Best Legend of Zelda Games

The Legend of Zelda has thrilled gamers since its NES debut. The level of detail that Nintendo adds to the world, in addition to the masterful puzzle design, keeps players coming back again and again. Here are the best The Legend of Zelda games to forever adorn our screens.

10 – The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Screenshot via Nintendo UK YouTube channel

In 2004, the publisher of Devil May Cry, Resident Evil and Mega Man Capcom has decided to develop a new game in The Legend of Zelda series. While it might seem odd to offload the development of such a critical franchise to Nintendo, Capcom’s effort is a success.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap has an outstanding Metacritic rating of 89%, with G4 TV stating at the time, “This is an excellent and faithful Zelda game, and one of the best Game Boy Advance games to date.” It also introduced the villainous Vaati, directing a refreshing change from the usual Ganondorf-focused storyline.

9 – The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords

The Legend of Zelda Four Swords logo
Screenshot via Experiment T’s YouTube channel

Continuing the Game Boy Advance trend, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords uses them as controllers while the game is played on a GameCube. Since the game’s release, it has been praised by fans for its thrilling cooperative gameplay and perfectly crafted puzzles.

“This game is easy to learn, innovative, and can appeal to people of all ages,” Siliconera said in its 2004 review, according to Metacritic. “Using GBA connectivity and all the extra minigames just fills this game to the brim with replay value.” It has been so popular since its release that an Anniversary Edition has been released for the 3DS. Maybe Nintendo should release this co-op title on the Nintendo Switch like Square Enix did with it. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, but this time with online connectivity.

8 – The Legend of Zelda: Sky Sword

The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword Best Games The Legend of Zelda
Picture via Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is probably the most controversial game in the series for fans. It excels with its puzzle mechanics, but going back to the same areas over and over again has become tedious for some players of the Wii title. Some others didn’t like the motion controls, but with the recent Nintendo Switch port, they’re just an option.

The first game of The Legend of Zelda canon has many advantages, however. Players praised it for their best portrayal of Link and Zelda, who have great story moments together. The watercolor look also makes skyward sword look unique and beautiful to some. We also like to hang out in the loftwings among the clouds of Hyrule.

Learn more about The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

7 – The Legend of Zelda: A link to the past

The Legend of Zelda Link to the Past Best The Legend of Zelda Games
Screenshot via Nintendo’s YouTube channel

A link to the past from the Super Nintendo era is touted as a timeless classic by many The Legend of Zelda fans, and they are right to do so. Despite the lack of pixels, this treasured SNES game is bursting with personality and color. Dungeons have been intricately designed and storytelling has been retained Zelda fans were obligated from start to finish.

NintendoWorldReport, according to Metacritic, called the game a “flawless masterpiece” as it provided a “more linear setting for the player to explore” and a “better interface and controls” scheme. In short, this is why The Legend of Zelda still exists on modern platforms as the formula has transitioned to a more linear, mainstream experience.

Learn more about The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

6 – The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda NES Best The Legend of Zelda Games
Screenshot via YTSunny YouTube channel

But none of these best The Legend of Zelda the games would exist without the original NES. The Legend of Zelda has fired the imagination of gamers around the world as you defeat big bosses, discover new areas, and save the princess from certain doom. Although some mechanics can be a bit enigmatic, like having to use a bomb in a certain area to reach the next objective, The Legend of Zelda is timeless for its tight gameplay mechanics and range of well-designed puzzles.

Learn more about The Legend of Zelda:

5 – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess Best The Legend of Zelda games
Picture via Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess might still be the most atmospheric game in the series to date and is one of the best The Legend of Zelda games created by Nintendo. The art style takes a darker turn as the world shifts between the twilight realm and the typical day. It feels unique to the series and really adds character to Hyrule as you explore, and Koji Kondo’s epic music helps bring that darker vibe to life as well. We also can’t forget Midna, who has a slightly creepy laugh and a weird sense of humor to keep that atmosphere seeping into The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Combat has also been enhanced with more intense swordplay and techniques. You also get access to some cool items, such as the Gale Boomerang, which helped make the puzzles so exciting to figure out, and the addition of a wolf form made the game unique among the series.

4 – The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask Nintendo Best The Legend of Zelda games
Pictures via Nintendo

Twilight Princess may have dark images, but when playing Majora’s Mask, the constant threat of a collapsing moon was absolutely terrifying, especially if you were a kid when you first played it. Majora’s Mask is a wild detour in the series, and yet it’s one of the best The Legend of Zelda games as it revolves around time.

You only have a certain amount of time to complete the tasks, then you’ll have to reset, learning more about the town you’re trying to help. It wasn’t as open as its predecessor Ocarina of time, but it sucked a lot of players into the world and storyline with its unique gameplay premise and darker tones.

Learn more about The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

3 – The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker Best games The Legend of Zelda
Picture via Nintendo

The Hero of Time adventure that will be the most timeless is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. At first, it was controversial by some community members as it was a complete change from the usual graphic design. However, over time, more and more accepted and even liked the style of graphic art that Nintendo adopted with this GameCube title. Traveling around the world in your boat to all sorts of islands is a thrill as the waves crash over your boat. You will also come across entertaining battle scenarios, exciting boss battles, and plenty of treasures to discover in a relatively large world.

The Wii U version is the best offered because it increased the speed of the boat and fixed some flaws of the GameCube version. The art style also lends itself perfectly to an HD display with its bright and pleasing visuals with more powerful software. For God’s Sake, Nintendo, Please Post The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD on the Nintendo Switch so that more people can experience this version rather than being stuck on the Wii U.

Learn more about The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker:

2 – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Best The Legend of Zelda games

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time, and while it’s aged slightly, it still strikes us as one of Link’s best adventures to date. This Nintendo 64 gem has inspired countless games over the years with its open-world design, engaging storytelling, and most importantly, its phenomenal puzzle design (except for the water temple). Koji Kondo’s music is legendary with charming themes for Kokiri Forest and then haunting songs like Temple of Time that help keep you hooked on this adventure.

It was also exciting to play with two timelines between Child Link and Adult Link to solve unique puzzles and tell intrepid tales between the characters and the world they reside in. We are still haunted by the zombie-like creatures that roam around Hyrule Castle. .

Learn more about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time:

1 – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Best games The Legend of Zelda
Picture via Nintendo

Finally, the biggest The Legend of Zelda the game to date should be the open world title Breath of nature. This reinvigorated the series by making the environment itself a puzzle. You’ll need to find a way to cross the water, keep Link from staying warm in freezing weather, set the grass on fire, cook the ingredients, and climb the mountains to access higher areas.

While temples were lost in the progression, we were able to explore shrines that provide challenging puzzles along the way. It was fun rolling balls around an obstacle course to get to the end. Going through the history of breath of nature, you’ll find four champions who each have a fun personality. Prince Sidon is particularly a character that many love when reading breath of the wild.

However, if you’re a risk-taker, you can skip the entire story and go straight to Ganon for the final boss fight; it will be difficult, however, without the master sword and each of the champions who support you. If you haven’t played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, What are you doing? Pick up a copy and experience the majesty of the best The Legend of Zelda series game.

Learn more about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild:


That’s it for our list of the best The Legend of Zelda games since 1987. Are there any we missed? We know Link’s Awakening and a link between worlds will be discussed, but we can only include a limited number! The series is so good.

About Jason Zeitler

Check Also

List of unlicensed LEGO video game levels

Over the past decades, Lego gradually made a name for himself in the video game …