The order of all Zelda games
With so much time on your hands, are you bored? Why not play every Zelda game from beginning to end in order? Here's a detailed list of every game in Zelda timeline sequence, chronological order of release, and explanation if you wish to take on the task. Fasten your seatbelt. This journey is going to take a while.
Our guides will be of use to you if you are still far into your Hyrulean adventure. The Tears of the Kingdom shrines, all the Tears of the Kingdom characters, and our selection of the best Zelda games are all covered in this article.
The Zelda games are listed below in chronological order:
Which timelines exist for Zelda?
I will bring this up a few times, so let's get this out of the way first. What's the deal with all these distinct timelines? Essentially, there are three official timelines that all stem from the events in Ocarina of Time. Eiji Aonuma confirmed the timelines in 2003, but that was before the "Fallen Hero" timeline was added. Nintendo published the Hyrule Historia book in 2011, outlining the timelines.
According to the BotW Creating a Champion book, everything prior to Breath of the Wild's backstory "faded into myth," creating yet another timeline for the games centered around the Switch title. These canon timelines are the Child, Adult, and Fallen Hero timelines , though a fourth is now apparent in the Switch games.Both the "Child" and the "Adult" timelines diverge after Link vanquishes Ganon and Zelda transports him back to his early years. The "Adult" timeline follows Link after vanishing, while the "Child" timeline breaks off and follows Link in his own time. Ultimately, the "Fallen Hero" chronology diverges from a scenario in which Ganon prevails.In essence, the three (or four) timelines let you investigate scenarios in separate universes where distinct events transpire, so expanding the realm of Hyrule while consistently showcasing our beloved characters.
Every Zelda game in sequence of release
Here it is: a comprehensive list of Hyrule's past events.
Zelda: The Legend
First available on the NES in 1986.The first game, the origin story, and our introduction to Link, Zelda, and Hyrule is The Legend of Zelda. The hero goes out to rescue a princess from a wicked monster in typical Nintendo fashion. After accidentally discovering and saving Princess Zelda from Impa in the overworld, Link agrees to take up the mission to save her. Link has to locate the triforce pieces during the journey and conceal them in various dungeons so he may utilize them to his advantage after Ganon's invasion. Numerous essential elements of the series, such as weapon upgrades, heart containers, and a few recurring bosses, were initially introduced in this first game.You can now revisit the Legend of Zelda, which was first released on the NES and later released on GameBoy Advance in 2004, by accessing it via the Nintendo Switch Online service.The game isn't the first in Hyrule history according to the chronology; instead, it is said to take place in an alternative world during the "Era of Decline," when Hyrule is simply a tiny kingdom and no longer a vast governing region.
Link's Adventure in Zelda II
First available for the NES in 1987.The Adventure of Link, which picks up where The Legend of Zelda left off, has the now adolescent hero returning to rescue Princess Zelda and locate the Triforce. After discovering an odd imprint on the back of his hand, he follows Impa's instructions to unlock the castle's long-sealed entrance. Since all of the princesses in the royal line share the name Zelda, he discovers a Zelda here, however she is not the same one in the first game.It turns out that Link is the chosen one, the hero set to awaken Zelda, as indicated by the mark on his palm. As Link's blood seems to have magical properties that allow Ganon to be resurrected, Ganon's troops learn of this and attempt to assassinate Link. He overcomes this and seizes the triforce of bravery, reuniting it with its corresponding powers and causing Zelda to awaken. As the one who preserves the triforce of bravery, Dark Link also makes his debut in this game.
Zelda's Legend: A Connection to the Past
Date of first release on SNES: 1991Is your head spinning yet? Not at all? Then let's go. In A Link to the Past, Link is roused from slumber by an enigmatic voice - Princess Zelda - pleading with him to save her from the malevolent Agahnim, who is holding her hostage and attempting to let Ganon free. After learning about the Master Sword, Link travels to Kakariko Village in search of it in order to vanquish the evil. But in order to defeat Agahnim and Ganon, save Zelda once again (along with the offspring of the other six sages), and get the Triforce, Link has to go to the Dark World.The Fallen Hero branch of the history is initiated by the precursor A Link to the Past, which takes place far before the events of the previous two games.
