from a couple of trolls who haven't even played it.
Just sayin'. Wouldn't mind the disabling of user scores on sites like this or Metacritic as they add nothing.
@Il_Nintenditore I see BotW as far more of a revolution than that. It is easy to reduce it down to the physics engine but that doesn't take account of what that meant for the game.
I cannot think of another truly open world game where the moment you step out of the tutorial, literally anything is available to you with the exception of the Master Sword.
How you go about tackling that game from there is entirely your choice, no gating, no limitations and rules that feel more real world than video game.
Regardless though, the question here is do you take the legacy of a game into account when deciding which is better?
Some will and some won't. Newer players are far less likely to I'd have thought.
Best: Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess.
@Chaotic_Neutral
1. That person’s statement made no differentiation between memorable “moments” and memorable “Zelda moments”. He didn’t even so much as imply such a distinction.
2. That’s because making such a distinction is silly. Friend, a memorable moment is a memorable moment, period.
3. When I think of Breath of the Wild, I remember those moments and more. Hence, they are “memorable moments” for me.
4. There is a great feeling of progression in BotW, so I have to disagree with you there.
5. To your final remark, I’m glad that’s what gives you joy in Zelda games. That and much more gives me joy in Zelda games. BotW was lacking that aspect, but the joy of everything else in it completely washed away any feeling of disappointment I might have had in there being no classically designed dungeons.
Grace and Peace.✌️
I’m actually enjoying TotK perhaps even more than BotW, which is my personal favorite. TotK might end up being my personal #1. Quite impressive after all the Zelda games I’ve played over the years.
I haven't played every Zelda so I can't really vote. But the two that are the most memorable to me, by a large margin, is the first game and The Wind Waker.
Having the Warriors Toei games here doesn't really fit for me.
@Chaotic_Neutral I wholeheartedly agree.
@Friendly It shouldn't matter in a ranking of best games of all time. But I played it six years ago. Played three or four Zelda games that year, and the rest were better.
TOTK has taken my top spot, and not just for Zelda games either. This is what it feels like to rekindle the love of Nintendo magic and a reminder why I always stick with 'em. When Nintendo is "on" there's nothing better, and TOTK has (like when I got my Switch back in 2017) reminded me of what it felt like to just LOVE that magic.
@Sinton it does matter, though, considering this is a user score and a lot of the score is based on nostalgia and impact at the time. Also, did you play link’s awakening as the 3d or 4th in a row that year? The games might to feel a bit sameish after a couple before that.
Having said that: Link’s Awakenings is my first Zelda game ever and i’m still blown away that that fully fledged game fits on a gameboy cartridge and I still love it and replay the game every two years.
Link’s Awakening should not be placed higher than Link to the Past. They are both awesome games but Link to the Past is better.
TotK has the best story out of any Zelda game (so far at least, haven't yet completed it), and it has so much better sidequests compared to BotW.
Otherwise, it's pretty much like BotW, except more complex and with a lot more content. Some could argue it could be even be a bit too complex and overwhelming to its own good, and prefer the more simplistic approach of BotW.
I want to finish TotK 100%, and that does not mean collecting all korok seeds, I just meant doing all the other side adventures/ quests etc., before deciding whether it's better than BotW or not.
Also, I would love to see Majora’s Mask (whichever version, I played the 3ds one) at least make the top five as it is my favorite Zelda game.
How is BOTW top? Tears of the Kingdom is better in every single way and even without that game I wouldn't put BOTW 1st.
My top 3 would be
Ocarina of Time
Tears of The Kingdom
Windwaker
@Il_Nintenditore I agree with you, Ocarina of Time is the literally foundation of how we play 3D action adventure games today. Even the recent God of War games adapted to follow its formula and became a huge success off the back of that
In before ''Your Zelda game is so overrated and my Zelda game is very underrated'' comments
Oh wait... I'm about 100 comments too late...
My God, there is no chance that Link's Awakening is better than A Link to the Past.
@Friendly Even if the score is based on nostalgia, it shouldn't give a game released in 1993 any edge over a game released in 1992 (A Link to the Past), for instance. And no one can convince me that a Game Boy game is better than every single Super Nintendo game.
I don't recall exactly the order, but I'm guessing after A Link to the Past and before Twilight Princess.
@Namco Isn't that the point of a comment section to any «best of» article? What else should we discuss?
My favourite Zelda games are, A Link To The Past, Link's Awakening, Ocarina Of Time, Majoras Mask, Wind Waker, Twillight Princess and Skyward Sword.
I am sure the list will get bigger.
I would absolutely love a remake of a link to the past in the same way they did links awakening…
Day 1 preorder that!
@Namco You commented on a tier list of Zelda games to complain about people making tier lists of Zelda games? Oh well
@RetroGames I enjoy them each equally, very fun games.
Only thing sillier than Zelda II being so low is Link between Worlds being so high.
Well, that, and filling this list with spin-offs and remakes. Oh, well.
@Il_Nintenditore
Nah, just the way people go about it... You at least put ''my opinion'' behind well... your opinion. Some comments are just ''This one shouldn't be this high, it's really not as good as you think! Facts!''
Not that I really care, I was just messing around, as I'm sure more users in this comment section are.
I’m sure TotK will get higher as time goes on
Here I am thinking I'm a fan of the series and I've hardly played any of the games...
Tears is definitely right there with Ocarina and Twilight Princess!
@datamonkey I have a feeling a LttP remake is inevitable!
