Poll: Vote for Your Favourite Legend of Zelda Games - 30th Anniversary Edition

I think a Link to the Past will always be my favorite Zelda game.

Link's Awakening is my personal favorite. Mostly because I adore the hell out of Marin as a match for Link.

That's a tough one, but I had to go with Wind Waker. The music alone makes it the best.

@Browny Link's Awakening is really good too. Never beat it though. Got 7 of the instruments and lost my save. Haven't touched it since.

Twilight Princess for sure and I'm super excited to be playing the definitive version in 2 weeks using the Wii U Gamepad.

Voted for:
1) Twilight Princess
2) Ocarina of Time
3) Majora's Mask

Wind Waker HD would've been in 4th (only the HD remaster, the GC version is a mess).

Legend of Zelda (NES)
A Link to the Past (SNES)
Wind Waker (GC/Wii U)

The three best Zelda games ever made.

I went with the original, A link between worlds and Wind Waker HD. They are the only Zelda games I've played

You could have waited until after Zelda U came out so you could count that and TPHD.
I voted SS, TP and MM though.

Majora's Mask, Skyward Sword, Spirit Tracks. Are my top.

Voted for:

A Link to the Past
Four Swords Adventures
The Minish Cap

I voted Zelda 2, A Link to The Past, and Skyward Sword. Though that was initial reaction. Many of these are loved equally. If I thought more about it, then I'd easily have argued with myself on Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time, and Twilight Princess.

1.) Wind Waker HD
2.) A Link to the Past
3.) A Link Between Worlds

I also voted for Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, and Wind Waker. Thought of leaving off ALttP figuring it would get enough love, kind of surprised it's got a mere ten percent of the vote right now, tied with TP and LBW.

Am I the only one that loves Phantom Hourglass?

@Peace-Boy That would only really work if Zelda U isn't delayed further

I've enjoyed every Zelda game I've played. My favourite is definitely Twilight Princess, closely followed by Ocarina of Time. The third option was much tougher and could have easily been any of the other games. A very close call between A Link Between Worlds and Skyward Sword, but I chose the latter.

I played Majora when it was re-released last spring and loved it all over again. When Zelda U was delayed, I started on a quest to beat all single-player, canon Zelda titles in order of release. I just didn't have the time or ambition to track down multiple players (or GBAs) to play the multi-player games properly. Last spring, I would have ranked Majora in the top 3. Playing it a second time within a year, and finishing it last week, I would bump it down. The Goron/Zora controls are just too clunky for my taste. The Wind Waker HD re-release made that game so much better than earlier, so that sneaks in at number 3 for me. Ocarina and LttP are 1 and 2 for me, and if somebody argued to switch those two around, they are not wrong.

I will say, having never played Link's Awakening before this quest, I find the game a bit overrated (still good, just bottom half of Zeldas for me). I loathe the idea of assigning one of your two buttons to a shield. On the other hand, it is absolutely amazing how much they crammed into an 8-bit game.

Majora's Mask is not just my favourite Zelda, but probably my favourite game too. I like how the 3 day cycle manages to add more personality to the characters, and some of them have genuinely touching stories to go with them.

Besides Majora's Mask, I love so many of the other games equally, but I ended up going with Skyward Sword and Wind Waker.

I voted for The Wind Waker, Majora's Mask and Oracle of Ages. It was either the latter one or Between Worlds, but in the end I decided to vote for Ages because I was sure it wouldn't get enough love. And surely enough, even after my vote it's still sitting at 0 percent. Sadness.

ALBW, ALTTP, Zelda 2.

@Grumblevolcano Nintendo have said multiple times it's a 2016 release, why would they delay it further? It's the 30th anniversary of Zelda and they would be making the fans angry.
If they did delay it, which is 100% unlikely, then NL can just put this poll up when the delay is announced.

A recent playthrough of A Link To The Past put it back at the top of my list. Wind Waker was hugely important to me both times that it was released, and Majora's Mask is one of the headiest games that I've ever played. So that's my three.

Skyward Sword is without a doubt my absolute favorite, as well as one of my all time favorite games. I remember being so immersed in the world, and so amazed by the gameplay. It's still to this day the most excited I've ever been for a game pre-release, and it managed to surpass my hype and be way better than I thought.

I also voted for Majora's Mask and Wind Waker. It's like choosing between your children, almost like it can't even be a decision.

Hmm. Not bad. Kind of what I expected for the results. Pleasantly surprised about Wind Waker.

Personally my three are:

1) A Link to the Past
2) Skyward Sword
3) The Legend of Zelda

One of my favorite memories is splurging for an extra GBA to go with the other two so that I could play Four Swords on Gamecube together with my kids back in the day!

@Peace-Boy I think it gets the Twilight treatment. If the rumors are true that NX is released in 2016, then I think we see Zelda U on the Wii U maybe in September and an NX version at launch. That way, they're not forcing loyal fans who supported Wii U to upgrade to play it, and for those who don't want to invest in a dying system, they can play it on a new system from the start.

TP > SS > ALttP

I went with Links Awakening and Wind Waker because they're my absolute favourites. I also went with Minish Cap because it never gets the love it deserves.

Has to be ALTTP, Ocarina and Wind Waker, three very different styles of game but all equally brilliant.

Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and Minish Cap. The latter does deserve some more love from the fandom.

@NewAdvent I'm about halfway through Oracle of Seasons. I'm hoping to find time to finish it this weekend. Then I'll play through Ages.

