The Legend of Zelda's latest title, Tears of the Kingdom officially released on May 12th, 2023. This is one of the highest anticipated Zelda games ever and might end up being the best-selling Zelda game to date.
Tears of the Kingdom is another 3D video game in the long-running series, and like many of the other 3D Zelda games, it's guaranteed to be popular. The same hasn't always been said for the 2D Zelda games, but that doesn't make them any less impressive. The first The Legend of Zelda game was a 2D video game, after all, and is an absolutely stunning experience that defined the franchise.
Updated on May 17th, 2023 by Casey Coates: This article has been updated to include information about where the various 2D Zelda games can be played and to include videos for each game.
10 The Adventure Of Link (1988)
NES, GameCube, GBA
The Adventure of Link has often been criticized by fans as being the worst Zelda game. However, many fans don't give the game the time it needs to show how good it is. This game is very different from the other Zelda games and often plays closer to a Metroidvania game than anything else.
Regardless of what genre it falls under, The Adventure of Link is still a fantastic entry in the franchise. The game's story is a bit cliché but offers a great follow-up to the first game. The brutally difficult battle against Dark Link alone makes this game worth playing.
9 Four Swords Adventure (2004)
GameCube
Four Swords Adventure is an absolute blast of a game. Sometimes it feels more like a fun spin-off than a main series title. This is mainly due to how the game is presented with the maps and the little story there is.
The gameplay is incredibly diverse, and so many formations can be unlocked for the four Links. The concept of Four Swords Adventure is incredibly creative, and the game is welcoming to beginners. Many players view the 2D games as the harder games in the franchise, but thankfully Four Swords Adventure tones it down.
8 Cadence Of Hyrule (2019)
Nintendo Switch
Cadence of Hyrule is a spin-off rhythm game. It's also a crossover game with the Crypt of the NecroDancer franchise. It takes the general features and gameplay from Crypt of the NecroDancer, which is primarily Roguelike.
While many iconic weapons and items from the Zelda games appear, the gameplay feels completely fresh and different. Gamers will go through many classical locations in Hyrule and play through challenging maps, dungeons, and regions that contain the Zelda franchise's best themes. Players have the option to play as either Link, Zelda, or Cadence.
7 Link's Awakening (1993)
Game Boy, GBC
Link's Awakening has gained a lot of popularity thanks to its remake on the Nintendo Switch. However, the original Link's Awakening on the GameBoy is a fantastic experience, and many gamers can now experience this classic GameBoy game on Nintendo Switch Online.
The coloring isn't always incredibly appealing, but getting past that is the only negative aspect of the game. Link's Awakening took a risky approach by introducing and creating a brand-new land outside Hyrule. However, this ended off paying incredibly well and gave fans an amazing new land to explore. The dungeons were also fantastic, with creative puzzles and great bosses.
6 The Minish Cap (2004)
GBA
The Minish Cap is a title that many Zelda fans have looked upon fondly for years. It provides a fun new gaming experience where Link can shrink to the size of an ant and explore two worlds at once in one.
The Zelda games have always done an excellent job of blending two sorts of worlds into a single game, and The Minish Cap is a perfect example of this. The Minish Cap also features some of the best dungeons ever seen in Zelda games before. Link also acquires many new and classic items to help along his journey, making the game feel fresh, new, and unique.
5 The Legend Of Zelda (1987)
NES, GBA
The Legend of Zelda is the first entry in the franchise and one of the best aging video games ever. The difficult aspect of this Zelda title is knowing where to go, but thankfully many friendly guides aid players with this. Hyrule feels vibrant, full, and huge in this game.
Link encounters so many monsters that later become incredibly iconic, like Moblins, Wizzrobes, Keese, and of course, Lynels. Many concepts and ideas introduced in this game have also recurred in almost every title, like the Triforce, the main heroes Link, Zelda, and the iconic villain, Ganon. The game can be intensely difficult and challenging to complete, but it offers a more rewarding feeling than almost any other Zelda game when finished.
4 Oracle Of Ages (2001)
GBC
Oracle of Ages is one of the most underrated Zelda games in the franchise. The graphics and gameplay, as well as the design of the world, are all remarkably similar to Link's Awakening — so much so that it seems likely that Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons will be remade at some point.
Oracle of Ages is the ideal Zelda game for fans who prefer the puzzle aspect of Zelda games. In fact, this game arguably has the best puzzles out of any Zelda title. The primary concept of the game is controlling time and traveling to both the past and the future. The story itself is great, and the way Oracle of Ages links to Oracle of Seasons is a cool detail that hopefully shows up again in a future Zelda entry.
3 Oracle Of Seasons (2001)
GBC
Oracle of Seasons is the game that most Zelda fans would love the most. It focuses far more on action and combat than puzzle solving, like Oracle of Ages. This game's main feature is the Rod of Seasons, which Link can use to change to one of the year's four seasons.
However, not every season is unlocked immediately, which helps keep the world from being discovered completely right away. This creates a stable pace for the game where Link can access more areas the more seasons he unlocks. Much like Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons also has a great story and has one of the coolest villains in a Zelda game, General Onox.
2 A Link To The Past (1991)
SNES
A Link to the Past remains one of the best Zelda games today. It was a revolutionary title that created many consistent tropes that continued throughout the franchise, like introducing the best sword featured in Zelda, the Master Sword. The overworld of Hyrule designed for A Link to the Past is also unmatched, and the dungeons that can be explored remain some of the best.
Link's level progression in the game is one of few Zelda games where players can upgrade their tunic and improve the overall strength and capabilities of the Master Sword. The game's influence over the rest of the titles in the franchise is impressive and has helped solidify A Link to the Past as the classic it's seen as today.
1 A Link Between Worlds (2013)
3DS
A Link Between Worlds is often confused as a remake of A Link to the Past. This is because A Link Between Worlds uses the same overworld and dungeons but has a different story. It takes place a few hundred years after A Link to the Past. The game uses a lot from A Link to the Past and improves almost everything. A Link Between Worlds also adds new items beyond what was in A Link to the Past which freshens and improves the overall gaming experience.
The merging gameplay feature is also an incredibly unique mechanic added in this game that separates it from A Link to the Past. A Link Between Worlds is one of the best gaming experiences and easily one of the greatest Legend of Zelda titles. The story isn't as strong as A Link to the Past's, but the concept of Lorule was even better than the Dark World.