Zelda 35 Week

All 17 Legend of Zelda games, ranked from worst to best

"Hey, listen!"

by Robin Bea
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most beloved and influential game series ever, but not every entry lives up to that reputation.

Here's every game in The Legend of Zelda series, ranked from worst to best.

17. Tri Force Heroes (2014)

Fun multiplayer puzzles aren't enough to make up for this game's lackluster combat and rickety online infrastructure.

16. Phantom Hourglass (2007)

Uninspired and repetitive dungeons dragged Phantom Hourglass down, despite its inventive touch controls.

15. Adventure of Link (1988)

The black sheep of the series, this direct sequel to the original Zelda traded overworld exploration for tough-as-nails side-scrolling combat.

14. Skyward Sword (2011)

Skyward Sword's great dungeon design couldn't make up for its dull world or awkward motion controls — which the Switch remake will try to fix.

13. The Minish Cap (2005)

Despite its great art style, The Minish Cap doesn't stand out from the rest of the series, for better or worse.

12. Spirit Tracks (2009)

The fun touchscreen controls and dungeons of Spirit Tracks were overshadowed by its on-rails overworld.

11. Four Swords Adventures (2004)

Getting four Game Boy Advances and a GameCube for multiplayer was a pain, but the inventive and chaotic payoff was worth the effort.

10. Oracle of Ages/Seasons (2001)

The ability to jump through time and seasons made these Game Boy experiments stand out, but it's good that Zelda didn't do simultaneous releases again.

9. A Link Between Worlds (2013)

The sequel to A Link to the Past fell short in comparison and its item renting mechanic took some of the excitement out of dungeons, but it's a great Zelda game nonetheless.

8. Twilight Princess (2006)

Zelda's goth phase gave Link the ability to turn into a wolf in one of the series' darkest games, which also features some of its best dungeons.

7. The Legend of Zelda (1987)

Newcomers will likely find it clunky and obtuse, but the game that started it all is still worth playing today.

6. Link's Awakening (1993/2019)

This bizarre, dream-like adventure is a departure in tone, but it nails every important element of a Zelda game, from exploration to boss fights.

5. Ocarina of Time (1998)

Ocarina of Time's puzzles and soundtrack alone make it worth revisiting, even if its world design and combat show their age today.

4. Majora's Mask (2000)

This unexpectedly dark entry scarred plenty of players for life, but its ingenious time travel mechanic made it worth the nightmares.

3. Wind Waker (2003)

Yes, sailing takes too long, but Wind Waker makes up for it with incredible character design, excellent combat, and an unbeatable sense of swashbuckling adventure.

2. A Link to the Past (1992)

The best 2D Zelda game improved on the original in every way and established conventions that more recent games have followed but rarely topped.

1. Breath of the Wild (2017)

The Switch's killer app re-imagined what Zelda could be, adding unparalleled freedom to explore in a world that felt truly alive.

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