Before I do that though, I'll just mention my history with the franchise. I have been playing videogames pretty much all my life, as long as I can remember, and my first exposure to Zelda was, I think, around 7 years old with a demo of Ocarina of Time in Walmart or someplace like it. I just could not figure out what to do in that short amount of time, nothing made sense and so I wrote it off as nothing I'd ever want to play again. I believe a few years after I recieved one of the Oracle games as a Christmas gift and, like a true moron, never opened or played it. Why bother, it was one of those Zelda games and they were awful, I just knew I wasn't going to like it. To this day I still haven't played either of them, though that has been a combination of apathy and just not having any way to play them for a long while.
Around 2003 or so in a Blockbuster (remember those?) I was looking for games to rent and I saw the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and it wasn't the first time I had seen it. I just knew I wasn't interested in Zelda before then, but I guess a combination of nothing else I wanted being available and some curiosity about what it was convinced me it was worth a rental. I got it, took it home, and I don't really know when it hit me that I was playing an amazing game. I can only remember I very quickly owned it (and the strategy guide because I got stuck at Gohma and had no idea what I was meant to do) and thus my love affair with the series began. I forget what order it was but I played Minish Cap and Twilight Princess after, tried playing Ocarina of Time a few times without getting interested, played the two DS games, Skyward Sword and Link Between Worlds as they came out. I replayed some of them a lot, and barely touched others, but it's only been in recent times that I traveled backward to experience the older titles. I'll probably be showing some bias in this list but that's just an explanation of how I went through this series.
One final note, I will not be ranking or talking about Adventure of Link, the Oracle Games, Four Swords or Triforce Heroes as I have not played them and it would be unfair to judge them. I haven't played them because I don't think I'd particularly like them but still, being fair here. Also, and it probably goes without saying, I'm not discussing the CDI games or the Tingle games or Super Smash Bros or Hyrule Warriors (though I do love SSB and HW) because they aren't main series Zelda games. I will be ranking this list from least to best liked, so things will get more positive as I go, but I will mention things I liked and disliked about each entry. So without further ado, my rankings for the Zelda games.
Spirit Tracks
Synopsis: Link and Zelda's spirit must work together using trains and possession to rescue Zelda's body from a madman seeking to take over Hyrule (or something like that).
I haven't actually played this game since the year it came out and I first got it, but I remember being unimpressed. While I appreciate Nintendo's attempts to mix up the formula, the entire train concept was not executed well, and what started as a novelty ended as a great irritation. Maneuvering the train could be such a chore that what should have been an enjoyable, if involved, experience was made frustrating by enemies and traps on the tracks. I also remember the instrument, some kind of pipe, being almost impossible to perform correctly and the ending's use of it being nigh on impossible for me. On the other hand, I really enjoyed Princess Zelda's active involvement in the game play, as she is your companion during the adventure and provides the usual role of giving information and such. She can also possess phantoms, suits of armor that normally are one hit kill machines, which makes her somewhat playable in this installment. I'm totally ready for a game that lets you take full control of Zelda, she can be a dual protagonist with Link. Anyway, while it's not one of the worst games I've ever played, I can't say I enjoyed Spirit Tracks too much, one of the only Zelda games I had for years and never felt the urge to revisit.
Link's Awakening DX
Synopsis: After a fierce storm shipwrecks him on a mysterious island, Link must drive the evil nightmares out of the the dream of the mighty Wind Fish.
I feel somewhat unfair about placing this one so low because my biggest problem with it is more due to the limitation of the hardware it was on rather than the core game play. in Link's Awakening there are only two buttons for items meaning that you constantly have to switch out your inventory. This gets old quickly. It just felt like such a limitation and annoyance that it drained a lot of the fun I was having leaving me quite apathetic to it as a whole. Aside from that it's just kind of a standard Zelda adventure, which isn't really its fault when it was the fourth one ever made. I do like how the setting and goal is different, and for what it is it's fine. Just nothing I ever want to go back to, which is a shame, because there are many people who love this game and I wish I could feel the same enthusiasm for it.
The Legend of Zelda
Synopsis: Link must reunite the pieces of the Triforce and defeat the evil Ganon to save Princess Zelda.