Link's Awakening: The Legend of Zelda
Date of first release on GameBoy: 1993Zelda: Link's Awakening was first released on the GameBoy in 1999. The 2019 remake for the Switch takes place on Koholit Island, which is located far from Hyrule's borders. According to the chronology, Link's Awakening occurs before the two Oracle games and after A Link to the Past. The hero continues his training after A Link to the Past by traveling to other places, but he ends himself stranded on Koholit.The princess herself and Ganon are absent from this episode, and several Mario foes emerge around the island, thus it actually has no influence on the main plot of Zelda. Oh, and there's also the fact that the whole island is just a dream.
Ocarina of Time: The Legend of Zelda
1998 saw the first introduction of N64.1998 saw the N64 consoles host Ocarina of Time, which was rereleased in 3D on the 3DS in 2011. Not only is it one of the greatest games ever made, but it's also essential reading for those interested in understanding the Zelda franchise.After visiting the dying Great Deku Tree, Link is dispatched to talk with Princess Zelda in an attempt to provide a succinct summary of the events in Ocarina of Time. Zelda confides in him her concerns over Ganondorf, the Gerudo King, whom she thinks is pursuing the Triforce. Zelda then gives Link a little task to complete: gather three spiritual stones, enter the holy realm, and retrieve the triforce first. Not a huge thing, is it? After a while, Link enters the realm, but Ganondorf enters covertly and takes the Triforce.It all gets a little ugly at this point. After Link reaches adulthood and is able to use the Master Sword against Ganondorf, who captured Hyrule with the triforce in hand, he is shut away in the realm for seven years. Link then goes to see the seven sages in an attempt to win their confidence and take down Ganondorf once again. And then again, when he transforms into Ganon, the beast, and reduces Hyrule Castle to ruins. In the end, Zelda uses the ocarina to transport Link back to his early years, where he recalls what transpired.
Massara's Mask: The Legend of Zelda
Released on the N64 in 2000.The first game in the "Child" chronology, Majora's Mask, takes place in Termina, an alternative version of Hyrule, and begins a few months after the events of Ocarina of Time. In this scene, Link attempts to find Navi again but is caught by surprise as the Skull Kid takes the ocarina.By navigating Majora's Mask, you may find the ocarina and rewind time to the start of the three-day cycle you're trapped in before the world ends when the amiable-looking moon descends upon Termina's Clock Town neighborhood. In an attempt to improve the lot of people on this planet, Link wakes the four guardians and stops the moon from setting.2015 saw a 3D recreation of Majora's Mask for the 3DS, bringing it into compliance with Ocarina of Time.
The Legend of Zelda: Ages and Seasons Oracle
First available on GameBoy Color in 2001These two games are basically telling the same tale in different ways. You must complete both to get the whole narrative. While Seasons brings Link to Holodrum, where he rescues Din, Ages takes place in Labrynna, where Link must save Nayru.In both games, Link is sent to a new location to help with a mission by the Triforce, who calls him. Link first encounters Din in the Oracle of Seasons, just before she is abducted by the General of Darkness and her servant Impa is left behind. After that, Link sets out to locate eight essences so that he might use them to make a Maku seed, break into the General's castle, and save Din.This time, in Oracle of Ages, Link sees Impa first, and she requests him to assist her in finding the singer Nayru in the forest. It becomes revealed that Nayru was possessed by the malevolent Veran and not Impa. As mayhem breaks out, Link has to locate the eight essences once again in order to get a Maku seed and enter Veran's tower.Twinrova is the one who connects these two realms; after capturing Princess Zelda, she fires the Flame of Despair and attempts to bring Ganon back to life. At this point, the story is as ancient as time itself. Nevertheless, after defeating Twinrova, Link kills Ganon again.
