The Legend of Zelda is one of the most iconic video game franchises in history. With a legacy spanning several decades and a wide range of gameplay styles, art directions, and narrative innovations, ranking the Zelda games from best to worst is no easy task. Fans are passionate and opinions often vary, but some entries stand out universally for their innovation, design, and impact. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, understanding the strengths and flaws of each game is essential for appreciating what makes this franchise legendary.
The Best Zelda Games of All Time
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild redefined what an open-world game could be. It offered unprecedented freedom, letting players climb mountains, glide across valleys, and solve shrines in any order they liked. Its physics-based puzzles, organic exploration, and survival mechanics elevated the series to a new level. Despite its divisive weapon durability system, the game is widely seen as a masterpiece and a blueprint for modern adventure games.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Often hailed as one of the greatest games ever made, Ocarina of Time brought the Zelda formula into 3D with grace and innovation. It introduced time travel mechanics, Z-targeting combat, and unforgettable music. Its dungeons remain iconic, and its story set a standard that many future entries would follow. While it may feel dated now, its influence is undeniable.
3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
This 2D entry laid the foundation for the franchise’s most important gameplay elements, including parallel worlds, non-linear exploration, and intricate dungeons. A Link to the Past blends tight controls, beautiful pixel art, and perfect pacing. Even today, it holds up as one of the best top-down adventure games of all time.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
A darker and more experimental sequel to Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask is beloved for its time-loop mechanic and eerie atmosphere. The side quests are emotionally resonant, and the world of Termina is filled with stories of hope, fear, and despair. Though the three-day cycle can be stressful, it adds a unique challenge and structure that hardcore fans adore.
5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Wind Waker initially drew criticism for its cartoonish art style, but it has since gained recognition as one of the most charming and imaginative Zelda games. Sailing across the Great Sea, discovering hidden islands, and engaging in naval combat offered a refreshing break from previous landlocked entries. The HD remake refined pacing issues, making it even more enjoyable.
Strong but Slightly Flawed Entries
6. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Twilight Princess aimed for a darker, more mature tone, and delivered in many ways. The transformation mechanic, where Link becomes a wolf, introduced new puzzle elements. Dungeons were well-designed, and the story had emotional weight. However, its pacing was uneven, and some areas felt underdeveloped. Still, it’s a fan favorite for good reason.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
As the sequel to Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom expanded the world vertically with sky islands and underground caverns. The new fusion system added creativity in combat and traversal. Though its core structure was similar to its predecessor, the added complexity and lore provided depth. Some players, however, found it less impactful due to the familiarity.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Remake)
The remake of the Game Boy classic retains the whimsical charm and puzzle-filled gameplay of the original while updating visuals with a diorama-like aesthetic. It’s a compact and heartfelt journey with clever dungeons and quirky characters. The only downside is occasional frame rate drops and a shorter runtime compared to other entries.
9. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword had ambitious ideas, like motion-based sword combat and a deeper origin story for Link and Zelda. While the motion controls were hit-or-miss for many players, the dungeon design and music were excellent. The game’s linear structure and frequent interruptions held it back from greatness, but the HD version improved accessibility.
Mid-Tier Games with Mixed Reception
10. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages & Oracle of Seasons
Developed by Capcom, these dual Game Boy Color titles delivered strong puzzles and world-switching mechanics. Ages focused more on brainy challenges while Seasons leaned into action. Linking the games added depth, but playing both fully required commitment. They’re underrated but not essential to the series.
11. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
As a DS sequel to Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass used stylus-based controls that divided players. The dungeon-revisiting mechanic of the Temple of the Ocean King grew tiresome, though the sailing and puzzle-solving remained fun. It’s a charming adventure, though not as memorable as others.
12. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Spirit Tracks introduced train travel and cooperative gameplay with Zelda’s spirit controlling armor. While the concept was novel, the train felt restrictive compared to earlier freedom of movement. It had endearing moments but lacked the punch of stronger entries.
The Less Celebrated Titles
13. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
This multiplayer-focused game offers great fun with friends but suffers in solo play. The level-based structure deviates from the traditional overworld exploration, which may not appeal to everyone. It’s a unique experiment that worked best with multiple players, limiting its appeal.
14. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
A bold departure from the original, Zelda II featured side-scrolling combat and RPG leveling. While innovative, it was notoriously difficult and lacked the cohesion fans came to love in later games. It has a cult following but is widely seen as one of the weaker entries in the series.
15. The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes
Focused almost entirely on multiplayer, Triforce Heroes failed to deliver a compelling single-player experience. The fashion-centric storyline and repetitive level design didn’t help. Coordination with others could be fun, but the game didn’t feel like a core Zelda experience.
Ranking Zelda Games
Ranking Zelda games is never an easy task. Each title has its own strengths and legacy, with some excelling in exploration and others in storytelling or innovation. While Breath of the Wild and Ocarina of Time often sit at the top for their groundbreaking contributions, even the lowest-ranked games have elements that fans appreciate. Ultimately, the best Zelda game is subjective and depends on what players value most be it puzzles, combat, freedom, or narrative. As the franchise continues to evolve, new entries will no doubt reshape this list again.