Favorite Zelda Games Ranked

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For anyone who cares to read…
We haven’t done one of these in a while. 

Back in March I learned I would likely be working from home for a while with intermittent furloughs (still am working from home until end of August it seems).  So, I figured I might as well take this opportunity to replay all of the Legend of Zelda titles, in order of release.  It’s been a long time since I played a lot of these, and it was kind of cool to watch the evolution of my second favorite game series.  I started right about mid March and played them all in a row, taking breaks here and there to play some new titles that dropped during this period, and I just finished Breath of the Wild the other night.
I got to thinking about my favorites, and figured I might as well rank the series and give my thoughts on each game.  I know a lot of us had done this on here a long time ago, but as I replayed them, I found my feelings had changed for some of these games.  And playing them all in a row helped me with some perspective as well. 

For the record, I used cheats for a lot of these.  Don’t judge.  I have beaten some of these so many times, I just felt like replaying the dungeons without the hassle.  So that definitely helped with completion time since I could just roll through dungeons like a beast.  And I only included main series entries, so no spinoffs or unofficial games such as Hyrule Warriors, Cadence of Hyrule, CDi games, Satellaview games, etc. 
Again, this is a list that orders them how much I like them, not their quality.  So, your list is likely to differ.

18. Four Swords
This is the Zelda game that I played the least.  As someone who actively avoids multiplayer games and doesn’t have a group of local friends to link with in order to play this, my experiences with 4S were limited.  It isn’t bad, per se, just kind of niche.  I did play through Four Swords Anniversary edition, which has a single player mode, but it’s pretty lacking.  You can tell this game was designed for multiple players and playing by yourself only provides a minimal experience.

17. Tri Force Heroes
Again, not big on the multiplayer aspect.  The game is fine, but honestly I was kind of disappointed.  The puzzles weren’t tricky, just cumbersome, with a single player controlling 4 different links.  This is another title you can tell was made to be played with multiple people.  Instead of exploration and adventure, the game is heavily focused on multiple people working together to solve lots and lots of puzzles.  Not really my thing.  This gets a nod above Four Swords since this is a complete, full length game.

16. Phantom Hourglass
I want to like the DS games.  Really, I do.  But I cannot get over the controls.  Using the stylus to move is just awful.  I’m left-handed, and even using left handed style controls, the game feels unnatural.  Using the Stylus to move, access items, use the menu, boomerang, etc. just became too much for me.  As the first DS Zelda game I understand why they went heavy with the stylus, that was the gimmick.  Still, I would have liked the option to modify controls.  I was also not a big fan of the cartography aspect of the game.  Playing with Action Replay allowed me to get through the game with infinite life so I didn’t die when I (repeatedly) pressed a wrong button during battles expecting typical video game controls, but I wish I didn’t have to use cheats just to ENJOY the game.

15. Spirit Tracks
The Hero of Trains…oh boy.
Same s-, different game.  The reason this is higher than Phantom Hourglass is that I was getting a little used to the control scheme after PH, but also the train mechanics work way better than some of PH controls.  This really is an improvement over PH in both gameplay and story, but it still has most of the same problems as the other.  And once again, to get through this I needed to cheat in order to just enjoy the game.  I shouldn’t need to do that.  Give us options!  Here’s hoping these games get remade for the Switch with some proper d-pad goodness. 

14. Four Swords Adventures
This is a better example of a multiplayer focused game done right.  While clearly designed for four players, the single player campaign is sound and fun.  Its puzzles are clever and enjoyable to figure out, and the combat works a lot better than the other multiplayer games.  Yes, I’m sure 4SA is better with a bunch of GBAs hooked up to a Gamecube and 4 people controlling each Link, but unlike the original Four Swords and Tri Force Heroes, this game is still a solid and enjoyable single player experience. 
The graphics are a lot closer to a GBA than Gamecube, but there’s a pseudo 16bit charm to be had here.  I’m a fan of the character Vaati and feel like he’s a solid antagonist.  And the end fight with Ganon is pretty fun, too.
At the end of the day, though, this is still a multiplayer focused game and gets outshined by the single player epics in the series. 

