The Legend of Zelda Games: Tiered

 

It's no secret that I like the Legend of Zelda series. No tattoos of it, but it's on the “I want” list, and I have the triforce on my wedding ring (and my wife's ring is set in the Zora's Sapphire pattern). Listening to the podcast “Get Played” I realized this is a great time to actually talk about the main-line Zelda games and rank them. I've been preparing for this list for a very long time. Also, it's been over 7 years since this site had a Zelda article. The last one was looking at the HD changes for Twilight Princess! Time to fix that and get us a more contemporary article. Tears of the Kingdom comes out this month!

 

Okay, what games are we talking about. This would be: NES, SNES, GB(C), GBA, N64, Gamecube, Wii, WiiU, and Switch. I'll generally look at the initial release. If there is a re-release (and there are many) I'll remark on the remasters where they come up. Also, the odd port. So, let's go over the mass of games that I've given myself. There are 4 tiers I'm putting the games into:

 

 

S – This is a must-play game in the Zelda series.

 

A – Highly recommended.

 

B – It's a solid game. You'll enjoy it. It likely has something more or very difficult about it

 

C – This is as low as a Zelda Game goes. You're going to like it, but it's a bit challenging (Gameplay or accessibility).

 

 

-NES

Legend of Zelda - B

This is the original game that got the whole series going. It was meant to be a big open-world game. And for the NES, we definitely got that. It does have a learning curve and without a map you will be getting turned around a lot. But have the fun of this game is just exploring the world of Hyrule and seeing what is hidden where. As you progress through the dungeons and explore the world, you'll find more Hearts, new items, and a LOT of secrets. It's plenty challenging to get through but it did start the whole series.

 

Adventure of Link – C

This is considered the black sheep across the whole of the series. It's not thrown out like the CD-I game (THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DID!) because it was such a departure from the original. It showed that the series would never be afraid to innovate on itself and try something that might not work 100%. This is one of the only game with traditional leveling up. XP by default isn't saved between play sessions, which is annoying, but its not terrible to max out your stats with enough time. The overworld exploration is definitely a highlight but I very much enjoy the 2D sidescrolling exploration of caves and dungeons.

 

-Gameboy (Color)

Link's Awakening (DX) - B

This was the start of the Capcom Legend of Zelda games. It's a lot of fun to play through, but it can be challenging to finish. It is all a dream, but does it a lot better than Super Mario 2 (USA). Link also only have 2 inventory slots that he can actively use. You do get to change whatever is in them, so its possible to unequip your sword.

 

Oracle of Ages & Season - B

The Oracle games tie together rather intimately. They were meant to be a triolgy, but it had to lose the third entry either because of time or budget. Instead, we got 2 games with very different themes. Either you are changing the season to alter the landscape to solve puzzles or traveling through time. Both have a unique story to them. What makes them more interesting is the password system they have. You an play through one and get a password for the other. This will let you play through with the benefits of the other save file, a psuedo-new game plus. But beating both games with this password will let you access the true ending of the dual games.

 

-SNES

Link to the Past - S

This game is one of the defining games of the series. Easily the most well known to this point. This offered the Dual worlds of Hyrule and the Dark world. It does also give a great challenge with its few side quests. This because the benchmark for a lot of games to clear to be even considered a fun or engaging game for a long time.

 

-Nintendo 64

Ocarina of Time – A

This is one of the defining games of the series. The amazing story, characters, and soundtrack made it a defining game for Zelda transitioning into a 3D game.

 

Majora's Mask – B

The impossible follow up to Ocarina of Time. It was made quickly, reusing a lot of assets from Ocarina of Time. However, it tells its own complete story. It's one of the few Zelda games that is a sequel. It's

 

-Gamecube

The Wind Waker – A

Once derisively called “Celda,” this is the one that's held up the best of the Gamecube games (execept maybe Four Swords). You play Twilight Princess on Gamecube and it shows its age. The cel-shading of Wind Waker solidly works in its favor. It has a lot of different things you get you to do throughout the whole of the game. I do recommend the Remaster since it cuts down on the tedious fetch quest that you need to complete to get to the final boss battle. It's a massive world to explore and its very mellow just sailing around on the King of Lions on the oceans of Hyrule.

 

Twilight Princess - B

This was the Zelda game that we thought we wanted. It delivered on the large open world with a darker tone throughout. It's one my low-key favorites, even if I haven't beaten it 3-7 times. It's big thing was the transformation between Hyrule and the Twilight Realm. Having to play as Wolf Link offers a unique challenge since you have a very different set of skills. It's got an amazing soundtrack as well. Taking on the bosses is almost always an epic experience. Very little about this game comes off as small.

 

Four Swords – C

This gets the C ranking for the technology requirement to really enjoy this. This can be done with a controller but it was meant to be played with 4 GBA's connected to a GameCube. Link is splint into 4 copies of himself. It's an alright game when its just you, but gets infinitely better when you have more people to play it with.

*Yes, there was a 3DS version released. I have it. It is impossible to get now (Without hacking/homebrew, but feel free to since the 3DS/WiiU store is shut down).

 

 

-Gameboy Advance

Minish Cap – B

This is another of the Capcom. It's got its own distinct style and numerous unique mechanics. It's also a game with a “social” aspect since you could trade Kinstones to unlock others. Teaming up could be nice, if you knew someone else with the game. I had a lot of fun playing through this on my GBA, so I can recommend it.

