The Legend of Zelda Ranking - A NeverEnding Legend

 Ranking all the Zelda games that I've played.

Updated and republished for late 2025. 

My first experience with the Zelda franchise wasn't a particularly pleasant one. It was with Phantom Hourglass and I just couldn’t get used to the combination and the puzzles, so I put the game down and didn't touch the series for years. The Nintendo 3DS I was gifted though was the ‘A Link Between Worlds’ bundle which led to me giving the game a shot. I ended up liking it and since than, I’ve played almost a dozen Zelda titles, from the 2D to the 3D. 

In honour of the franchise's 35th Anniversary, I made this ranking of all those games from my least favourite to my most favourite. I would like to stretch that this list in no way, shape or form reflects the quality of these games. It's only a reflection of how much I enjoyed each game and nothing more. It’s also a list that will change over time when new games come out; it’s never quite in the world of Zelda after all!

So, without further ado, let's talk about all the Zelda games I’ve played thus far. 

13. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

The first Zelda game I ever played was Phantom Hourglass on a Nintendo DS R4 card I had as a kid, long before I understood what ‘pirating’ meant. I had seen a review of the game in a magazine so when I saw it installed on that new, gifted R4 card I figured I'd give it a try. It wasn't a very pleasant experience. The controls and getting stuck on a puzzle left a very bad taste in my mouth. I put it down and didn't touch it, or any Zelda game, for years after that. Perhaps I'll secure myself a copy of this game someday and give it another shot now that I’m older and enjoyed so many other Zelda titles but for now, it's at the bottom of my list.

12. The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

Tri Force Heroes isn't a bad game, just one that isn't for me. A game that's all about the franchise's puzzle-solving? Sign me up! If I was aware though how heavily it relied on Multiplayer, I think I wouldn't have bothered. I'm very much a single-player guy, only playing Multiplayer couch style with my friends at get togethers. It can be played alone, and I did enjoy the opening hours, but it's not really meant to be played that way. It isn't properly balanced for it. I ended up getting stuck in chapter 3 and didn't feel like playing it again after that. Perhaps someday I'll restart it, knock the one game of my backlog that started the darn thing, but that day won't be any time soon.

11. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

I imagine that seeing Zelda’s latest and greatest, Tears of the Kingdom, so low on the list must be a surprise to many. Don’t be too offended however as Tears is this low on the list by default for one specific reason: I never finished it. After arriving a day late at my doorstep, I eagerly booted it up only to experience something eerily familiar to Breath of the Wild. Expected, yes, but it hindered my enjoyment of it as there just wasn't enough 'new' to make it feel like a fresh experience. I also got a lot more open world games under belt these days, which compacts this issue. 

Even with all of that I did enjoy my time with the game which it why I did play it for over 30 hours. I just ran out of steam to continue. But, with that spiffy Nintendo Switch 2 edition out, however, I do intend to one day pick it back up and finish what I started.  

10. Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Ft. The Legend of Zelda

Similarly to Tears of the Kingdom coming in at the 11th spot, I feel that a fair few will be 'shocked' to see this indie developed spin-off/crossover is so low on the list. It reviewed excellently after all but I put it here though for a simple reason: I just couldn't get into the rhythm-based gameplay. I tried my best, but I just couldn't get the hang of it. The many deaths and randomly generated layouts frustrated me to no end. 

I ended up switching to 'Fixed-Beat' mode where the enemies only move when you do too. It broke the game's difficulty and play length in half but it did allow me to finish it and find some enjoyment while I was at it. The pixel graphics are amazing and the soundtrack is stunning but this is a one-and-done experiment for me.

09. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword isn't as bad as more than a few Zelda fans will tell you it is. It also isn’t a good as those saying it’s a hidden gem would tell you it is. If you look beyond its frustrating issues such as the iffy motion controls, it´s a perfectly fine Zelda game that is very formulaic. It only adds a few bells and whistles to the Zelda playbook and that´s why it´s at #8. I´ve gone through these motions many times over already. 