13. Skyward Sword
Motion controls.  Why did it have to be motion controls!? 
This game would absolutely be higher if it had a traditional control scheme.  I absolutely hate any game with mandatory motion controls, and swinging the sword became so tedious and boring that this was a slog to get through in 2020.  Granted, the controls are light years beyond the awful Twilight Princess controls, this game took way longer than it should have because of the controls.  Everything revolves around the Skyward Strike and mastering it quickly.  I like to lounge while playing games, and it got annoying having to constantly sit up every time I needed to use it to progress.
Aside from controls, I like Skyward Sword.  It has very bright and colorful imagery, almost in direct contrast to Twilight.  Even the dark sections are pretty bright.  The story is pretty good with an interesting take on the creation of Hyrule.  I wouldn’t say I love it, but it does its job.  And it was definitely refreshing to have an antagonist that wasn’t Ganon. 
Sadly, I don’t have too much more to say about this one.  Everything from the puzzles, to the Goddess Sword all revolved around the controls, so I just never really got into it as much as I wanted to. 

12. Oracle of Ages/ Oracle of Seasons
The Oracle titles, surprisingly, do very little for me.  I didn’t have a Gameboy Color when it was current, so I never got a chance to play these until Gameboy Advance around 2003ish.  I’ve played Ages to death (the blue one) since that’s the one I had.  Didn’t play Seasons until about 3 or 4 years later.  They’re basically the same game with different layouts and different bosses.  Linking your progress allowed you to fight Ganon at the end, which was actually a nice touch. 
I did like playing them back to back, though.  My first time doing that.  It’s like one, big long adventure.  Veran and Onox feel like mini bosses on your way to Ganon.  It felt a lot more complete this time around.  That aside, these games are fun, but just don’t stand out to me.  I feel bad being so indifferent on a Zelda game, let alone two of them, but to me these games are the equivalent of Iron Man 2 or the fifth Harry Potter book.  They’re not bad, not great, just fine. 

11. Minish Cap
Minish Cap was a game I didn’t play until a while after release.  I’m sorry I waited, because when I finally got around to playing it, I remember really enjoying it.  Playing it again a few months ago, my enthusiasm cooled a little bit.  It’s definitely a really fun experience.  I appreciated the addition of new tools like the claws to mix things up a little, and I enjoyed the story.  Vaati is a villain I have always seemed to like in these games.  The talking hat weirded me out a bit, but hey, listen, it could have been worse.  This time around, the shrinking didn’t do as much for me as it used to.  I remember thinking that was a really cool game mechanic that was fun and interesting.  After my last playthrough I think other mechanics have come along that I like better and so this just feels old hat. 

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10. Majora’s Mask
This is the only game on this list where I will only play the remake and probably avoid the original for the rest of time.  This game is good.  Damn good.  But I just did not like playing this on the N64.  I’m not a fan of the N64 in general, but I just remember not enjoying my time with it.  But when the 3DS remake came out I gave this another shot, and I was very pleased.  That version fixed all the gameplay mechanics and controls that bugged me about the original.  I finally played through the game and felt like actually completing everything.
I originally thought this was a sequel to Ocarina.  And it is, kind of.  Yes, it takes place after Ocarina, but it’s contained in it’s own little world.  A certain internet game theory is that Link dies in the beginning and this is his version of purgatory.  Not sure if I buy that, but MM is definitely dark and depressing with a lot of allusions to death.  So maybe there’s merit.
What originally took me some getting used to about this game, and something I still don’t care for, is the 3 day mechanic.  Constantly rewinding and restarting time, losing all progress and items, etc.  It takes some getting used to to manage quests, items, money, etc.  Story wise, as I said before, the game is dark.  And that’s the selling point.  This isn’t fun open Hyrule field “let’s go save the world!”…this is “we’re all gonna die! I need to find bunch of masks now or that creepy moon is gonna eat us!”  That sense of urgency is what separates this from other titles.  You have to be mindful of the time at all times, and know that you might get interrupted in the middle of a dungeon and have to start over if you aren’t careful.  While I wouldn’t want all Zelda games to be like this, I enjoy this lone entry to bring some urgency into saving the world.   

