The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most popular series, with installments on nearly every single Nintendo console since the franchise's humble beginnings on the NES. As the games have evolved alongside video gaming as an art form, they've gotten progressively more complex, which gives players a lot to discover and unlock as they adventure.
By the most recent entries in the series, The Legend of Zelda has expanded far past what many considered possible for video games. It comes to a great detriment to some completionists, who in the past faced the challenge of completing each game 100%, although these eight Zelda titles really put them to the test with their various completion methods.
Updated April 6, 2024, by Blaise Santi: While many of the most recognizable titles in the Legend of Zelda franchise are notoriously challenging to 100% complete, there are a few other titles that even hardcore fans of the series may never have played. In the case of these additional Zelda games, they cross the line from tedious to impossible to 100% complete. This is especially true as the consoles they were available on fade further into gaming history. However, for fans who had the opportunity to 100% complete them earlier in the game's life span, they can attest that these new entries to the list are among the most challenging to beat.
8 Best Overworld Maps In Zelda Games, Ranked
Nintendo's flagship franchise has some great examples of how an overworld map should be.
10 Tri Force Heroes
The Game Will Be Obsolete By The End Of April 2024
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
- Released
- October 23, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is an underrated title in the Zelda library, having been a 3DS exclusive centered around a multiplayer campaign. While it does include support for single players, the game mainly requires a trio of 3DS owners to link up via wireless connection. This can make it a tough game to complete, as there must be three players altogether.
Simply put, gathering a trio of gamers to complete 128 missions might take some time, especially when 100% completion also requires unlocking 36 costumes and collecting 15 Friendly Tokens. The Friendly Tokens can only be acquired by playing with friends, making completion impossible for 3DS users, especially after Nintendo shuts down online services for the console.
9 The Minish Cap
Went Overboard With Collectibles
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- Released
- January 10, 2005
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Released in 2004, The Minish Cap was a Game Boy Advance exclusive that made its debut on the Nintendo Switch Online service over a year ago. The game is a typical top-down 2D Zelda, though it boasts an interesting list of tasks needed to complete it 100%. The most difficult of those is the fusing of kinstones, which requires players to explore the entire map.
What's even more difficult is collecting all 136 figurines, which are necessary in order to complete the Heart Containers. Players can only buy figurines at random by spending mysterious shells, so get used to farming them. However, they can also be bought in groups of 30 for 200 rupees each, which makes acquiring tons of them a lot easier.
8 Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link
Difficult Boss Battles And a Vast World To Explore
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
This direct sequel to the original The Legend of Zelda is famed for taking the series in a new direction, while also introducing elements that would become standard in future Zelda games. In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Link must seek the Triforce of Courage and awaken Princess Zelda from a sleeping spell. Meanwhile, Ganon’s minions are trying to resurrect their master. Zelda II uses a side-scrolling view and overworld map, and features role-playing aspects that are unique to the series.
- Released
- December 1, 1988
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo R&D4
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, 3DS, Wii, Nintendo Wii U
The first-ever Zelda sequel was released on the NES in 1988, offering a very different take on the franchise as introduced in the original game from 1986. In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, players explore a side-scrolling open world, growing stronger by defeating enemies and gaining levels. However, these RPG mechanics make it a much harder game to 100%.
Not only do players have to fully upgrade their Life, Magic, and Attack meters, but they must explore the world of Hyrule and collect numerous Treasure Bags, Link Dolls, and collect every Spell. It can be hard to accomplish all these optional tasks before completing this game, especially considering how difficult boss battles like Dark Link notoriously are.
7 The Legend Of Zelda
Even the Best Gamers Needed a Nintendo Power Subscription
The Legend of Zelda
The epic series The Legend of Zelda began here, with the heroic Link on a hazardous journey through the fantastic world of Hyrule. Using your sword, your shield and your wits, retrieve the eight fragments of the Triforce and save Princess Zelda.
This groundbreaking game introduced innovative ideas that are still present in Zelda games more than 25 years later. Not only is Link's original adventure action-packed, it also features puzzling dungeons to explore and a myriad of secrets to discover.
- Released
- February 21, 1986
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, 3DS, Wii, Nintendo Wii U
If Zelda II: The Adventure of Link challenges players with its open world exploration and hidden secrets, good luck completing the original The Legend of Zelda for NES without a strategy guide. 100% completion was even a consideration of the designers, as this game was one of the first ever to include save states, letting players pick up where they left off.
8 Best 2D Zelda Clones, Ranked
Those who enjoyed the nostalgia of 2D Zelda games will fall in love with the style of these clones.
Unlike The Adventure of Link, which requires players to become the strongest version of themselves to 100% it, The Legend of Zelda has some side quests that can be easily forgotten about. For instance, there's finding a letter to give to the Old Woman, or uncovering every hidden shortcuts in the various dungeons throughout Hyrule.
6 Twilight Princess
Dozens of Side Quests and Mini-Games
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
As the Zelda franchise transitioned into 3D, it introduced many new avenues for players to complete in order to 100% each game. One example of this is Twilight Princess, which was released for the GameCube and Wii in 2006. This game has an above average amount of collectibles and side quests, from Poe Souls for Jovani, to Golden Bugs for Agitha.
