Experts Tell Us the Best Zelda Games

Hands down the best Zelda game is Majora’s Mask which was originally developed for N64. The storytelling and the game’s originality made it such a great game.

Ocarina of Time is a masterpiece. It was released on the Nintendo 64 System on November 21, 1998, and was an instant classic. It not only showcased the power of the Nintendo 64, but it was also a testament to how creative game creators could get once technology could catch up. Although not truly open in the way we understand it now (you had to complete quests in a certain order to get the appropriate equipment to advance to the next level) it was open in the sense that you could explore Hyrule at your leisure, which was epic for its time. The game follows Link, as he wakes up in his forest village of Kokiri. The village is inhabited by children of the forest, and each child was assigned a fairy at birth. They all knew Link was different; he never had a fairy. Until today. Navi the fairy appears to Link on this fateful morning to explain that he really is different. He’s not actually a child of the forest, he’s from Hyrule! The Giant Deku Tree, the guardian of the forest, had summoned him. It was time to begin his quest. Link must defeat the evil in the Deku tree, then leave his forest home to find Princess Zelda, who needs his help in the battle for Hyrule. During his adventure, he meets the Gorons of the mountains, the Zoras of the rivers, and the Gerudu of the desert. He travels backward and forwards through time via the magnificent Temple of Time in order to defeat Ganon, the corrupt Gerudu Prince who only cares about power. Along the way, there are numerous puzzles to solve, bad guys to defeat, and side quests to embark upon. This game is jam-packed with hidden items, special games, and fun extras. I don’t think I’ve ever even found all the gold skulltulas! The Ocarina of Time was my first introduction to the Legend of Zelda franchise, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, the only way to play it is to get an original N64 system and the original console. My hope is that one day it will be ported to the Nintendo Switch like many of the other retro classics. It definitely deserves its place there!

How can you go past Majora’s Mask, the music is legendary, and Link gets to shapeshift into all of the franchises favorite characters. The story line is amazing, 3 days to stop the mischievous imp that is pulling the moon into the earth. You have to defeat four temples in four different settings, all the while keeping your eye on the clock and turning time back to the beginning of the three day period. Link has to collect masks that imbue him with different powers to help him on his quest to stop the end of the world.

One new LoZ series game I was impressed by was Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity. This game, set in the BOTW world, is a great blend of Zelda lore and a classic beat em up style game. It has tremendous playthrough value, you get to play as all of the favorite characters from BOTW, and it visually is everything you would want and more. Age of Calamity is a great game both for the hardcore fans and the casual players alike!

Ocarina of Time is one of the best Zelda games because it was revolutionary in many different ways. This includes shaking up what was expected of an RPG, tackling a dauntingly huge world without any problem, adding depth to how dungeons and puzzles would work, and paving the way for a new series altogether with its masterful execution. I’m going to go over a couple of things here that will be obvious, such as the gameplay, graphics, sound, and other fronts. However, we cannot overlook several factors because they have a massive role in how Zelda games have progressed and how they still hold up. These include the bosses, the story, and character development.

Originally realised for the Gameboy back in 1993, Link’s Awakening finds Link washed up on a mysterious island that may or may not even be real. He sets out to find a way home whilst discovering the secret of the Windfish and the truth behind the island he’s stranded on. It combines all the best elements of a Zelda game – puzzles, monsters, interesting settings to explore and fun characters – but on an even grander scale than most. Koholint Island is unlike any other location in a Zelda game and all the better for it. The story is engrossing and engaging, sucking you in so it’s impossible to stop playing. Also it breaks away from the traditional Zelda games by not featuring princess Zelda or the Triforce relic. An absolute classic that has been given a fantastic update for the Nintendo Switch and one any fan of the Zelda franchise will love.