The Legend of Zelda series is one of the most iconic and beloved franchises in gaming history. Created by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto (who also created other iconic Nintendo franchises like Mario and Donkey Kong), the first game was released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
Miyamoto drew inspiration for the series from his childhood experiences exploring the forests, caves and lakes near his home in Japan. He wanted to create a game that captured the sense of adventure and exploration he felt as a child – and The Legend of Zelda was the result!
The Legend of Zelda main characters
First up we’ve got the main character in the series, Link. He’s an unlikely hero who is often tasked with saving Hyrule from evil forces (no biggie). He’s usually kitted out in a jazzy green tunic and pointy green hat and wields the iconic Master Sword.
Another important character is Princess Zelda, the titular character of the series. Zelda is the princess of Hyrule and serves as a key figure in the Zelda story. She’s often portrayed as a kind and wise ruler who is beloved by her people.
Now for the bad guy: Ganon. He’s the main antagonist of the series – a powerful and evil monstrous creature who seeks to conquer Hyrule and obtain the Triforce, a powerful artifact that grants its user immense power.
The Legend of Zelda timeline
The Legend of Zelda series is known for its complex and convoluted timelines, with multiple games taking place across different eras and alternate realities. While each game is largely self-contained, there are overarching storylines that connect many of the games together.
Unified Timeline
The first few games in the series, including The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link, take place in a unified timeline. This timeline splits into three different timelines after the events of the Ocarina of Time.
Child timeline
After Link is sent back in time at the end of Ocarina of Time, a new timeline is created where he warns the Royal Family of Ganon’s plans and helps them prevent his rise to power. The games in this timeline include Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, and Four Swords Adventures.
Adult timeline
In the original timeline, Link defeats Ganon in the future, but is sent back to the past to live out his childhood. This creates a timeline where Ganon is never defeated, so in an attempt to reclaim the Triforce, the gods flood all of Hyrule in order to rid the kingdom of Ganon and his minions. The games in this timeline include The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.
Fallen Hero timeline
In the timeline where Link fails to defeat Ganon in Ocarina of Time, a new timeline is created where he dies in battle. The games in this timeline include The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and A Link to the Past.
Breath of the Wild timeline
Breath of the Wild takes place centuries after the events of Ocarina of Time and features a world where the kingdom of Hyrule has fallen to ruin. While it takes place in the same timeline as the other games in the Adult Timeline, it’s considered a separate brance due to its distance from the other games in the timeline.
The Legend of Zelda games in order of release date
Since it’s debut in 1986, The Legend of Zelda has spawned over 20 games across numerous platforms, including consoles, handheld devices and mobile phones. Here’s a mega list of the main games in the series in order of release date:
The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1986)
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES, 1987)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Super NES, 1991)
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Game Boy, 1993)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64, 1998)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (Nintendo 64, 2000)
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages (Game Boy Color, 2001)
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube, 2002)
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GameCube, 2004)
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance, 2004)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube, Wii, 2006)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS, 2007)
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Nintendo DS, 2009)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii, 2011)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo 3DS, 2013)
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (Nintendo 3DS, 2015)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch, Wii U, 2017)
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Nintendo Switch, 2019)
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Nintendo Switch, 2020)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Nintendo Switch, 2021)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch, 2023)
What Zelda game should I play first?
If you’re new to The Legend of Zelda series, it can be tough to decide which game to start with. The first game in the series, The Legend of Zelda, is a classic – but it can be challenging for modern gamers whoa re used to more advanced gameplay mechanics. A good alternative is The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which was released in 1991 for the Super NES. It’s considered by many to be one of the best games in the series and is a great introduction to the world of Hyrule and the gameplay mechanics of The Legend of Zelda.
If you’re looking for a more recent entry in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the perfect choice. It was released in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U and has been praised for its open-world gameplay and innovative mechanics. And with the release of the much-anticipated sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there’s no better time than now to pick up Breath of the Wild!
Ultimately, the best Zelda game to start with depends on your personal preferences and gaming experience. Each game has its own unique appeal, so its worth doing some research and trying out a few games to see which one resonates with you.
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