Nintendo created The Legend of Zelda back in February 1986 and who would have thought that it would become one of the best gaming series of all time. The Zelda titles have gone through many different variations over its lifetime, some bad, some good. And that's not even including the multitude of Zelda-spin off games that have been released. But some of those titles people pretend don't exist, looking at you the CGI games.
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This list is covering every original title, so no remakes, or enhanced ports. All games must be standalone. So here is every The Legend of Zelda title ranked by Metacritic.
17 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Metascore 73)
Ah Zelda II, the second Zelda game ever released. Nintendo back then decided to change the formula straight away to see how fans would react. And truth be told it did not go down well. Instead of the top-down view that the Zelda offered, Zelda II instead turn into a side-scrolling adventure game.
16 The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (Metascore 73)
The latest handheld Zelda title, that's if you don't count the Nintendo Switch. Tri Force Heroes released on the Nintendo 3DS and very much like Zelda: Four Swords, they added in a three-player multiplayer into the game. The game can be played solo, yet for a more enjoyable experience, playing with others is the way to go.
15 The Legend of Zelda (Metascore 84)
The Legend of Zelda, the game that began the series, the game that started it all back on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Adventure as Link in the land of Hyrule, to collect eight pieces of the Triforce. Who would have thought that back when this game came out, Nintendo would still be making Zelda games in 2020?
14 The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (Metascore 86)
This is the first Zelda game to feature multiplayer back on the Nintendo Gamecube. However, to be able to play four-player, each person needed a Game Boy Advance and a link cable. Even though it was a lot of hassle, it truly memorable experience to play with close friends.
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There was a Four Swords multiplayer game on the Link To The Past Game Boy Advance port, which did come first; however, it was not standalone.
13 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Metascore 87)
Spirit Tracks is another Zelda sequel, which doesn't come along very often. Phantom Hourglass is the first game. However, it holds strong ties to Wind Waker in the story as well as in the cel-shaded look graphical style. In this title, Link moves to different regions using a cannon-equipped steam train.
12 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch) (Metascore 87)
First off, this title is using the Switch version of Link's Awakening because Metacritic does not have a score for the original version. So this game is the only exception to the rule.
Link's Awakening was originally going to be a Link To The Past Game Boy port. However, while in development, they decided to turn it into its own adventure. Link's Awakening is also the first Zelda title to feature manual jumping, with an item called the Rocs Feather.
11 The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Metascore 89)
A lot of the Zelda games are linked in some way or form, mostly because of the Zelda timelines. The Game Boy Advance Zelda title, Minish Cap, is the third game involving the Four Swords story.
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However, with a new game comes new mechanics, and with this one, Link has a talking cap named Ezlo, who can shrink them both down to a size of a Minish, a bug-sized race that lives in Hyrule.
10 The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Metascore 90)
Phantom Hourglass is the first handheld title to be set after the events of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Not only that, it also uses the cel-shaded visuals from it too.
This Zelda title was also the first Zelda game to be released on the new handheld from Nintendo, the Nintendo DS. This also means it was the first game as well to feature touch screen controls.
9 The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Metascore 91)
A Link Between Worlds is a direct sequel to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System title A Link To The Past. It takes place in the same world but is set hundreds of years after.
The sequel was released on the Nintendo 3DS and is well known for its open-ended nature, as most dungeons can be completed in any order. A Link Between Worlds has a unique mechanic where Link can transform into a painting.
8 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages/Oracle Of Seasons (Metascore 92)
Both of these games were created by Flagship, who was part of Capcom. Oracle of Ages/Seasons are very similar to Link's Awakening, but their new mechanics truly sets them apart. As players have to solve puzzles by going back and forth through time or going through the four different seasons.