For 37 years, Link has been traversing the fields and ruins of Hyrule in a seemingly never-ending quest to save Princess Zelda. His journey has spanned many consoles, redefining the franchise again and again.
Now The Legend of Zelda continues with Tears of the Kingdom. To celebrate the latest game in Nintendo’s long-running series, we took the time to look back and rank the best Zelda games of all time, reminiscing on our favorite adventures. While we hope to continue venturing to Hyrule time and time again, these are our picks for the best Zelda games of all time.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006. Wii, Gamecube)
Twilight Princess gets an unfairly bad rap among Zelda fans. As the darker and edgier Zelda, it often receives unfavorable comparisons to Wind Waker, which has arguably held up better in comparison. But buried under all the cruft is a quality Zelda adventure, with a large world to explore, many enjoyable sidequests, and some great dungeons, the Snowpeak Ruins being a highlight. But the strongest element of Twilight Princess by far is Midna, a snarky imp who rides around on Wolf Link's back and basically trolls him for the duration of the game.
She's a far more appealing companion than the pestering Navi, her story tying firmly into Twilight Princess' world and lore. She gives Twilight Princess a style all its own — a style that deserves more respect than it's been given over the years. It's not quite enough to push it into the upper level of Zelda releases — the bloat in this game is extreme — but it's still a quality entry with a lot to offer the Zelda mythos. -- Kat Bailey
9. The Legend of Zelda (1986. NES)
The original Legend of Zelda stands as a testament to the power and allure of sprawling, vast video game worlds. It was ambitious enough to throw you right into the middle of a world infested by monsters without so much as a weapon to defend yourself, confident that the thrill of free-roaming exploration would lead players to investigate, experiment, and find their own way.
The Legend of Zelda cast aside linear paths and storytelling in favor of open-ended exploration that continues to be iterated on to this day, and crammed its world full of dungeons and secrets that endeared itself to encouraging players into sharing tips and revelations with their friends at school. Even now, it stands the test of time as one of the best examples of giving players the freedom to find their own path, learn from mistakes, and slowly master a strange new world. -- Brendan Graeber
8. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013. 3DS)
A Link Between Worlds was a pleasant surprise when it first released as a Nintendo 3DS game in 2013. Initially dismissed as a pale copy of A Link to the Past, fans were surprised and delighted by its non-linear progression and high-quality dungeon design. Far from a mere knockoff, A Link Between Worlds turned out to be one of the tightest, most enjoyable Zelda experiences in years. Because it's a portable entry, A Link Between Worlds tends to be overlooked when discussing the top Zelda games, which is a shame.
While it's in some ways a tribute to A Link to the Past, featuring many of the beats of the original, it also stands up rather well on its own. The ability to tackle dungeons in any order hints at the direction Breath of the Wild would take a few years later, and its story is surprisingly emotional, with a wonderful reveal at the end that will delight fans. As a tribute to classic Zelda, A Link Between Worlds is a wonderful treat. -- Kat Bailey
7. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993. Game Boy, 2019 Remake. Switch)
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening crafts one of the more unique stories in the Legend of Zelda Franchise. The world, characters, and story venture off the beaten path and succeed without relying on locations or characters like Zelda and Ganon that are typically expected to appear.
We’ve seen three iterations of Link’s Awakening, and each one’s additions to the formula have made this entry on the list even better. The DX version included an additional dungeon and filled the world with vivid colors. The 2019 remake advanced it further with an updated art style for its characters, world, and overall visuals that energized the heartfelt moments throughout Link’s journey like never before. New additions like “The Chamber Dungeon” added replayability, allowing us to create and explore custom dungeons and share them with our friends.
Link’s Awakening is a testament to the franchise with its dungeons, puzzles, and music which became the foundation for many of the future Zelda games. It is one of the simpler games in the franchise, but the mastery of the gameplay loop and core elements of what it means to be a traditional Zelda game is what makes it special for Legend of Zelda fans. -- Jada Griffin
6. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002. Gamecube)
Time has been kind to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Though some fans greeted its cartoon-y, cel-shaded style with ire after the promise of more mature takes on the franchise, The Wind Waker's vibrant, colorful world is now more widely accepted for how beautiful and unique its take on Hyrule is. Yes, there's a lot of ocean to sail around, and even with the improvements made in The Wind Waker's Wii U re-release, sailing around on extended hunts can weigh the experience down. But the sailing, when it often works, is a zenlike, freeing experience that nailed the sense and feel of open adventure that Zelda has perfected so frequently throughout the franchise.
Exploring new shores and not quite knowing what to expect from each new island, whether it be some great dungeons, intriguing civilizations, or something else entirely, Wind Waker captures that sense of thrilling mystery with each new chapter, introducing a surprisingly dark and fascinating story that ranks among the best actual tales told throughout the series. Add to it some familiar but solid combat, that makes each hit impactful, a cast of endearing familiar and new characters, and, as ever, a moving score, and The Wind Waker not only nails the Zelda staples it needs to, but charts new territory in one of the series' most memorable adventures. -- Jonathon Dornbush
5. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000. N64)
Majora's Mask is most recognizable for adding a divisive three-day time limit that you either loved or hated. It’s intrinsic to the core gameplay loop, permeating through the world, NPC behavior, and side quests. Incentivizing us to optimize and prioritize our time management to get as much done in each three-day cycle before needing to play the Song of Time and restart once again.
Many of the characters and items in Majora's Mask were reused but reworked and amplified to make them more compelling and influential than their previous appearances. Masks and other items were enhanced and placed into the forefront as centerpieces of the unfolding storyline. People in the world became integral to advancing elements of the story and its subplots. Time itself and your trusty ocarina became a necessary tool leading to the destruction of Link and all the inhabitants of Termina if managed poorly.