The Wind Waker: The Legend of Zelda
Initial GameCube release date: 2003And with that, The Wind Waker's "Adult" chronology begins. It was first launched on the GameCube, but in 2013 it was given an HD remaster for the Wii U, opening it up to a far wider audience. In any case, this game centers on a new Link who lives on Outset Island in the midst of the Great Sea, a considerable amount of time having passed since Ganon's last visit without a Block to stop him.The celebration of Link's coming of age is cut short when his sister is abducted by a gigantic bird. Link travels to the Forsaken Fortress with the pirate Tetra's assistance in order to save his sister. Instead, he is taken prisoner here. After making his getaway, he encounters the King of Red Lions, the legendary talking boat. He informs Link that Ganondorf is responsible for everything and that Link must use the Hero of Time's might to vanquish him. He so sets out to do it.I'm going to skip a lot of this, but when Link obtains the Master Sword, he sets out to defeat Ganondorf once again. But it's useless because the sword runs out of power, and Ganondorf discovers that Tetra is, gasp, Zelda's reincarnation! Link goes out to find the pieces of that annoying triforce once again, struggle through challenges in the temple, awaken new sages, and restore the sword's strength.You won't believe what happens next: when Ganondorf kidnaps Tetra, Link, Tetra, and a host of formidable friends engage in a titanic struggle until Link uses the Master Sword to stab Ganondorf in the stomach, turning him into stone. The realm of Hyrule, by the way? Lost entirely in Wind Waker.
Zelda's Tale: The Mighty Cap
2004 saw the GameBoy Advance version's first release.Do you still accompany me? Good, as we haven't finished yet. What is the date of the Minish Cap? It serves as a preface to Four Swords, coming after Skyward Sword. Who is included? Vaati, one of Four Swords' main enemies, Link, and Zelda.The Picori are a small species of humanoid creatures that battled evil long ago to rescue Hyrule. Everything is well until Link and Zelda go to the celebration of the evil being stopped one day, and some dumb sausage chooses to let everything loose once again. It's Vaati, and he runs away, turning Zelda to stone in the process. In order to rescue Zelda, Link sets out to locate the Picori and have a weapon made. There is more to it, but in the end, Link defeats Vaati and frees Zelda by returning with a brand-new sword and the Minish Cap.
The Four Swords Adventures: The Legend of Zelda
Initial GameCube release date: 2004Fantastic news! Four Swords Adventures is the sequel to Four Swords! This is the last game before Breath of the Wild in terms of chronology, and it takes place after Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess (yep, even if that game hasn't been published yet). Very cool, huh? The main antagonist of Four Swords is a different, more advanced Dark Lord Ganondorf than the one you encountered in Ocarina of Time.The game's title comes from Zelda's request for Link to keep her safe within the castle as they attempt to unlock the Four Sword Sanctuary. But Shadow Link appears and takes Zelda's maidens with him. Unsheathing the Four Sword, the genuine Link divides into three clones (am I right?). The goal is to defeat Shadow Link. Hyrule is in disarray and individuals continue to vanish in the meantime.It turns out that Ganon is the mastermind behind everything, but the four incarnations of Link band together to vanquish Ganon's henchmen and ultimately the man himself. Inside the Four Sword, which is thereafter shielded by magical barriers, Ganon is confined.
Zelda: The Twilight Princess
First available on the GameCube/Wii in 2006 and the Wii U in 2016.After defeating Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess takes her residence at the center of the Child timeline. When children begin to vanish in Hyrule, a terrible force descends over the land. Link attempts to investigate, only to be cursed into becoming a wolf. Midna, a strange spirit, agrees to assist him, and together they search for Princess Zelda. He has to bring the Light Spirits back to life in order to purge Hyrule of the Twilight's influence. This is insufficient; Link needs to go on and locate the Master Sword. Fun fact: Midna and Link meet the Hero's Shade, the spirit of the same Link from Majora's Mask and Ocarina of Time, as they attempt to rescue Hyrule.Link and Midna discover that they may enter the Twilight Realm via a mirror, perhaps resolving the problems that arise there. But they need to locate the parts to repair it since it's broken. It comes out that Midna can use the mirror when they mend it and that she is also cursed. The first bad guy is Zant, who cursed Midna. Link vanquishes Zant after discovering that he struck a deal with our old buddy Ganondorf.Okay, everyone, let's get started. Returning to Hyrule, we must battle Ganondorf inside the castle. After a bloody struggle between Link in his wolf form and the evil beast Ganon, Ganondorf prevails and ruins the castle. After the two boys mount their horses and engage in combat in their humanoid forms, Link defeats him once again with the Master Sword. Midna departs from Twilight Princess and divides the Twilight Realm from Hyrule. After that, Link sets off on his own journey, although nobody is completely sure where he ends up.
