The 10 best Legend of Zelda games, ranked

Today, we’re going over the best Legend of Zelda games of all time. More specifically, we’ve made a list of the 10 best entries the series has seen to date.

With most big name Nintendo franchises, it’s fairly easy to see which game is most popular among fans – not necessarily the best, but the most popular. For example, many Mario fans will tell you Super Mario Galaxy is their favorite entry – that doesn’t mean it’s the objective best, per se, but it does mean it’s probably the most popular. Pokemon fans at this point in time will probably tell you that Black and White or HeartGold and SoulSilver are their favorites. But things are more complicated for the Legend of Zelda series. Breath of the Wild, while a fantastically successful game, did sort of split the hardcore fanbase in two: those who prefer the new open-world gameplay style, and those who prefer Zelda’s more linear outings. In other words, it’s virtually impossible to put together an objective “best Zelda games of all time” list. But it doesn’t mean we can’t try!

So here’s our 10 favorite Zelda games in order, and along the way, we’d like to ask you to let us know what your own personal top 10 Zelda games are in the comments down below. There are no wrong answers! Before we continue, do be advised that we’ll be discussing spoilers for many Zelda games. Make sure you’re okay with that before you continue.

1. Breath of the Wild

We may be starting off the list with the most milquetoast answer possible – after all, everything that can be said about Breath of the Wild has probably already been said somewhere. But its influence on the franchise can’t be overstated. This game boasted the largest Hyrule we’ve ever seen, and even more impressive was the fact that you could go absolutely anywhere you could see in the distance or on the horizon. Tons of secrets, lots of Shrines, a bunch of new characters with decent backstories to each of them, and a brand-new way to play the Zelda series really pushes Breath of the Wild to the top of the pack. Even as the last big Wii U game and the first big Switch game, Breath of the Wild still holds up today – even after Tears of the Kingdom. Even with all of its strengths, Breath of the Wild does have a few defined weaknesses; though the Divine Beasts are a neat idea on paper, their interior dungeons feel very similar to each other and aren’t a true replacement for the dungeons the Zelda series was known for previously. Still, though, Breath of the Wild is often called the greatest game of all time (whether that’s actually true, of course, is anyone’s guess), and it’s easy to see why it’s in the running.

2. Majora’s Mask

Note that for this entry, we’re specifically counting the Nintendo 64 version of the game and not the 3DS version. Even though it’s sandwiched between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Majora’s Mask isn’t here for its vast open world – it’s here for its absolutely unmatched atmosphere. From its very beginning, Majora’s Mask feels oppressive to play. The giant moon looms over you at all times, and the game’s soundtrack does a great job of keeping you at least a little bit unsettled – look at tracks like Ikana Canyon, for instance. Compared to other versions of Hyrule, Majora’s Mask’s Termina feels a little bit smaller – and its residents react to its ongoing turmoil in very real ways. Each character has their own unique schedule that they follow over the course of three days, and being stuck in that time loop along with them adds a sense that there are real stakes here. Majora’s Mask was designed to challenge players who had already beaten Ocarina of Time; indeed, though it only has four dungeons, they’re all quite involved and relatively difficult compared to their Ocarina of Time counterparts.

You could argue that Majora’s Mask 3D is a better version, but we don’t quite agree ourselves – we think the edgier, more polygonal graphics of the Nintendo 64 actually enhance this game’s unnerving atmosphere. Pair that with changes to bosses (Gyorg in particular is much more repetitive in the 3DS version) and the worsening of Zora Link’s swimming mechanics, and you’ve got a version of the game that’s fine to play, but perhaps not quite as good as the original. Whichever way you decide to play it, though, Majora’s Mask still holds up. No other game in the series truly captures this entry’s feelings of dread and despair, and we think that makes it special.

