The Legend of Zelda is among the most prolific recreation sequence not solely in Nintendo’s historical past, however can be an identifiable illustration of video video games as a complete, worldwide.
Whereas some Zelda followers have been round for the reason that starting, with the sounds of Hyperlink’s battle cries ringing of their head since childhood, others have simply dipped their toes in with the latest installments within the sequence. There are such a lot of video games in the primary sequence alone, it may be tough to recollect all of them, even for Zelda veterans.
Right here is the definitive listing of each important sequence recreation within the Legend of Zelda sequence, so as of their launch.
What number of Zelda video games are there?
There are over a dozen authentic important sequence titles in The Legend of Zelda sequence, with releases way back to 1986 and as new as 2024.
Along with the unique titles, Nintendo has additionally launched a number of remakes, which embody quality-of-life adjustments, optimization, and graphics updates. One title additionally has a Grasp Quest model, and one bundle of two titles was additionally promoted as a separate launch.
Most of the authentic titles have been made out there on earlier variations of Nintendo consoles of their non-remade kinds. Due to the assorted digital console modes on the Wii, WiiU, 3DS, and Swap, you may get pleasure from sure basic Zelda titles with no need a retro console.
From the unique Legend of Zelda to the award-winning Tears of the Kingdom, here’s a full listing of all the primary sequence Zelda titles.
Zelda titles from 1986-1993: The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, A Hyperlink to the Previous, and Hyperlink’s Awakening
The unique The Legend of Zelda is what began all of it for the franchise. Printed in 1986 in Japan for the Famicom Disk System after which a yr later for the Nintendo Leisure System worldwide, the unique recreation focuses on Hyperlink, our without end hero, as he ventures to finish the items of the Triforce. The sport is understood for its great problem, having even been packaged with a map for the North American launch.
The Legend of Zelda has been re-released on the Wii, WiiU, and 3DS digital consoles and the Nintendo Swap On-line platform, so if you wish to problem your self by trying a run of the unique recreation, you are able to do so on Nintendo’s newest consoles.
Zelda II: The Journey of Hyperlink is the following recreation within the sequence, and in comparison with practically each different title, this one takes a little bit of a bizarre flip. Although the sport nonetheless focuses on an general RPG journey and is a direct sequel to the primary recreation, it makes use of side-scrolling platforming mechanics when Hyperlink enters sure situations and fights enemies.
The Legend of Zelda: A Hyperlink to the Previous was first launched in 1991 for the SNES and has up to date, colourful graphics compared to the primary two installments. That is the primary recreation that references two parallel worlds within the Zelda timeline, a key function that resonates all through the sequence’ full timeline.
The Legend of Zelda: Hyperlink’s Awakening was then launched in 1993, and marked a definite transition for the sequence as the primary Zelda title for a handheld console.
Zelda titles from 1998-2004: Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Masks, the Oracle video games, and Wind Waker
The discharge of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 1998 marked a serious turning level within the sequence. Ocarina of Time, for the Nintendo 64, was the very first 3D journey for our green-clad hero. It was the best-selling Zelda recreation thus far and has gained a number of main awards for each recreation of the yr and biggest recreation of all time.
An particularly tough model of Ocarina of Time was launched, known as the Grasp Quest model, which significantly enhances the challenges Hyperlink faces as he traverses Hyrule.
In distinction to Ocarina of Time’s vibrant story that follows a younger Hyperlink touring by time to defeat Ganon, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Masks was a whole shift. Majora’s Masks is taken into account one of many darkest Zelda video games thus far and introduces an alternate timeline the place Hyperlink’s earlier journey didn’t go as deliberate. The sport was constructed utilizing a lot of the identical engine as Ocarina of Time, so the mechanics, UI, and console are the identical, regardless of being launched two years later in 2000.
Each Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Masks made their method to the 3DS with remakes in 2011 and 2015 respectively. The remakes embody quality-of-life adjustments, like decreasing the ache of Ocarina’s well-known Water Temple, and graphical updates.
The Oracle video games—The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages—are a pair of video games that add to the sequence’ handheld library. Launched in 2001 for the Sport Boy Colour, the video games introduced the tone up barely from a terrifying journey in Majora’s Masks.
Following the Oracle video games was The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, launched for the GameCube in 2002. This recreation encompasses a distinct graphic fashion that’s extra animated and virtually feels comic-book-esque, incomes it a spot amongst a few of the most beloved Zelda titles.
Zelda titles from 2006-2015: Twilight Princess, Nintendo DS video games, and Skyward Sword
After Wind Waker got here two lesser-known video games within the franchise: The Legend of Zelda: 4 Swords Adventures and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. 4 Swords Adventures was the primary multiplayer recreation within the sequence, introducing a mechanic that cut up Hyperlink into 4 variations of himself. As much as 4 gamers might journey collectively on this 2004 GameCube launch. The Minish Cap is a lighthearted moveable journey for the Sport Boy Advance that shrunk Hyperlink right down to a minuscule measurement.
The Wii’s The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was launched in 2006 for the GameCube and Wii and once more marked a definite shift in tone. Twilight Princess was the primary recreation that earned a Teen score and was launched as an HD model for the WiiU in 2016.
The subsequent two video games within the sequence are often remembered as a pair. The 2 authentic Nintendo DS titles within the Zelda franchise had been The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Each video games use visible components much like The Wind Waker, and like many video games launched at the moment, used the DS’ contact display.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a crucial entry to the franchise as a result of, by way of the Zelda universe’s timeline, this recreation marks the very starting. We be taught the origin story of Hyperlink, generally known as the Hero of Time, and the occasions that happen earlier than his authentic journey. The sport was up to date for the Swap as an HD model in 2021, ten years after the unique Wii launch.
2013’s The Legend of Zelda: A Hyperlink Between Worlds expands on the parallel world idea launched in A Hyperlink to the Previous with an journey with a singular artwork fashion for the 3DS. In 2015, because the Zelda sequence final launch for the 3DS, Nintendo launched The Legend of Zelda: Tri Pressure Heroes, one other multiplayer recreation that builds on mechanics utilized in 4 Swords Adventures.
Zelda titles from 2017-present: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Echoes of Knowledge
The 2 most up-to-date Zelda video games could also be a few of the sequence’ most prolific. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was launched as a Nintendo Swap launch title in 2017 and rapidly was thought to be probably the greatest video games in the marketplace. It was the primary Zelda recreation to function an open world, which capitalizes on a typical theme all through all the sequence: journey.
After Breath of the Wild’s success, its sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, was launched earlier in 2023. It builds on the mechanics of Breath of the Wild whereas additionally bringing again dungeons, a core side of the sequence that was missed within the 2017 launch, and likewise that includes Princess Zelda.
The ultimate recreation on our listing is Zelda: Echoes of Knowledge, which was launched in 2024. It was the primary mainline sequence recreation to have you ever play as Zelda over Hyperlink and compelled you to suppose strategically about puzzle wording with out your trusty sword and defend at your disposal.
Along with all the primary sequence titles and their remakes, a number of spin-off video games have additionally been launched. These embody the notorious Hyperlink’s Crossbow Coaching and the Hyrule Warriors video games.