The Phantom Hourglass: The Legend of Zelda
2007 saw the first release of DS.Link and Tetra return in Phantom Hourglass, a direct sequel to The Wind Waker. Link wakes up on an enigmatic island after being separated from Tetra while traveling across flooded Hyrule.Link goes off across the sea to find Tetra after making some new friends. He has to acquire spirits of strength, bravery, and knowledge to aid him. Spirits, not the Triforce. After discovering Tetra is turned to stone, Link sets out to free her from her harsh captivity by vanquishing Bellum, who doesn't give up easily.
Zelda: The Legend Continues
2009 saw the first release of DS.The last game in the "Adult" chronology, Spirit Tracks, takes place a full century after Phantom Hourglass and Wind Waker. To be honest, it's a pleasant change of pace to play as Link the train driver in this game. Of course, there's a problem—the Spirit Tracks are vanishing, so Princess Zelda asks Link to assist in the investigation.You won't believe this, but Zelda's corpse is abducted. Link's soul follows him as he attempts to recover it, bring the soul Tracks back to life, and clean up the wreckage that is New Hyrule. This is a neat little narrative with less essential history or mythology to skew the timeline, and it's wonderful to see Ganon and Ganondorf absent for once.
Zelda's Legend: Skyward Sword
Wii first released in 2011.Despite being a late addition to the franchise (which received a stylish 2021 remake on Switch), Skyward Sword is largely influential in the Zelda history. In terms of chronology, this is game one. The setting of Skyward Sword is Skyloft, where the goddess Hylia sends the inhabitants of Hyrule to safety after the Demon King Demise terrorizes the region in quest of that bothersome triforce.In summary, Link must follow a voice concealed within a holy Goddess Sword in order to rescue Zelda after she is abducted by an evil entity. Fi is the player's constant companion throughout the game. He assumes the role of the foretold hero and must traverse the surface in pursuit of Zelda by pulling out the sword. The plot thickens at this point as Link discovers Zelda and Impa just before Ghirahim, a villain determined to let Demise free, appears and engages in combat. Through a gate, Zelda and Impa make their way back in time.After several obstacles and battles, Link discovers a second gate and goes in search of Zelda, who is discovered to be a mortal Hylia reincarnation who is sadly too frail to seal Demise. She created the Goddess Sword and foresaw a hero who would use the Triforce to finally vanquish Demise. The Goddess Sword then gains Zelda's strength, becoming into the Master Sword. I bet you didn't anticipate that!After a bit more back and forth between Ghirahim's second kidnapping of Zelda and Link's defeat of him, Demise places a curse on both Link and Zelda's bloodlines, starting a chain reaction that will see all future generations of Links and Zeldas deal with Ganons and Demises throughout time for all eternity. This is where things get really interesting. Nevertheless, Link and Zelda create the kingdom of Hyrule on the surface of the earth, and things go well there for a while.
Zelda's Legend: A Bridge Across Worlds
First available for the 3DS in 2013A Link Between Worlds takes place in the middle of the "Fallen Hero" chronology, halfway between the two Oracle games and the events of A Link to the Past. In it, two realms that coexist simultaneously—Lorule and Hyrule—are presented. But Lorule lacks a triforce, and as a result, she is destroyed.While delivering a blade, the fearless young apprentice of the blacksmith Link gets into a fight with the evil Yuga. After he informs Princess Zelda of this, she instructs Link to locate three pendants so that he might use the Master Sword to vanquish evil. After defeating Yuga, Link is cursed with the power to change into a painting at anytime, which lets him sneak up on people and things like that. Naturally, Zelda is abducted by Yuga, who then takes her to Lorule, where Link follows.Hilda, the ruler of Lorule, helps Link but demands that he save the seven sages in the region in order for them to combine to form the triforce of bravery. However! After Hilda snatches it, it becomes clear that she is responsible for the whole situation, but Yuga also tricks her. Naturally, Hilda apologizes when Link defeats him, and they all cheerfully collaborate to bring Lorule back to life. Well, that's the main idea behind it.