Compared to all the other 3D Zelda´s, I find that there´s not enough it does on its own to make it stand apart from the crowd, other than those motion controls. Motion controls that are neat on paper but tiresome in practice. If perhaps, I had played this game before the other 3D Zelda game it would've stood out more to me but as it stands, it's my least favourite of the 3D Zelda games.

That said, I am interested in picking up the HD remaster for Switch one of these days. That version fixes the pacing issues in the game's opening and has a more traditional control scheme which could go either way in the ‘will it make me like it better’ sentiment. 

08. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Yes, you read that right. A spin-off/crossover ranks higher than a big 3D Zelda game? It sure does and the reason for that is, ironically, a direct result of my criticism with Skyward Sword. 

Because of its wildly different gameplay it's a much more memorable and overall enjoyable experience to me even with its issues. The Wii original of Skyward Sword is a commitment with how big and, well, slow it is. It's not a game you can easily pick up when you feel like it. Age of Calamity, meanwhile, is a game perfect to just pick up and play. The story was underwhelming to say the least but the gameplay is tons of fun. Perfect to just turn my brain off after a long day and hack and slash my way through hordes of Moblins, Bokoblins and the like. Once I’ve actually finished Tears of the Kingdom, I will definitely pick up this game’s sequel, Age of Imprisonment, and see if that is as fun to play as its predecessor. 

07. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

As of writing, Echoes of Wisdom is the most recent Zelda game. The 3D titles might be the cream of the crop in Nintendo’s eyes but that sentiment takes nothing away from the 2D, top-down titles. Those bring their own strengths to the table. After the all too familiar Tears, this return to the original topdown perspective but with a twist was just what I needed.

For the very first time ever, the princess herself is heroine of the story with a fresh gameplay twist to take advantage fo that. It takes its cues from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom in both character design and gameplay with its ‘there are dozens of solutions to each puzzle’. I liked this new approach but its flaws with it have become more apparent over time, like its controls, which is why it isn’t higher on the list. Still, I’m very much open to more Zelda games starring the princess in this style, with some snappier gameplay that is. 

06. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

This and the next game on the list are a toss-up. They're very similar yet very different at the same time. In my mind, these two games form an inseparable duology that stand on equal footing. But this is a ranking and letting them share a number would be a cop-out, so I had to make a call here.

Before Breath of the Wild entered the scene, Ocarina of Time wasn’t just regarded as the best Zelda game but as one of the video games ever. It might not shine as bright as that anymore, but it's still a stellar title. The story is an epic journey across a wonderful fantasy land through both space and time. It sports interesting characters, good dungeon design and tight gameplay for this new 3D environment. It has its problems, like a Hyrule that's vast but empty and has some pacing issues but in the end, it's still an amazing title. 

The 3DS version has textures & models are updated and it has some spiffy QoL updates that, in my opinion, makes it the superior version even with the sacrifices it makes for portability. But, of course, the more widely available N64 version thanks to NSO is still a good way to play if you’re a younger gamer looking to give this title a shot. 

05. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

The other part of that duology is, of course, Majora's Mask. It's one of the few times in the franchise in which a title is a sequel to another. That features the very same Link, not just another incarnation of the hero. It uses the same engine, models, assets as Ocarina of Time. Unlike Tears of the Kingdom though, they used all of that to create a very unique, distinct, title. From its setup, the 3-day system, the long and interconnected side-quests to the mask system. It's, without a doubt, the darkest Zelda game in tone. The world you travel to, Termina, is facing imminent destruction after all. 

This uniqueness is what made me put it above Ocarina of Time for the sake of this list here. While the 3-day system can be daunting and the overall tone is, perhaps, too depressing once you really dig into it, Majora's Mask is a Zelda game that we'd never seen before and won't see again any time soon.

04. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

It's time for some more 2D Zelda action, no? It's where the franchise got its start after all! Majora’s Mask isn’t the only Zelda game with a more unique setting and vibe. Link’s Awakening, one of the more recent Zelda titles with its spiffy Switch remake, does so as well. It's a very enjoyable and pleasant title. It’s top-down Zelda at its finest with enjoyable characters and a twist that’s certain to change your perspective. It's a game that you can just pick and play while relaxing and making you feel comfortable.

