{{Short description|Video game series}} {{about|the video game series|the first game in the series|The Legend of Zelda (video game){{!}}''The Legend of Zelda'' (video game)|other uses}} {{Redirect|LoZ}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Infobox video game series | title = The Legend of Zelda | image = Zelda 2017.svg | image_class = skin-invert | caption = | platforms = {{Hlist | Famicom Disk System | Nintendo Entertainment System | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | Game Boy | Nintendo 64 | Game Boy Color | Game Boy Advance | GameCube | Wii | Nintendo DS | Nintendo 3DS | Wii U | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 }} | developer = {{Unbulleted list | Nintendo EAD (1986–2013) | Capcom (2001–2004) | |Flagship (2001–2004) | Grezzo (2011–present) | Monolith Soft (2011–present) | Team Ninja (2014-2020) | Omega Force (2014-2020) | Nintendo EPD (2015–present) | Tantalus Media (2016–2021) }} | publisher = Nintendo | genre = Action-adventure | spinoffs = List of spin-offs | creator = {{Unbulleted list | Shigeru Miyamoto | Takashi Tezuka }} | producer = Eiji Aonuma | artist = Takaya Imamura | writer = Kensuke Tanabe | composer = Koji Kondo | first release version = ''The Legend of Zelda'' | first release date = February 21, 1986 | latest release version = ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment'' | latest release date = November 6, 2025 }}
{{nihongo foot|'''''The Legend of Zelda'''''|ゼルダの伝説|Zeruda no Densetsu|usually romanized as '''''Zelda no Densetsu'''''|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, but some installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flagship, Grezzo, and Tantalus Media.
The series centers on the various incarnations of Link, a courageous young man of the elf-like Hylian race, and Princess Zelda, a princess within the bloodline of the goddess Hylia. They fight to save the land of Hyrule from Ganon, an evil warlord turned demon king who wishes to use the Triforce, a sacred relic that can grant any wish its user desires when complete, to remake the world in his own dark image. Zelda's role has often been that of a damsel in distress or donor who assists Link. If someone with a heart that does not possess a balance of Power, Courage, and Wisdom, attempts to touch the Triforce, it will split into three triangles and bond with three people whose hearts embody the required virtue. While the conflict with Ganon serves as a backbone for the series, some games have featured other settings and antagonists, with Link traveling or being sent to these other lands in their time of need.
Since ''The Legend of Zelda'' was released in 1986, the series has expanded to include 21 entries on all of Nintendo's major game consoles, as well as a number of spin-offs. An American animated TV series based on the games aired in 1989 and manga adaptations commissioned by Nintendo have been produced in Japan since 1997. ''The Legend of Zelda'' is one of Nintendo's most successful franchises, and several of its entries are considered among the greatest video games of all time.
== Gameplay == right|thumb|upright=1|Rupees, the fictional currency in the series
<!--Gameplay definition--> Gameplay of ''The Legend of Zelda'' games feature a mix of puzzles, action-adventure, and exploration. These elements used to be constant{{efn|Attributed to multiple sources since ''Breath of the Wild'' began development in 2011: * Eiji Aonuma, 2013: "Our mission in developing this new game for Wii U is quite plainly to rethink the conventions of ''Zelda''. I'm referring to things such as the player is supposed to complete dungeons in a certain order. That you are supposed to play by yourself. We want to set aside these 'conventions', get back to basics to create a newborn ''Zelda'' so players today can enjoy the real essence of the franchise."<ref name="rethink conventions">{{cite web |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |author-link=Eiji Aonuma |date=January 23, 2013 |title=Wii U Direct - Nintendo Games 1.23.2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MzG6lDA1A0 |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 18, 2025 |time=30:13–30:38}}</ref> * Eurogamer, 2016: "[Until ''Breath of the Wild'', i]t's hard to think of many entries since [the original ''The Legend of Zelda''] which have refreshed the series so completely, and with so much style."<ref>{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=July 15, 2016 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the most ambitious Nintendo game in years |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-is-the-most-ambitious-nintendo-game-in-years |website=Eurogamer |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> * GamesRadar+, 2017: "Well, ''Breath of the Wild'' doesn't want to play by the rules. The rulebook isn't just torn up. It's crushed beneath boulders, burned in a forest inferno and struck by lightning. Science has arrived in Hyrule, a rush of freeform simulation that brings with it a spark of life that could never quite ignite in the hand-crafted worlds of old... As a long-term fan, it's a treat to see Nintendo take its gift for problem solving outside of the Zelda comfort zone - a place the series has arguably inhabited since ''Ocarina of Time''. Not since that game's leap to 3D and introduction of lock-on targeting has a Zelda game made this many breakthroughs."