Are you the kind of person who likes to kick back with mates and challenge each other to name all the Legend of Zelda games in order?
We are, which is why we’ve created this article just for you!
The great thing is, there are so many more Zelda games that I bet you haven’t heard of, which means that there are still new adventures for you to discover!
From the classics that we all know and love to DS games that you just wouldn’t believe could have ever been created, you’ll find each and every Zelda title in order of release right here.
47 Zeldalicious games for you to sink your teeth into, and I’ll be really surprised if you own Number 23 in the list below!
1. The Legend of Zelda (1986)
The very first Zelda title on the NES. This is the first time we ever became acquainted with the pointy-eared chosen one, alongside Ganon, Zelda, and the Triforce.
Imagine a world without the Triforce!
2. Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link (1987)
A direct sequel to the first Zelda game and the only direct sequel in the canon. Link and Impa go on a mission to find a sleeping Zelda after Link discovers a weird mark on his hand.
The catch; all the girls in the land are called Zelda. Great…
3. Zelda Game & Watch (1989)
This Zelda Game & Watch dual-screen console recently made our list of the best Game & Watch games of all time, and it’s not hard to see why.
Heavily based on the first two games, play as Link as you move between screens and seek out eight dragons in eight dungeons.
4. The Legend of Zelda –Nelsonic Game Watch (1989)
Now you too can be the hero of time… in a manner of speaking.
The Nelsonic Game Watch takes portable Zelda action to the next level, making time for Zelda time, all the time. This watch holds a simplified version of the very first Zelda game.
Now you can time yourself while listing back all the Legend of Zelda games in order from memory!
5. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
One of the best SNES games ever made, A Link to the Past is an absolute tour de force. After an evil wizard manages to both save and imprison Hyrule (nice move…), Zelda asks for a hero to save the Kingdom.
No prizes for guessing who takes on the challenge!
6. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993)
It’s almost 30 years since Link first appeared on the Gameboy. Save Koholint Island from evil creatures and uncover the secret of the Wind Fish’s Egg!
7. Link: The Faces of Evil (1993)
Did you know that Link featured on other consoles other than bona fide Nintendo systems?
The Faces of Evil is the first of three games on the Phillips CDI. It dropped alongside the Wand of Gamelon on the same day. Head out to beat Ganon; job done!
8. Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993)
Link was the star of The Faces of Evil, and as the title of this next game says, it was Zelda’s turn to take the reigns!
Alongside Impa, Zelda has to save both the King and Link when they don’t come back from battle.
9. Zelda’s Adventure (1994)
The Wand of Gamelon was such a popular title that Zelda got another chance at the spotlight the year after. Zelda’s Adventure sees the Princess of Hyrule setting out to save the day once again!
10. Zelda no Densetsu – The Hyrule Fantasy (1994)
Zelda no Densetsu is the Japanese release of the first Zelda home console title, featuring a Famicom save feature.
11. BS Zelda no Densetsu (1995)
This one is a bit of an enigma. It’s the first spin-off game in our list and one that doesn’t even feature Link as a character.
I know; bet you didn’t expect that!
This is a remake of the original Zelda game with voice actors and a character called BS taking the main role.
Oh yeah; when I said I was going to list all the Legend of Zelda games in order, I meant every single one!
12. BS Zelda no Densetsu Inishie no Sekiban (1997)
You might have heard of this one under a different name; Zelda and the Ancient Stone Tablets. It’s another ‘remix’ of a previous game, a changed version of A Link to the Past with players taking a male or female character from the BS-X Network on an adventure.
13. Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (1997)
This was the last BS Zelda game to drop on the Satellaview. It’s essentially a remake of A Link to the Past, this time with voice actors providing speech for the characters!
14. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
We all know this is the best of the best N64 games… if not the best game of all time!
Ocarina was Link’s first full 3D outing and a pivotal title of our time. It’s received more commendations than any game ever and regularly tops ‘best games’ lists to this day.
I get chills just thinking about it!
15. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX (1998)
Turning Link’s Awakening colour was a bigger deal than any of you could ever imagine. Not only did it bring a new area to the fold, the Colour Dungeon, but it also gave the game a whole new lease of life!
It made it feel like a brand-new game!
16. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)
Collect masks, stop Skull Kid, and prevent the moon from falling. Majora’s Mask set a pretty high precedent for gaming in the noughties. Protect Clock Town and Termina from imminent destruction by going back and forth through time!
17. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages (2001)
It’s time for two of the greatest Gameboy Color titles of all time to enter the fray: Oracle of Ages & Oracle of Seasons!
Players have to play both games in order to fully understand the story, making it essential to buy both titles.
