The Legend of Zelda has been around since 1987, and almost every generation of Nintendo hardware has its own Zelda. Whether you're filling gaps in a collection, introducing a kid to Hyrule or finally playing the one you missed, here is every main Zelda game in release order, the timeline in plain English, and which ones to start with.
Zelda games in release order
| Year | Game | Original system |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Legend of Zelda | NES |
| 1988 | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | NES |
| 1992 | A Link to the Past | Super Nintendo |
| 1993 | Link's Awakening | Game Boy |
| 1998 | Ocarina of Time | Nintendo 64 |
| 2000 | Majora's Mask | Nintendo 64 |
| 2001 | Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages | Game Boy Color |
| 2003 | The Wind Waker | GameCube |
| 2004 | Four Swords Adventures | GameCube |
| 2005 | The Minish Cap | Game Boy Advance |
| 2006 | Twilight Princess | Wii and GameCube |
| 2007 | Phantom Hourglass | Nintendo DS |
| 2009 | Spirit Tracks | Nintendo DS |
| 2011 | Skyward Sword | Wii |
| 2013 | A Link Between Worlds | Nintendo 3DS |
| 2015 | Tri Force Heroes | Nintendo 3DS |
| 2017 | Breath of the Wild | Switch and Wii U |
| 2019 | Link's Awakening (remake) | Switch |
| 2023 | Tears of the Kingdom | Switch |
| 2024 | Echoes of Wisdom | Switch |
Years are the first North American release. This list covers the main series; spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors, Cadence of Hyrule and the CD-i games are left out. Several games were also remade later: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask on 3DS, The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess in HD on Wii U, and Link's Awakening on Switch.
The Zelda timeline, simply explained
Nintendo's official timeline splits after Ocarina of Time into three branches, depending on how that game ends:
- Before the split: Skyward Sword, The Minish Cap, Four Swords, then Ocarina of Time.
- The "Child" timeline (Link goes back in time): Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, Four Swords Adventures.
- The "Adult" timeline (Hyrule is flooded): The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks.
- The "Hero is defeated" timeline: A Link to the Past, the Oracle games, Link's Awakening, A Link Between Worlds, Tri Force Heroes, then The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II.
Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom take place so far in the future that Nintendo hasn't placed them on any branch. The good news: every Zelda is written to be played on its own, so you don't need to follow the timeline to enjoy them.
The classic Zelda games worth owning
The Legend of Zelda · $55.97
The gold cartridge that started it all. Still a great, tough adventure.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past · $79.97
The template for every top-down Zelda since. A perfect place to start.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening · $76.97
A dreamlike, surprisingly emotional adventure that fits in your pocket.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time · $89.97
The jump to 3D that many fans still call the best game ever made.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask · $154.97
A strange, three-day countdown to the end of the world. A cult favorite.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons · $120.99
One half of the Game Boy Color pair. Link it with Oracle of Ages for a bonus ending.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker · $143.00
Cel-shaded sailing adventure that has aged beautifully.
The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap · $119.97
Link shrinks down to bug size in one of the most charming handheld Zeldas.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess · $41.97
The darker, more realistic Zelda, with motion-controlled sword swings on Wii.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass · $55.00
The Wind Waker sequel, played entirely with the DS stylus.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword · $29.97
The origin story of the Master Sword, built around Wii MotionPlus.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds · $39.97
A follow-up to A Link to the Past and one of the best games on 3DS.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild · $59.97
The open-world reinvention. Go anywhere, climb anything.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the kingdom · $69.97
The sequel to Breath of the Wild, adding sky islands and build-anything powers.
Which Zelda game should you play first?
For a classic, start with A Link to the Past on the Super Nintendo. It's easy to pick up, it set up almost everything the series still does, and it finishes in a weekend or two. For 3D, start with Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64. If you want something modern and open, Breath of the Wild is the most beginner-friendly entry in years. For kids or new players, The Wind Waker and The Minish Cap are bright, welcoming and easy to love.
Zelda on original hardware
Playing the cartridge on the system it was made for is still the best way to experience the early games: the music and controls feel exactly as they did. Cartridges from the NES, Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 era are sturdy, but their save batteries can wear out over time, which is one reason we test every game before it ships.
Nintendo 64 (N64) Console · $169.97
Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Majora's Mask also needs the Expansion Pak.
Nintendo GameCube Console · $209.97
The Wind Waker, Four Swords Adventures and the GameCube version of Twilight Princess.
Frequently asked questions
How many Zelda games are there?
There are about 20 main Legend of Zelda games, from The Legend of Zelda in 1987 to Echoes of Wisdom in 2024, plus remakes and spin-offs such as Hyrule Warriors and Cadence of Hyrule.
What is the first Zelda game?
The Legend of Zelda, released for the NES in 1987 in North America (1986 in Japan). It came on a gold cartridge and was one of the first console games with a battery save.
What order should I play the Zelda games in?
Release order is the easiest and lets you watch the series evolve. Every game tells a self-contained story, so you can also jump in anywhere. Good starting points are A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild.
Which Zelda games are on the Nintendo 64?
Two: Ocarina of Time (1998) and Majora's Mask (2000). Majora's Mask requires the N64 Expansion Pak to run.
Is Twilight Princess better on Wii or GameCube?
Both versions have the same story. The GameCube version uses a regular controller and is the way the game was first designed; the Wii version uses motion controls and is mirrored left to right. The GameCube copy is much rarer and usually costs a lot more.
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