3. Tears of the Kingdom

This is an incredibly difficult game to rank. Tears of the Kingdom technically outdoes Breath of the Wild in just about every way possible – there’s more world to explore, more active characters, new abilities in Ultrahand, Fuse, and Recall, and the dungeons and bosses are generally a step up from Breath of the Wild thanks to their increased variety. By all means, if Tears of the Kingdom is #1 on your list, we absolutely get it – but for us, ranking it is somewhat complicated. For one, what Breath of the Wild has over Tears of the Kingdom is that it’s entirely new. Breath of the Wild’s version of Hyrule was never seen before, and going into the game blind and discovering all of the world’s hidden secrets and beautiful scenery was a feeling like no other. Tears of the Kingdom understandably reuses that world, and its addition of the Depths and the Sky Islands – while definitely neat – don’t have a ton of depth in comparison. If you play Tears of the Kingdom before Breath of the Wild, then its version of Hyrule is all-new to the player. But most of us had seen and scoured it already, so there was a bit less novelty with the new game.

Another one of Tears of the Kingdom’s weaknesses is its story. Though Zelda’s memories do have an “intended order” to view them in, it’s easy to get sidetracked in the vast world of Hyrule and discover them out of order, essentially spoiling yourself. Many parts of the story are also left completely unexplained to the player. The Divine Beasts, which were huge parts of Breath of the Wild, are completely absent in Tears of the Kingdom. The game doesn’t tell you what happened to them, but it’s revealed in an interview that they all disintegrated and faded away, as their purposes were complete (even though it was only Calamity Ganon who was defeated and not Ganondorf himself, who is a far larger threat). At the end of the game, Rauru and Sonia appear as spirits to help Link revert Zelda from her dragon form. This does lessen the impact of her sacrifice to an extent, but it’s also not explained how exactly this process restores Zelda back to human while also restoring Link’s damaged arm as if nothing had ever happened. It’s tough to explain, because the developers definitely tried to make a more involved story, but in many ways it winds up messier than Breath of the Wild’s, which is relatively easy to understand.

If you’re not too hung up on the story, though, Tears of the Kingdom is still a top-notch game as well as a technical marvel on the aging Switch console. It may in fact be the most controversial main series Zelda game; some absolutely love it, while others think it isn’t quite as good as everyone says. We’d be particularly interested to see where Tears of the Kingdom ranks on your list, so be sure to let us know down below!

4. Ocarina of Time (3D)

A good chunk of players think that Majora’s Mask on Nintendo 64 is the superior version to play the game. That’s not necessarily the case with Ocarina of Time 3D, though, which is often seen as a faithful remake that makes the original game even better. The 3DS’ lower screen resolution might be a limiting factor, but this remake enhances the experience in so many ways. For one, there are plenty of extra buttons to assign your items to. In the original game, you had to enter the equip menu to put on and remove Iron Boots and Hover Boots, which made switching between them incredibly repetitive. Now, you can simply assign the boots to an item, which streamlines the Water Temple and Spirit Temple and makes them much easier to play through. The visuals have received a nice upgrade, making this in our opinion the definitive version to experience Ocarina of Time in the modern day. And we haven’t even talked about the actual game yet! Ocarina of Time is often called the greatest game of all time as well, and that’s mainly because this title was absolutely incredible for its time. We hadn’t seen anything like it before, and it revolutionized the world of 3D gaming and set the standard for 3D Zelda games going forward for many years to come. You could absolutely argue that Ocarina of Time is the greatest Zelda game, and if you’re of that opinion, we totally understand! If anything, the fact that Ocarina of Time is number four on our list is a testament to the quality and innovations of the rest of the Zelda franchise.

5. A Link to the Past

If you haven’t played A Link to the Past before, you might be wondering what’s so special about it compared to other entries in the Zelda series. Indeed, in terms of spectacle, it can’t compare to Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, or Tears of the Kingdom. But for its time, A Link to the Past is an incredibly high-quality entry in the series. Its presentation is fantastic even to its day – its graphical style is distinct and easy to recognize, and its music is crisp, catchy, and memorable. This version of Hyrule is rather large, plus you’ve got the entire Dark World to explore and plenty of dungeons in both worlds. Its dungeons get rather challenging towards the end, and a few of its boss battles are no slouch either. This is a quality title all the way through, and it’ll probably take you between 15 and 20 hours to complete if you start a new run – a decent length for a SNES game! Thanks to save states and rewinding on Nintendo Switch Online, the game is more accessible than ever for those of you who might find it a bit on the difficult side. A Link to the Past set many precedents for the Zelda series, and those are still felt today.

