Top 15 Legend of Zelda Games Ranked

The Legend of Zelda franchise, one of the most popular in gaming history, has captured the hearts of millions since its initial launch in 1986. With boundaries pushed in innovative gameplay, rich storytelling, and music that remains timeless, every title in this beloved franchise offers a unique adventure of exploration, puzzles, and action in a fantasy open-world setting.

Throughout the years, Zelda games have reinvented themselves and developed new mechanics while pushing the depth of open-world games to new territories. In this post, we are going to rank the top 15 Zelda games based on gameplay, graphics, storytelling, and worldwide impact on the gaming industry to show the best that the Legend of Zelda has to offer.

Ranking Factors

Our list of the best Legend of Zelda games is based on the following ranking factors:

Review/Ratings: Each game was evaluated by reviews and ratings by critics and users from trusted sources like Metacritic and IGN.

Graphics: The visual style and graphical innovations were reviewed, considering the hardware available at the time of publishing.

Gameplay: The mechanics of exploration, combat, puzzle-solving, and world-building were assessed for their impact on the gaming experience.

Top 15 Best Zelda Games Ranked

15. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

A multiplayer-centric game that thrives on cooperative puzzle-solving. Players control four links at the same time while taking on puzzles and defeating enemies. The game is best played with friends, as it provides a chaotic yet ultimately rewarding experience. While this game is often dismissed for whatever reason, it is innovative and better than it gets credit for.

14. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons

This dual game release allowed players to link both games for a more complete story experience. Oracle of Ages emphasizes puzzle-solving, while Seasons emphasizes combat. Both games together create a specific experience that feels unique and organic. The linked mechanics and Game Boy Color art style were advanced for the time.

13. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

With train-based travel and a charming art style, Spirit Tracks is a distinct title on the DS. The game offers two-dimensional mechanics with touchscreen interactions and puzzle-based dungeons that provide a change of pace. Additionally, the game allows Zelda to serve as a new ghost companion when traversing the world, which includes new dynamics with puzzles and exploration.

12. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

This re-release is an improved version of the Wii game, as it has enhanced motion controls and better graphics in HD. It covers the story of how the Master Sword came to be, which proves to be nostalgic for fans of the franchise. Its length is similar to its predecessor, but the real charm is in the game's graphics. The dungeons are beautifully designed, and the swordplay mechanics here are considered the best in the franchise.

11. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Shrink down to investigate a secret world in this colorful GBA title. Capcom’s involvement lent a new angle to the series. The puzzles and world-building are well done, and the companion, Ezlo, is a source of humor and story advancement.

10. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Twilight Princess follows a darker tone, and there's a mature story going on here. Link becomes a wolf during the game, giving players a different dynamic to play with, and bringing Midna, one of the best sidekicks in the series, along for the journey enhances the emotional weight.

9. The Legend of Zelda (1986)

The game that started it all. This NES classic pioneered open-world exploration, creating a formula for thousands of adventure games. Level-grinding and minimal hand-holding allowed players to play at their own pace, creating a longevity of experimenting and exploring never before seen in video game design.

8. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

A spiritual successor to A Link to the Past, this game for the 3DS essentially replaces gameplay with newly conceived gameplay mechanics like wall-merging. Its unconventional dungeon order and renting system lent an unprecedented freedom to the game that is uncommon in Zelda games.

7. Link’s Awakening (Remake)

A beautiful remake of the original Game Boy classic! The experience is dreamy, a claymation-resembling art style, and a lovely story. The inclusion of custom dungeons and modern controls made this video game a classic for audiences of all ages.

6. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

At first, furiously controversial due to its cel-shaded graphics, Wind Waker is the textbook example of the kind of daring artistic direction and expansive exploration that gaming can offer. It includes an expressive cast of characters, a well-designed narrative, and great boss battles, making for an incredible experience that was not only engaging but also well-thought-out, right from the start to the finish.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

This title is edgy, emotional, and creative. This is something that pushes the boundaries of the genre. With a 3-day cycle mechanic and mask transformations, it also engages with themes of grief and fate. Its haunting tone and richer side quests distinguish it from the other entries.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time is often cited as the best game of all time, and for good reason. It changed the landscape of 3D gaming and introduced many gameplay mechanics that are now standard in action-adventure games, such as horseback riding and time travel. Its music, dungeon designs, and storytelling are still legendary to this day.

3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

This SNES classic set the standard for 2D Zelda games. Every aspect of this game, including the two worlds, the controls, and the music, created a memorable experience. It is usually referred to as the basis for all of the Zelda games that followed.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

A genre-redefining open-world game with full freedom, minimal to no tutorials, and a physics-based sandbox that totally changed what a Zelda game could do. Exploration and experimentation were at the forefront of this piece of art, which enamored players all over the world

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The finishing touch to Breath of the Wild. This new game builds on the open-world concept and has new sky islands and underground layers, as well as perhaps the best build mechanics ever seen in a The Legend of Zelda game. It is the most ambitious Zelda game yet, allowing endless opportunity for player methods and huge story depth.

List Of Best Zelda Games Ranked