So, you want to tackle the legend of zelda games in order. Honestly? Good luck. It’s a bit of a disaster, but a beautiful one. Most people start this journey thinking there’s a straight line from the 1986 original to Tears of the Kingdom. It isn't like that. Not even close.
Nintendo didn't actually have a "master plan" for decades. They just made great games. Then, in 2011, they released the Hyrule Historia and basically said, "Okay, here is how it all fits together." It involves time travel, a hero failing, and a world that splits into three separate realities. Yeah. It's a lot.
If you’re trying to play the legend of zelda games in order, you have to decide if you want to follow the release dates—the way we all experienced them growing up—or the chronological lore. The lore is where things get weird. Everything starts with Skyward Sword. It’s the literal origin story. You’re not even in Hyrule yet; you’re living on a floating island called Skyloft because the surface is too dangerous. This is where the Master Sword is forged. It sets the stage for the endless cycle of the hero, the princess, and the demon king.
The Split That Broke the Timeline
Everything was going fine until Ocarina of Time. This is the pivot point. It is the most important game for anyone trying to understand the legend of zelda games in order. When Link travels through time to defeat Ganon, he doesn't just save the world; he creates three distinct branches of history.
The Fallen Hero Timeline
This is the "What If?" scenario. What if Link actually lost to Ganon in the final battle? It sounds dark because it is. This branch leads directly into the classic NES and SNES games. You get A Link to the Past, the original The Legend of Zelda, and The Adventure of Link. In these games, Hyrule is usually in a state of decline. The Golden Age is over. Ganon is a recurring, monstrous beast rather than a calculated man.
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The Child Timeline
After Link wins in Ocarina of Time, Zelda sends him back to his childhood so he can live the life he missed. He warns the Royal Family about Ganondorf before the coup ever happens. This leads into the absolute fever dream that is Majora’s Mask. Later, it gives us Twilight Princess, where we see a much grittier, darker version of Hyrule. It’s moody. It’s brown and gray. It feels like a world dealing with the consequences of a history that never technically happened for most people.
The Adult Timeline
This is what happens to the world Link left behind after being sent back to his childhood. There is no hero left to protect them. When Ganon inevitably returns, the Gods literally flood the world to stop him. This gives us The Wind Waker. It’s bright, cel-shaded, and takes place on a vast ocean covering the ruins of old Hyrule. It’s followed by Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.
Where Do the New Games Fit?
Then we have the modern era. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. These games are massive. They are also frustrating for timeline theorists. Nintendo placed them so far into the future—thousands upon thousands of years—that the previous splits almost don't matter anymore.
Some fans call it a "timeline convergence." Basically, all roads eventually lead to the Wild era.
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Whether Hyrule was flooded, shadowed, or declined, it eventually rebuilt into the sprawling open world we see today. It’s a clever way for the developers to stop worrying about continuity errors and just focus on making a game where you can glue a rock to a stick.
Playing by Release Date: The "Pure" Experience
If the lore sounds like a headache, just play them as they came out. There is a specific magic in seeing the technology evolve. You go from the 8-bit exploration of the 1986 original, which was inspired by Shigeru Miyamoto’s childhood spent exploring caves in Kyoto, to the 16-bit perfection of A Link to the Past.
- The Legend of Zelda (1986)
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987)
- A Link to the Past (1991)
- Link’s Awakening (1993)
- Ocarina of Time (1998)
This isn't even the full list, obviously. There are the handheld titles like The Minish Cap (which is criminally underrated) and the Oracle games. But playing in release order lets you appreciate how the "Zelda Formula" was built, broken, and eventually reinvented.
Common Misconceptions About the Order
People always get confused about Link. Is it the same guy? No. Usually not. Aside from a few direct sequels (like Ocarina to Majora’s Mask or Wind Waker to Phantom Hourglass), you are playing as a completely different person who just happens to be named Link.
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The name Zelda is a tradition within the Royal Family. The name Link is more of a spiritual constant. They are "reincarnations" or "successors" bound by the Curse of Demise.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re serious about diving into the legend of zelda games in order, don't try to play all 20+ games in a row. You'll burn out by game four.
- Start with A Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time. These are the blueprints. Everything else refers back to them.
- Use the Nintendo Switch Online service. It’s the cheapest way to access the NES, SNES, N64, and Game Boy titles without hunting down expensive retro hardware.
- Don't skip the handhelds. Link’s Awakening (the Switch remake is gorgeous) and The Minish Cap have some of the best dungeon designs in the entire series.
- Accept the contradictions. Nintendo prioritizes gameplay over lore. If a detail in Skyward Sword contradicts Twilight Princess, just roll with it. The "Legend" part of the title is key—it’s a myth being retold, and myths change over time.
Focus on the "Big Three" milestones: the origin (Skyward Sword), the pivot (Ocarina of Time), and the reimagining (Breath of the Wild). This gives you the clearest picture of how Hyrule evolved from a few floating rocks into a living, breathing world.