6. Link’s Awakening

Link’s Awakening is a neat little Zelda game that stands out as one of the series’ greats. Both Link’s Awakening DX (available on Nintendo Switch Online) and its Switch remake are fantastic ways to experience the game – the latter is a full remake with a wonderful art style, excellent music, and rock-solid gameplay and mechanics. While Link’s Awakening is more of a smaller-scale experience compared to some of the other titles on this list, it’s still a fantastic experience. Its story, while simple, is compelling enough, plus there’s a decent cast of unique and memorable characters throughout. Pair that with numerous well-designed dungeons and you have a game that holds up very well today – even if you’re playing the Game Boy Color version and not necessarily the remake. Whichever way you decide to play it, Link’s Awakening is one of the best Zelda games.

7. The Wind Waker

When it first released, The Wind Waker received criticism for its cartoony art style and for its complete departure from the gritty time fans wanted at the time. Nowadays, though, things are different – we think The Wind Waker’s art style has actually held up incredibly well. This game’s unique take on Hyrule has made it a standout adventure to those who have played it. Traversing Hyrule’s oceans, climbing up Dragon Roost Island, and even sneaking through the Forsaken Fortress have all left a lasting impression. The Wind Waker is also no slouch in the story department, with many connections to Ocarina of Time and even an unusually sympathetic Ganondorf with more character depth than we’re used to seeing from him. It’s almost mind-boggling that Nintendo hasn’t re-released the HD version for Switch yet, but something tells us we’ll be seeing this game again somewhere down the line. Both the Gamecube and Wii U versions still hold up today. Some players argue that the remake’s art style has sort of been tainted by the bloom effects, but if you can get past that it offers many quality-of-life improvements over the original.

8. A Link Between Worlds

Despite taking a lot of elements from A Link to the Past – including most of its world – A Link Between Worlds still stands up as one of the best Zelda games. In a similar vein to A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds is perhaps best known for its own “dark world”, which in this case is Lorule, a parallel kingdom to Hyrule. It also introduces Ravio, Princess Hilda, and Yuga, unique characters that don’t appear in any other Zelda game. For the first time, you’re also able to visit the game’s dungeons in any order you please by renting key items from Ravio. A Link Between Worlds is also home to one of the best finales the series has ever seen. With all its strengths, this is absolutely a game worth playing today if you’re able to get your hands on it.

9. Twilight Princess

Twilight Princess is another beloved GameCube (and Wii) game that, at the time of writing, isn’t available on Nintendo Switch just yet. That may or may not change someday, though! Whereas The Wind Waker was more of a whimsical, colorful adventure, Twilight Princess was that dark, serious, and somewhat gritty entry in the series that fans wanted at the time. Its art style may not have held up as well with age, but the rest of the game certainly has. Everyone who’s played Twilight Princess always points to Midna as one of their reasons for liking the game. She’s arguably Link’s most likable partner character, and she adds both guidance and quips to the main story that other games may have been missing.

10. The Minish Cap

At the very end of our list is The Minish Cap, which is actually the only game here that wasn’t developed solely by one of Nintendo’s internal teams. Capcom helped out with this one, and as late into the Game Boy Advance’s lifespan as this game was, it cemented itself as one of the greatest and most underrated entries in the 2D Zelda series. What first draws you in about this game is its excellent presentation. The level of detail present in The Minish Cap’s world and visuals is nearly unmatched on the Game Boy Advance. And the game’s signature shrinking mechanic lets you explore tiny areas of Hyrule and speak to the titular Minish characters – discovering these little nooks and crannies helps make the land of Hyrule feel more alive. Between its spectacular graphics, its lengthy, surprisingly challenging dungeons, and its tough boss battles (especially the final boss), The Minish Cap absolutely has legs to stand on when compared to the rest of the Zelda series. Even though it’s not a primarily Nintendo-developed entry, it’s still one of the best Zelda games for sure.

It’s certainly tough to assemble a definitive list of the best Zelda games, but we’d like to see what you come up with, too. Be sure to drop your list in the comments down below. If any future Zelda games happen to dethrone any of the entries on this list, we’ll be sure to update it accordingly. In the meantime, you can check out the official website for Tears of the Kingdom (currently ranked #3 on our list) right here.