Depending on who you ask, you'll get plenty of different answers as to the best Zelda game. Some entries rewrote the formula in a way that changed the entire gaming sphere, while others simply bring unique charms to the table. These aren't necessarily the only 10/10 Zelda games, but they're a few that offer very different types of greatness.
The Legend Of The Zelda: A Link To The Past
Every Zelda game has worked its own influence into the evolution of the series, but it's impossible to imagine what any of them would look like today without The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. While the original The Legend of Zelda put a lot of the franchise's core ideas into place, A Link to the Past refined them into a perfect concoction.
From the debut of the Master Sword to the broader idea of reincarnating Link across various entries with new legends, A Link to the Past does for Zelda what The Empire Strikes Back did for Star Wars (and then some). Even if its ideas had never carried forward, though, it would still be an incredible game in its own right.
The duality of the light and dark worlds opens up new facets of exploration, and unique bosses and interesting puzzles make A Link to the Past's wealth of dungeons interesting. Even after decades, the aesthetic experience has also aged perfectly, with timeless pixel art and one of Koji Kondo's best scores contributing in equal measure.
The direct sequel, A Link Between Worlds, takes the gameplay to the next level, and other 2D Zelda games, like Link's Awakening or The Minish Cap, bring distinct personalities to the table that might be even more memorable. None of them would look anything like they do if A Link to the Past hadn't done it first, though, and it still stands strong as an essentially perfect adventure.
The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Nintendo 64 served up two incredible Zelda games, and Ocarina of Time is arguably a 10/10 for its influence alone. Over the years, however, more and more fans have started to swear by Majora's Mask as a personal favorite, and it's easily a masterpiece of equal caliber.
Ocarina of Time's innovative gameplay and expansive 3D scope initially served as its biggest calling card, but playing it decades later, its greatest virtue might lie in its rich and often moody atmosphere. Majora's Mask leans into that, delivering a weirder, darker Zelda game that leaves the familiar conventions of Hyrule behind.
As a result, Majora's Mask avoids the trap of simply existing in Ocarina of Time's shadow, and its unique atmosphere is heightened by a three-day loop under the constant threat of a crashing moon. The threat also feels more impactful than in most video games, with a strong cast of complex NPCs turning the world into a real, emotionally rich place that's truly worth saving.
If the Ocarina of Time remake on the horizon actually manages to update the game in a meaningful way, here's hoping that Nintendo revisits Majora's Mask next.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
After years of 3D Zelda games iterating on Ocarina of Time's approach, Breath of the Wild threw it all out of the window and started over again. The resulting experience isn't exactly what some Zelda fans were looking for, but it's a masterclass in open-world design that, nearly a decade later, still feels like it came from the future.
Zelda games have always been great about rewarding discovery, and Breath of the Wild took that to another level. The game's "open-air" concept makes it easy to explore in any direction, with the use of a glider allowing Link to soar across rolling hills with ease. Even more importantly, no direction ever feels like the wrong one. A non-linear story sets up meaningful possibilities for progression in every corner of the map, and hidden surprises decorate countless nooks and crannies.
Breath of the Wild also places a huge emphasis on creativity. Link can overcome trials by slashing enemies with swords or following well-trod paths, but he can also forge his own trail thanks to Sheikah Slate runes, extensive environmental reactivity, and more.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom expands the scope of the world and the possibilities within even further, but its attempts to incorporate more thorough dungeons and an increased story emphasis lose a bit of Breath of the Wild's cohesion. Both games are fantastic, but if I had to elect one as a true 10/10, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild would still get my vote.
Movie(s)
The Legend of Zelda (Live-Action)
TV Show(s)
The Legend of Zelda
Video Game(s)
The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Hyrule Warriors, Hyrule Warriors Legends (3DS), Cadence of Hyrule, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
First TV Show
The Legend of Zelda
First Game
The Legend of Zelda
Character(s)
Link, Princess Zelda, Ganon
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.
English (US) ·