Ezlo the Minish Cap!

Twilight Princess and Majora's Mask for me

@Stu13 Link to the Past isn't my favorite Zelda (Ocarina by a hair), but I think LttP is a perfect game. The soundtrack is outstanding, the graphics hold up, and the game is amazing at immediately setting the tone for the game, teaching you how to play, and sending you on your adventure. There's no slicing of sign posts or herding animals. It's just, "Here's your sword, go save the world."

Ocarina of Time was my first Zelda game, Wind Waker is my favourite console game and A Link Between World's is my handheld.

So many great memories with most of these games, thank you Nintendo.

The only gaming experience to equal the first time I played Super Mario 64 was Zelda OofT 3d.

1) Ocarina of Time
2) Link's Awakening
3) The Legend of Zelda

A Link to the Past
Wind Waker
Twilight Princess

Those are my three favourites, but it was hard to choose, I love all the games.

The great thing about this poll is you can pick three games and never go wrong - every one of these games is an incredible experience (except maybe Zelda II and the Four Swords/Triforce Heroes games). I went with Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and Twilight Princess in no particular order - it's like picking your favorite kids, I love each of them for different reasons. The NES original would be my fourth.

Link to the Past is definitely my favorite. Although sometimes I waver and enjoy ALBW a little more.

From a story standpoint Link's Awakening is the best. There's some emotional themes hiding in there.

1)Windwaker
2)Skyward Sword
3)Minish Cap

@Peace-Boy They only said 2016 once actually and that was November Direct. Between the delay announcement in March and the November Direct, release year was TBA. I just feel it's pretty suspicious that we're only 9 months away from the typical big holiday release slot and we don't even have a name.

@Coreyoli I think SS was rated a bit too high upon release, and received too much backlash post-release. I do have a theory that if the original Wii was HD, if it released with a Zelda like it did, and if the motion controls worked as well at release as they did for Skyward Sword, then the 100 million Wiis sold probably becomes 150, and maybe one of the other two companies drops out of the console wars.

Tri Force Heroes, Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword because of the art and/or play styles and personally they were the top 3 I enjoy replaying over again with 90+ hours instead of done and move on to the next.

I'm maybe the only one on this site that voted for Tri Force Heroes since my vote count for 0% or around 0.1% going on current result numbers (1,050).

It's dangerous to go in alone, hmm.

Skyward Sword
Twilight Princess
Link's Awakening

Top 3 is easy, top 5/10 gets messy.

This was a hard decision but in the end I went for A Link to the Past, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess.

Sadly Link's Awakening, Minish Cap, and Wind Waker have to do without my vote.

I've played all the Zelda games and have enjoyed each and every one of them. Being such a fan, I find it incredibly hard to choose just three.

@QBertFarnsworth I'll be laughing my head off when Nintendo announces a 2017 release for the NX because all you people believe Nintendo will do it this early.
And it wouldn't make any sense for Zelda U to get released on NX. NX is going to be more powerful than the Wii U and they'd be wasting Zelda U on NX if they put it on there because they're using the power of the Wii U.
They might as well make a new Zelda game for NX that uses the power of that console. It makes more sense that way.

@ultraraichu Tri Force Heroes is a good game, I agree, but the mess that is the online mode makes it frustrating. I've beaten it, completed 100% even but it was a huge task with people dropping out when their choices didn't go through or the connections getting interrupted.

It's also not as fun as Four Swords Adventures even though that only had single player or local multiplayer.

Yeah, it really feels like this Sunday is going to come and go with nothing but a quick Twitter post from NoA. There's been more build up for Pokemon's upcoming anniversary.

ocarina
majora
between worlds

Impossible choice XD

Went with Awakening, Ocarina and Ages, not much because I liked them more then the others, but because they were my first entries in the serie, so they are pretty special to me ^^

I know I'm in the minority, but I will always love Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

The music was great, the world was huge, and the difficultly level was comparatively high, which made it a great challenge, for me, when I was six.

I had to vote for the original first, as I was such a geek that I created my own map book and even went to the library to put my maps and notes on computer (Apple ][ or //e). Still have the book, too.

The second vote went to OOT/3D (both versions). This is what made me upgrade my video card to a 3DFX. If you don't know what I mean by that, I'm not going to tell... I have it on 3DS now.

The third vote was a tossup between WW and SS. Both have their flaws, but I also enjoyed both. Ultimately I went with Windwaker though.

I've played most of the others but they just didn't have quite the enjoyment of the ones I picked. Some were close though.

@Peace-Boy The release schedule is a bit too thin for them to not release at least part of it in 2016. If it is a hybrid console/handheld, I can agree with the rumor that part is release in 2016, and the other part 2017. Last year, they released Splatoon and Mario Maker, and little else. Things are way too quiet on the Star Fox front where that might get delayed again. The rumor is they can't get the GamePad motion controls working correctly. My guess is it's either a poorly-reviewed game or an homage to Star Fox 2. Without that, they have a re-release of a 10-year-old Zelda game and a Zelda game with TBD as its release date. That's not healthy.

10. Twilight Princess
9. A Link Between Worlds
8. The Legend of Zelda
7. Ocarina of Time
6. A Link to the Past
5. Wind Waker
4. Minish Cap
3. Link's Awakening
2. Oracle of Ages
1. Oracle of Seasons

I voted for Twilight Princess and Minish Cap.

Well i voted for the following games.