9.   Wind Waker
Man, I want to hate this game.  I hated it for so long, I would want to spit every time I said its name.
Back in 2003 I was really looking forward to the next epic Zelda.  After Ocarina I couldn’t wait for the next big title to see where things would go.  But man, was I disappointed.  I hated this game.  Just hated it. I was expecting a real sequel to Ocarina, a good follow up, something that expanded upon the world I had already saved.  I eventually got that with Twilight Princess, but I was pretty heartbroken at the time.   I felt so let down when it came out, and for lots of different reasons.  I won’t let this devolve into a rant about WW,  but suffice to say, there are a few key issues I have with this game.  Yet, as the years have passed, I think I was the victim of my own expectations.  My disappointment in 2003 has tainted my opinion and blinded me to the parts of Windwaker that are good, or even great. 
I still have a lot of gripes with the game, I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy the sailing.  It just irritates me to no end, and I do not find exploration fun.  Not enjoying exploration in a Zelda game is like not enjoying your favorite food.  The HD remake did improve this, but I still hated playing it.  I’ve never been a fan of cell shaded games, but I don’t fault WW for it.  It’s gorgeous. The art also perfectly captures the feeling and atmosphere the game was going for.  And the combat system is surprisingly good.  They really improved on Ocarina’s Z target system and ran with it.  I love the stealth portion and honestly wish there were more of those sections in the game.  As for story, I do not like Hyrule being flooded and hate when the king wishes for it to remain flooded. But the rest of the plot, how Ganondorf returned but there was no hero of time to stop him, is really well done.  The final fight offered the first real sword fight with Ganondorf, and the Gerudo King getting stabbed in the face was also a pretty epic way to end a surprisingly cutesy game. 
 I enjoyed the game now more than I ever have.  I doubt I’ll touch it for years to come, but I’m glad I played through these again so I could finally feel some respect for WW. 
 
8.   Link’s Awakening
Link’s Awakening has really improved in my eyes thanks to the Switch remake.  This was always a fun little pick up and play title when I was a kid, but I never took it very seriously.  The Mario characters threw me off a bit, the game was very quirky and silly, and I just didn’t find much replay value in a Gameboy title.  Then the remake came out.  Since playing it back in September and again in May, I appreciate this game a lot more now.  The remake is more than just a fresh coat of paint.  Despite the graphical and control update, the remake kept almost all of the original charm of the story.  Being a dream (spoilers for a near 30-year-old game I guess), LA was able to get pretty creative and offer something different while still providing the traditional look and feel of a Zelda title.

7.   The Legend of Zelda
The original classic.  I really don’t know what to say about this one.  It’s amazing.  If you haven’t played it, then stop reading and go play it.  LoZ is harder to rate.  I have played it so many times over the years, and I remember the locations to every secret, temple, and item so I can breeze through this game in a few hours. 
This game invented the “Zelda style” (duh) and it was a great start to a wonderful franchise.  Other games definitely did this style better, but just because others may have done it better doesn’t mean that the original is anything to scoff at.  Overall a wonderful game and timeless classic. 

6.   Zelda II The Adventure of Link
Yes, I like this game better than the original.  I got my NES in late ‘88, and ended up getting both Zelda and Zelda II within about a year from each other.  I played the original first, and I loved it, but I wasn’t very good at it.  The secrets were fun, but I was more a fan of side scrolling action games like Contra and Mega Man.  When I finally got to AoL, it was a more enjoyable experience for 7-year-old me than the original.  A side scrolling action platformer with a variety of spells and sword techniques, coupled with improved graphics.  Despite being a side scroller, it was definitely a different experience than I was used to, mixing side scrolling with RPG elements.  I didn’t find it anywhere near as hard as others did, and actually enjoyed the level system.  I hadn’t played any real RPG yet, and Zelda II was my first taste of what would become a favorite genre of mine. 
I think what I like most about the game is the combat.  You had to get good at using a sword and shield, and learn when to duck, jump strike, use spells, etc.  The game definitely has some cheap enemies, but most of the time if you get hit it’s your own fault.  The game is based on precision controls and leveling up more so than puzzle solving and exploration, and I definitely understand why people might get turned off by that.  Hell, Miyamoto, himself, has said he doesn’t really like this game. But despite that, I still think it’s better than most.  Both original games are classics, but if I feel like plugging in one of the old gold carts, I’m likely to play this first.

5.   Breath of the Wild
The latest entry in the series, and probably the most ambitious.  This open world title is amazing.  It brough Zelda into modern gaming trends almost perfectly.  The world feels alive, and there is so much to do it can be overwhelming.  Wandering around there is always something new to do, someone to help, or area to explore.  There are multiple times I just climbed the biggest mountain I could see just because it was there.  As for the story, I think it’s second only to Link to the Past.  I know story isn’t the focal point of Zelda games, but this one does a nice job of setting up the world through flashbacks and character interactions.  I really enjoyed the side characters, from Link’s love interest Mipha to his banter with rival Revali.
The one place this game falls short for me is the dungeons, or lack there of.  Sure, the trials are fun, but the game emphasized short little excursions and puzzle solving instead of dungeons.  Maybe a nice change of pace for some, but I felt short changed.  The divine beasts were cool, and the bosses were fun, but overall I would have liked sprawling dungeons that take hours to solve, with a unique boss at the end.   I don’t love breakable weapons either, but that is a minor gripe.   
Dungeons aside, BotW is a masterpiece and one that I can very easily pick up and replay.  I am really looking forward to the sequel, more so than any Zelda game since Windwaker.

