5. Twilight Princess (2006)
The Legend of Zeldahas had some epic storylines in the past. From time loops to dimension jumping, to saving a kingdom from a giant pig-man.Twilight Princess, originally released for the Nintendo Wii in 2006, was the first in the series to feel as epic as the plot intended.
The story starts out as a simple rescue mission… then, as things often do in Hyrule, things quickly turn into a quest to save the world. With a more gritty and adult character design, it was the first time Link looked like he was truly dressed for battle.
Twilight Princesswas the first mainlineZeldagame to take advantage of the Nintendo Wii’s motion controls, allowing players to swing the Master Sword and shoot their arrows as if they were Link. That immersion felt novel and fresh at the time.
Midna, Link’s impish companion throughout the game, breathes life into the plot as the hero takes his usual role as silent protagonist. This entry could have featured higher up on this list if the motion controls had aged better, to be honest!
4. Ocarina of Time (1998)
Ocarina of Timewas the pivotal moment whenThe Legend of Zeldagraduated from 2D to 3D, all thanks to the Nintendo 64 giving us polygons rather than pixels for jumping, slashing, and puzzling.
Though the graphics might not hold up today, the level design, music, and combat all remain some of the best in the series—and the story’s twists still sit among the best the franchise has ever offered.
Letting us play through a vibrant and populated Hyrule Castle Town before showing us the devastation caused by Ganondorf’s seven-year rule brought a solid level of dread and tension to the story.
The reveal that our friend Sheik was none other than Princess Zelda in disguise might seem obvious today, but it was a fantastic twist when the game first came out.
The final boss fight is particularly well done, taking place on a ruined Hyrule Castle and featuring one of the most frightening forms that Ganondorf has ever taken.
3. Link to the Past (1991)
For manyThe Legend of Zeldafans out there, this is the game where the series peaked—and they aren’t necessarily wrong.
Link to the Paststill looks fun and bright even within the limitations of the Super Nintendo’s graphics from over thirty years ago, and the music shines particularly well here. The puzzle aspect has never been more central to the game’s core than it is in this entry.
MostZeldagames force you to go on an epic quest to save Princess Zelda, but here’s you do that in the opening hour before the rest of the game focuses on preventing Hyrule’s destruction.
Of course, you do end up rescuing the Princess again later, but you do it by taking down a flying pig-demon in an alternate dimension that’s twisted by hatred and greed.
The story might not be as deep as in later entries, but it does its job of framing a solidly enjoyable gaming experience.
2. Majora’s Mask (2000)
Majora’s Maskdidn’t get the same kinds of accolades upon release that otherZeldagames did. It was very different, with a darker tone revolving around an approaching apocalypse, with only three days given to the player to save the world.
The fact that no one else seems to be aware of their own impending doom—or they appear to be actively ignoring it—only makes the game’s plot feel more urgent.
Unlike most games inThe Legend of Zeldafranchise, this one is a direct sequel. In fact, it’s the only direct sequel in the series ever made (at least untilBreath of the Wild 2comes out in 2022), so that’s in itself a bold departure from theZeldanorm.
The Link inMajora’s Maskhas already saved the world and been put back in his childhood body following the events ofOcarina of Time. Now, he must take on the personas of different races in Termina and master the flow of time to save the world in just three days.
ThoughMajora’s Maskonly sold about half the copies of its predecessor, it was a noble attempt to bring a darker and more mature tone to the series—and has consequently aged better because of it.
1. Breath of the Wild (2017)
Breath of the Wilddoes everything it can to feel different from otherZeldagames. Every tool and weapon is available to the player from the opening moments. It’s a truly open world, with dungeons and bosses that can be tackled in any order, with endless secrets to uncover.
The world is barely Hyrule anymore. The kingdom has fallen and the wilderness has taken over. But as much asBreath of the Wildtries to be different, it still manages to feel distinctlyZeldaat the same time. It’s a world of dangerous monsters to slay and puzzles to solve, just like the Hyrule we’ve always known.
The change in setting certainly helps make this the best game in the series, but what makesBreath of the Wildreally stand out is the vast number of characters who populate the world. From the travelling merchants to flower-obsessed women to the fallen Champions, everyone feels alive and realized.
Uncovering Link’s forgotten memories over the course of the game is both fascinating and heartbreaking. This is a story of redemption, of a hero who has once failed but now has a second chance to make things right. Add in my all-time favorite version of Princess Zelda and it’s easy to see whyBreath of the Wildtops the ranking.
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