The Legend of Zeldais a historic series that has resonated with many over its 35 years. It has spawned countless classic games that define the various Nintendo systems they released on. From the originalLegend of Zeldaon the NES to the Switch’sBreath of the Wild,Zeldahas been pleasing fans for a long time. There is little else that does dungeon-crawling quite as well, and some of the biggestLegend of Zeldagames have changed the face of the industry forever.
WithBreath of the Wild 2seemingly still a ways off, now is a great time for fans and interested players to catch up on the series. Because Nintendo holdsZeldato a high degree of quality, manyZeldatitles still hold up just as well as they did in the past. Some even have fan support for new ways of playing like randomizers, costumes, and even brand-new story experiences. Many entries have been released on the past couple of generations of Nintendo hardware, and those that have not are still easily accessible via emulator. Any fans feeling bored during the pandemic should consider revisitingZeldatitles.
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The Legend of Zelda - NES, 1986
The originalLegend of Zeldais a timeless classic. Laying the groundwork for the dungeon-crawling adventures that everyZeldato follow would use,The Legend of Zeldaon NESis still a challenging romp through a world fraught with puzzles and danger. It can feel stiff and obtuse by today’s standards, but those who are willing to put the time in will still find a rewarding experience.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - SNES, 1991
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Pastis considered by veteran fans to be one ofthe best game in the franchise. Serving as the archetypical 2DZelda, this game got a lot right in its execution of a dual-world mechanic. An extremely detailed randomizer has given the game new life, so there really hasn’t been a better time to start playingA Link to the Past.
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The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening - Game Boy, 1993
Link’s Awakeningis yet another classic entry, and its first handheld title. While its progression and dungeon design is often not considered as tight asA Link to the Past, many still have fond memories. The presence ofMarioenemies and aKirbyanalog, combined with a weird and lovable cast, do a lot to makeLink’s Awakeningstand out. Modern players will be able to find a visually upgraded version inLink’s Awakeningfor the Switch, but its additions are minimal. The original game, especially its enhancedDXversion with an extra game-spanning side quest, works just as well.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - N64, 1998
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeis an icon that still affects the game industry today. It andMario 64showed the world how 3D game design could be done, and its Z-targeting changed how 3D action games were made. With amassive number of mods at players' fingertips, and a well-done 3DS remake,Ocarina of Timeremains just as relevant as it was upon release.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask - N64, 2000
The presence ofMajora’s Maskon aLegend of Zeldarecommendation list should come as no surprise, though the game isn’t for everyone. Thissurprisingly dark time-loop gamewowed fans at the time with its unique tone and setting, as well as its interesting mask mechanics. The game did receive a remake on 3DS, though it is held in contention due to some of the gameplay changes. Regardless, anyone looking for an atypicalZeldaexperience should go straight toMajora’s Mask.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - GameCube, 2002
If one wants a change in world design alone,The Wind Wakerwill more than suffice. This seafaring adventure surprised many with its charming cel-shaded art style and an interesting new take on Hyrule. Thedefinitive version can be found on Wii U, though those unable to play it can find some of the same quality-of-life features packed in with the game’s randomizer on emulator.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures - GameCube, 2002
It’s difficult to play as intended nowadays,The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventuresstill worthwhile. It is a level-based action-adventure game usingA Link to the Past’s top-down view andWind Waker’s art style. While it is best played with four players,setting up the hardware necessary is a hassle, and the game works fine as a single-player adventure. It and its prequelThe Minish Capserve as a sort of side story in the mainZeldaseries, so both games, different as they are, can be recommended as a set.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - GameCube and Wii, 2006
If someone wants a grittier art style, though not necessarily a darker tone, they can turn toThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. This game is a fairly standard spiritual sequel toOcarina of Time, but the striking visuals of its two worlds and the charm ofplaying with Wolf Link and Midnastill stick out in fans' hearts. This game has a definitive Wii U version, though its enhancements are less major than those ofThe Wind Waker.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Wii, 2011
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Swordmay already be on fans' “to play” list considering Nintendo just re-released it on Switch. This new version addresses most of the complaints players had about the Wii original. Those who are looking to experience thefirst chronological game in theZeldaseriesshould consider picking up this re-release, and those who have already played it can give the series-standard hard mode a try.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - 3DS, 2013
Zeldafans looking for the definitive handheld experience in modern day can look no further thanA Link Between Worlds. This title serves as adistant sequel toA Link to the Pastand works hard to deserve that honor. It is an excellent pick-up-and-play title that harkens back to the series' more open early days thanks to its nonlinear second half.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Switch, 2017
Of course,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis still great to this day. This masterstroke serves as the open-world game to beat in many gamers' eyes.Breath of the Wild 2is coming soon, so those who have yet to beat the first game will want to hasten their playthrough. Those who already have can give it another shot, perhaps with DLC packs enabled. Thanks to theLegend of Zeldagame’s wide-open world and multi-purpose mechanics, new experiences are always a stone’s throw away inBreath of the Wild.
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