1 Twilight princess
2 The windwaker
3 A link between worlds

And the reason why i choice twilight princess as my number one was because it was the first zelda game i ever bought and got me interested in the series

I still really need to play A Link to the Past, but my top 3 are
3) The Legend of Zelda (NES)
2) The Wind Waker
1) Twilight Princess (Can't wait for the HD remaster!!!)

Wind Waker is the best Zelda I've played, ever. Everything about it is just amazing; the music, the swordplay, the items, the characters, and even the cel-shaded visuals is a delight to look at.

no love for triforce heroes or the four swords anniversary edition ;_;

@TruenoGT Yup, I'm also a huge fan of Phantom Hourglass. The controls surprised me at first, but I got around to it very quickly. I don't like the Temple of the Ocean King sections, though... I thought it felt repetitive. But that's just a pet peeve of mine... everything else about PH is amazing.

Top 3 is hard so here is my top 10
1. Ocarina of Time
2. Majora's Mask
3. Twilight Princess
4. A Link To The Past
5. The Legend of Zelda
6. Skyward Sword
7. Adventure of Link
8. Wind Waker
9. Link's Awakening
10. The Minish Cap

@Grumblevolcano I voted for those three too, but my favorite is Majora's Mask, is one of my favorite games of all times together with Xenoblade Chronicles and MGS: Snake Eater.

Majora's Mask
Wind Waker
Skyward Sword

MM and WW were easy choices. Third one was kinda tough since Zelda II was the first one I played as a little kid, but the swordplay in SS was too fun to not choose it.

I said Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and Minish Cap. I know the first two are the ones EVERYONE says are the best, but honestly, those were my two favorite. For my last one, I was torn between Minish Cap, Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword. Minish Cap, though, man...that game blew my socks off when I played it. Definitely my favorite handheld Zelda (even with the 3DS port, I still consider Ocarina of Time to be a console entry).

I've played through most of the Zelda games recently in order to figure out my favorites. Minish Cap is the clear winner for me. I love that the whole map is a giant puzzle and the game has charm to spare. The dungeon design is amazing as well. A Link Between Worlds is my runner up. That game just makes me happy. I love the rental system and the wall merge mechanic. OoT 3D rounds out my top 3 and edges out A Link to the Past.

Im still in love with the first game. tp is second for me then maybe oc.

1. Link's Awakening
2. A Link to the Past
3. Ocarina of Time

Wind Waker is a close 4th

My top 3: WW. TP, SS
I actually don't really like the 2D Zelda games, however if I had to chose one of those it would probably be ALBTW.

I always speak highly of MM. However, whenever I play it I kind of dislike it. This is one awkward game to me. I watched 5 different playthroughs on youtube and absolutely love watching the game. but whenever I play it myself I get bored with it. I think the Mask changing and time system are to much of a hassle to me.

Aww man, only 3 choices allowed... tough...

1) A Link to the Past
2) Ocarina of Time 3D
3) Majora's Mask 3D

I guess I am a little old school, but I also like the myth building that happens in Twilight Princess. There are moments where it is connecting the game to pervious titles that just make you stop in wonder.

1) Link's Awakening (spent way too much time on this one)
2) Legend of Zelda (started it all, and still enjoy a no sword adventure occasionally)
3) Twilight Princess (Does much better than Wind Waker for those myth building moments)

A Link to the Past
Links Awakening
A Link Between Worlds

I guess you could see the link between the games I've selected.

@Socar nop, i voted for it too

Majora's Mask, Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass in that order

Majora is my favourite, by quite a distance, followed by Ocarina and Wind Waker. WW Should really be 2nd, but it's quite clear the game was rushed out and not fully completed, so it loses points for that.

1) Majora's Mask 3D
2) Wind Waker HD
3) A Link Between Worlds

I voted Awakening, LTTP, and Ocarina, but I really want to give honourable mention to Minish Cap which is a superb game and I tried very hard to convince myself to drop one of the others to include it.

Majora's Mask
Adventure of Link
Link's Awakening

Why is Wind Waker so high? IMO it wasn't that good.

It would be interesting to have a similar vote for 3 least favorite Zelda games.

A Link To The Past, Minish Cap, and Phantom Hourglass for me

My favorite will always be Ocarina of Time, since it was my first Zelda game and made me fall in love with the series. Majora's Mask is my second favorite, also the second Zelda game I played. The third is a toss between Minish Cap and A Link Between Worlds, but I ended up voting for Minish Cap. I never completed A Link To The Past, which a plan to rectify at some point. Wind Waker HD was awesome and I'm looking forward to replaying Twilight Princess in HD.

SS=Oot>WW
Skyward Sword and Ocarina are both my favourites in the series by far, though I can't pick between the two, so they're equal. Wind Waker's pretty close, and had it not been rushed (and gotten the extra dungeon or so that was supposed to be in it), it might've surpassed the other two. Still, many of the Zelda games in this list (at least the ones I've played) are all fantastic in their own right.

I went ocarina,wind then it was between minish and majora......... I went for minish but it was tough!! Another day I might have said majora😂

@QBertFarnsworth That's a bit of a stretch but I guess we'll never know now. Skyward Sword also has always been divisive among fans ever since release, for a wide variety of reasons. It would've been great to see that kind of motion controls at the beginning of the Wii's life though.

1) A link to the past (imo the best video game of all time)
2) Link's Awakening (Maybe the most creative one, not quite as perfect as ALTTP because of the GB limitations I think)
3) Twilight Princess (Basically the better Ocarina. I understand that's why some people don't like it as much)

Runner up: Link between worlds - Best dungeons in the franchise.