Similarly to Link's Awakening, this game feels basic. I don't wish to undermine its value to the series and gaming in general, for its time it's an amazing game, full of secrets and adventure. The problem is I came to it after playing many other games, not just Zelda. I have a hard time finding anything else to really say about it, honestly. It's the first Zelda, it set up everything that came after but that does mean it's sort of the vanilla version, basic old vanilla. Good, but not very exciting unless you've never had it or anything like it before. I played it once and I don't see that happening again, but I'd recommend seeking it out just to have the experience.
Phantom Hourglass
Synopsis: With the events of The Wind Waker behind them, Link and Tetra journey out to new lands on her pirate ship only for Tetra to get kidnapped, leaving Link to join with a rogue named Linebeck to save her.
I feel like I might get hate for putting this one above the original LoZ but I think it's a more interesting game. The controls are a bit awkward but they're unique to the DS and I never really had a problem with them, neither moving Link and the ship around or combat. Like Spirit Tracks after it though, it has some big problems. The graphics aren't able to do the Wind Waker aesthetic justice so it looks lackluster, ST had the same problem. The worst part about this game, though, is the Temple of the Ocean King, which is a dungeon that Link has to go back to multiple times and progress a little further and further as the game goes on. ST had a similar mechanic, but it at least improved on it because in this game, you have to go back through the floors over and over again and things get reset between visits. It's not a matter of walking through unlocked doors, you have to do the same thing over and over again. Sure, you get some shortcuts thanks to new gear that lets you bypass some things, but it does little to eliminate the tedium. ST had different section become available over time and didn't require repeating the same area, which worked better but obviously didn't save that game. In particular, there was one puzzle which required drawing the complete Triforce in one stroke, no lifting the stylus, which similarly to the pipe issue in ST left me infuriated as it seemed impossible to actually accomplish. Like the previously listed games, this was another that I never felt any desire to revisit due to the annoyances.
A Link to the Past
Synopsis: When his Uncle rushes to Hyrule Castle forbidding Link to follow him, Link does so anyway and gets tasked with saving seven sages to seal Ganon away and save Zelda.
Once again, this a game I came late to, after playing a Link Between Worlds even, so my opinion was that it was a functional but basic version of games I'd played before. Perhaps if I had played this as a kid I would hold it in higher esteem, but I just can't give it a higher place than this despite codifying the Zelda series as we know it. Mechanically it all works well, and it definitely feels like Zelda, perhaps more so than any of those I've mentioned before. It's just that the things I like about it have been done better in other games, so I'm left feeling just apathetic toward it. It's good, I could see myself playing it again sometime down the line, but it wouldn't be my first choice to replay.
Skyward Sword
Synopsis: Link, a knight in training, is thrust into adventure when his best friend Zelda is whisked away by a tornado and the spirit of the Goddess Swords guides him to his destiny as decreed by the Goddess Hylia.
I might not be forgiven for putting this above Link to the Past, but it's just a more interesting game, if not a better one. The motion controls, while some people apparently had a difficult time with, worked well for me and I had a blast playing it. The 1:1 control for the sword has never made the sword play more intricate and intense. I'm not saying they should have kept it for every subsequent Zelda, but it was quite enjoyable to me. I also really enjoyed some of the dungeons, the two in Faron and two in Lanayru both kept me engaged the whole way through. The story is one of the best in the series as well, with Link and Zelda's relationship coming off as both realistic and incredibly heartwarming, perhaps for the first time feeling like there was a definite connection between them. Groose's character arc was superb and I really enjoyed Impa's role in the story, not to mention one of the greatest villains in the series, Girahim. His battles really push your skill with the sword to the limit, and his personality just captures your attention.
There are quite a few problems with the game though. The overworld is pretty but empty, and while I enjoyed flying the Loftwing it felt limited, you'd think a giant bird could do a little more than just fly around the sky. The Imprisoned wears out its welcome, battling it at least three times is more than enough especially for how annoying it is. It was never really hard but at the same time it wasn't fun or engaging enough for three battles, maybe one toward the begginning of the game and one toward the middle or end. The Mogma Mitts, or whatever they're called in this game, were my least favorite parts because of how slow it was and it ground the pacing to a halt in the underground sections. I should also mention the silent realm sections, which were somewhat annoying but I never felt was too difficult to get through. I don't want to see them return though.
In the end, Skyward Sword has a lot going for it but the execution of several concepts just went in the wrong direction. While I can see why it's got a low opinion from a lot of people, I still like it a fair deal and I've played it through twice now.