Additionally, 100% completion of Twilight Princess also requires players to face difficult challenges, such as the Cave of Ordeals and the mini-game Rollgoal. Particularly for Twilight Princess HD, which was re-released on the Wii U, players will need to beat an entire dungeon unlocked with the Wolf Link amiibo, as well as complete two entire game modes.
5 The Wind Waker
The Widest Array of Collectibles in Any Zelda Title So Far
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Released
- March 24, 2003
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Platform(s)
- GameCube
Compared to other The Legend of Zelda titles, the Nintendo GameCube's The Wind Waker contains a vast amount of side quests and collectibles needed to 100% the game. Some of these include bringing Joy Pendants to Mrs. Marie, earn the Master rank from Orca, and collecting a total of 61 charts from various Tingle cousins throughout the Great Sea.
Some collectibles are incredibly difficult to find, such as the 148 treasure chests found underwater in the Great Sea, as well as Figurines of every character in the game. There are also additional challenges depending on whether you're completing it on GameCube or in the Wii U HD remake, but we'd recommend Wii U to avoid any Tingle Tuner-related quests.
4 Oracles Of Seasons / Oracle Of Ages
Defeat Both Games to 100% Complete Either One
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
A Hero for all Seasons
The land of Holodrum is slowly withering. Onox, the General of Darkness, has imprisoned the Oracle of Seasons and is draining the very life out of the land. With the seasons in tumult and the forces of evil running rampant, the world looks for a hero...and finds Link. His quest won't be easy-he'll have to master the seasons themselves if he's to turn back the evil tide.
• Wield the Rod of Seasons! Changes in weather open new paths and reveal hidden mysteries!
• Use tons of items! Link will master new items like Mystical Seeds and over 60
Magical Rings as well as classic tools like Roc's Feather and the Power Bracelet.
• Link gets reinforcements! Fly, swim and jump to new heights with all-new characters like Moosh the winged bear, Ricky the marsupial, and Dimitri the Dodongo!
Only one time in the entire Zelda franchise has Nintendo released two games simultaneously, similar to Pokemon games. Although these handheld titles on GameBoy Advance aren't incredibly difficult installments, the only way to 100% either game is to play them together as Linked Games, completing one before starting the other.
Tears Of The Kingdom: 8 Hardest Puzzles In The Game
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is filled to the brim with difficult puzzles to solve. Here are the trickiest of them all.
Fortunately, Nintendo makes this easy by revealing a Hero's Secret at the end of the game, which players can input at the start of the next game to play it as a continuation. The game also has its fair share of collectibles to gather, as well as helping to raise Bipsom, a small child whose upbringing is a result of Link's direct actions throughout the game.
3 Majora's Mask
A Great Reward Awaits Players Who Collect Every Mask
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- Released
- October 26, 2000
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 64, GameCube
Majora's Mask is notoriously one of the hardest Zelda games to complete on its own, let alone 100% it. Due to the game's 3-day timeframe and time travel mechanics, players might have a difficult time keeping track of every side quest within the game, which are necessary to complete in order to collect at twenty non-transformation masks at the end of the game.
By collecting every single non-transformation mask in Majora's Mask, players will obtain the Fierce Deity Mask, which can only be used during boss battles. Additionally, players will need to buy numerous maps from Tingle, and in the remake for the 3DS, obtain a Fishing Hole Pass so they can collect all 24 types of fish.
2 Breath Of The Wild
The Zelda Universe Expanded Massively
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U, Switch
If any The Legend of Zelda game was difficult to 100% complete prior to the release of Breath of the Wild, the Nintendo Switch/Wii U game completely blew them out of the water. As the first fully-fledged open world game, Breath of the Wild has a countless amount of side quests, non-playable characters, and map areas to explore throughout the main story.
10 Most Heartbreaking Moments In The Legend Of Zelda Franchise
These are the most heartbreaking moments in The Legend Of Zelda Franchise.
Most of player's time will be spent completing Main Quests and unlocking all 120 Ancient Shrines hidden throughout Hyrule. Additionally, there are numerous Armor Sets to discover, some of which are exclusive to amiibo figures. Plus, Breath of the Wild has numerous quests and storylines unlocked through downloadable content, including all-new Game Modes.
1 Tears Of The Kingdom
Triples the Overworld From Its Predecessor
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
The latest installment of the Zelda franchise takes the already intimidating Breath of the Wild and triples the amount of content. Not only do players have to do a similar amount of work completing the game for the main story, but Tears of the Kingdom also introduces new verticality to Hyrule to discover with the Sky Islands above and the Depths below.
With Tears of the Kingdom, those who have 100% completed Breath of the Wild may feel like they're repeating steps, such as collecting Armor Sets, Memories, Inventory Slots, and Shrines. However, Tears of the Kingdom also adds many new collectibles, from 34 Yiga Schematics, to a total of 53 Paraglider fabrics, 24 of which are amiibo exclusive.
The Legend of Zelda: Every Game, Ranked By How Long They Take To Beat
If fans want to beat Zelda in a 100% playthrough or just want to pick up a Legend of Zelda game to finish the main story, here’s how long it’ll take.