It is unquestionable that Mario is the king of platforms and Shigeru Miyamoto’s most pampered son. After all, he is his most iconic and universal character. But the adventure with capital letters (even beyond Nintendo) has a princess name: The Legend of Zelda. A milestone that is achieved through a series of flawless launches. Classic on classic.
It is known to all that The Big N takes the return of its licenses very seriously, but also that it is fully aware of the impact that the Hyrule hero saga has on the industry. Both at the legacy level and in the face of future releases: Link, Zelda and the incarnations of evil in Hyrule have served as a generational bridge between their recent systems and the workhorse of the best generations of their consoles.
A saga in which all the titles shine and contribute something to the player. From the modest first forays that cemented and shaped experiences that set a school for the most experimental and transgressive deliveries. Let’s face it: when Eiji Aonuma, current head of the series, and his team squander talent and ideas, going to the visual forefront is secondary.
Which leaves us at an interesting point: unlike other sagas, each release of The Legend of Zelda is truly unique. There are common elements and themes, of course, and also aspects that have been comprehensively rethought, maintaining the essence and -in turn- crystallizing an own identity created according to experience.
With that in mind, the first question to answer is asked alone, is it possible to order all the games from worst to best ?
The Legend of Zelda: or how to masterfully reinvent yourself
Nintendo itself has chronologically connected most of the events that occurred in the installments of The Legend of Zelda , defining all of them as a broader and cyclical story. That is to say: when we delve into each title in the saga we will find many common elements in completely unique circumstances that, in addition, take place at different points in the same chronological line.
A succession of eras in which we will take on the role of their respective heroes, entering through their eyes into different versions of the same world in which nature, an inevitable evil, characteristic characters and unique challenges will put our courage, our skill to the test. and our wisdom. The three essential energies of the sacred Triforce .
From there, Nintendo has some academic freedom when it comes to displaying the setting of our adventure, the visual style of the set and even the way in which the player is proposed to approach the events. Thus, some deliveries we must solve dungeons and others solve sanctuaries and release sacred beasts. Sometimes we will go against the clock and in others time will be our best ally. But what is known as the hero’s journey is present in all of them.
Nintendo is comfortable adding variety to the whole. Sometimes making use of top-down perspectives. On other occasions, he was in the chair when it came to tackling adventures in wide settings, giving the player exquisite third-person perspectives. From time to time through a warm visual style, in others more somber and, why not? Resorting to the appearance of cartoons. Quite right, too.
But the way of reinventing itself with each installment goes beyond the artistic or narrative: Aonuma has made sure that each piece of history has its own essence . That it be a kind of micro-universe isolated from what precedes and precedes it, preserving what has been learned and tightening ties at convenience with the more in tune deliveries. As with The Wind Waker and Spirit Tracks, or between A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds.
Of course, there are deliveries considered more relevant than others since their impact on the history of Hyrule has transcended more. But it is also fair to say that not all titles have permeated the same way among players and fans. We are talking about deliveries like The Adventure of Link or Majora’s Mask that once succumbed to the shadow of those titles that preceded them and that, gradually, have gained new weight from the perspective of the years.
Special mention and -almost-required are the three installments of The Legend of Zelda published for CD-i, of which Nintendo itself ignores. Not because it was developed by external studies (Capcom produced three titles within the canon of the saga) but because of its own context: its creation was due to a transfer of rights and the final result ended up being the stain on the curriculum of those chosen by the Triforce. Three titles that, by their own merits, are positioned at the end of our list.
The Legend of Zelda ordered from worst to best how did we establish the order?
We already have several lists in which we get wet -with all the consequences- regarding the order of a certain series of games. However,The Legend of Zeldait is very exceptional. Enough so that, in addition to sharing as always the parameters with which I limit the decisions of a certain position, I want to offer an extra transparency.
We assume that consensus is almost impossible , but also that ordering by taste or grade is a mistake. In the first case, because subjectivity means resorting to the easy. To the wrong thing. But this is not about personal taste or is to tell you which installments I have enjoyed the most. For this reason, and because it is really appropriate, we have established seven parameters intended to try to score the key and common factors of all deliveries in order to make it as fair as possible.
Parameters that seek a balance between classic and recently launched deliveries and which, by the way, are:
- Replayability , or the times in which a player is willing to embark on the adventure once completed from scratch or with the purpose of discovering all the secrets.
- Impact within the saga , or the number of ideas and elements of lore that have successfully transcended to remain within the canon, regardless of their release date.
- Impact and legacy outside of the saga, or the way in which this delivery has influenced the video game industry and beyond, inspiring other developers and artists.
- Presentation and artistic display, or how the aesthetics and visual presence of the game have transcended beyond the system in which it was released.
- Richness of the narrative and plot, or the way in which the plot created for the occasion is approached. Here the possible stories, missions or subplots and the weight and quantity of the characters that we will find ahead are also taken into account.
- Reception by the players . Or how the delivery has affected the launch -or relaunch- of each title, as well as the importance of its presence compared to the rest of the games in the saga.
- Innovation and playability feel. Or the main ideas and innovations of each installment, as well as the way in which the command feeling and the game experience have been polished.
There has been the case of a tie, of course, but it is necessary to point out that except for the last three, all the titles have stood out in at least one aspect . Thus, the tiebreakers have been established taking the launch date as a reference and awarding the oldest titles with an extra. Those that could not, logically, embrace the ever-increasing expectations of gamers and the possibilities of more versatile hardware.
What has been left out of our selection? The reissues and original releases have been unified, so basically we have considered not including the spinoffs of the saga, the LCD machine, the crossovers like Cadence of Hyrule or the appearances of the characters of the saga in other sagas like Mario Kart or SoulCalibur. Of course, the infamous CD-i deliveries say present.
With that in mind, here are all the games in The Legend of Zelda saga ordered from worst to best and, a little further down, the comments section. That space in which you, dear reader, also have the floor.
Link: The Faces of Evil
- Release Date: October 10, 1993
- Systems: CD-i
The consequences of the alliance between Nintendo and Philips to develop a CD reader for the brain of the beast were, curiously, the launch of the CD-i, a multimedia system by the latter, and the rights to publish the well-known ones on it. Nintendo licenses.
Unfortunately for everyone, Link: The Faces of Evil was too fast-paced and under-elaborated to sustain the legacy of the series. To which must be added a gameplay and presentation classified as true nonsense.
Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
- Release Date: October 10, 1993
- Systems: CD-i
Released on the same day as Link: The Faces of Evil and developed by the same studio, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon shared the same errors, although it has a distinction that makes it a small rarity: it would be the first game in the series in the one that the protagonist happened to be Princess Zelda. Something that did not improve the final result at all.
Special mention to the digitized animations offered by each title as a narrative, integrating them into the game after loading pauses that go very little unnoticed today. Animations that, it must be said, have aged terribly.
Zelda’s Adventure
- Release Date: June 5, 1994
- Systems: CD-i
The third and last installment of the The Legend of Zelda saga for CD-i had more scope for development and something else was channeled in the right direction, which does not make it particularly recommendable either. We were back to being Princess Zelda and this time the action recovered the sight in Top-down that had given us so much joy before.
Once again, the problems arise from its playability, finished off with a poorly planned scenario design that totally conditions the whole. Of course, this time the animations give way to cinematics and digitized sprites.
Four Swords Adventures
- Release Date: March 18, 2004
- Systems: Game Cube
The sequel to that Four Swords mode that accompanied the adaptation of A Link to the Past for the Game Boy Advance in the key of new content maintained the idea of creating a multiplayer experience in the same vein as the SNES classic through a classic mode. Of course, it also had an extra: the four-player battle.
As a curiosity, the Japanese versions offered a third experience called Navi Trackers in which players should get stamps. The Achilles heel? Reliance on multiplayer to fully exploit the idea. Of course, it was one of those games that allowed us to use the laptop as a controller.
The Adventure of Link
- Release Date: January 14, 1987
- Systems: NES, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online
The sequel to The Legend of Zelda was a step forward visually, but the incorporation of a new perspective when it came to navigating cities and dungeons or fighting did not have the expected success.
That perspective was not the only novelty that would be ruled out for the continuity of the series: Link released a level system in which the player was also given the choice of which skills to enhance.
Tri Force HeroesÂ
- Release Date: October 22, 2015
- Systems: Nintendo 3DS
The natural successor of Four Swords Adventures sacrificed one of the heroes in exchange for taking a step forward in the playable and visual, discarding the pixels and 16-bit aesthetics for something more in line with what was expected of a 3DS .
Now, although it is possible to play Tri Force Heroes without other players through a relay system, the truth is that it is palpable that it is a six-thumb experience. Enough to sacrifice essential elements of other classic titles in favor of shared puzzles.
Phantom HourglassÂ
- Release Date: June 23, 2007
- Systems: Nintendo DS
The direct continuation of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker gave us the opportunity to continue exploring its fascinating world and characters through a delivery that, perhaps not as ambitious as the original, but certainly not a minor sequel.
Of course, Nintendo was always especially inspired by the possibilities of the double screens of the so-called Touch Generations and Phantom Hourglass is the best proof of this, integrating the touch screen of the DS in the adventure.
Oracle of Seasons y Oracle of AgesÂ
- Release Date: February 27, 2001
- Systems: Game Boy Color, Virtual Console
It is neither fair nor appropriate to divide Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages in this list, especially considering that both deliveries complement each other. With the help of Capcom, Nintendo designed two adventures that, although they could be enjoyed independently, became a much greater one when put together.
They are different experiences, each with its own rhythm and characters. However, they are considered two twin proposals and it has a reason: it does not matter where we start, when completing Oracle of Seasons or Oracle of Ages we are invited to transfer our progress to the other game and, incidentally, discover new endings and challenges.
Spirit Tracks
- Release Date: December 7, 2009
- Systems: Nintendo DS
The trilogy that began with The Wind Waker and continued on Nintendo DS exchanged the inexhaustible seas for a fascinating train that served as the nexus for the shared adventure between Link and Zelda: while the cat-eyed hero plays the train driver’s apprentice of the Gods, the player will have the help of various spirits, including that of the princess herself.
To date, Spirit Tracks is the pinnacle of the timeline in which the hero of time defeats Ganon, maintaining the exclusive touchscreen functions inherited from Phantom Hourglass, establishing himself as one of the best ambassadors of the so-called Touch Generations.
Majora’s Mask
- Release Date: April 27, 2000
- Systems: N64, Virtual Console, 3DS
: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, the misunderstood myth
Nintendo faced a ballot after Ocarina of Time : how to overcome the impact of a game that quickly became an instant classic? To everyone’s surprise, it went off on a tangent, giving it a very special and much darker direct sequel.
In Majora’s Mask Link you have three days to prevent the Moon from falling and destroying Hyrule. Of course, we will have two added advantages: on the one hand, we can transform ourselves using masks. On the other, and thanks to the ocarina from the previous installment, we will be able to go back in time and overcome the puzzles and challenges to avoid catastrophe.
A Link Between WorldsÂ
- Release Date: November 22, 2013
- Systems: Nintendo 3DS
: ‘The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds’: Analysis
It would take more than two decades for the release of A Link to the Pas t for Nintendo to decide to give it a direct sequel, albeit with a nuance: A Link Between Worlds takes place several generations after the SNES game and our protagonist is a young man. blacksmith apprentice. One blessed with the power of the triforce.
Ahead, the mission to save the Seven Sages. A task that will allow you to discover your true legacy, new skills such as being able to become a painting and take advantage of three-dimensional environments. Especially convenient when moving between Hyrule and the mysteriously familiar Lorule kingdom.
The Minish Cap
- Release Date: January 10, 2004
- Systems: Game Boy Advance
After the formidable Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages , Nintendo would once again entrust Capcom with the return of Link to its family of laptops. The Minish Cap radiated the charm of the classic SNES games and was everything any A Link to the Past fan could hope for, making up for its tight length with mini-games and activities to get lost in.
Of course, the maximum claim of this installment was the new ability of our hero: when crossing the portal to the universe of the minish we would see how Link is reduced to the size of a thimble, discovering a whole mini-world full of charm and adventure.
The Legend of Zelda
- Release Date: February 14, 1986
- Systems: NES, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online
The title that started the saga on the NES shares with Super Mario Bros. the fact that its sprites and settings, despite being drastically out of date, have transcended the icon level. And no wonder: everything that made The Legend of Zelda great is present in the first installment: exploration, action, dungeons, puzzles and real challenges.
In fact, it should be noted that, unlike other similar games, The Legend of Zelda had an extra incentive for the player: the game included a second mission that could only be activated by completing the main mission. An extra replayability that rounded off a title that quickly made history.
Skyward SwordÂ
- Release Date: November 20, 2011
- Systems: Wii
: ‘The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’. Analysis
Every legend has its origin, and that of Princess Zelda takes us back to the floating islands of Altárea and Celéstea. The title that chronologically begins the saga presents us with a world in which humans rule the heavens and evil creatures rule the earth. And between the two, a hero on a desperate rescue mission.
Skyward Sword is one of the most beautiful installments ever created, but also a tribute to the legacy of the saga: the duality of worlds, technical and playable ambition, the spirit of discovery and adventure and the fact of gradually exposing ourselves to Enemy forces as overwhelming as they are fascinating.
Link’s Awakening / Link’s Awakening DX
- Release Date: June 6, 1993
- Systems: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Virtual Console
The first game in The Legend of Zelda series designed expressly for a portable system had a very special charm. In fact, despite her name, Princess Zelda would not appear in Link’s island adventure. Which was not an impediment for Mario and Yoshi to have a little special appearance.
In 1998 Nintendo reissued the game for the Game Boy Color through a Deluxe Edition, which not only added a touch of color to the game, but also added some extra puzzles and even an exclusive dungeon. Link’s Awakening came in a tiny cartridge, not as small as the Switch ones, but inside it was one of the best adventures of the saga.
Twilight PrincessÂ
Release Date: December 2, 2006
Sistemas: GameCube, Wii y Wii U
: Analysis of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. Without Wiimote you will like it more
The Legend of Zelda saga said goodbye to the GameCube and debuted on Wii with the first transitional installment: Twilight Princess . A Solomonic decision that we would see again with Breath of the Wild and that, in the same movement, rewarded the most loyal fans and the Early Adopters of its systems with a real gem.
Twilight Princess is the darkest and most mature adventure of the hero of Hyrule in terms of plot and setting, standing out for its more ambitious designs. Of course, in the playable it was everything that could be expected from a Zelda game: pure adventure with a touch of mystery that ended up giving the set its own identity.
The Wind Waker
- Release Date: December 13, 2002
- Systems: GameCube, Wii U
: ‘The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD’: analysis
More than one fan of the saga was shocked when Nintendo introduced the look in which Link debuted on the GameCube. We had gone from the tremendous deliveries of N64 to an adventure that seemed destined for the smallest of the house. Fortunately, you don’t have to judge a game by its artwork.
That small and cat-eyed hero starred in one of the most fascinating installments of the saga, taking a giant leap in the adventurous aspect by taking us on a journey through a colossal sea full of exotic and challenging islands. A true breath of fresh air to the saga that -in addition- it sat down wonderfully.
A Link to the Past
- Release Date: November 21, 1991
- Systems: SNES, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Console
The third game in The Legend of Zelda saga continues to be one of the most influential on the current scene, being the favorite inspiration of countless developers – hitting the indies especially well – as well as one of the jewels in the crown of the SNES. The secret? Return to the original game system and make us discover in the same experience two worlds full of life, adventures and challenges.
A Link to the Past may not stand out visually, it was even modest in front of the enormous sprites of the Brain of the Beast, but its gameplay is as captivating as it is timeless. Especially when it would be slightly expanded through its adaptation for the Game Boy Advance through the multiplayer content Four Swords .
Breath of the Wild
- Release Date: March 3, 2017
- Systems: Wii U, Nintendo Switch
: Analysis of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo’s new masterpiece
The finishing touch of Wii U was also the maximum claim to be made with a Nintendo Switch outlet. The return of Link after Skyward Sword was made to beg more than desired, but it put before us an inexhaustible Hyrule, capable of satisfying the most daring with challenges and adventures. A true masterpiece.
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild did not need to offer a complex plot, the push that was given to us when leaving the Plateau of the dawn was more than enough so that the player wanted to taste every sip of the exquisite adventure that, even after hundreds of hours of gameplay, it holds surprises and continues to arouse the curiosity of those willing to continue galloping aimlessly, experiment with the Sheika stone or put anything in a saucepan.
Ocarina of Time
- Release Date: Nov 21, 1998
- Systems: N64, Virtual Console, 3DS
: ‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D’, reflections on the first reactions of the specialized press
The impact of Ocarina of Time resonates to this day. To the point where it is considered, unquestionably, as one of the best games in history. And it is not for less: for years it was considered the flagship of Nintendo, standing out in all aspects of the time with an emphasis on a cutting-edge technical section in which the saga made use of three-dimensional environments and characters. Something that he masterfully tied together through flawless gameplay.
In the book Hyrule Historia, Nintendo itself recognizes that Ocarina of Time is the game that made The Legend of Zelda world famous and elements such as its Water Temple or its OST, one of the most memorable ever written, are part of the popular culture on its own merits. Not to mention the feeling of riding through Hyrule on Epona’s back.
The story of the Hero of Time was not only the greatest shock of the entire saga, it is also one of the greatest genres that the video game industry has given. An experience in which, although we will have to move between the present and the future, it is exquisitely timeless. Enough so that we can consider it the best exponent of a cult saga.