The Minish Cap
Synopsis: An evil wizard named Vaati uses a powerful stolen hat to turn Zelda into a statue and take over Hyrule, leaving Link and his hat companion Ezlo to stop him.
Possibly the second Zelda I ever played and the first 2D top down one, I have a lot of fondness for the Minish Cap. I love the way everything looks when shrunken and the opportunities that provides, allowing you to look at the map in a different way from other titles. It plays like Link to the Past in a lot of ways but feels more unique, which is why I place it higher on the list. That said, it's a basic top down 2D Zelda and while it's a lot of fun, it just doesn't offer as much as some of the other titles do in the way of story and characters. Fusing kin stones is also kind of lame, since it seems like an extra step to just find chests in the over world, not to mention the shells to collect figurines is pointless and also frustrating to all the completionists out there. I've played it quite a lot since it's a shorter title but it is lacking in some regards so it's about the middle of my list.
A Link Between Worlds
Synopsis: The sages have been turned into paintings, and it's up to Link to adventure through Hyrule and Lorule to save them and stop the evil Yuga.
This game is better than A Link to the Past. In every way, hands down, no contest. It controls better, the quests and more interesting and the dungeons have been reworked to be more engaging to tackle this time around. Yes, it's practically a remake but they did it right, improving upon everything, which isn't a surprise. There's about two decades separating the two games, if they didn't improve on it by a wide margin it would have been an utter disappointment. I can't think of a single thing that I liked better in LttP, I just have a blast with LBW. To be fair, I guess I can see where fans of the former are coming from, but I just don't have nostalgia for it. Objectively, LBW is a better game. The only reason it's so low down the list is because I just prefer the 3D Zelda's, because to me this is as good as the 2D games get.
Ocarina of Time
Synopsis: A young boy is tasked with meeting the princess of destiny and helping her stop an evil man named Ganondorf, and the adventure will take that boy all over Hyrule and two different times.
I mentioned at the top of the post that I played this when I was around 7 and tried other times to play it. Indeed, I've purchased it at least 3 times now, once a used N64 cartridge, one on the Wii Virtual console and finally on the 3DS. The N64 graphics ultimately turned me off from playing it after I'd played other Zelda's, I just couldn't get into the experience, especially after Wind Waker and Twilight Princess looked so good. I'd pretty much decided I was never going to like this game and just had to accept that one of gaming's landmarks was not for me. Then I heard the 3DS port had updated the graphics, and I rented it (five years after it had been out). It seems silly to say it, but the N64 graphics were truly what I could not get past. Once I got into the 3DS version I finally saw what other people had seen nearly two decades ago.
I don't really know what I could possibly say positively about this game that other people haven't said. If LttP codified the series as a whole, OoT codified the 3D games, paving the way for how Zelda could use the third dimension and shaping some of my favorite games. The reason it is low is because I do lack nostalgia for it and not everything has aged well even with updated graphics. It feels like an early 3D Zelda, not as refined as some of its later titles and lacking a particularly unique identity. It's a great game that even in the short time I've had with it I've played more than once, and I'm glad I finally got to experience it.
Now comes the hard part. I have four titles left and my preference for each of them revolves regularly, each of them are so unique and engaging in different ways that I'm going to cheapen out and place them on the same level. I can't rank them higher or lower than each other, so just in chronological order:
Majora's Mask
Synopsis: The hero of time, a child once more, gets roped into saving the land of Termina from the falling moon by rescuing four guardians in three days, constantly traveling through time to accomplish this goal and reliving the cycle.
I came to Majora's Mask after OoT, with a similar issue with N64 graphics but with the added baggage of the game's reputation of being one of the harder Zelda's. It was quite a surprise when I played it to find such a rich and fascinating world, full of colorful characters and environments but all tinged with fear and sadness. MM is not a light-hearted game, instead full of darkness and creepy elements, but that's part of what I like about it. Everyone's feeling afraid and upset about the moon, but Link gets to go and help them all, give them something to smile about as the end approaches. Sure, it gets reset all the time and you can't possibly help everyone in the same cycle, but to me that doesn't make things meaningless. The masks and items you get kind of represent that, just because it was undone doesn't mean there's not a reason to do it.
I think others have differing opinions from mine but that's just how I see it. Mechanically it is similar to OoT and has some of the same issues, but I just find the story, world and characters so wonderful that I quickly counted it among my favorite Zeldas, and certainly one of the best 3DS games. It's one I know I'm going to revisit over and over, if not in full playthroughs then at least redoing quests in my completed game. It's a challenge, but if you are hesitant about playing it like I was, it's worth at least trying to see if you like it.