 

-DS

The Phantom Hourglass - B

This one of the few Zelda games I haven't beaten or completed. This is different entry with a central location that you are constantly revisiting. As you gain more time, you can head back to there and try to get deeper and deeper. You are also working with Tetra throughout this adventure. She's been forced to possess a suit of armor, but is a great help. It makes great use of the DS function. There are times you need to utilize all the features of the DS: closing the top can have you stamp things, you map the course you sail by using the touch screen. It takes only a little while to get used to the controls and it is a lot of fun to play through.

 

The Spirit Tracks - C

To my (arguable) shame, this is the one Zelda game I've dabbled in the least. Zelda with a train.

 

 

-3DS

A Link Between Worlds - S

This is one of the few “sequel” games in the Zelda series, picking up after A Link to the Past. It has a number of unique mechanics, like the equipment rental system. The split between Hyrule and Lorule was a fun thing. It's a good story and a game I would very quickly recommend. It doesn't require that you've played its “prequel” A Link to the Past. That just igves you a bit more context to the game. It's a good playthrough and quite enjoyable. A guide is recommended if you are interested in completing it. The street pass feature of taking on another Link to knock them off a tower was a lot of fun. It's rare now to do something like that, but it can still be enjoyed. Street pass just requires the game and someone else in this great wide world to have it.

 

Ocarina of Time 3D - A

This is a great example of how to remake a game. You add in what the 3DS can do (with the gyroscopic aiming), a bit more content, and cleaning up the characters. Until it gets a release through the Switch online service, this is going to be the most modern version of the game. Hopefully they bring it over to the Switch itself, or whatever system Nintendo brings out next. It also built up a lot of the features from the original game to make it a bit more user friendly. A good example are the Sheikah Stones. These didn't do much originally, but now they offer aid to players who are a bit lost. The Water Temple's Water Switches are also a lot clearer about their effect so you know what you're doing.

 

Majora's Mask 3D - A

This is a good version of the game. The graphics have been updated, the control scheme for the instruments got a needed update, and you can literally aim with the 3DS (or 2DS). There's some new content. We've got new fishing holes (Swamp and Ocean), the Bombers share rumors of events happening, You get the notebook from the Happy Mask Salesman. Changes like that fill this game. It's a great version to play through, especially if you enjoyed the original.

 

 

-Wii

Twilight Princess - B

This is the adapted version of Twilight Princess. It's got the world flipped from the Gamecube. Said all I'll say with the original game on the Gamecube.

 

Skyward Sword – B

I was skeptical on this version at first. I played Twilight Princess through on the Gamecube, never playing the Wii version. But it built on that combat and improved it. There is a lot of you needing to read your enemy's stance to know how to attack. Another massive world to explore, but more limited than what we got in The Wind Waker.

 

 

-WiiU

Breath of the Wild – S

This is the original version of Breath of the Wild. I'll just cover everything with the Switch version. Both are great games with nothing really lost between them.

 

Twilight Princess Remaster – B

This is a good remake of the game. It needed this treatment to actually get more inline with the modern era. The graphics were great for the GameCube but desperately needed an HD clean up to actually appeal to a modern audience. It's more realistic style did get a small update to something a little different. It needs something to stand out a bit there. But it's got plenty of new challenges. I wrote a whole article on the changes, so that is the best source to know if this game is for you!

 

-Switch

Breath of the Wild - S

It's technically a port of the WiiU game. But there are no major changes really between the versions. At most we're talking cosmetics. But it's also a very portable version of the game. It does have a LOT of puzzles to complete with the 120 Shrines. But it is also a look back at the original Legend of Zelda in a way. This is the first true open world Zelda game. You can just head straight for Ganon and have a chance to win (it's absurdly hard and is only recommended to attempt AFTER you've mastered the combat techniques in the game). The light orchestral soundtrack is amazing, the combat is very rewarding. You deal with everything throughout this game from small colletibles to the massive Beasts that are major dungeons. And those shrines. All those shrines are important to do to enable fast travel but also allow Link to get more Stamina and Health.

 

Link's Awakening – A

This is a much more modern version of the original Gameboy game. Honestly, one I would recommend for its quality of life improvements. You have a proper map, Dampe's dungeon building offers a nice change of pace. The whole of the island is just cleaner and a lot easier to navigate.

The art style only needed some clean up for its remaster. It definitely looks like it will age pretty well because of its aesthetic. It's been holding up so far since its release.

 

Skyward Sword Remaster – B

This was one of the few remasters where I was questioning why they would do this. But it does make since. The console specific controls would need revision to bring it more in line with the modern Zelda era. But this would also give you a chance to play it with a more traditional control scheme than just the motion controls of the of the original. The art did need a small update, but the water color styling was a great choice for the game itself. It's also got auto-save to help you out as well. It's also gotten skipped cutscenes (and Fi's been toned down a little).

 

 Final Thoughts

I've never played the Phillips CD-I games but appreciate them like B-movies. They're much better to watch than play. It's feasible in a few regards, but generally not worth the effort. Unless your Peanut Butter Game, the Completionist, or someone who likes poorly implemented games... don't. Just don't. Nintendo has disavowed them, the creator ignores them on the timeline. There you have a look at all of the Zelda games. I did think to only cover a smaller selection, but it's hard to stop myself. I've played nearly all this games. I love them and certainly hope you'll find something new from it.