I still think Wind Waker is by far the most overrated one but I get it's the one fresh in people's mind and the artstyle is amazing. I actually found the tutorial at the beginning WAY MORE annoying the the one in TP that everybody hates.

@ultraraichu I feel Triforce Heroes is a bit underrated. The level designs and puzzles are all great and very fun to figure out with other players. If only the online connectivity was better and more consistent.

Spirit Tracks not getting the love it deserves (at least in my opinion). But then I suppose it is an acquired taste and certainly not for everyone.

1. Wind Waker
2. A Link to the Past
3. Minish Cap

1) Skyward Sword
Yes, I chose Skyward Sword. I actually really like the world, story, controls, dungeons, etc., though I do admit it has flaws. It's just my favorite overall!

2) Wind Waker
Almost perfect, though the dungeons could have been a bit better.

3) Ocarina of Time
Although it's not the best, Oot is a really good game (9/10 for me) and just the one I chose, although it is very close to 4th on my list. (I'm not a big fan of Majora's Mask and have never played Twilight Princess.)

ALTTP, MM & SS. Really tough decision, ALTTP & MM are by far my favourites, the third spot was between OOT, TP & SS but i think as I'm currently playing through Skyward Sword, I'm completely smitten. The fully orchestrated score really adds to the charm, the motion controls are a joy to play with and the story really develops at a lovely pace. I really hope that Zelda U carries on with the magnificent strides that SS took in refreshing the series.

1) Ocarina of Time
I really like the world, dungeons, story.

2) A Link to the Past
i really love the big world and story.

3) Skyward Sword
Awesome world, story, good dungeos and fantastic music.

4) Majora's Mask and Minish Cap
Both nice games, but to small for me

Wind Waker was ok for me, but not nearly as good as the others

TP never played atm

I know they're not canon, but you forgot the best Legend of Zelda games ever made!

Link: The Faces of Evil
Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
Zelda's Adventure

/sarcasm off

Thanks so much for letting us choose three answers this time. I was able to pick my three favorites (A Link to The Past, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess) without having to make the painful decision of which of those is best.

My top 3:

1. Ocarina of Time - I will never forget what a magical adventure that was, way ahead of its time in 1998. That Sheik unveiling!

2. The Wind Waker - Although it was on the easy and short side, it's still a magical and atmospheric journey with nice nods to OoT and beautiful graphics.

3. Twilight Princess - Also a bit on the easy side, but it was the biggest game in the series with some of the best dungeons and I loved the story of Zant and Midna.

1 - A Link to the Past (being the first one I played growing up)
2 - Ocarina of Time/3D (renting it on Christmas Day of 1998)
3 - Twilight Princess

The other ones in the series are good, don't get me wrong, these are just the ones I like the most.

@DefHalan Hey, those are my choices, too. 2D Zelda > 3D Zelda.

For me 1st is Link to the Past 2nd ocarina of time 3rd Twilight Princess.

Skyward Sword needs more love - such a Wii masterpiece.

1) Wind Waker (HD)
2) Four Swords Anniversary Edition
3) The Legend of Zelda (NES)

I've only played these three games anyway, so...

I voted Ocarina, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword.
Ocarina is my favourite by far for nostalgia reasons, As much as I love Wind Waker, I have to admit that, at the time of release, I was one of those people who were disappointed with the change to cartoon, after seeing what would been 128bit demo of Link fighting Ganandorf. Twilight princess was like a love letter to Ocarina. I loved the controls of Skyward Sword and that how you solve puzzles and defeat bosses/enemies were part of that Control Scheme.
But at the end of the day (IMO) all Zelda games all add something different, and are fantastic games. It's a difficult vote

@Socar It's one of my favorites too.

ALttP, ALBW, and OoT.

Also wanted to check Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask, Skyward Sword, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and...well you get the picture.

So much Wind Waker love.
I am truly proud of all of you.

(also picked ALttP, and Link's Awakening)

I voted, but considered protesting as the amazing CD-i games are not on the list.

Settled for OOT, the original and TP - the massive chain mace and the top to ride on might be my 2 favorite special weapons in any of the games, but game is brought down a bit by those stupid wolf parts.

@dumedum
You are correct sir.
I ended up leaving it out in favor of the ones that dominated my childhood.

For me, both Wind Waker and A Link to the Past are the best Zelda games, closely followed by Spirit Tracks.

Ocarina(especially 3D) is tied with Twilight Princess for my favorite game in the series.

Wind Waker, (GC), Twilight Princess, (GC), and The Minish Cap.
No order.

Link's Awakening is my #1 choice. So much charm in such a tiny cart.

1. Wind Waker
2. Link's Awakening
3. Ocarina of Time

I played Albw on hero mode right off the bat, and I can say it was the BEST experience I've had with Zelda, ever. Maybe even in videogame in general. Otherwise Alttp and Oot are very nostalgic to me.

I have to say that since playing A Link Between Worlds a second time recently, it's cracked my top 3 along with Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker. The music in ALBW is SO GOOD. Wonderful arrangements.

The two N64 greats get my vote, followed by the then-radical redesign of Wind Waker.

Ocarina of Time is extremely overrated in my opinion. It's still a great game, but nothing really stood out about it and it hadn't quite mastered the 3D Zelda formula

A link between worlds was truly amazing, I also voted Link to the Past and Windwaker. All three games are classics.

