The 10 Best Zelda Games of all Time, Ranked

It’s dangerous to have Zelda opinions. Here, take mine!

You can learn a lot about someone by asking what their favorite The Legend of Zelda game is.

It’s a series so vast and so popular that anyone who plays video games has some opinion of it. You have the people who got into video games because they played Ocarina of Time as a kid. You also have the people who say Zelda has never been good since it went 3D. Even the games someone didn’t play can be revealing. For example, I considered whether or not I was qualified to write this list because I never touched The Minish Cap or A Link Between Worlds. Hey, don’t look at me, I skipped the 3DS game because someone gave it a 6.5.

In other words, an objective ranking of Zelda games is impossible. Yet by the same token, every time someone ranks their favorite Zelda games, the greater the chance that someone’s niche tastes and opinions will finally get the light of day. With that in mind, here is my very subjective, deeply imperfect ranking of the 10 best Zelda games that does not include The Minish Cap. I’m counting on you in the comments to tell me where on the list that should belong.

UPDATE 5/11/2023: I’ve touched up some of the language used in select entries. More notably, a teaser for Tears of the Kingdom has been included.

10: Zelda II: Adventure of Link (1987)

If I were to rank weird NES sequels that are considered black sheep of their respective series, Zelda II would be near the top of that list.

It is bewildering, confusing, and often just too dang hard. It’s also a fascinating merger of side scrolling action and RPG elements that remains interesting to this day. Even if the Zelda series abandoned this formula, it spirits lives on in indie games like Infernax.

9: The Legend of Zelda (1986)

The original Legend of Zelda is a bit awkward by modern standards. It has archaic design quirks and a messy translation that practically necessitates that you play it with a strategy guide open. Having said that, there’s something endearing about the sheer simplicity of The Legend of Zelda. You get plopped right onto the field, go into a cave, get a sword, and you’re in your first dungeon in a handful of minutes if you know where to go. It’s immediately easy to learn, yet uncovering all its secrets is a commitment of its own.

A wildly impressive game upon release, and still worth playing today despite its age.

8: Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages (2001)

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages owe a lot of their identity to Link’s Awakening. In fact, friends often thought I was playing Link’s Awakening back when these released.

Still, the novelty of releasing two full-length connected Zelda games that focus on action and puzzles respectively helps these titles stand out to this day. With all the Zelda games that have received remakes, I say these should be the next titles to get a fresh coat of paint.

7: Twilight Princess (2006)

It’s funny that Twilight Princess was once celebrated as a return to “mature” Link after the cel-shaded art style of Wind Waker resulted in relatively weak sales. Yet now, Wind Waker enjoys greater fan acclaim while Twilight Princess is relatively more divisive. For me, while Twilight Princess isn’t a series highlight, it is still a fun Zelda romp with its own appeal.

It’s clear this one was made for Ocarina of Time fans, and it does perfectly well building on that formula. Personally, my memories of this game are tied up with the launch of the Wii, so Wolf Link sections probably didn’t bother me just because of my sheer excitement playing my new console. Still, I’d stand by Twilight Princess being well worth your time.

6: Ocarina of Time (1998)

There are two types of people in the world: Those who think Ocarina of Time is the best game of all time, and those who disagree. I personally don’t believe Ocarina of Time has aged well enough to recieve such accolades. That said, I understand its place in history and respect the myriad of ways it pushed video games forward as a form of art.

Still, if you can go into this one without expecting the pinnacle of all video games, Ocarina of Time is very enjoyable. The puzzles and exploration are on point, and the contrast between the early game as a child and the later game as an adult still sticks with me. As the game that set the formula for nearly two decades of Zelda titles, it’s still impressive that they got this one so right.

5: A Link to the Past (1991)

A Link to the Past is a great sweet spot between modern sensibilities and retro charm. Though there’s a greater focus on story than the NES titles, it still has the immediacy that pushes you right into action and exploration without hesitation. It also has genuinely incredible aesthetics and music for its vintage. The first look at the Dark World atop the Pyramid of Power is striking to this day.

A Link to the Past stands up remarkably well to today’s standards. It remains one of the greatest SNES games ever made.

4: Majora’s Mask (2000)

Here’s my thing about Zelda games: I like when they get weird. As far as weird Zelda games get, they don’t get weirder than Majora’s Mask.

Much could be said about its gameplay revolving around a three-day cycle you repeat over and over until the game’s conclusion. For me, Majora’s Mask is all about its foreboding atmosphere. The end of the world literally hangs above you, driving a sense of urgency to everything you do. You get to learn about the people and places around you, which establishes you as a helpful observer more than a grand hero of time. There are also moments of whimsy here, which ironically drives the inherent terror of this setting further when you realize how much is as stake.

