If there was one video game series that was to be called the best series of all time, many would sayThe Legend of Zeldawould take that title. Since thefirst game was released in 1986, gamers have been taken on a journey to the fictional kingdom of Hyrule, which has been protected by the Hero Link and Princess Zelda as they work together to defeat Ganon and any other evil that threatens their world.
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In the 37 years that the series has been around there have been 19 main series games, with the 20th,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, set to release soon. Many things have become a staple for the series. In the days of its 2D games, a top-down perspective was expected. Most would also consider crafting and fishing to be staples of the series. But several of these things and more were once considered new and experimental. All the experimental aspects that were developed didn’t become as successful as others, but they all worked towards shaping the series into what it is today.
6Zelda 2: The Adventure Of Link - The Only Side-Scroller
The firstLegend of Zeldagame had a top-down view style of gameplay, which made it different from a lot of Nintendo’s other games of that time. Over time, the top-down view was a staple ofZeldagames, until the creation ofZelda 2: The Adventure of Link. It is the first and only (so far) side-scroller of the series. Set as a sequel to the first game, Link finds himself on a mission to awaken the original Princess Zelda, who was put into a magical sleep.
Combat is played similarly toCastlevaniagames and has an experience points system that lets Link upgrade his magic, health, and attack as he defeats enemies. Raising his magic decreases how many points he has to burn to use spells, raising his health lessens the damage he takes from enemies, and raising his attacks makes his sword stronger. It doesn’t get as much spotlight as other games in the series, but it was a commercial and critical success and was the first game to introduce the concept of “Dark Link,“as he’s the final bossin the game.
5Link’s Awakening - Not Set In Hyrule, No Zelda, And The First Time Link Can Fish
For the younger fans, when they hearThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakeningthey probably think of the brightly colored toy-like art style of the Nintendo Switch. But that game is the remake of the original 1993 game that was released on the Game Boy. Not only was it the firstZeldagame to be developed for a portable system, but it was also the first game that wasn’t set in Hyrule and that didn’t include Zelda. The game is set on an island called Koholint. Set afterA Link To the Past, Link sets off to other countries to train himself to be prepared for other threats.
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But during his travel, he gets caught in a storm that destroys his boat and he washes up on the shores of Koholint. He meets the locals, who are all interesting characters, and learns that the only way for him to leave the island is to wake up the island’s guardian, the Wind Fish.Link’s Awakeningwas also the first game to feature fishing as a mini-game, which then set the precedent of fishing being a gameplay mechanic in otherZeldagames.
4Four Swords Adventures - The First Multiplayer Game
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventurescame out in the time of the Game Boy Advance and the GameCube. The GBA could be used as a controller using the link cable that came with the GameCube. It allowed up to4 GBAs to be connectedto a console at once.Four Swords Adventuresbecame the first multiplayer inThe Legend of Zeldaseries.
When Zelda and her six shrine maidens fear the reappearance of an evil sorcerer named Vaati, Link is tasked with saving Hyrule using the legendary magical blade called the Four Sword. It splits Link up into four copies of himself who have to work together to save everyone. The main campaign of the game is called Hyrulean Adventure and 1 to 4 players have to make their way through eight different worlds. There’s also a game mode called Shadow Battle where two or more players can play against each other in a battle royale.
3Oracle Of Ages & Oracle Of Seasons - Released Together
When it comes toPokemongames, the standard is for at least two versions to come out simultaneously, with each version having an exclusive Pokemon.Zeldahadn’t really done that, until the release ofOracle of AgesandOracle of Seasons.AgesandSeasonsare the first and only games to be released together simultaneously. The stories of both games have key differences, playing more like the different paths inFire Emblem Fates.
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Agesfocuses more on puzzles whileSeasonsfocuses on combat, making playing both two different experiences. Though both are complete games, owning both allow players to unlock bonus content via a game link cable or passwords. This linked gameplay also unlocks an extended ending where players can defeat two bosses they werenot able to fight before: Ganonand Twinrova.
2Phantom Hourglass - Touch Controls On The DS
The Nintendo DS changed the way handheld games were played as it was designed with two screens, the bottom being a touch screen that can be used with a stylus pen. Many of the games developed for the DS were made to utilize both screens, and the firstZeldagame that was made with those controls in mind wasPhantom Hourglass.
Asequel toWind Waker, Link travels through the Great Sea to rescue Tetra after she disappears on a Ghost Ship. There are two different modes of gameplay, exploring islands on foot and traveling to different islands on water. While sailing the top screen shows a map of the area and players can lower the map to the touchscreen and make notes on the map and even chart a course for the ship to take.
1Breath Of The Wild - The First Time Players Could Cook
Breath of the Wildcame out in 2017 and was a breath of fresh air for fans who wanted a newZeldagame. From the very first trailer, fans couldn’t wait to sink their teeth into the new open-world environment. And as they explored, they discovered a new gameplay element: cooking. Cooking is basically crafting in the game. Players cancreate hundreds of different food itemsand elixirs with different effects.
Using the new cooking pots that can be found throughout the world, players can toss different food items together to create recipes. Cooked food typically offers Link more health than just eating the raw ingredients. Elixirs use creatures, materials, and monster parts to give Link boosts. The world has dynamic weather and different biomes have their own climate. These climates will affect Link if he doesn’t have the right armor equipped on him, but elixirs will make it possible for Link to weather through them for a duration of time.