1) Wind Waker
2) A Link to the Past
3) Ocarina of Time

And there's the only right answer.

ALttP, OoT, and WW in the top 3, all is right with the world.

Ocarina of Time for nostalgia.
A Link to the Past for perfection.
Twilight Princess for a mix of what every iteration did right.

Honorable mentions:
Link's Awakening for handheld goodness.
Majora's Mask for the challenge.

No votes at all for Four Swords. Which isn't really surprising given the hardware barrier at the time. I'd love a rerelease on NX virtual console though, assuming the NX is what I think it is...

Also, Minish Cap deserves more love...

A Link Between Worlds for being the most refined Zelda
Twilight Princess for the Story
Oracle of Seasons for the Season system

Am I the only one that put Oracle or Seasons and Four Swords Adventures in my top 3? I was surprised they only got 1%. Don't get me wrong I didn't think they'd win, but I didn't expect to be the only one voting for them either.

You never forget your first love: LttP for me. Then MM and TP. Apparently I like the dark ones.

I might have voted Four Swords Anniversary, but I'm still mad that I can't BUY it. I got it for free on my first 3DS. Then my wife and I decided to get a second one and it's not available to even buy. Then I decided to buy a "New" 3DS and so I now have 3 systems, but I can't get it for the other 2. I understand not giving it away for free anymore because that was something special for the 25th anniversary, but let us BUY it!

Ocarina and Majora are 1/2 for me even though LTTP was my first it never really resonated the way most NES/SNES games did (neither did Link's Awakening/DX for that matter)

I gotta say I'm shocked that Wind Waker is receiving enough votes to be in second place - that was by far my least favorite. A case can be made for any of TP, LTTP, Zelda I or LBW for the three spot but I went with Twilight Princess because Arbiter's Grounds was so freaking cool.

Minish cap wasn't a contest for me. Not difficult for me to choose. Zelda is my all time favorite series being Minish cap my favorite of the series. Ocarina of time is truly amazing but I'd have to put LttP for second. OoT hits third

GO AWAY STUPID MENU BAR jeez you can't even see the whole poll at once - at least not for long - because of the thing.

Edit: Aaaand this time it stays out of the way. And then I scroll a tiny bit and it's back. So much hate...

@ChibiNinja yeah the tablet-esque menu bar is excessive and bad and I wish there was an option to turn it off.

WindWaker all the way!

So hard to choose! I love every Zelda game in some way, but you made me choose A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening and Ocarina of Time, because those are my fondest Zelda experiences! A Link to the Past was the definition of imagination and magic when I got it along with a SNES back in the day. Ocarina of Time gave me that same feeling all over again. It was one of the first true 3D experiences I had, and everything about it was just to spectacular. Link's Awakening is the best 2D Zelda. It's so solid and charming, and it's the perfect portable Zelda!

Really close to the top are Majora's Mask, because I love it's uniqueness and it's eerie mood, and Wind Waker, since I've grown fond of it's beautiful animation style.

The modern games Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds are really solid too and they have some seriously beautiful craftsmanship.

Guess I'm the only one who really liked Spirit Tracks! XD

1)Twilight Princess
2)Spirit Tracks
3)Ocarina of Time

@Dandalfa00 Yup, opinions vary over time. The initial expectations have a strong effect on the reputation of a game, and those feelings can only be changed over a long time. Look how Wind Waker is so loved today!
On the other hand, memories do tend to get golden, and sometimes the game doesn't seem that great anymore upon review. Objectively, Majora's Mask hasn't aged as well as Ocarina of Time, even it's still the same great game.

I'd like for Link's Awakening to get more votes. It's the best 2D Zelda!

OCARINA OF TIME IS OVERRATED!!

...

Phew! I said it. Feels good to get that off my chest.

A Link to the Past definitely, my favorite game of all time!

OoT and the oracle games. the pinnacles of the series

I love A Link to the Past! It's one of the few games that really made me a life longer gamer. It had a massive impact on me as a child, but I love Wind Waker for it's art style and A Link Between Worlds almost as much!

I love A Link to the Past! It's one of the few games that really made me a life longer gamer. It had a massive impact on me as a child, but I love Wind Waker for it's art style and A Link Between Worlds almost as much!

In my opinion Link's Awakening is by far the best Zelda game and one of my favourite game of all time. There is a variety of reasons mostly due to the setting. You are almost alone in an uncharted island that the role you play is not clear. The whole actions of the mean character are questionable and the ending is left to interpretation of the player. The game clearly felt like an adventure from a fairy tale. The game still suffers from the slow as hell dialogue and stupid bibib sounds though (man I really hate those and they are in a lot of Zelda games).

For my second game I voted Majora's Mask for somewhat the same reasons, although I don't like it that much. As for the worst Zelda game is Wind Waker or Minish Cap due to strange gameplay choices (endless sea, caps etc) and boring story. I am also not fan of the DS games. Never liked the controls.

1 Wind Waker
2 Link Between Worlds
3 Twilight Princess
Ocarina I have played so many times that I downgraded to 4. The only one that I haven't played is Triforce Heroes and I will probably not get it unless there is a super sale in the future. I love them all. I could play the LOZ, Link's Awakening, and Zelda 2 blind. Minishing cap is also really good.

1. Link To The Past
2. Ocarina of Time
3. Twilight Princess

In that order of preference. I've finished all three games, sometimes many times over, and always seem to find something new each time I've played them.

