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The Legend of Zelda has included a variety of minigames over the years, but that doesn't mean that a minigame appearing in one game will appear in other games in the series, which can be a bit disappointing. At the same time, not every minigame that's been in the series should make another appearance in newer games, as some of them end up being more frustrating than fun. However, they can act as the perfect way to help players perfect different controls in-game, just like how the bamboo cutting game helped teach motion controls in Skyward Sword.
Minigames in Zelda can serve quite a few different purposes. In older games, they're commonly used to give Link a Piece of Heart or some items. However, games like BOTW and TOTK have deviated from the series' past and tend to reward Link primarily with Rupees and food when he completes a minigame, which might make them less appealing to spend time on. If these forgotten minigames return, better rewards should make a return alongside them.
10 The Doggy Racetrack Is A Game Of Luck
Only Appears In Majora's Mask
With its iconically unlucky blue dog finally winning a race, it's time to bring the Doggy Racetrack back to Zelda. This minigame only appears in Majora's Mask, and it follows the same idea as betting on horses or any other type of race. Link can bet Rupees on a dog, and if that dog wins, Link receives triple the amount he bet. Additionally, Link can earn a Piece of Heart through this minigame, which might be more useful than Rupees depending on the player.
Since this minigame involves a lot of random luck, it receives mixed feelings regarding if it's a good minigame or a hassle that's necessary to grab an extra Piece of Heart. However, there's a way to get a good idea about which dog might win by picking them up while wearing the Mask of Truth, which tells Link how each one feels that day. This makes it much easier to win a Piece of Heart through this adorable minigame that could fit in any Zelda title.
9 Squid-Hunt Comes With Its Own Sound Effects
Only Appears In The Wind Waker
A minigame that only appears in The Wind Waker, Squid-Hunt is essentially Battleship repurposed for Zelda. Link has 24 shots, and he needs to use them to sink three squids of varying lengths that are hidden on an eight-by-eight grid. For his first victory, Link receives a Piece of Heart. As a reward for his second victory, he gets Treasure Chart 7. Finally, if he can sink the squids with fewer than 20 shots, Link receives Treasure Chart 23.
Out of all the minigames in Zelda, Squid-Hunt has the most novel touch added to it, which has resulted in it becoming a meme among fans. This is because the NPC who runs the minigame, Salvatore, includes his own sound effects to indicate if Link's shot is a hit or miss. For a miss, he says "Sploosh!" and for a hit, he says "Kaboom!" Such a classic minigame deserves a return to Zelda, but the sound effects of Salvatore must return with it.
8 Oracle Of Seasons And Oracle Of Ages Include A Rare Rhythm Game
Dance Minigames Are Difficult, But Fun
Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are games that have a lot of parallels to each other by design, which makes it unsurprising that their plots and minigames share similarities. In Seasons, there's a Subrosian Dance minigame, and in Ages, there's a Goron Dance minigame. For the Subrosian minigame, Link has to avoid running into other dancers and keep the tempo as it speeds up in order to win the Boomerang and Strange Flute. In the Goron Dance minigame, Link has to copy the instructor to get the Brother Emblem.
Both of these games are tough, but the Subrosian Dance version seems to be the more difficult of the two overall, since Link has to not only keep the tempo, but also avoid hitting the other dancers. With dance minigames, or any minigame that forces Link to follow a rhythm being so rare, it'd be fun to revive them in a new Zelda. Plus, the technological upgrades and smoother controls of modern Zelda games can help make these minigames less frustrating.
7 Octoball Derby Brings Baseball To Zelda
Only Appears In A Link Between Worlds
Octoball Derby is a minigame that's only found in A Link Between Worlds, and it brings baseball to Lorule, which is a counterpart of Hyrule. With the name referencing a home run derby, it's not surprising that the minigame's design mirrors this event by having 30 pitches thrown to Link and requiring him to hit as many of them as he can. Like many minigames in Zelda, aim is important, as Link has to not only hit the pitches, but he also needs to break the pots on the field with the balls to earn points.
This minigame is a fun break from adventuring and fighting, so it would be great to see it make a return in Zelda.
If Link gets over 100 points, he's rewarded a Piece of Heart. Otherwise, Link will receive a Rupee for each point. Since the game costs 50 Rupees to play, Link needs to score at least 50 points to break even. This minigame is a fun break from adventuring and fighting, so it would be great to see it make a return in Zelda.
6 Fun Fun Island Would've Been Perfect In Tears Of The Kingdom
Only Appears In Skyward Sword
Fun Fun Island is a minigame that only appears in Skyward Sword. It appears in Hyrule Warriors as a decoration in one stage, but it's not actually accessible or used as a minigame. As a game, it's like skydiving target practice, as Link falls onto the island and is rewarded based on which colored section he hits. Unlike a lot of classic minigames, Link won't get a Piece of Heart for playing this game, and he instead only receives Rupees.
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Tears of the Kingdom with Link having to use the Sky to fall to specific locations would've been perfect for a new version of Fun Fun Island to be included. Having the island spawn at various locations and changing the rewards it can give each time would make it worth finding in a game like TOTK, and it could be a good way for Link to collect the many resources he needs for features like cooking. It's a shame that this opportunity was missed, so it must make a return if there's another game like TOTK.