Tri Force Heroes: The Legend of Zelda
First available for the 3DS in 2015In Tri Force Heroes, Link departs from Hyrule and embarks on a journey in Hytopia, a place governed by Princess Styla and King Tuft. Here they enlist Link's assistance in vanquishing a malevolent opponent. Luckily, the "tri" portion of the term is formed by two other heroes who resemble him and are dressed in red and blue. Fun fact: Unlike the sharp Hyrulean ears, the Hytopians have round ears.You may be wondering how this fits within the timeframe. This Link is, in fact, the same Link that you control in A Link Between Worlds. He's a busy young man.
Zelda: The Legend of the Wild
2017 saw the first Wii U and Switch release.When Breath of the Wild begins, you take on the role of Link, who has been in a restful slumber for the past 100 years. As soon as you arrive in Hyrule, you have to regain your memories and begin the mission that was started 100 years ago: rescuing Zelda and defeating Ganon. You learn about the Calamity that almost destroyed Hyrule as the adventure leads you to the realms of Rito, Zora, Gorons, and Gerudo.The events of this specific game occur at the conclusion of the Zelda timeline and branch into a new one, but more on that later. While it follows the overall plot of the series and includes references to other games, it leaves more questions than it does answers about the identities of particular groups of people and the creation of Hyrule. While you're here, be sure to read our review of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Age of Calamity: Hyrule Warriors
2020 is the first release date for Switch.Assuming you haven't already, what are you waiting for? Now go watch the hilarious and endearing cutscenes with all of our favorite Breath of the Wild characters, and then go destroy large groups of bokoblins on the battlefield. In addition to giving Zelda a look into her history, Age of Calamity also includes new material in the form of foes like Master Kohga.Since Age of Calamity takes place 100 years before Breath of the Wild during the Calamity, it's debatable how "canon" the tale is; nevertheless, it doesn't appear to continue into Tears of the Kingdom. But the loss of all Shiekah technology in Tears of the Kingdom could help us understand what happens to our buddy robot, tiny Terrako.
Tears of the Kingdom: The Legend of Zelda
Date of first release on Switch: 2023And now, in 2023, we have fully caught up. Tears of the Kingdom, the newest (and maybe best) Zelda game, follows Link on his journey over land and sky to restore peace to Hyrule. After escaping from his cell under Hyrule Castle, the Demon King Ganondorf rears his ugly head and wreaks havoc over the kingdom, unleashing terrifying creatures that are determined to hunt down innocent Link.We're not sure where the series will or could go following the events of Tears of the Kingdom—will it continue—without giving away the whole narrative. Will the next game give Zelda a whole different flavor? Everything is still up in the air.First of all, why not read Tears of the Kingdom if you haven't already? Second, grab some Tears of the Kingdom amiibo for your shelf or read our Tears of the Kingdom review here to be persuaded to buy it.Every Legend of Zelda game in order of release date
This is when things get a little complicated. It's possible that most gamers are aware of the many timeframes that, although officially acknowledged by Nintendo, may be a bit perplexing for those who like to play every game in sequence. Fortunately, if you want to start from the beginning of Hyrule and follow it all the way to the present, we have a short list that you may follow.- Skyward Sword
- The Minish Cap
- Ocarina of Time
- Majora’s Mask
- Twilight Princess
- Four Swords Adventures
- Wind Waker
- Phantom Hourglass
- Spirit Tracks
- A Link To The Past
- Link’s Awakening
- Oracle of Seasons
- Oracle of Ages
- A Link Between Worlds
- Tri Force Heroes
- The Legend of Zelda
- Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
- Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom