Every Legend of Zelda Game Ranked From WORST To BEST

Debuting in 1986 for the Famicom Disk System in Japan, The Legend of Zelda didn’t just serve as that system’s killer app; it became a sensation worldwide, helping to propel the NES to must-have status in the West and establishing Nintendo as one of gaming’s most important developers. Of course, with so many sequels and spin-offs, not all of them can be created equal. But don’t worry! We are here to tell you which games are better than which other games and by exactly how much. Here is Every Legend of Zelda Video Game Ranked from Worst to Best.

Featured Legend of Zelda games:
• BS Zelda no Densetsu (1995)
• BS Zelda no Densetsu Inishie no Sekiban (1997)
• Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda
• Dekisugi Tingle Pack (2009)
• Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland (2006)
• Hyrule Warriors (2014)
• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020)
• Irozuki Tingle no Koi no Balloon Trip (2009)
• Link: The Faces of Evil (1993)
• Link’s Crossbow Training (2007)
• My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2016)
• The Legend of Zelda (1986)
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
• The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004)
• The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition (2011)
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993)
• The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (2001)
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (2001)
• The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)
• The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
• The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (2015)
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
• Tingle’s Balloon Fight DS (2007)
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987)
• Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (1992)
• Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993)
• Zelda’s Adventure (1994)

#Zelda #LegendOfZelda #Nintendo

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[KingRey.]

Twilight Princess #16?!
Are you guys high?

[MarioFromMario]

I think you got the concepts of Oracle of Ages & Seasons backwards. Seasons is the combat-focused game, and Ages is the puzzle-focused game.

[LuxisAlukard]

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) WIIU 1:03:30
2. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000) N64 1:00:55
3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) N64 58:38
4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) SNES 56:30
5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002) Gamecube 53:55
6. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993) GB (GBC, Switch) 52:20
7. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013) 3DS 50:30
8. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020) Switch 48:45
9. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004) GBA 47:15
10. The Legend of Zelda (1986) NES 45:30
11. Hyrule Warriors (2014) WII 43:55
12. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (2001) GBC 42:30
13. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (2001) GBC 40:50
14. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004) Gamecube 39:15
15. Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda Switch 37:20
16. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006) Gamecube 35:10
17. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition (2011) DSI 33:10
18. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007) DS 31:15
19. Irozuki Tingle no Koi no Balloon Trip (2009) DS 29:10
20. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987) NES 27:05
21. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009) DS 25:00
22. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) WII 22:52
23. BS Zelda no Densetsu Inishie no Sekiban (1997) Satellaview 21:00
24. BS Zelda no Densetsu (1995) Satellaview 18:52
25. Link’s Crossbow Training (2007) WII 17:00
26. Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland (2006) DS 15:45
27. Tingle’s Balloon Fight DS (2007) DS 14:10
28. My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2016) 3DS 12:35
29. The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (2015) 3DS 11:05
30. Dekisugi Tingle Pack (2009) DSI 9:32
31. Zelda’s Adventure (1994) CD-I 7:57
32. Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993) CD-I 6:17
33. Link: The Faces of Evil (1993) CD-I 4:32
34. Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (1992) Barcode Battler II 2:52

[cmstr]

It never ceases to make me sad to see how few other people love Skyward Sword. It had some glaring flaws, I concede that fully. But it also had some of the most compelling character writing in the entire series. SS had one of if not the strongest Zelda-Link relationships in the series, an exceedingly memorable Impa rendition, and Groose, who had an incredible character arc.

Beyond that the art style was stunning, had my favorite Zelda soundtrack to date, and what I found to be one of Zelda's strongest narratives.

The narrative driven stories found in entries such as Ocarina and Twilight Princess are what makes LoZ so special to me and SS had that in spades.

I remember finishing my first playthrough of Breath of the Wild and feeling thoroughly unfulfilled as a game that was a marvel in game and world design served as a vessel for a hollow and disconnected story delivered in small bursts that never met the potential I believed it held.

Shortly after finishing BotW I booted up my Wii and played through Skyward Sword to get the fix of Zelda storytelling I was craving and fell right back into Skyward Swords story. And ever since has solidified itself in the rotation of classic Zelda titles such as OoT, TP, WW, and MM that I revisit when I'm feeling nostalgic.

I recognize that the ship has sailed at this point, but I sincerely hope the many quality of life improvements provided by the Switch remaster compels people to give SS the second chance it deserves. Because it has more than earned it.

[MrBeardsley]

“On the bright side, I tricked you into thinking there’s a bright side” is excellent writing.

[nygma]

Honestly I never had issues with Skyward Swords' controls. Yes the controls were a bit of a learning curve. But once you get used to them it's 1 of the most fun Zelda games imo.

[kamagrie]

Im surprised that twilight princess got ranked like it did, i loved it and its definitely in my top 3.

[frozenninja]

Ocarina will always be #1 in my book. It was such an amazing, groundbreaking experience when it first came out and it still holds up today. I have spent so many hours playing and replaying that game, I still know every inch of that map. I could never even finish Majora's Mask or Breath of the Wild despite several attempts to get into both of them. They just pale when compared to Ocarina of Time.

[desmondeliot]

Twilight Princess is CRIMINALLY low. Top 3-5 Zelda game all time

[coxygen]

I’m so surprised on the placement of Twilight Princess and especially Skyward Sword!😱
I played both on the Wii and loved them!

[stratuvarious]

I played The Legend of Zelda as a child in 87, thanks for making me feel very, very old.

[kriscynical]

_"Link's pink haired punk rock phase..."_

I still want a Link to the Past amiibo that will let you turn Link's hair pink in BotW. DO IT, NINTENDO, I DARE YOU.

[NathanielBarlam]

Skyward Sword walked so BoTW could run. The stamina bar (no more rolling or side hops everywhere), crafting, and the art style (cell shaded but less cartoonish than Wind Waker) were really innovative for the series at the time, and their inclusion in BoTW helped to make that game into such a masterpiece. Not to mention that Skyward has some of the coolest dungeons and boss fights in the series (except for the Imprisoned, those fights can get in the bin).

[Diispaceyone]

Fun to see how everyone’s favorite Zelda games differ. With that being said Twilight princess is in my top spot at the moment. I haven’t played every game but I’ve played most of the Zelda franchise.

[wayevs]

Link to the past is No1 for me. The perfect balance of everything a Zelda is and never got boring also still looks and plays great even today considering this game was released in 1991 is crazy . For me the gameplay and music were just epic in this game. You have to consider as a kid growing up I had played mario, sonic, pacman, pong etc etc and then this came along my mind was blown. Forever the masterpiece.

[LemmyWinkz]

M.M and OOT here! Botw is good but I do not really consider it as a full on Zelda game (I have been playing Zelda since Link to the past so this affects my experiences a lot) :).

[ShadowEl]

Twilight Princess is personally in my top Zelda games. It isn't more novel than Ocarina of Time, but it is more refined than Ocarina. I vastly prefer it to Wind Waker as well, I find the combat to be much more engaging in Twilight Princess. And I had the Gamecube version so I never had to have any gripes with "waggle" controls.

[somethingboss]

In no particular order...

Link's Awakening
Twilight Princess
Ocarina of Time
Breath of the Wild

TP was in no way that bad to be no16.

[joelolsson]

Skyward sword might not be the best in the series but it should never be THAT low

[Lordalexzader]

Skyward Sword has a ton of issues but how does it have a "confused art design"? I ADORE the look/style of that game. I don't follow.