The vocal support for Link's Awakening on the comments is really uplifting. Love that game. Had to choose it, and Skyward Sword as the runner-up favourite. I would have checked Majora's Mask for third, but I really thought the first two needed better odds compared to the votes for the other games.

Link's Awakening offers, by far, the most creative and enduring experience (and story). Skyward Sword is the epitome of the modern Zelda experience, strengths/weaknesses and all. Compared to all the other games, it still comes up ahead to me.

Majora's Mask remains a real eye-opener. It continues the trend set by Link's Awakening in its mystery, melancholy and mood. Technical flaws aside, it is a look into what a true modern Zelda game can be, into what the modern Zelda experience is missing out on. Its story, "grafted" onto Skyward Sword's, could have made for one epic game.

3. Majora's Mask (3D): The varied playable characters and abilities attained by the different masks and redemptive aura throughout the entire story probably makes this the only 3D Zelda that I don't find incredibly dry, awkward, and tedious.

2. Link's Awakening: Such sentimental characters, such a constantly mysterious (and frightening) world. Its music added so much to that atmosphere of looming darkness. The gameplay was top-notch, smoother and more fluid than any Zelda title before it, despite its limitations.

1. Oracle of Ages: There are very few games that come close to matching the combination a deep, passionate story, fluid, varied gameplay, and the multiple worlds mechanic of this game. I have no idea why it's so underrated, especially in comparison to Seasons (which had technically better gameplay, but not much variety, depth, or length). The matchless standard.

Honorary mention: A Link to the Past: While it's gameplay was much less fluid than the GB titles, it was the foundation for them. Who could dislike this game? Even still, it's far too static when compared to the above three.

Easy peasy!

1. OoT
2. Wind Waker
3. Link's Awakening

Easy vote, Seasons, Wind Waker, TP. Close 4th of Links Awakening.

Only 3? Aw.

Well, I voted for Majora's Mask, Oracle of Ages and Phantom Hourglass.

But I have many more on my list...

WIND WAKER! Ocarina of time is pretty good too.

WIND WAKER! Ocarina of time is pretty good too.

Skyward Sword, The Wind Waker and A Link to the Past for me.

I couldn't choose a definite favourite between Wind Waker, A Link to the Past or Majora's Mask. They're all really special and unique to me in their own way. They are my Triforce of Zelda games

@DiscoGentleman THIS MEANS SOMETHING!

At the time of this writing, I find it interesting that no one voted for the Four Swords-ish games.... All 3 games are at 0% right now.

Ocarina of Time is overrated, in my opinion.

My top 3 are:

1) Twilight Princess
2) Ocarina of Time
3) Links Awakening DX

Links Awakening introduced me to the Zelda series and I'll never forget it.

@WindWakerLink I loved Four Swords Adventures on the Gamecube but it just doesn't stand up to the other games.

Triforce Heroes would have been better if I had friends to play with locally but I don't, still my least favourite Zelda game.

The original is the original and one of the greatest games of all time. If you didn't vote for this you probably were not old enough to appreciate it when it came out. First game I ever played that let you save.

I also voted for a link to the past. This game is a master piece that restored and expanded upon the legacy of the first game after they tried something different with the Adventure of Link. Played it when it came out.

My third vote goes to Skyward Sword. It is the most advanced 3D zelda and the one I enjoyed the most. To me the overworld having so many dungeon like puzzles, the dungeons are my favorite, and the combat is the most nuanced and complex, and the best graphics of any 3D zelda. This was my second 3D Zelda game after TP, played it when it came out.

I have not completed Minish Cap, The Oracle Games, or Majoras Mask and those are my votes. Played OOT on VC and completed on 3DS. Played WW HD version. Others on original consoles on release.

It will always be A Link to the Past (1st)... while Link's Awakening (2nd) is the first game I was sad completing... and Wind Waker (3rd) is still so playable!

Wind walker,link to the past and majoras mask are the absolute in the series imo. The worst in the series imo, is the legend of Zelda and skyward sword. (Not terrible games tho)

Absolute best*

1 = A Link To The Past, 2 = Ocarina of Time, 3 = Link's Awakening DX. I would have enjoyed Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword far more if not for the horrid Wii controls, I hated that about Wii.

@wazlon Agreed. I have the same issues with those games too. I suppose there is online for triforce heroes but sometimes there is that 1 troll that messes with the team's health or objectives.

Ocarina of Time is hands down the best Zelda game ever. Still remember renting it multiple times from the blockbuster because my parents we're too cheap to buy it. Oh those were the days.

Second was Wind Waker and then Twilight Princess for me.

1) Link's Awakening
2) Ocarina of Time
3) A Link To The Past

Link's Awakening on the Game Boy was the first Zelda game I played, and so will always hold a special place in my heart (container). While I've enjoyed nearly all of the games on this list, these are the three that I've come back to play through more times than all the others.

Why is skyward sword so low ;-; eh I'm probably just biased seeing as it was my first Zelda game

1. Ocarina
2. Link to the Past
3. I went with Zelda 2 because I love it so much and I knew it wouldn't get any love here.

That's like asking to pick a favorite child.
Meh, I never liked Billy that much.

Ocarina
WW
TP

C'mon, why Skyward Sword so low :/ That's one of the strongest games in the series imo.. Although, this is a very tough poll tbh..

I voted for

1) Adventure of Link
2) The Legend of Zelda
3) Majora's Mask

The first two are childhood favorites that I still play to this day. I really fell in love with Majora's Mask 3D.