5 Goron Racing Was One Of The Most Fun Racing Minigames
Only Appears In Majora's Mask
The Goron Race only appears in Majora's Mask, but there are a few other versions of racing minigames in other titles, like the race against Dampé in Ocarina of Time or the snowboard race in Twilight Princess. It's only available after completing the Snowhead Temple, and winning rewards Link with Gold Dust. Gold Dust is used to craft the Gilded Sword, but Link can sell the extra dust he gets from winning races.
There are some tricky elements in the Goron Race that add difficulty to it so that Link doesn't win every time. In addition to obstacles like ramps, at least one Goron will keep pace with Link until the end. Link needs to collide with the Goron to change its direction, but he also needs to avoid getting hit himself by other Gorons, as that forces him to lose all his speed and regaining it wastes a lot of time.
4 Link Helps The Mail Center Sort Their Mail
Only Appears In Wind Waker
A minigame that only appears in Wind Waker is the mail sorting minigame at the mail center on Dragonroost Island. For this minigame, speed and accuracy are both important, and it's made difficult by the touch of randomization that comes with the mail. The order in which symbols appear is random, so players are unable to memorize which symbols will come next as it's not the same each time. In combination with the tight time limit, this minigame requires Link's full attention.
For rewards, Link receives a Rupee for each letter he sorts correctly, and an extra 20 Rupees as a bonus the first time he sorts 25 letters correctly. However, Link can also earn a Piece of Heart if he returns to the mail center after Baito is hired at the post office, and he correctly sorts 25 letters a second time, as he later receives a letter from Baito's mom with said Piece of Heart inside it.
3 Fishing Is A Classic Zelda Minigame
Link Can Receive A Variety Of Rewards From Fishing Minigames
Fishing might be the minigame that appears the most often throughout the series, although the last time it made an appearance was when it was added to the 3D version of Majora's Mask. Depending on the game, Link could receive a variety of rewards from fishing minigames, but successfully fishing was required to progress in Twilight Princess, making the prize in that case the ability to progress through the story. Now, Link just grabs fish from the water in games like TOTK.
With how iconic games like Ocarina of Time include fishing minigames, it feels natural that they should make a return to the series. However, if Twilight Princess gets another remaster, then the fishing aspect should be switched to a minigame that's no longer required for progressing the main story. This is because the fishing in TP can be a bit tricky, and that can stop players from giving the game a complete try, since the fishing is early on and getting stuck there blocks off most of the game.
2 Bombchu Bowling Is Fun And Teaches Link Bomb Timing
A Minigame From Ocarina of Time
The Bombchu Bowling Alley is a minigame from Ocarina of Time that forces Link to release a Bombchu at the right time to hit his target, while avoiding obstacles. While using Bombchus isn't a requirement to get through the game and defeat Ganondorf, they can definitely make some sections a little easier compared to using traditional bombs. Since timing is important with Bombchus – along with avoiding obstacles so they don't blow up early – this minigame provides great practice.
Bombchus haven't been in newer Zelda games, but they're a fun item to have and can offer unique ways to solve some puzzles that Link comes across. However, the combat systems and puzzles in games like BOTW and TOTK make it feel like Bombchus would be useless. Still, even if they aren't added as items that Link can carry, the Bombchu Bowling Alley can return purely for the sake of having fun.
1 Shooting Gallery Is The Ultimate Target Practice
A Minigame That Appears In Many Zelda Games
Similar to fishing, Shooting Gallery is a minigame that appears in a fair number of Zelda games. The rewards Link can earn vary between each game, but Rupees are a standard prize. Then, in Ocarina of Time, Link can earn a larger quiver as a prize when he plays the minigame as an adult, or he can get a Piece of Heart as a reward in Majora's Mask.
Considering how iconic it is in some of the most beloved games, bringing it back not only brings a touch of nostalgia with it, but it's a fun way for Link to earn prizes, like the ability to carry more arrows.
There's still the horseback archery minigame in newer Zelda games, but the Shooting Gallery version has largely disappeared. Considering how iconic it is in some of the most beloved games, bringing it back not only brings a touch of nostalgia with it, but it's a fun way for Link to earn prizes, like the ability to carry more arrows. Additionally, it's nice to have the option to practice aiming arrows in a low-stakes scenario.
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When it comes to minigames, recent Zelda titles have been rather lackluster compared to the games of the past. As a result, it's time for more minigames to make their comeback with a revamped selection of prizes for Link to pick up. Minigames should at least offer more of a variety of rewards instead of only Rupees, which is often the case in newer games, going forward in The Legend of Zelda.
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda franchise follows the adventures of Link, an elf-like Hylian, and Princess Zelda as they protect the land of Hyrule from the evil warlord-turned-demon king Ganon. The series is known for its mix of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving elements, often revolving around the collection of the Triforce, a powerful relic left by the goddesses who created Hyrule. Each game features different incarnations of Link and Zelda, maintaining core elements while introducing new characters and settings.
Created by Shigeru Miyamoto , Takashi Tezuka
English (US) ·