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Learn about the iconic Legend of Zelda Games series and how each entry has fared on Metacritic.
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most recognizable franchises in gaming history. Zelda games continue to spark joy in players, both old and new. The series has enjoyed tremendous success but also received some criticism over the years.
In this article, we have compiled a list of the Zelda games and ranked them as per their rating on Metacritic.
All Zelda Games ranked based on their Metascores
18) Zelda II – Metascore: 73
Kicking off our list is Zelda II, the second game ever released in the series. While it is still held in high regard, the game did not live up to the original. This was largely due to Nintendo changing the game from a top-down experience to a side-scrolling adventure game.
17) The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes – Metascore: 73
Tri Force Heroes, much like Four Swords Adventures, placed heavy emphasis on multiplayer and co-op elements. The game was released on the Nintendo 3DS, making it the last handheld Zelda title before the Nintendo Switch.
16) The Legend of Zelda – Metascore: 84
The first Zelda Game, The Legend of Zelda was truly something special. The premise was simple — players had to gather all eight pieces of the Triforce in the kingdom of Hyrule.
15) The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures – Metascore: 86
The first entry that focused on multiplayer and co-op elements, Four Swords Adventures provided a unique experience for players. While it did not come as a standalone title, it was still a memorable experience for many.
14) The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks – Metascore: 87
Spirit Tracks is a special Zelda game that shares similarities with Wind Waker in terms of art style and story direction. It served as a sequel to Phantom Hourglass.
13) The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Nintendo Switch) – Metascore: 87
Link’s Awakening was originally envisioned to be a GameBoy port for Link to the Past. However, fans are still grateful that Nintendo decided to turn it into its own thing. It became a brand new adventure that everyone really enjoyed.
12) The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap – Metascore: 89
Continuing the Four Swords story, the Minish Cap introduced a new character named Ezlo who became a fan-favorite. Many regard this game highly even today.
11) The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass – Metascore: 90
Phantom Hourglass was the first handheld Zelda title that took place after Wind Waker. The game featured the cel-shaded visuals from Wind Waker and was also the first entry in the series to feature touchscreen controls.
10) The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds – Metascore: 91
A Link Between Worlds continued the story of the beloved A Link To The Past. Set a century after the first game, it had a ton of interesting content, like dungeons.
9) The Legend of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages/Oracle Of Seasons – Metascore: 92
These games are bundled together and are similar to the original Link’s Awakening. As the titles suggest, Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons featured time travel mechanics, allowing players to travel between different time periods and seasons.
8) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword – Metascore: 93
Skyward Sword can be considered a prequel to the entire Zelda franchise, as it canonically takes place before every other game. The game followed the classic Zelda formula, taking Link on an adventure to rescue Princess Zelda who has been kidnapped.
7) The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past – Metascore: 95
A Link To The Past was a return to form for Zelda games, with Nintendo bringing back the top-down perspective from the original. This SNES title featured Link travelling to parallel worlds and rescuing the descendants of the Seven Sages to defeat Ganon.
6) The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask – Metascore: 95
Majora’s Mask takes place after Ocarina of Time and features many of the same gameplay elements. However, players only have three days to save the kingdom of Hyrule, and in turn the entire world, in Majora’s Mask.
5) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – Metascore: 96
Twilight Princess was originally meant to be released for the Gamecube. However, this relatively darker Zelda game eventually became a launch title for the Nintendo Wii.
4) The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – Metascore: 96
The first of the Zelda games to feature cel-shaded graphics, Wind Waker was divisive at the time of its launch. However, as players got used to the change in the art style, the story of Link saving his sister with the help of a talking water vessel quickly became a fan favorite.
3) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Metascore: 96
The latest entry in the Zelda series, Tears of the Kingdom takes after Breath of the Wild in the best way possible. It was originally envisioned to be downloadable content for Breath of the Wild, but players are thankful that it released as a separate game. Tears of the Kingdom was one of the best action-adventure games of 2023.
2) The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild – Metascore: 97
Breath of the Wild introduced players to The Legend of Zelda’s take on a massive open world. The setting, along with the graphical capabilities of the title, made it an instant favorite. Many consider Breath of the Wild to be the best Zelda game ever created.
1) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Metascore: 99
Ocarina of Time, the highest-rated Zelda game of all time, is iconic. The story is classic, and the game also brought Zelda into the 3D world. It received both critical and mass acclaim. Ocarina of Time may just be one of the greatest games ever.
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