20 Best Legend Of Zelda Games, Ranked

A series built on reinvention

The Legend of Zelda follows Link, often as he tries to defeat Ganon and save Hyrule. Across the series, games such as A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time established new models for later adventures.

The catalog has few outright failures, but its games differ in how successfully they balance innovation and play. Some entries emphasize exploration, while others focus on multiplayer, combat or puzzles.

Three approaches to co-op

Tri Force Heroes brought online connectivity to the series, allowing three players to work together against an evil witch and lift a curse from Princess Styla. Its short, puzzle-based levels can be enjoyable with friends, though it offers less of the exploration and discovery typical of Zelda games.

Four Swords Adventures develops the cooperative formula further, with a stronger story and a polished option for solo play. It earned a Metacritic score of 86, and some fans have hoped for a remake on Nintendo Switch or its successor.

Experiments and classic puzzles

Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link replaced the original game’s top-down action with side-scrolling dungeons and towns, set within a larger world map. It adds role-playing elements and sends Link to rescue Zelda from a sleeping spell, but its steep difficulty can be a barrier.

The Oracle games, developed by Capcom, share similarities with Link’s Awakening. Oracle of Seasons lets Link change the seasons to alter the world, while Oracle of Ages places more emphasis on challenging puzzles; choosing between them largely comes down to preference.

The original The Legend of Zelda launched for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 and began the series. Its graphics and story are limited beside later entries, yet it remains a classic that holds up.