@RetroGames not sure your age, but there was something undeniably magical about the game boy /game boy color era for those of us that were ≈6-10 years old. Even though they seem basic and out of date now, those were some of the first sprawling adventures on handheld. If you had the imagination to enhance games like Links Awakening or Pokémon Blue, nothing really captures that same experience again. I'm sure that adds to the score difference even though Link to the Past is obviously the superior game in my opinion.
@Sinton a link to the past and link’s awakening are very similar mechanics wise. I think what you felt was ‘more of the same’, instead of something refreshing or new. Link’s awakening is my favourite of the two because it was the first zelda for me, the story, music and setting intrigues me way more, it is more condensed, focused and less bloated by a lot of stuff and mechanics and tools you never use. So yeah, to me it deserves a higher mark.
gane ratings have to evolve over time in the era they are ranked..
I don’t understand the adoration for Link’s Awakening. Is it just nostalgia? I’ve played a couple of times (both GB and remake) and it’s just such a weak entry in the series to me. I like the story and concept, but the dungeons and world design are some of the worst in the series to me. Am I missing something? Maybe I just don’t get it.
That aside, LOVING Tears of the kingdom so far.
Zelda on the nes, where it all started, the grandmother of all zelda games... Hard to ignore the absence in the top 5.
I'm glad to see Link's Awakening in the Top 3, it's got one of the best stories, soundtracks, and settings in the series. It's also secretly one of the most influential Zelda games too, LttP may have established the Zelda formula but Awakening refined it in terms of combat, progression, and how dungeons worked. It's the superior game in every way aside from scale.
Twilight Princess was the peak of the TLoZ franchise. It has all the elements that make a Zelda game legendary.
BotW and TotK are great games, but not great Zelda games.
@StarryCiel I disagree on all points. I don't understand how anyone can say the dream story is any good, and it's far from the best the series has to offer. And while it's soundtrack is good for a Game Boy game, I would never listen to those instead of the later games (or even the three first in the series).
How did it improve combat, progression and how dungeons work?
@Sinton LttP's dungeons are very heavy on the combat, and the Boss Key unlocking the dungeon item is something no other game in the series does. Awakening's dungeons strike a better balance between navigation, platforming, puzzle-solving and combat. I also think the overworld is more dense and visually-varied than LttP's Hyrule, and I prefer how you slowly uncover it throughout the game. As for the combat and movement in general, it just feels more fluid in the GB games and Link's sword is a bit less stubby.
I hard disagree on the dream story though, I'd say it's one of the most personal and emotional stories in the series and the way the twist was revealed is incredibly well-done. Link's Awakening is one of my favorite games period, it doesn't matter if it's on a Game Boy or a Switch, 2D or 3D, because I think its design is pretty much perfect.
@StarryCiel I still disagree, but thanks for the thorough explanation.
@StarryCiel And to be clear, I enjoy Link's Awakening for what it is, and it's probably the best Game Boy game made. But to me it's like a concept album that deviates somewhat from my favorite artist's original sound.
Top 5:
1. Majora's Mask
2. Link's Awakening (Switch version)
3. Tears of the Kingdom
4. A Link to the Past
5. Breath of the Wild
TOTK is a far better game than BOTW! It improved everything in marvelous ways! And to me it’s the best game of all time already along with Link to the Past and OOT.
BotW is a Wii U game
Both wind waker versions over Twilight Princess.
BASED.
Great list but I would personally rank 'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity' a lot higher. Awesome game and I loved being able to play as Zelda (fully powered), Mipha, Revali and Impa and being able to see what parts of Hyrule looked like before they were destroyed.
I would love a sequel set in the changed timeline with the champions still alive or another 'Hyrule Warriors' game that connects onto 'Tears of the Kingdom' in a similar way.
I'm an original Link's Awakening and Majora's Mask fan, but man am I ever smitten with Tears. It will be interesting to see how people look back on it. I just finished a quest that I am not going to spoil, but it was absolutely amazing.
@Debbiee Hyrule Warriors sure is a dope DW mod.
@Sculptor The Legend of Zelda is a Famicom Disk System game...
Too many spin-offs and rereleases! Stick to the mainline!
Haven't looked at the list yet but I'm pretty sure I can take an educated guess on where TOTK falls XD
EDIT: ....well I'll be damned: I actually didn't see that coming 👏
As for my personal favourite, while I haven't played too many Zelda games myself, it's definitely a toss-up between Link to the Past and Link's Awakening: both provide clear advantages over the other that make it pretty difficult to choose between them. LttP has incredibly engaging gameplay between overworld exploration, items and dungeon design, while LA provides an utterly enrapturing story that really made me feel connected to the place I was exploring. As someone who greatly values the role of story in games, LA is my current favourite but both are absolutely fantastic
In my opinion, a link to the past will bever be topped
This list would feel more tidy if you’d bunch together the re-releases, at least in cases where the retouch was absolutely minor. Skyward Sword, Wind Waker, Majora’s Mask, Ocarina and Twilight Princess are almost identical to their first issues. I’d argue that the only remake worthy of a separate entry is Link’s Awakening.
Remasters and sequels that show improvements and address flaws in the the original/predecessor, as stated in this list.
Yet are all ranked lower than the original/predecessor…
…what?
Hard to pick a top 5 anymore lol. Ultimately will probably be BotW, ALBW, AoL, OoT and TotK.
Best Zelda games ever made...
OoT
MM
WW
LttP
@locky-mavo The Majora's Mask remake is inferior. It ruined Zora swimming and the bosses.
@Znake I agree. I love botw, but it’s ludicrous that an improved version of it is lower, but whatever. At least it’s with OoT and Botw.
If "to each their own" was a list. 🤣
Tap here to load 143 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...