4.   A Link to the Past
I know this one is going to be higher for a lot of people.  This really is a classic.  However, I should mention that I have little nostalgia for this game.  I didn’t have a SNES growing up, I opted for the Genesis (a choice I stand by to this day) so I had to borrow a friend’s SNES to play it.  I beat it one summer, and played it from time to time again over the years, but I never owned it until much later.
Anyway, LttP is great.  But you don’t need me to tell you that.  Story wise, this is probably the best in the series.  It really does a wonderful job of sucking you in and explaining not only what’s going on, but the back story on everything from the formation of Hyrule to the rise of Ganon.  From a gameplay perspective, it is phenomenal.  It takes what the original Zelda did, that “Zelda style”, and makes it ten times better.  Intuitive controls, beautiful graphics, great music – it is the total package.  But I also feel like the “Zelda style” has been done better since.  This laid the groundwork for titles to come, but others have improved on what this game started. 

3.   Twilight Princess
Gamecube version (or HD remake) – not the Wii.  As previously stated, I absolutely hate motion controls.  Also, and this is just bias, but Link is left-handed. 
This is an example of “I just like this game more”.  Generally speaking, LttP is a better game, but I really do love Twilight Princess a lot more.  I really like the darkness of this game, both in terms of story and visuals.  This felt like the sequel to Ocarina that I wanted Wind Waker to be.  Ganon is trapped in the phantom zone, but is able to manipulate Zant and bring about his return.  The world feels like it’s ending as the twilight realm slowly engulfs Hyrule, and there’s a strong sense of dread.  Not as much as in Majora’s Mask, but the tension is definitely there.  It all ends with a sword fight between Link and Ganon that is very well done and is a personal high in the series for me.  I didn’t love the wolf transformation stuff, that felt like a gimmick, but I really love Midna as a sidekick and plot device.  She was a nice step up from Navi or Tael.   
Overall, the game felt more mature, especially at the time, and being in my 20’s I really liked the gloomier feel.  Zelda needs entries like these now and then.  The combat was solid, and I love the dungeons, this game’s Temple of Time and City in the Sky being my favorite Zelda dungeons of all time.   

2.   A Link Between Worlds
This is what I meant when I said the original Zelda formula had been done better.  LbW just feels perfect in almost every way.  The look, the controls, the enemies, the freedom to do any dungeon in any order – it’s really well-done exploration game.  I know some people gripe about renting the equipment, but I always had enough rupees to just buy whatever stuff I needed.  I usually don’t get too much into the special mechanics of a game.  The Wolf transformation, the time travel in Majora, these gimmicks never really impressed me beyond “oh that’s neat.”  But I found I really enjoyed the wall painting mechanic.  It was a lot more intuitive than I thought it would be and the 3d depth worked surprisingly well.  This is one that I love to just pick up and play from time to time.  Story is decent enough.  Honestly, a sequel to Link to the Past was never going to live up in terms of its plot, but I enjoyed the attempt made. 
I will definitely concede that LttP is a better game.  However, Link Between Worlds is a game that I had more fun with than just about any other title in the series. 

1.   Ocarina of Time
This is a game that I am actually really nostalgic for, but I feel that it also holds up really well, especially the 3DS version.  I was around 15 when Ocarina came out and it was the right time to really sit down and play it.  The graphics, the combat, the puzzles – for the time this really was as good as it got.  I really enjoyed exploring Hyrule and completing all the side quests and finding all the heart pieces.  The time travel was simple and easy to understand, and felt fun going back and forth to change history to solve puzzles.  From a story perspective, I also really liked how it followed Ganondorf’s evolution into Ganon.  The first few games set him up as this mysterious villain and it was nice to see his rise to power.  The Hero of Time has also become synonymous with the name Link.  It’s what a lot of us first think of when we hear the name.  I know this game has its flaws – *ahem* the water temple, but pound for pound I think this is the best Zelda game to date and my overall favorite in the series.


I had fun with this.  Playing 18 titles of a series back to back is a little daunting, especially when you finish a stellar one and then get into one that isn’t as great.  But it’s something I’ve thought about doing for a while and finally got the chance.  I’m glad I did it.  Maybe in another ten years I’ll replay them all in order of the Zelda timeline.  Who knows?