<ref>{{cite web |last=Castle |first=Matthew |date=March 2, 2017 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review: 'It's taken 18 years, but Nintendo has done it again: this is the adventure game to beat' |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-review/ |website=GamesRadar+ |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> * Hidemaro Fujibayashi, 2017: "[W]e chose March 3, 2017 as the release date [of ''Breath of the Wild''] because we wanted more time to make the game as interesting as possible. We were thinking about breaking the conventions of the ''Zelda'' series from the very start of development. Specifically, our process was to think of all kinds of different mechanics, and to try to distinguish between the unchanging, universal traits of the ''Zelda'' franchise and things that had simply become conventions of the series."<ref>{{cite web |last=Fujibayashi |first=Hidemaro |author-link=Hidemaro Fujibayashi |date=March 14, 2017 |title=The Making of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Video – The Beginning |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30jGWna4-Ns |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 18, 2025 |time=0:51–1:21}}</ref> * ''The Guardian'', 2017: "The greens of the open plains contrast with the dark black of Death Mountain, which is streaked with orange lava on the distant horizon. As the sweeping orchestral soundtrack swells, you realise that you can go anywhere and that this is not like any ''Zelda'' you've played before. Released on Wii U and Switch in March, ''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (BotW) is the biggest ''Zelda'' title ever made. One-and-a-half times the size of open-world trailblazer ''Skyrim'' and 12 times the size of ''Twilight Princess'', it provides a vast terrain to explore with barely any restrictions beyond a few hours of subtly enclosed preparation."<ref>{{cite web |last=Gray |first=Kate |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild the best-designed game ever? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/30/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-nintendo-game-design-open-world-player-explore |website=The Guardian |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> * GameSpot, 2023: "[''Tears of the Kingdom''] builds upon the foundation so thoroughly and transformationally that it feels like a revelation. This is ''The Legend of Zelda'' at its finest, borrowing the best pieces and qualities from across the franchise's history and creating something new that is emotionally resonant, captivating, and endlessly rewarding... ''Breath of the Wild'' upended the ''Zelda'' formula by presenting a vast and lush open world to explore--a reenvisioning of the unguided experience of the original ''Legend of Zelda'' for the Nintendo Entertainment System... These tools, and the sprawling world they inhabit, give ''Tears of the Kingdom'' a particular flow that feels unique to the ''Zelda'' franchise. You aren't simply solving puzzles or fighting battles--you're engineering solutions."<ref name="gamespot totk">{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |date=May 11, 2023 |title=The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-review/1900-6418063/ |website=GameSpot |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref>}} throughout the series, with small refinements and additions in each new game. Later installments include stealth gameplay, where the player must avoid enemies while proceeding through a level, as well as racing elements. Depending on the game, players control Link or Princess Zelda from a fixed top-down perspective,{{efn|Top-down games in the series have been released with both 2D and fixed 3D computer graphics.<ref name="collider 3d camera">{{cite web |last=Oddo |first=Marco Vitto |date=June 18, 2021 |title=How Ocarina of Time Defined The Legend of Zelda Franchise |url=https://collider.com/ocarina-of-time-zelda-games-legacy/ |website=Collider |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 22, 2025 |quote=Let's start with the basics: ''Ocarina of Time'' is the first 3D ''Zelda'' game ever. We've had a lot of 2D ''Zelda'' games since ''Ocarina of Time'' and even more 3D ''Zelda'' games that used a fixed top-down camera to limit the field of vision of the player. Even so, every main title of the franchise — the ones Nintendo focused on for a [home] console release [as of 2021] — features a 3D camera that can be moved around freely by the player.}}</ref>}}<ref name="asks lbw">{{cite interview |last=Shikata |first=Hiromasa |last2=Aonuma |first2=Eiji |subject-link2=Eiji Aonuma |date= |title=6. 'Rethinking the Unquestioned' |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/3ds/a-link-between-worlds/0/5/ |work= Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds |interviewer-last=Iwata |interviewer-first=Satoru |interviewer-link=Satoru Iwata |location= |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |subject-link=Eiji Aonuma |date=September 23, 2024 |title=Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — Part 1 |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-13-the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-part-1/ |work=Ask the Developer |location= |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=August 22, 2025}}</ref> or in a 3D game world with a free-roaming camera.<ref name="collider 3d camera"/><ref name="Iwata Asks OoT 3D Miyamoto">{{cite interview|url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/0 |subject-link=Shigeru Miyamoto |first=Shigeru |last=Miyamoto |interviewer-last=Iwata |interviewer-first=Satoru |interviewer-link=Satoru Iwata |title=Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: Mr. Shigeru Miyamoto |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 22, 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729062844/https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/0/ |archive-date=July 29, 2025}}</ref>