I’m not saying everyone needs to beat Majora’s Mask, but you should experience it in some fashion. Even if it’s via an internet creepypasta.

3: The Wind Waker (2002)

The official “too much water” Zelda game. I get the overworld exploration can be a chore, and I hear the complaints about padding at parts. Having said all that, Wind Waker overflows with so much personality that I can’t help but love it.

While it was chided upon its release for being too kiddy, there are epic moments here that stand as high points for the franchise. On top of that, I love Link’s nimble controls here that naturally build off the N64 Zelda titles. Of the 3D Zelda games that existed before Breath of the Wild, this is the one I’ll always want to return to.

2: Breath of the Wild (2017)

In a post Elden Ring world, Breath of the Wild feels fresher now than it did in 2017. For the longest time, I could not get over quirks like weapon durability that hang over the entire adventure. Now, Breath of the Wild feels distinct because of how oddly meditative it is. Without the promise of valuable upgrades and weapons essential to your build, Breath of the Wild is a game driven by your own curiosity. Go where you want, do what you want, there’s no wrong answer as long as you’re having fun.

You’ll find a core story here, but at the end of the day, Breath of the Wild focuses on your stories. Maybe you solved a puzzle in an unexpected way, or maybe you laughed hard tossing a bomb into an enemy camp and watching everyone fly off a cliff. It’s easy to see why Breath of the Wild has redefined Zelda games as we know them, and Tears of the Kingdom decidedly proves that this style of Zelda game is here to stay. Breath of the Wild isn’t just a defining moment in the Zelda canon; it is one of the most important games ever made.

???: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

Alright, here’s the deal. Reviews for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom have arrived. By all metrics, this game looks absolutely incredible. I don’t think anyone doubted that the sequel to Breath of the Wild would become a smash hit, but watching this game reach astronomical critical heights has been a sight to behold.

That said, Tears of the Kingdom just came out. Most of us here are still getting our hands on the game and making our way through Hyrule once more. I have absolutely zero doubt that Tears of the Kingdom will appear on this list. Its ranking, however, remains to be seen. We’ll need to spend ample time in Hyrule and really sit with the experience until we can make that judgment call ourselves. However, our own Chris Carter gave it a 10. I expect this game to go down as one of the greatest Zelda games of all time.

Additionally, I’ve evolved my ranking methodology since this list originally debuted in December 2022. I won’t just evaluate where Tears of the Kingdom will rank, but I’ll reconsider the other Zelda titles. That said, I stand firm in my love for the game at the top of this list. To this day, this title remains one of the most unique Zelda adventures ever created.

1: Link’s Awakening (1993)

I know, I know, this is a bold pick for best Zelda game. Objectively, I know Breath of the Wild is the more impressive game. Yet like I said at the top, someone’s pick for best Zelda game tells you a lot about them. I can be summed up as “one of those people who cried at the ending of Link’s Awakening as a kid and won’t shut up about it roughly 30 years later.”

Honestly, I have a hard time feeling fully immersed in most Zelda games. They’re fun adventures with big stories, but they don’t speak to me in the way my favorite games do. Link’s Awakening is the sole exception. I love Koholint Island because it’s such a weird, whimsical place. Every story beat is distinct and memorable, despite the incredibly limited hardware this game is running on. Yet at the same time, there’s a thick air of melancholy hanging over everything you see and do. I love how Link’s Awakening uses its setting to drive home the impermanence of life. Everything will fade away someday, but life is like that, and you can’t live inside of a dream forever.

Zelda games love to iterate on the central core of its story. The tale of Link and Zelda defeating Ganon is meaningful if you grew up attached to these characters and love to see how the story changes time and time again. Yet I love Link’s Awakening because Link isn’t the legendary hero who saves the island. He’s just a person trying to find their way, getting to know and love the world around him before it inevitably ends. In real life, we can’t relate to saving the world by ourselves. We relate to happy memories punctuated by painful goodbyes. This is the Link I can immerse myself into, and this is why Link’s Awakening is so special. It’s odd, it’s different, yet ironically, it’s the most human Zelda game ever created.

Or maybe The Minish Cap is better, this list really feels incomplete without playing that.

Timothy Monbleau

Guide Editor – Timothy started writing community blogs for Destructoid in 2012. He liked it so much he decided to write articles for the site professionally. His love for RPGs and the Ys series will endure forever.