The Legend of Zelda Video Game Series

The action of the games in the series The Legend of Zelda takes place in the fantastic land of Hyrule. The main character is usually an elf named Link, who has to rescue Princess Zelda from oppression. The villain role is played by Ganon, the leader of the Gerudo tribe of thieves. The plot mostly revolves around the thread of the Tri-power (each of the mentioned characters wields a different power: Zelda is the confidante of wisdom, Link of valor, and Ganon of strength).

The gameplay of the games in the series differs depending on the installment. Some are structured in a way that combines open-world action RPGs with adventure elements, while others rely on a more tactical approach. What all parts have in common, however, are logical puzzles and visuals, distinguished by intense colors and references to anime style. At the beginning of their existence, the titles in the series stuck to 2D, but as technology progressed, they moved to 3D or 2.5D, as in the case of The Link's Awakening, a 2019 remake of the series' first installment. The same year also saw the release of the brand's craziest spin-off, Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the Necrodancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda, which is a combination of rhythm game, action-adventure and roguelike.

According to estimates by the Nintendo corporation, by 2020 sales of games in the series of The Legend of Zelda exceeded the ceiling of 100 million copies. The brand has also been popularized through animated series, books and manga.