It places lower than the other 2D Zelda for only two, small, reasons. While the toy-like graphic style grew on me over time it's still not my favourite. For 60,-, it's also just too pricey for the amount of content it offers. The remake is the best way to play this game but I would pick it up second hand or through a discount, should you be able to find one. 

03. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

After that bad experience with Phantom Hourglass, it was this Zelda game that made me shed those memories, so to speak. I got my 3DS around Christmas in ‘we pay the amount that you are missing’ type of deal from my parents. When going to the store to actually pick the console up, it had the 'A Link Between Worlds' gold 3DS XL model on sale. It was nice and gold and after some pushing from my parents (I wanted the Pokémon Y bundle but they had already bought that game earlier as an extra surprise), it was the 3DS I bought. 

It took me a bit to actually start it up, but I did decide to give it a shot after a few days after I had gotten my Pokémon fill for the time being. It would’ve been a waste of a ‘free’ game after all even I didn't evey try to play it. To my own surprise, I fell in love with this pack-in title. It was just so very pleasant with its art style, music and endearing characters. Plus: those dungeons got their hooks in me. It didn’t matter how much I was struggling trying to figure out their solutions I was adamant I would do so on my own even if I didn't always succeed at that. It was amazing feeling every time I did.  

It took me a while to get through, had to look up a walkthrough here and there, but it gripped me. I was on the edge of my seat during the final boss and immediately wanted more after beating him. I bought Ocarina of Time 3D shortly after and the rest, as they say, is history.

02. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

And at number 2 is, big surprise, Breath of the Wild. Up until the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and even a few months after that honestly, my Switch was a Zelda machine. From my birthday in April to August of that year, Breath of the Wild was the game I played and I savoured every second of it. This was my first open world game, my first big 3D title that gave you something even close to this level of freedom, and that made it special to me. Not to mention that by this point I had become a bona fide Zelda fan and was chomping on the bit to experience what this ‘revolutionary’ title had to offer. 

I took a clockwise approach to defeating the Divine Beasts, starting with Vah Naboris int the Gerudo Dessert but I didn't rush my playthrough. I took my time with it, exploring Hyrule to my heart's content. I completed all 120 shrines before even tackling Calamity Ganon and got its DLC day one. That's how much I enjoyed just exploring the world and just being in it. While I would've liked better dungeons and a crafting system to better balance the weapon durability, Breath of the Wild was a gaming experience I hadn't had before or have truly had since.

01. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Coming in at number 1 is what is pretty much considered a retro title these days: Twilight Princess. A game that is far from perfect yet somehow is just oh so endearing to me. I have plenty of gripes with the game, such as the visual style, but and the end of the day Twilight Princess is the game that I think of first whenever The Legend of Zelda is brought up. When I think about Ganondorf, it's the Twilight Princess version that I think off. When I think about Zelda music, my mind goes to Twilight Princess's soundtrack. Got to figure out a way to actually own that soundtrack one of these days, but I digress. 

That, combined with the history I have with this game, places it so high on the list. It was the first-ever contact I had with Zelda, though didn't realize it at the time. I saw my cousin play the game on his GameCube, switching back and forth from Link to Wolf Link. It was interesting to little old-me. Learning that this game I still vividly remember from that day was a Zelda title after playing A Link Between Worlds was such a pleasant surprise. Getting the game for a birthday (new old stock no less) was magical quite the pleasant surprise! If this game ever finds its way to the Switch and/or the Switch 2, this will be one of the very few games I will double dip on, that’s for certain! 

……….

And that's it folks! Those were all the Zelda games I played ranked based on my enjoyment and the impact they left on me. Well, at the moment that is. I'm far from done playing Zelda games so this list might chance over time. New games enter the list or replays might change my views. It's only natural that the rankings might chance of time no