<!--Helpful items and abilities--> ''Zelda'' games can be beaten with a minimal amount of exploration and side quests, but the player is frequently rewarded with helpful items or increased abilities for solving puzzles, or exploring hidden areas. Some items are consistent and appear many times throughout the series, while others are unique to a single game. Staples of the series include bombs that can both act as weapons and open blocked or hidden doorways; boomerangs, which can kill or paralyze enemies; keys for locked doors; shields; bows and arrows; light sources; magical rods, hammers, musical instruments; digging tools; and a grappling hook-like device named the hookshot. Items can be bought, rented, or found as a puzzle-solving reward, depending on the game. In 2017's ''Breath of the Wild'' and its 2023 sequel, ''Tears of the Kingdom'', swords and other weapons originally found in dungeons or purchased from shops are now found in the game world and stolen from defeated enemies.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> These are generally used through by swapping out to one or more selected button prompts through a menu, while the sword is usually fixed.{{efn|Attributed to multiple sources: * Famous equippable ''Zelda'' series items and accessing the sub screen menu<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=17; 19–20; 22; 24–26 |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=November 21, 1991 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAEE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=11; 19; 23; 35; 37–41 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=84–93; 96–97 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> * Finding recurring items by solving puzzles in dungeons<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=34 |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="alttp item">{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=November 21, 1991 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAEE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=32 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> * Renting or buying recurring items<ref name="asks lbw"/><ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=28 |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=33; 84–85; 90–91 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref>}} Echoes copied by Zelda in ''Echoes of Wisdom'' also attack or clear paths with bombs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Worcester |first=Christopher Norman |date=October 3, 2024 |title=How to Get Bombs Early Echoes of Wisdom |url=https://gamerant.com/zelda-echoes-wisdom-how-get-use-bombs-fish-zirro/ |website=Game Rant |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> Early in certain ''Zelda'' games, swords are given to Link and/or found in a secluded area.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=41 |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref> More powerful swords, or special sword abilities, can be discovered by Link or taught to him in the games. Existing weapons can also receive upgrades.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=19 |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=January 14, 1987 |title=Zelda II: The Adventure of Link instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAASE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=33 |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=November 21, 1991 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAEE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=23; 30 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref><ref name="gamespot totk" />
<!--Physics and chemistry engines, combat mechanics in newer games--> The motion controls of 2011's ''Skyward Sword'', using either the Wii's Wii MotionPlus or the Nintendo Switch's Joy-Con, simulate sword fighting by swinging the controller in specific directions to attack enemies, or counter an enemy's attempt to block.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |subject-link=Eiji Aonuma |date= |title=2. 'Have it Stop.' |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Skyward-Sword/Vol-1-Wii-MotionPlus-Inspires-New-Controls/2-Have-it-Stop-/2-Have-it-Stop--236131.html |work=Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Vol. 1: Wii MotionPlus Inspires New Controls |interviewer-last=Iwata |interviewer-first=Satoru |interviewer-link=Satoru Iwata |location= |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=August 18, 2025 |quote='''Aonuma:''' But there's a really tough boss named Ghirahim who can read your movements. '''Iwata:''' What he actually does is determine which direction he can be hit from. '''Aonuma:''' Yes. Ghirahim fights barehanded. You'll think, "All right, I'll strike at him from this angle," but he expects that and stops Link's sword with his hands... '''Iwata:''' You can beat him by tricking him. '''Aonuma:''' Right, you can. Ghirahim moves his hands wherever Link's sword is, so you trick him.}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |last=Tominaga |first=Kentaro |last2=Kiuchi |first2=Takafumi|date= |title=3. Fight with Your Eyes on Your Opponent |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Skyward-Sword/Vol-3-The-Dense-Volcano-and-Enemy-Monsters/3-Fight-with-Your-Eyes-on-Your-Opponent/3-Fight-with-Your-Eyes-on-Your-Opponent-208359.html |work= Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Vol. 3: The Dense Volcano and Enemy Monsters |interviewer-last=Iwata |interviewer-first=Satoru |interviewer-link=Satoru Iwata |location= |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=August 18, 2025 |quote='''Kiuchi:''' You keep a certain distance, watch your opponent's movement closely, and then you think, "Is this it?!" That's when you lunge. When that works, it's rewarding and exhilarating. '''Iwata:''' It's like the enemy's movement contains hints. '''Tominaga:''' That's right. Of course, you can defeat some enemies by swinging wildly, but first you observe the enemy's movement and form, and you seek an opening. Judging distance is also important. If you get too close, the enemy might strike first, but if you stay too far away, your sword won’t reach. And you have to stab some enemies, so this game is like a challenge from us to a sword duel using Wii MotionPlus.}}</ref> ''Breath of the Wild'' introduced a physics engine—allowing for physics-based solutions such as crushing an enemy via rolling a boulder onto it<ref>{{cite web |last=Dohta |first=Takuhiro |date=March 14, 2017 |title=The Making of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Video – Open-Air Concept |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLMGrmf4xaY |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 17, 2025 |time=4:26–5:31}}</ref>—and what was called a chemistry engine, a rule-based state calculator in which various elements (fire, water, wind, etc.) interact with other objects and elements in different ways.{{efn|Technical director Takuhiro Dohta explained that wind and electricity are not elements in a textbook, but they are in ''Breath of the Wild'' for the sake of how the chemistry engine is built.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dohta |first=Takuhiro |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Breaking Conventions with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMsF31NdNc |via=YouTube |publisher=Game Developers Conference |access-date=August 18, 2025 |time=42:45–43:51}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Dohta |first=Takuhiro |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Breaking Conventions with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMsF31NdNc |via=YouTube |publisher=Game Developers Conference |access-date=August 18, 2025 |time=38:13–45:41}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Mitra |first=Ritwik |date=February 4, 2025 |title=The Best Weapons In Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, Ranked |url=https://gamerant.com/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-best-weapons/ |website=Game Rant |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 22, 2025}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web |last=Mitra |first=Ritwik |date=September 14, 2023 |title=Best Bows In Zelda: Breath Of The Wild |url=https://gamerant.com/legend-zelda-tloz-breath-wild-best-bows/ |website=Game Rant |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 22, 2025}}</ref> ''Echoes of Wisdom'' is also a departure from other games' style of combat, as the playable Zelda is primarily unable to directly hit enemies on her own.{{efn|With the exception of a swordfighter form that requires charging after a short period of combat.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=August 30, 2024 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — Into the Still World, a Journey Continued — Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUdJF8gyO4A |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 23, 2025 |time=2:49-3:43}}</ref>}} Instead, she uses an item called the Tri Rod to create echoes via coping objects and enemies and recreating them to solve puzzles and defeat enemies, even if the object or enemy in question is not in the area or region her current situation is.<ref name="being mischievous">{{cite interview |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |subject-link=Eiji Aonuma |last2=Sano |first2=Tomomi |last3=Terada |first3=Satoshi |date=September 23, 2024 |title=Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Chapter 2 |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/News/2024/September/Ask-the-Developer-Vol-13-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Echoes-of-Wisdom-Chapter-2-2659795.html |work=Ask the Developer |location= |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> Another physics-based technique in newer ''Zelda'' titles involves using certain abilities to allow Link or Zelda to remotely move or drop objects on top of enemies, drop enemies down holes, or propel themselves across gaps.{{efn|Attributed to multiple sources: * Link using the abilities<ref name="gamespot totk"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=July 15, 2016 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the most ambitious Nintendo game in years |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-is-the-most-ambitious-nintendo-game-in-years |website=Eurogamer |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025 |quote=An even larger change sees multiple items and abilities tied to a new iPad-like gadget, the Sheikah Slate, which lets you scroll through and activate a diverse range of uses... A magnetic function allows you to pick up or manipulate metallic objects from doors to giant slabs, letting you manipulate the environment around you.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Dohta |first=Takuhiro |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Breaking Conventions with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMsF31NdNc |via=YouTube |publisher=Game Developers Conference |access-date=August 18, 2025 |time=31:41–33:21; 35:25–35:45}}</ref> * Zelda using the abilities<ref name="being mischievous"/><ref>{{cite web|date=August 5, 2024 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Traversing Hyrule Trailer – Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DolGuwvAnfg |via=YouTube |location= |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 19, 2025 |time=4:00–5:10}}</ref> * Dropping objects on enemies<ref name="gdc stasismag">{{cite web |last=Dohta |first=Takuhiro |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Breaking Conventions with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMsF31NdNc |via=YouTube |publisher=Game Developers Conference |access-date=August 18, 2025 |time=35:25–35:45}}</ref> * Dropping enemies down pits<ref>{{cite interview |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |subject-link=Eiji Aonuma |last2=Sano |first2=Tomomi |date=September 25, 2024 |title=Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Chapter 4 |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/News/2024/September/Ask-the-Developer-Vol-13-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Echoes-of-Wisdom-Chapter-4-2659747.html |work=Ask the Developer |location= |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=August 5, 2024 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Traversing Hyrule Trailer – Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DolGuwvAnfg |via=YouTube |location= |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 19, 2025 |time=4:15–4:23}}</ref> * Remotely manipulating objects<ref name="gamespot totk"/><ref name="gdc stasismag"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=July 15, 2016 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the most ambitious Nintendo game in years |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-is-the-most-ambitious-nintendo-game-in-years |website=Eurogamer |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025 |quote=An even larger change sees multiple items and abilities tied to a new iPad-like gadget, the Sheikah Slate, which lets you scroll through and activate a diverse range of uses... A magnetic function allows you to pick up or manipulate metallic objects from doors to giant slabs, letting you manipulate the environment around you.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=August 5, 2024 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Traversing Hyrule Trailer – Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DolGuwvAnfg |via=YouTube |location= |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 19, 2025 |time=4:00–4:30}}</ref> * Propelling the player character with Stasis or Reverse Bond<ref>{{cite web |last=Dohta |first=Takuhiro |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Breaking Conventions with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMsF31NdNc |via=YouTube |publisher=Game Developers Conference |access-date=August 18, 2025 |time=50:15–51:01}}</ref><ref name="reverse bond">{{cite web|date=August 5, 2024 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Traversing Hyrule Trailer – Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DolGuwvAnfg |via=YouTube |location= |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 19, 2025 |time=4:30–5:00}}</ref>}}<!--Debates over the genre of the main series-->
Although the games contain role-playing elements (''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'' is the only one to include an experience system), they emphasize straightforward hack-and-slash-style combat. This has led to much debate over whether or not ''Zelda'' games should be classified as action RPGs, a genre on which the series has had a strong influence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barton |first=Matt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMXu61GbTqMC |title=Dungeons & Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games |publisher=A K Peters, Ltd. |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-56881-411-7 |pages=209–10, 216, 385 |access-date=September 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817175923/https://books.google.com/books?id=IMXu61GbTqMC |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1992, series co-creator Shigeru Miyamoto disagreed with the label, classifying ''Zelda'' as "a real-time adventure game". He said that he was "not interested in systems where everything in the game is decided by stats and numbers" but wanted "to preserve as much of that 'live' feeling as possible", and felt that action games are better suited to convey to players.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=27 November 1992 |title=The Future of RPGs – Developer Interviews |url=https://archive.org/details/thesuperfamicom1992no.22hq/TheSuperFamicom%201992%20No.22%20LQ/page/n92 |access-date=14 October 2021 |magazine=The Super Famicom |pages=89–97 |volume=3 |issue=22 |lang=ja}}</ref> In 2012, ''Dark Souls'' director Hidetaka Miyazaki listed ''A Link to the Past'' as one of his top RPGs, alongside video games such as ''Dragon Quest III'', ''Wizardry'', and ''The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'', and the collectable card game, ''Magic: The Gathering''.<ref name="edge">{{cite magazine |title=Dark Souls' grand vision |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/dark-matters-0?page=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204210941/http://www.edge-online.com/features/dark-matters-0?page=2 |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |access-date=July 13, 2016 |magazine=Edge}}</ref>
