it’s one of the most critically acclaimed series of all time with almost
acclaimed series of all time with almost
acclaimed series of all time with almost all of its titles considered among the
all of its titles considered among the
all of its titles considered among the best on their systems welcome to
best on their systems welcome to
best on their systems welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 games in
down our picks for the top 10 games in
down our picks for the top 10 games in the Legend of Zelda franchise for a
the Legend of Zelda franchise for a
the Legend of Zelda franchise for a series where every title is regarded as
series where every title is regarded as
series where every title is regarded as one of the best on their respective
one of the best on their respective
one of the best on their respective consoles ranking each title wasn’t an
consoles ranking each title wasn’t an
consoles ranking each title wasn’t an easy challenge so we’re ranking each
easy challenge so we’re ranking each
easy challenge so we’re ranking each game based on a combination of how great
game based on a combination of how great
game based on a combination of how great they were at launch and how well they
they were at launch and how well they
they were at launch and how well they hold up by today’s standards number 10
hold up by today’s standards number 10
hold up by today’s standards number 10 The Legend of Zelda we’re starting this
The Legend of Zelda we’re starting this
The Legend of Zelda we’re starting this list off with the game that started it
list off with the game that started it
list off with the game that started it all this was the first console game ever
all this was the first console game ever
all this was the first console game ever that allowed you to save your game via
that allowed you to save your game via
that allowed you to save your game via battery backup and one of the first to
battery backup and one of the first to
battery backup and one of the first to introduce nonlinear gameplay on a large
introduce nonlinear gameplay on a large
introduce nonlinear gameplay on a large map
map
map you
while the gameplay hasn’t aged as well
while the gameplay hasn’t aged as well compared to the other titles in the
compared to the other titles in the
compared to the other titles in the series the fact that the 10th slot is
series the fact that the 10th slot is
series the fact that the 10th slot is given to one of the best games on the
given to one of the best games on the
given to one of the best games on the NES meant the series only got better
number 9 Oracle of Seasons this was a
number 9 Oracle of Seasons this was a toss-up between this one and the Oracle
toss-up between this one and the Oracle
toss-up between this one and the Oracle of Ages as both games were released on
of Ages as both games were released on
of Ages as both games were released on the same day the two featured similar
the same day the two featured similar
the same day the two featured similar mechanics in Ages you could travel
mechanics in Ages you could travel
mechanics in Ages you could travel between two different time periods and
between two different time periods and
between two different time periods and its seasons you could change the seasons
its seasons you could change the seasons
its seasons you could change the seasons and thus the landscape for us we’re
and thus the landscape for us we’re
and thus the landscape for us we’re going with Oracle of Seasons since time
going with Oracle of Seasons since time
going with Oracle of Seasons since time travel has been used in several zelda
travel has been used in several zelda
travel has been used in several zelda games before and since though this is
games before and since though this is
games before and since though this is essentially a tie
number eight Skyward Sword it’s true
number eight Skyward Sword it’s true this game gets more than its fair share
this game gets more than its fair share
this game gets more than its fair share of criticism compared to other entries
of criticism compared to other entries
of criticism compared to other entries so let’s quickly address those yes he is
so let’s quickly address those yes he is
so let’s quickly address those yes he is annoying the open sky is rather empty
annoying the open sky is rather empty
annoying the open sky is rather empty and shooting the bow is more complex
and shooting the bow is more complex
and shooting the bow is more complex than it needs to be well I thought looks
than it needs to be well I thought looks
than it needs to be well I thought looks like we’re having a little interference
like we’re having a little interference
like we’re having a little interference here but on the good side this game has
here but on the good side this game has
here but on the good side this game has some of the finest and most creative
some of the finest and most creative
some of the finest and most creative dungeons in the series Yura Hamm is a
dungeons in the series Yura Hamm is a
dungeons in the series Yura Hamm is a great new villain and this is probably
great new villain and this is probably
great new villain and this is probably the best portrayal of Link and Zelda out
the best portrayal of Link and Zelda out
the best portrayal of Link and Zelda out of all of their incarnations number 7
of all of their incarnations number 7
of all of their incarnations number 7 highlight princess being the only game
highlight princess being the only game
highlight princess being the only game in the series to be released on two
in the series to be released on two
in the series to be released on two consoles at the same time while some
consoles at the same time while some
consoles at the same time while some complain that’s essentially a darker and
complain that’s essentially a darker and
complain that’s essentially a darker and edgier version of Ocarina of Time we say
edgier version of Ocarina of Time we say
edgier version of Ocarina of Time we say that’s not a bad thing
changing into a wolf was satisfying and
changing into a wolf was satisfying and the atmosphere in the Twilight Realm hit
the atmosphere in the Twilight Realm hit
the atmosphere in the Twilight Realm hit the right tone ensuring that this was
the right tone ensuring that this was
the right tone ensuring that this was probably the closest thing we’ve ever
probably the closest thing we’ve ever
probably the closest thing we’ve ever had to a cinematic Zelda experience
number six Link’s Awakening the Gameboy
number six Link’s Awakening the Gameboy may not have had the horsepower of its
may not have had the horsepower of its
may not have had the horsepower of its bigger brother the SNES but that didn’t
bigger brother the SNES but that didn’t
bigger brother the SNES but that didn’t stop Link’s Awakening from not only
stop Link’s Awakening from not only
stop Link’s Awakening from not only retaining its tight responsive gameplay
retaining its tight responsive gameplay
retaining its tight responsive gameplay but it also brought in another series
but it also brought in another series
but it also brought in another series first emotional storytelling there’s a
first emotional storytelling there’s a
first emotional storytelling there’s a plot twist halfway through the game that
plot twist halfway through the game that
plot twist halfway through the game that makes you question whether your quest is
makes you question whether your quest is
makes you question whether your quest is the right thing to do and the game’s
the right thing to do and the game’s
the right thing to do and the game’s ending left few gamers with dry eyes
ending left few gamers with dry eyes
ending left few gamers with dry eyes which is pretty impressive for a game
which is pretty impressive for a game
which is pretty impressive for a game released on a monochrome brick number 5
released on a monochrome brick number 5
released on a monochrome brick number 5 Majora’s Mask one of the most
Majora’s Mask one of the most
Majora’s Mask one of the most unconventional games in the series this
unconventional games in the series this
unconventional games in the series this entry explores the theme of impending
entry explores the theme of impending
entry explores the theme of impending death as the moon itself is on a
death as the moon itself is on a
death as the moon itself is on a collision course with the land of
collision course with the land of
collision course with the land of termina while it only makes the fifth
termina while it only makes the fifth
termina while it only makes the fifth slot for having the least amount of
slot for having the least amount of
slot for having the least amount of dungeons in the series Majora’s Mask
dungeons in the series Majora’s Mask
dungeons in the series Majora’s Mask makes up for that with creative side
makes up for that with creative side
makes up for that with creative side quests that require clever thinking and
quests that require clever thinking and
quests that require clever thinking and Groundhog Day style trial and error
this is probably why it has a strong
this is probably why it has a strong community campaigning for a 3ds or Wii U
community campaigning for a 3ds or Wii U
community campaigning for a 3ds or Wii U R even number for a link between worlds
R even number for a link between worlds
R even number for a link between worlds the most recent entry in the franchise
the most recent entry in the franchise
the most recent entry in the franchise admittedly when this was on the horizon
admittedly when this was on the horizon
admittedly when this was on the horizon the Zelda formula started to get a bit
the Zelda formula started to get a bit
the Zelda formula started to get a bit repetitive but link between worlds
repetitive but link between worlds
repetitive but link between worlds managed to do the unthinkable it was
managed to do the unthinkable it was
managed to do the unthinkable it was able to walk the line between complete
able to walk the line between complete
able to walk the line between complete overhaul and shameless remake with
overhaul and shameless remake with
overhaul and shameless remake with perfect form opting for nonlinear
perfect form opting for nonlinear
perfect form opting for nonlinear exploration having all of the items
exploration having all of the items
exploration having all of the items available to you upfront and multiple
available to you upfront and multiple
available to you upfront and multiple solutions to the dungeons it may have
solutions to the dungeons it may have
solutions to the dungeons it may have looked like Link to the Past but it was
looked like Link to the Past but it was
looked like Link to the Past but it was revolutionary in terms of progression
revolutionary in terms of progression
revolutionary in terms of progression plus hearing that SNES theme in full
plus hearing that SNES theme in full
plus hearing that SNES theme in full stereo total nerdgasm number three the
stereo total nerdgasm number three the
stereo total nerdgasm number three the Wind Waker cel-shaded graphics may have
Wind Waker cel-shaded graphics may have
Wind Waker cel-shaded graphics may have been a controversial choice back in 2002
been a controversial choice back in 2002
been a controversial choice back in 2002 but today we now see that they hold up
but today we now see that they hold up
but today we now see that they hold up way better over time
Wind Waker is by far the most beautiful
Wind Waker is by far the most beautiful Zelda game out there with vibrant colors
Zelda game out there with vibrant colors
Zelda game out there with vibrant colors being set to the backdrop of a vast
being set to the backdrop of a vast
being set to the backdrop of a vast ocean which truly captures the sense of
ocean which truly captures the sense of
ocean which truly captures the sense of an epic adventure
and the HD remaster on the Wii U trims a
and the HD remaster on the Wii U trims a lot of the unnecessary paddock in the
lot of the unnecessary paddock in the
lot of the unnecessary paddock in the final Triforce Quest what’s not to like
Oh number two a Link to the Past who
Oh number two a Link to the Past who would have thought that the SNES game
would have thought that the SNES game
would have thought that the SNES game released more than 20 years ago still
released more than 20 years ago still
released more than 20 years ago still holds up as one of the best in the
holds up as one of the best in the
holds up as one of the best in the series this game has more dungeons than
series this game has more dungeons than
series this game has more dungeons than any other entry in the series yet still
any other entry in the series yet still
any other entry in the series yet still manages its pacing very well it
manages its pacing very well it
manages its pacing very well it introduced new elements that would go on
introduced new elements that would go on
introduced new elements that would go on to become standard in future titles most
to become standard in future titles most
to become standard in future titles most notably the debut of the three triangle
notably the debut of the three triangle
notably the debut of the three triangle Triforce design and the franchise’s most
Triforce design and the franchise’s most
Triforce design and the franchise’s most iconic weapon the Master Sword
before we get to probably the obvious
before we get to probably the obvious number one let’s take a look at some
number one let’s take a look at some
number one let’s take a look at some honorable mentions
and just for fun here are some
and just for fun here are some dishonorable mentions as well how about
dishonorable mentions as well how about
dishonorable mentions as well how about a kiss for luck you’ve got to be kidding
a kiss for luck you’ve got to be kidding
a kiss for luck you’ve got to be kidding number one ocarina of time yeah yeah
number one ocarina of time yeah yeah
number one ocarina of time yeah yeah yeah
yeah
yeah call us predictable call us on original
call us predictable call us on original
call us predictable call us on original but in reality ocarina of time is still
but in reality ocarina of time is still
but in reality ocarina of time is still as amazing as it was back in 98 in fact
as amazing as it was back in 98 in fact
as amazing as it was back in 98 in fact the recent remaster on the 3ds has the
the recent remaster on the 3ds has the
the recent remaster on the 3ds has the game both looking and feeling better
game both looking and feeling better
game both looking and feeling better than ever
after all this was the game that not
after all this was the game that not only set the standard for future Zelda
only set the standard for future Zelda
only set the standard for future Zelda games but also all action-adventure
games but also all action-adventure
games but also all action-adventure games in general and to this day few
games in general and to this day few
games in general and to this day few come close to matching the grand scale
come close to matching the grand scale
come close to matching the grand scale of this masterpiece
with all of the games in the series
with all of the games in the series being regarded like royalty our list is
being regarded like royalty our list is
being regarded like royalty our list is obviously going to be different from
obviously going to be different from
obviously going to be different from everyone else’s so let us know what your
everyone else’s so let us know what your
everyone else’s so let us know what your favorite games in the franchise are and
favorite games in the franchise are and
favorite games in the franchise are and for more defining top 10s published
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