Top 10 Zelda Games

Having developed the Oracle games on Game Boy Color and achieving both critical and commercial success, Capcom were once again invited in by Nintendo to develop another Zelda entry on the Game Boy Advance – The Minish Cap. The Minish Cap puts a whole new perspective on the land of Hyrule, allowing you to explore this at the minuscule size of the Minish. This reduced size allows you to explore the little nooks of Hyrule, where you’ll discover communities of Minish in the most unusual places – from the ceiling rafters to bookshelves! This clever mechanic is also key in dungeons. Shrinking down to the tiny Minish size means that usual enemies like ChuChus and Octoroks become gargantuan and, where they’d normally be no threat for Link, are now difficult dungeon bosses. Although I’m not a huge fan of the Kinstones, elements like the weapon selection, story and shrinking mechanic create a unique experience for this wonderful handheld Zelda adventure.

After the release of The Wind Waker, Zelda fans were desperately seeking a maturer game, more aligned with Wind Waker’s predecessor Majora’s Mask. It was at Nintendo’s Space World event in 2000 where a tech demo of Link and Ganon fighting was shown, but this gameplay, and in particular the graphics, were radically changed for Wind Waker’s cell-shaded art style. Well, the wait was over and was also worth it, as Twilight Princess was released for Wii and GameCube. TP is an incredible Zelda entry and one favoured by many. If I were making this list purely based on dungeons, then Twilight Princess would top the chart by a mile. TP has an incredible dungeon design, all complemented by the wealth of available items in Link’s arsenal (you can read my Top 10 Twilight Princess Items for more). Dungeons such as Arbiter’s Ground, Snowpeak Ruins and City in the Sky stand out as some of the best amongst TP’s considerably high dungeon quality. With the HD remaster on the Wii U offering quality of life changes, the best Link companion in Midna, and a lengthy and satisfying story, Twilight Princess stands strong in the Zelda series.

My favourite handheld and 2D Zelda title, without a doubt, is Link’s Awakening. Whether you’re playing the original Game Boy version, the DX release on the Game Boy Colour, or the new remake on the Switch, Link’s Awakening is the wackiest and weirdest Zelda title of the lot. Set on Koholint Island, Link’s ship crashes, and he awakes on the beach of Toronbo Shores. Marin soon saves him, and it’s here where his adventure begins. Koholint Island isn’t like Hyrule; it’s rife with Mario references, such as Goomba, Chain Chomp, and apparently has a Yoshi Egg perched at its highest point – Mt. Tamaranch. Link’s Awakening is mostly top-down but includes some side-scrolling parts (a series first!), and it was also the first Zelda game that allows Link to jump thanks to Roc’s Feather. However, what’s most amazing about Link’s Awakening is the size of the adventure – especially when you consider it first released on Game Boy. Throw in a touching story, solid dungeons, and the inclusion of Link’s first instrument (the ocarina), and it’s easy to see why I love Link’s Awakening so much.

Whilst I’m talking about expansiveness, let me introduce The Wind Waker. This Zelda title takes place sprawled out across The Great Sea, an incredibly huge ocean littered with islands here and there. The Wind Waker, for me, has the most touching story in a Zelda title. Most iterations of Link in the Zelda series are “the chosen hero” destined to save Hyrule, however the Link in The Wind Waker is just a chap in a bad place, at the wrong time. After his sister is captured, he’s forced into a situation to save her and inadvertently ends up on an adventure filled with Pirates, Triforce pieces and dungeon crawling. From Link leaving his grandmother to Medli’s care for a friend, The Wind Waker is full of touching moments – tugging at the heartstrings like Link tugging at a Moblin’s pockets with the grappling hook. I mentioned the dislike some fans felt for the cell-shaded graphics – personally, I really liked them. They gave Link more character and emotion but, more importantly, allowed the game to feel timeless. Even today, when picking up the GameCube version, the graphics still hold up – something that can’t be said for the N64 Zelda games. Yes, the Triforce hunt can be dull, but it’s easy to overlook when you relish in the story and swashbucklin’ adventure The Wind Waker delivers every time.

Well, where do I begin with this game? I don’t know – but I’ll try. Majora’s Mask is, without a doubt, still the darkest, gloomiest and atmospheric game to date. Zelda titles like Twilight Princess have tried to capture and replicate the darkness and maturity conjured by Majora’s Mask but haven’t even come close. Termina is a land full of despair and depravity, yet throughout the three days you live, live and relive again, there’s hope to be found. Whether it’s the salvaging of a sister’s farm from unknown beasts or the reuniting and marriage of a couple in love, Majora’s Mask provides these tiny, fleeting moments of hope before cruelly ripping them away again. Yes, everything done in Majora’s Mask is temporary as Link repeats the same three-day cycle whilst venturing through Termina’s four dungeons. This three-day cycle is woven throughout the fabric of Majora’s Mask and comes to play in the characters around Link. As the overhanging moon draws closer and closer to Termina’s surface, you can physically see their emotions and demeanour change over the three days. By the third day, some strut with bravery, whilst others panic and flee. This world-building and character progression (even from some of the more subtle characters) is wonderful – even to this day, I find new bits of dialogue or something secret when I replay Majora’s Mask (who knew the Dojo guy hid in a secret room in his Dojo on the final day?). But what makes it even more special? Knowing Eiji Aonuma turned this game around in a single year – yeah, who said pressure doesn’t produce perfection?