So… what are your favorite Zelda games? 

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OOT is my favorite all time games.

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OOT is my favorite all time games.

Amen.

I love this list idea. Here are my rankings. I am using a number of factors to rank these including but not limited to replay value, first-play experience, fond memories, bad memories, Zelda philosophy, etc. I have a preference for 3D Zeldas but enjoy both. I have a strong preference for console Zeldas over handhelds. Also note that this is not set in stone for me. I go back on forth on certain titles vs other titles.

18. Spirit Tracks
This is the most awful piece of sh** Zelda game ever made. I would rather play the CDi Zeldas again. The train mechanic is the most awful idea ever to have come out of Japan. Absolutely miserable. Ironically, I accidentally deleted my save file while doing the final boss — a poetic end to a miserable couple of days.

17. Tri-Force Heroes
I have not actually played this one yet. I am ranking it low because I don't want to play a multiplayer Zelda alone, and it won't let me simply play it in two-player.

16. Four Swords (Anniversary)
Actually a fun time if you have a friend or loved one that enjoys to play Zelda with you. It certainly feels like a spinoff — not a full Zelda.

15. Four Swords Adventures
This and Tri-Force Heroes are the only two Zelda games I haven't beaten. I am ranking this just above FSA because from what I've seen, it is an improved experience on that game.

14. Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons
I enjoyed Ages slightly more due to the Ages mechanic over the Seasons mechanic. Both of these are solid games, but they weren't extremely memorable.

13. The Minish Cap
This one has a great story and an even greater sidekick. I just found the game slightly too easy to be higher on the list.

12. A Link Between Worlds
This game felt like an uninspired copy of ALTTP. Honestly didn't enjoy it very much. The overworld is a bore. The dungeons can be good, but the picture frame mechanic seems like a gimmick that just required the rest of the game to be a lot easier.

11. Skyward Sword
It has really good dungeons, but the hand-holding and story-line suck. Motion controls are tolerable, but a controller option would really make this game fantastic.

10. Phantom Hourglass
I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed this game. I felt the stylus gimmick was well-done. I enjoyed the sort-of riddles and the drawing on the maps. I beat the Temple of the Ocean King in one fewer runs that what is normal, so I didn't find it overbearing. I think this is probably the most underrated game in the franchise. 

9. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
This is the Zelda for hardcore gamers. I loved it. I beat it without any guides or outside help, and I found it rewarding.

8. Link's Awakening
This a solid Zelda that uses the core Zelda formula. I really enjoyed it. I don't find that the Switch remake retains much of the charm though.

7. Twilight Princess
This has a great story and excellent sidekick. I would say that it is certainly fun the first time, but I don't find it has much replay value. It also has a largely depressing motif, especially on the HD version. I prefer the Gamecube version most.

6. Wind Waker
I didn't find this game to be the most fun at first, but it holds up nicely. It has pretty great replay value. The fetch quest is more tolerable IMO than the fetches in TP. Combat seems a bit obtuse, but nevertheless, I think this is up there.

5. The Legend of Zelda
This was one of the Zelda games I thoroughly enjoyed the most. Honestly, I enjoyed it more than ALLTP, but it doesn't have the same replay value. Like Zelda II, I beat this without any guides or external help, so it was extremely rewarding. If you're thinking about playing this, take thorough notes!

4. A Link to the Past
I'm ranking this above original Zelda because of replay value. This really is the quintessential 2D Zelda.

3. Majora's Mask
This is a game that confused me at first, because I grew up playing OoT. This certainly is not the traditional Zelda formula. However, it has immense replay value, good story, good dungeons, and more. This is a game that was underappreciated in its day but is getting the recognition now.

2. Breath of the Wild
This is the most fun I've had playing Zelda since OoT when I was very young. This is easily the most accessible Zelda in the franchise. It takes away all of those Zelda formula restrictions (like not being able to jump), while resurrecting everything about the original Zelda that made it great.

1. Ocarina of Time
This is frankly the greatest game ever made. This to me is the pure essence of what a Zelda experience should be. I believe this game is nearly flawless (looking at you Jabu Jabu). Anyone who calls this game linear hasn't played it enough. You can play the adult dungeons in nearly any order. It is loaded with heaps of INTERESTING side quests and things to find. This is the only Zelda other than BotW where I actually felt it was worth my time hunting for heart pieces. I  don't think the 3DS version is as charming as the original. My recommendation is to play the Gamecube version with an N64->GC controller adapter.