It would be rude not to!
18. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
Who could forget Link’s first-ever cel-shaded adventure, one of my all-time favourite GameCube games.
Take to the high seas while searching for your sister, picking up treasure and Triforce shards while battling bad guys.
19. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (2002)
What could make Ocarina of Time better? How about a double disc with two enhanced versions, one of them harder than nails?
Master Quest sees the original adventure mirrored with harder bosses and more enemies to deal with. And of course, using the GameCube controller is much nicer than the old N64 claw grip.
20. The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition (2003)
This special edition game gives 4 titles for the price of 1. And the price was actually free; it came as either a part of a bundle or redeemable for points through the Nintendo rewards programme.
Play The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, Ocarina of Time & Majora’s Mask from one disc.
21. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)
Did you know Capcom had a bash at making a Zelda game? Yep, it was The Minish Cap, a game that takes heavy inspiration from both A Link To The Past and Link’s Awakening.
Become acquainted with the pint-size Picori as you and your cranky hat beat bosses and save the land.
22. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
If you’re looking for a game with strong Ocarina feels and motion controls, then look no further. Save Hyrule from the perils of the Shadow Realm and stop Zant from causing havoc on the world of light.
23. Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland (2006)
Weirdly, like Jar-Jar Binks in the Star Wars canon, Tingle has become a bit of a cult character with people flocking to buy his stand-alone games.
In this game, players must collect rupees while wandering around Rupeeland. Lse rupees, and you die. Talk about money being a matter of life or death, eh?
24. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)
Following on from the stylings of the Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass takes place in the timeline that sees Link leaving Hyrule altogether.
Zelda plays a big part in this game too, unleashing Phantom Guardians as you move through the game’s dungeons.
25. Tingle’s Balloon Fight DS (2007)
I thought this was an article about all the Legend of Zelda games in order? Well, Tingle’s many games drop into that category too… unfortunately for most of us.
This is a remake of the original Balloon Flight game with Tingle as the main protagonist. It was only available through Nintendo Japan and their reward points program.
26. Link’s Crossbow Training (2007)
Links Crossbow Training gets a bad rap, but I love it. A shooting game where players use a crossbow instead of a gun, Hyrule action at its finest.
Fight Stalfos, Moblins, and many more enemies from the canon as you move through each level, knocking back wave after wave of enemy. Use the Wii-Zapper for the ultimate experience!
27. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009)
Finishing off the cel-shaded series, players use the stylus to move Link and trains around this wacky world.
This game is an odd one because it’s as far from the normal Zelda games as one could get when it comes to the controls, but it really works. A fresh new idea for the DS Zelda series.
28. Dekisugi Tingle Pack (2009)
5 Tingle mini-games on one cart. Dekisugi Tingle Pack boasted cool DSI camera features and was available through the Nintendo reward points system.
29. Irozuki Tingle no Koi no Balloon Trip (2009)
It’s Tingle time… again. A man falls into a storybook and becomes Tingle.
The aim of this game is to buy gifts for women and dance with a Princess… weird right?
30. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)
This might be the 30th game in the canon, but it’s actually the first chronologically in the overall storyline. Start off on Skyloft and explore the unknown surface as you race to save Zelda.
This game brought lots of the ideas that would go on to feature in BotW.
31. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (2011)
Ocarina of Time 3D is the quintessential version of Ocarina of Time. Playing through Kokiri Forest, Dodango’s Cavern, and many more epic levels in 3D never gets old.
Seeing those Spiritual Stones spinning out of your screen is a sight to behold… almost literally!
32. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition (2011)
One enemy, four links. Take four swords on the rampage after Shadow Link splits Link into four separate entities with the Four Swords.
This is a true couch-co-op classic and a great 4 player game for the GameCube of all time!
33. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)
The worthy winner of our must-have 3DS RPGs, A Link Between Worlds is one of my favourite Zelda titles ever. Its refreshing mechanic of being able to rent all the weapons at the very beginning is great and allows for full concentration on the compelling storyline.
34. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (2013)
If you didn’t think that cel-shaded graphics could get any more vibrant, then think again. This HD version of the GameCube classic is so pixel-perfect that you could almost reach out and touch the people of Outset Island!
35. Hyrule Warriors (2014)
If wave after wave of enemies running at you and trying to kill is what you’re into, then Hyrule Warriors should be right up your street. Pick a classic character and go to war!
36. The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (2015)
If you loved Four Swords, then Triforce Heroes will be a nostalgic blast from the past. Take three Links based on Spiritual Stones through a mad world with classic Zelda enemies to battle.
37. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (2015)
Majora’s Mask was great on the N64, but with all of the elements highlighted in 3D, it gave it an incredible boost that made it 1000x times better. It’s almost like a brand-new game, and taking it on the bus or playing on the toilet never gets old.
38. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (2015)
Twilight Princess HD is the quintessential version of the story. It looks beautiful on the Wii-U, and it’s so much nicer to play without the motion controls.
39. Hyrule Warriors Legends (2016)
An updated port of Hyrule Warriors for the Nintendo 3DS. Portable button mashing play with a 3D edge; what’s not to love!
40. My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2016)
For the sum of 1000 Nintendo coins, you too can get in on the Picross action. This Zelda-themed Picross game is definitely one for the puzzle heads amongst you.
41. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
The greatest Zelda game of all time is also the most open-world Zelda game ever made too. If anyone out there hasn’t given this game a go yet, then stop reading this article now and grab it immediately.
No loading times, beautiful graphics, and sublime gameplay. It’s the gift that gives on giving.
42. Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (2018)
The definitive version of Hyrule Warriors with all the characters from the 3DS and Wii U versions of the game as well as new BotW clothing for Link and Zelda.
43. Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda (2019)
What happens when you mix a famous rhythm-based game series with characters from the Legend of Zelda. The answer – Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the Necrodancer featuring the Legend of Zelda.
Play as either Link or Zelda while getting down to the beat everywhere from Hyrule Castle to Death Mountain!
44. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (2019)
Links Awakening in beast mode. This is the ultimate version of the classic adventure, beautifully recreated for the Nintendo Switch.
Ok, so it’s not BotW, but it never fails to put a smile on my face whenever I slot in. It’s still a great filler until BotW 2 drops too!
45. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020)
As Hyrule Warriors and BotW were such rip-roaring successes, it’s no surprise that the Hyrule Warriors sequel brought Ganon’s minions into the mix!
Pick from Link and his fellow champions, smashing Moblins, Guardians, and many more into the dust.
46. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (2021)
Those motion controls felt a little slap-dash when Skyward Sword first came out. Still, the HD version ironed out all the kinks and even provided the chance to play without them altogether.
The game looks cleaner, it plays smoother, and it’s a fantastic enhancement, the version of Skyward Sword that we all deserve!
47. The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom (2023)
We’re diving back into Hyrule, literally from floating platforms and worlds all over the shop! With new pieces of ancient Zonai tech and an arm that does the job of the Sheikah Slate and more besides, we’re calling this the most impressive Zelda game yet!
The building mechanic in TotK is revolutionary too. If you can imagine it, you can build it, and there are so many cool new ways to kill Bokoblins (as well as three-headed dragons!)
48. The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom
It’s about time we had a game for a major console where players can play as Zelda. The main twist here is that Zelda doesn’t actually attack in her normal form, but rather uses the Tri Rod to create echoes of enemies you’ve already beaten to fight monsters you come up against.
The graphics are in the same style as the 2019 remake Link’s Awakening and provide a rich selection of levels with some outstanding scenery to explore. I was hooked from the first minute and it’s been fast-paced ever since!
How Many Zelda Games Are There?
There are currently 48 games in the Zelda series at the time of writing including spin-offs from the main series.
Ok, there are quite a few obscure ones with Tingle in them, but he’s a serious fan favourite character!
When Was Zelda Created?
The very first Zelda game dropped on the Famicom on February 21, 1986.
Yes, Shigeru Miyamoto released his creation on the budding gamers of Japan in 1986. I wasn’t even born then, but I would love to go back and be there standing in a store on the release date! I bet the queues were huge!
What Does Link’s Name Mean?
Link is called Link because he literally ‘links’ people together. Hyrule Historia explains that he was supposed to connect people and ‘spread scattered energy across the ages’.
It’s a bit of an odd explanation, but ours is not to question why!
Why Does Link Not Talk?
There are multiple reasons as to why Link doesn’t speak, the main being that the player is supposed to imagine themselves as Link and put themselves in his shoes.
The most recent theory is that he chose to silently bear the burdens of the calamity as explained in Zelda’s diary in Breath of the Wild, but once he comes out of the Shrine of Resurrection, he can be seen chatting to people all over the place.
Would it be nice if Link spoke? Yes, but I think it would be too weird now. People lost their minds when BotW brought voice acting to the fray instead of just weird grunts and gasps, so maybe the world just isn’t ready for Link to have a voice yet!
What Is The Best-selling Zelda Game Of All Time?
Breath of the Wild is the best-selling Zelda game of all time with 31.51 million sales to date.
Before 2017, Twilight Princess took the top spot with 8.7 million copies sold, and now Tears of the Kingdom is sitting on a very respectable 10 million copies.