Honorable mentions go to Twilight Princess for being my first 3D Zelda and Link's Awakening DX for being awesomely good.

1. Minish Cap!
2. Skyward Sword
3. Wind Waker

I voted Minish Cap, OoT, and ALBW by default because they're the only ones I've played, but OoT and ALBW are so amazing that I don't think any of the games I haven't played can edge them off the list. I don't really like what I see out of many of the games I haven't played like MM and WW.

Twilight Princess, Wind Waker & Majora's Mask

Even if it's just a little bit under 500 people, I'm glad a lot of people are voting for Skyward Sword. Skyward Sword is one of the best Wii games, period.

@mjc0961
You might have a case of impatience if Fi bothered you so much. :L

Just throwing it out there.

Majora's Mask and Wind Waker have been butting heads with each other for my favorite Zelda game spot for over a decade now. I go back and forth between which one I'll say is my favorite quite often, but I really can''t choose one. Ocarina of Time, Spirit Tracks, Skyward Sword and Minish Cap are all close for third so picking a third game here was tough.

1) Twilight Princess (Wii, never played GC)
2) Link's Awakening DX (3DS Virtual Console)
3) Phantom Hourglass (DS)

1) Majora's Mask
2) The Wind Waker
3) Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are my three picks. A Link Between Worlds was a very close 4th choice.

Wow! I love Triforce Heroes! Where is the Love?

Ocarina of Time 3D
A Link to the Past
A Link Between Worlds

Twilight Princess, Oracle of Seasons and Wind Waker are close runner-ups.

A Link to the Past ... Has to be!!! Rushing home after school as a 14 year old boy to continue my adventure. Had never played anything like it before. Epic storytelling on the grandest scale!!! Still love em all apart from the Nes ones! Amazing how Ninety can create excellence no matter the hardware limitations! Link's Awakening deserves particular mention!!! A full Zelda experience on that little Gameboy screen!!! Immense!!

Wind waker HD I haven't seen such an awesome looking game in a while and the gameplay was perfect! On a funny side note my friend got links crossbow training only to find the disc inside was Twilight princess hahaha I told him to keep it as it's worth more and we all know which is the better game of the two. Still Zelda U could become my new favourite

I've voted for:

1. Link's Awakening
1. Majora's Mask
3. Skyward Sword

Link's Awakening was my first Zelda game and may forever remain my favorite (Zelda) game ever. This personal affection aside, I consider it to be the single best game on the original GameBoy (Color) and the first truly great installment in the series (I never came to found ALttP anything more than "good").

Majora's Mask is noch necessarily objectively better than it's predecessor OoT, but I opted for MM for the following reasons: The disappointment I felt back in the days, about OoT. Given the hype and the superior hardware, I had expected more – but found a game that, at that time, seemed to me inferior to Link's Awakening (though now I would consider them equal). Secondly, OoT receives so much attention anyway. But most importantly: Majora's Mask is thoroughly unique not only as part of the Zelda series, but in the gaming history in general. Whereas OoT, no matter how great in its own right, is less outstanding in the light of ALttP or Twilight Princess.

Skyward Sword is not perfect, seems slightly unfinished towards the end, and is definitively inferior to the other two titles on my list, but its the best Zelda game in recent years (with the best dungeons too), with a lot to love about it. And it deserves more attention. Wind Waker was bad by Zelda standards and just above average in general. Twilight Princess does a lot right but can be very rough around the edges. The first hours are weak and the last dungeons appear unfinished.

Oracle of Ages and Seasons are actually really great, with basically nothing to criticise about them. In many ways they improve on Link's Awakening. Just somehow..., they lack that special "something" that's hard to define.

Phantom Hourglass deserves special mentioning of being close to being the most fitting Zelda imaginable on a DS.

Among my favorite games of all time:
Link's Awakening
Majora's Mask
Ocarina of Time

Great:
Oracle of Ages / Seasons
Skyward Swords

Very good:
Twilight Princess
Phantom Hourglass

Certainly not bad but feeling no special affection towards them:
Legend of Zelda (NES original)
A Link to the Past
Wind Waker

Not played / not played enough:
Zelda II
Minish Cap
Spirit Tracks
Link Between Worlds
Four Swords (Adventures)
Triforce Heroes

1. Ocarina of Time
2. Wind Waker
3. Minish Cap

I'll be disgusted at anyone who picks Skyward Sword. It's easily the worst Zelda. Awful, truly awful. Was glad when it was all over.

@Goginho It's because it's a piece of $H1T. The skidmark on the jocks of the Zelda series.

If "A Link to the Past" does not win, I riot.

I voted Oot, Windwaker, and Minish cap. I was dead-sure on Oot and Windwaker, but Minish was a "maybe baby". I mean: It is awesome, but I also have a soft spot for Links awakening, Oracle of ages/seasons and Spirit tracks. Just saying.

@Sligeach Yes, how dare people like something that you don't! Apocs on them!

If I had to pick the 3D zeldas, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess & maybe Skyward Sword?
I like the 2D zelda games MUCH more than the 3D ones.

Best music - Wind Waker
Best dungeons - Ocarina of Time
Best boss - Stallord King/Twilight Princess
Best Final Boss - Ganondorf/Wind Waker
Best item - Spinner/Twilight Princess
Best 2d - Link Between Worlds
Best 3d - Ocarina of Time
Best challenge - Zelda II
Best multiplayer - Four Swords Adventures
Best overall design - A Link to the Past
Worst game - Triforce Heroes
And I love them all.

@mjc0961 lol yeah the hand-holding is a negative aspect, but you gotta admit though, the game is visually beautiful, with smooth animations. The story is a strong point, along with some of the characters, and it was very fun to play. Also, the controls are intuitive and work perfectly for me. Overall, it's an enjoyable experience, despite the unfortunate hand-holding.

@Sligeach lol ok there

A Link to the Past not only best Zelda game also the best video game ever made.

The percentages have remained surprisingly similar from 4000 to 8000 votes!

I thought I was the only one in the world who favoured Zelda II. Surprisingly that doesn't seem to be the case.

I am always slightly saddened when I see OoT winning these polls. OoT was great for its time but has not aged very well.

1) Ocarina of Time (obviously) - The music, the story, the introduction of an expansive 3D world with imaginative puzzles. It was the experience of a lifetime for a VERY happy N64 owner.
2) The Wind Waker - The total surprise of the art style, the expressions they gave Link, the sound direction. It took some getting used to after seeing the Link vs Ganondorf 2000 Space World tech demo, but once in the story it really grew on me, and since then, it's really one of my favorites.
3) Phantom Hourglass - My first portable Zelda adventure and it was even in the Wind Waker style so for me personally what's not to like? Once again, great story, innovative puzzles, and good use of the hardware too.

Honorable mentions: Skyward Sword - I simply LOVE the impressionist art style.
The Minish Cap - I discovered it too late, because I got it AFTER I already bought a 3DS and that is also part of the reason I never finished it because I simply don't use the GBA anymore, and the 3DS obviously isn't compatible.
Four Swords Adventure - I did like it, but I got stuck in some puzzle and never felt like going back again, so it's still lying here, unfinished...
Twilight Princess - I kind of lost interest the first time I played it, not really sure why. Maybe the pace, that seemed slower to me, or the endless having to talk to everyone that seemed more tedious this time around, I don't know. I should pick it up again but I simply don't have the time right now.

Most of the other games I never played or are games that I don't own, so obviously I can't comment on them.
My next purchase will probably be A Link Between Worlds, since I'm currently more partial to portable gaming, but we'll just have to wait and see...

Why people have to bash others favorites? Seems skyward sword inspires the most hate followed by the DS enteries. I thought the control schemes were perfectly fine in both these games and if you couldn't adjust to them you really missed out. Secondly I didn't find Fi or the hand holding really any different than any other zelda game. I find Skyward Sword to simply have the best controls of any 3D zelda I have played with the stamina meter and motion plus. The overworld actually challenged you instead of just walking around an empty field. The combat actually challenged you instead of simply spamming a button.

I just realized I haven't really played 4 swords (a bit on 25th annizersay release) or tri force heroes either along with only slightly playing Majoras Mask, not completeing Minish Cap, or the oracle games.

ALTTP
Minish Cap
A Link Between Worlds

The last vote was difficult i could have voted for any of Ocarina, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword. After that the Oracle Games and Link's Awakening deserve some love. The only game in the series i don't like/haven't beat is Spirit Tracks, i hated the train, and even then i'm sure it's not a bad game. Tons of great games in here.

1. A Link to the Past
2. The Minish Cap
3. Link's Awakening

I could have easily went Oracle of Ages or Oracle of Seasons but I didn't want to put one in and leave the other out. The 2D games are my favorites though almost all of the Zelda games are fantastic.

1. Legend of Zelda.
The original is just so much fun to return to because it can be played so many different ways and there are so many fun tricks. The simplicity of the actions you can take but the complexity of overcoming the challenges (and difficulty at times) is satisfying as well.

2. Ocarina of Time
because it was an amazing leap and integrated story, characters, 3D interaction in a way that was completely true to the original and groundbreaking at the same time. On top of this it created a new, often dark, tone. It has big problems in the aging department that the original doesn't, but it also has a great length and feeling of non-linearity at times.

3, 4, 5, 6... Skyward Sword comes next for me (right now) because of the story and the controversial sword fighting using the motion plus controller that I really enjoyed. The linearity and initially exciting but ultimately empty sky overworld brings it down a bit.

In the end I put Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword and all the other 2D sequels in a similar level in which they all bubble up and sink down between each other. It's mostly because each has at least one deep flaw and each have a highpoint or two that I love. How much I care about either one at any given month simply changes.

Mmm.. truth is, they all are good!!! The only ones that do not fill like a Zelda game are the multiplayer (4Swords and TriforceH), sorry guys, don't kill me, its my opinion.

Game boy series were so special. I remember when i got Links Awakening back then... i said: wow, how is that i have a real Zelda game on such a small screen! (tears..)

@leo13 You never know, it could see a re-release soon! Making it available again for the 30th anniversary makes sense, especially since it was simply called "Anniversary Edition" not "25th Anniversary Edition". Leaving off the number in the official title of the game gives it a good chance (in my humble opinion) of seeing re-releases on subsequent anniversaries. February 21st is the official start of the 30th anniversary of Zelda, too.... looks around eshop Nothin' yet

#ALinkToThePast is my favorite!!

@Claytronical that's an excellent point! I really hope you're right.
It would be even cooler if they reworked it to allow online play! (Don't worry I know it's not going to happen so I'm not getting my hopes up).
With some luck, on Thursday I'll be downloading 4 Swords anniversary edition on my other 3DS systems!

#3 - Link to the Past
#2 - OoT
#1 - Skyward Sword

I voted A Link to the Past, Wind Waker

Lttp, WW and MC