10 Best Legend of Zelda Games - Rescuing the Princess Never Gets Boring!
To consider the many titles in the Legend of Zelda franchise is a daunting task: Most of them set a new standard for video games, and they’ve been coming out for decades. Everyone’s list is probably different, but here are some of the best installments.
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The Legend of Zelda series spans over three decades of video game history. From the game that started it all in 1986, to Breath of the Wild, which launched only three years ago. Sure, the series may have stumbled here or there over the years, but it never stopped innovating and setting the standard for what games should aspire to be.
Picking the best from among the many excellent Legend of Zelda titles isn’t easy. There are many strong contenders, and especially when it gets down to the best of the best, it can sometimes feel like splitting hairs.
So, even if your favorite isn’t as high on the list as you think it ought to be, remember that this is the top ten. To reach this point means a lot, considering the stacked competition.
The best of the Zelda games innovate with puzzles, exploration, combat, and storytelling, often asking the rest of the gaming world to catch up. If you want to call yourself a gamer, each of these games deserves at least one playthrough. So without further ado, let’s start the list!
Skyward Sword
Full name: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Platforms: Wii
Release date: 2011
Metacritic: 93/100
Say what you will about the Wii and its motion controls, it long held the title of the best-selling Nintendo console until the Switch recently overtook it. Of course no Nintendo console would be complete without a Legend of Zelda game.
For the Wii, that was The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The idea of utilizing motion controls has mostly been avoided in Zelda games since, but when it worked, the feeling of swinging Link’s sword was pretty thrilling.
Skyward Sword is also said to be the first game in the timeline of the series, which gives it some real importance. The game’s overworld had a unique design, and main characters like Zelda got some fresh takes. Combine this with the ability to fly through the air on a giant bird and you’ve got a game worthy of this list.