The Wind Waker
Synopsis: When his sister is kidnapped by a monstrous bird, Link sets sail to rescue her from the Forsaken Fortress and its master and in the process acquires the ability to harness the wind and save Hyrule.
Like I mentioned at the top, The Wind Waker was the first Zelda I played and enjoyed. I've played it so much over the years that I know it very well, being one of the few I can now play without ever consulting a guide. Yes, it's easier than most of the other games, but it's a milestone for me. In terms of identity, you can't really find one with a stronger one than WW. The art style was so far from the norm of the previous games that it not only inspired the aesthetic of Minish Cap as well as its sequels Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, but Toon Link even became his own character in Super Smash Brothers. Link has never been so expressive, for the first time it feels like Link isn't just the player's POV but his own person, who had his own life, thoughts and feelings. The stylized look received a lot of criticism at the time of release and even to this day, but it never put me off and it definitely holds up, as the HD remake can attest.
I prefer said remake because of how streamlined it makes the game, with the sail that allows you to go fast without having to change the direction of the wind every couple of minutes as well as the more straightforward Triforce quest, eliminating some of the salvaging. I can't imagine going back to the gamecube version of the game as a result, it was great then but it became better on the Wii U (I even got the Zelda themed Wii U that came with the game).
There are some issues though. The Triforce quest in general, while better on the Wii U is just busy work that replaced a couple of dungeons that didn't have time to be completed. The overworld is a little big for what is in it, a scaled down map would perhaps have been a better design choice, though this is remedied somewhat by the swift sail. The stealth sections at the beginning of the game are also not particularly welcome, since stealth in non-stealth games are rarely done well. They used to cause me a lot of trouble when I was younger, although I can't remember being tripped up by them recently.
I'll briefly mention the characters, which are great. The King of Red Lions is your boat companion, and quite likable. The rito tribe in general is one of my favorite groups of people in a video game, well designed bird people who in general are all really nice and appealing to look at, and Medli in particular is sweet and endearing, especially as you go through a scary dungeon with her. Of course, Tetra is probably the best incarnation of Zelda ever, even surpassing Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild just by sheer force of personality. She tries to assault Ganondorf for crying out loud! It's a shame that once she's revealed as Princess Zelda all her agency and charisma goes with her until the final battle. This is also perhaps the most complex and compelling incarnation of Ganondorf, who feels sympathetic at times while retaining a high threat level. I really like the huge spirit-like guardians of the world; Valoo, the Deku Tree, Jabun, the Wind Frog gods, the Helmaroc King battle, and so much more. There's so much to like about this game, I highly recommend the Wii U HD remake. I've played it countless times and will most likely play it more.
Twilight Princess
Synopsis: His friends are kidnapped, his world is being covered in Twilight and he can become a wolf. With the help of a new ally, the Hero of Twilight must restore light to the land and stop the machinations of Twilight King Zant.
This was the first Zelda I played that felt like an actual Zelda game. This was my third (or second), but my point being that to me, what Zelda was wasn't necessarily Wind Waker or Minish cap, which are both great games. Minish Cap was a small 2D game and Wind Waker took place on an ocean above what used to be Hyrule. Once I played this, neither of them really felt the same. Twilight Princess is the first Zelda to really feel like it was a Legend of Zelda, at least that I played. It had everything that I thought Zelda was supposed to have. And I still adore it. In my eyes, this is what all other Zelda's get compared to. I think it's better than Ocarina of Time, doing pretty much everything it did but more refined and bigger. It feels like a huge adventure, and while maybe it doesn't have as memorable a cast of characters as some other games, the characters we get to know well really shine.
I own three versions of this game; the Gamecube version, the Wii version and the new Wii U HD remake. Of the three, I've played the Wii version the most. I really enjoyed the waggle controls, it's exactly what you want to do with a wii-mote, even if it's not as sophisticated as Skyward Sword. There was nothing I found annoying about this game, except perhaps the long prologue, and every time I play it I have a grand time. While a unique story and good characters very often help elevate a game, a well constructed control scheme and interesting places to use them in are the core of a game and Twilight Princess cemented how Zelda games of this nature should be done. I'm all for experimentation, but if you're not going to go redesigning the way things work like Breath of the Wild did, then you need to pretty much do this again when it comes to gameplay. I enjoyed every single dungeon, which I'm not sure I can say for any other game in the series, they're just so well designed.
I'm just going to say here, this is the Midna section. Lots of gushing involved. Midna is the best character in the Zelda franchise by far. Most companions don't really go through an arc, and a few are annoying, but Midna was captivating. She starts off very enigmatic but likeable and she grows on you up until the middle of the game where you just straight out adore her. Or, at least I did. She's a great example of how one character can redeem a cast of less interesting characters as long as they're done right. That's not to say that the other characters in this game are bad, they just don't get much time to shine and the focus isn't on them much. But Midna is just so cool, her design is appealing and her voice is pure sugar in my ears. Her twili form is excellent as well, though you only see her like that for a brief time. I could just go on and on about how much I like Midna, but I'd be repeating myself.
The aesthetic of this game hasn't aged quite as well as Wind Waker's did, and some of the characters look downright ugly, especially on the HD remake, but those are few and most look really great, like Midna, Link, Zelda, Ilia, Zant, the sages, etc. The world looks beautiful, but it's muted in a way not even Majora's Mask was, both being dark but in different ways. The enemy designs are also among the best in the series, I'm particularly fond of the Lizalfos in this game. If I had to give a criticism, I guess I'd say that Zelda has been done better as a character, and they could have used some of the items better or cut back on some of them. I'd recommend any version of the game you can get, you could probably find the Wii version somewhere but the Wii U version is probably the easiest to get, it's got some improvements but not enough that the other versions are particularly inferior. It's one I've played many times and of course I will again someday.
Breath of the Wild
Synopsis: 100 years spent healing in a futuristic bath, Link emerges to Hyrule ravaged by Calamity Ganon, only just held back by Zelda. He must find and free the four Divine Beasts of Ganon's control and confront the evil force to save his charge.
The game play of this game is comparable to the aesthetic of Wind Waker, in that it's completely different from anything that came before it. Very little is the same as the previous 3D titles. Link can jump and climb now, he doesn't have his tunic for most of the game, his weapons constantly break and there are no real dungeons! Breath of the Wild actually has more in common with other open world games like Far Cry, Assassin's Creed and such than it does with it's other Zelda titles, but that isn't a bad thing by any means.
The open nature of BotW means that you get to play your way at your own pace. You can literally leave the starting area and go straight to confronting Ganon if you so chose. You'll probably lose, but it's an option. You can just explore if you wish, find towers or shrines, make a beeline for the main quests, do side quests, or whatever you want. It's up to you to decide what you want to pursue at any given time, you can do some things, everything or nothing. A few divine beasts, one, all, none. Some shrines, most shrines, all shrines, no shrines. And so on. The Shrines are mini-dungeons that completing grants you a spirit orb which you trade for increased hearts or stamina, so no heart pieces in this game. You can also find Koroks who give you seeds, and collecting them increases your inventory for weapons, shields, bows and such.
The Divine Beasts are ancient machines that look like giant animals that helped fend off Calamity Ganon 10,000 years ago, but 100 years ago were corrupted and start the game threatening four different peoples; the Zora, Gorons, Rito and Gerudo. You get their help to enter the beasts, which serve as the dungeon like areas for the game, and purge the Ganon blights from within. That puts to rest the spirit of their pilot who take back control to assist you in fighting Ganon.
Honestly, there's so much to talk about with this game and it's so new that all I'm sure about is that I really enjoyed it, but since it's so different from the other titles I just can't make a decision on where it ranks so it's in limbo with the other three at the top of my list. Suffice it to say, I'm very glad I got to play this and at some point I'm going to do a replay. Maybe in a couple of years though, it's a long journey and I'm not quite ready to go on it again. I possibly might come back to write more about this game, it's just too huge to cover here in depth. I highly recommend it, either on Wii U or Switch, whichever you have.
So that's my rankings for the Zelda games. Have an opinion? Share it below in the comments. Thanks to Cane and Rinse for inspiring me to talk about Zelda, even if it was much more shallow than their discussions. Check out their podcasts, both Cane and Rinse (where they discuss a specific game's elements for two hours) and Sound of Play (where they play and discuss pieces of video game music, including an episode dedicated to the Legend of Zelda music). Click here for their website: https://caneandrinse.com/
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed.
-Subtle
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