<!--Basic summary of Zelda gameplay inspiring the industry--> The games pioneered a number of features that were to become industry standards. The original ''Zelda'' was the first console game with a save function that enabled players to stop playing and then resume later. ''Ocarina of Time'' introduced a targeting system that let the player lock the camera on to enemy or friendly non-player characters which simplified 3D combat.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Koizumi |first=Yoshiaki |subject-link=Yoshiaki Koizumi |title=3. 'Let's Go to Toei Kyoto Studio Park!' |last2=Osawa |first2=Toru |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/Vol-2-Original-Development-Staff-Part-1/3-Let-s-Go-to-Toei-Kyoto-Studio-Park-/3-Let-s-Go-to-Toei-Kyoto-Studio-Park--231680.html |access-date=August 22, 2025 |work=Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Vol. 2: Original Development Staff - Part 1 |publisher=Nintendo |date= |interviewer-last=Iwata |interviewer-first=Satoru |interviewer-link=Satoru Iwata}}</ref>
=== Overworld and dungeons === thumb|''The Legend of Zelda'' often includes nonlinear gameplay and varying environments in an explorable world, similar to this illustration. Many mainline ''Zelda'' game consist of three key areas: an overworld which connects all other areas and allows multidirectional movement, giving players some degree of freedom;<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=7; 18 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> areas of interaction with other characters (like caves, towns, or hidden rooms) in which the player can purchase equipment, gain special items or advice, or complete side quests;<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=11–12; 26 |access-date=August 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=January 14, 1987 |title=Zelda II: The Adventure of Link instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAASE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=33–34 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> and dungeons (or temples, towers, etc.), labyrinthine areas found underground<ref name="underworld overworld">{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=18 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=January 14, 1987 |title=Zelda II: The Adventure of Link instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAASE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=37–38 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=144 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> (with some exceptions),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=147; 149; 152–155; 158–159; 161 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref><ref name="wind temple locks">{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Julia |date=August 2, 2023 |title=Wind Temple walkthrough in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom |url=https://www.polygon.com/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-guide/23715584/wind-temple-walkthrough-dungeon-colgera-boss-fight-lock-locations/ |website=Polygon |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Julia |date=September 25, 2024 |title=Null's Body walkthrough in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom |url=https://www.polygon.com/zelda-echoes-wisdom-guides/455158/nulls-body-walkthrough-in-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom/ |website=Polygon |location= |publisher= |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> comprising a wide range of difficult enemies, bosses, and items.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=18; 21–26 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=November 21, 1991 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAEE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=31–32; 37 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> Each usually has one major item that can be essential for solving its puzzles<ref name="asks lbw"/> and often plays a crucial role in defeating its boss<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=5–6 |access-date=August 20, 2025 |quote=The big enemies often have weak points. Try using various items of treasure to attack them in a number of ways. That way you're bound to hit the right combination.}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |subject-link=Eiji Aonuma |date=2018 |title=Revising Expectations in The Legend of Zelda |work=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=323 |quote=A main structure of a ''Zelda'' title is to start from a village and then dive into the dungeons. Clearing them means increasing what you do as the player, enabling you to go to the next area, where a new dungeon will be waiting for you... Then, inside the dungeon is a miniboss, and defeating them yields an item. You then use that to do something you couldn't before, and also to beat the boss. That's the basic setup.}}</ref> and/or progressing through the game.<ref name="asks lbw"/><ref name="alttp item"/> In 2013, ''A Link Between Worlds'' introduced a more open-ended progression system by allowing Link to rent items to reach and beat the last seven dungeons.<ref name="asks lbw"/> Following this, every main dungeon in ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom'' can be accessed in any order before reaching the final boss in their open world setting. Neither game has items hidden inside dungeons for progression, but the latter involves the help of specific companions to solve tasks in their respective Temples.<ref name="rethink conventions"/><ref name="sage puzzle">{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |date=May 11, 2023 |title=The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-review/1900-6418063/ |website=GameSpot |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025 |quote=Instead, each dungeon features a companion specific to one of the diverse races in Zelda lore, like the Goron or Zora. Your companion effectively grants you their own power on demand for puzzle-solving and combat, making it feel like you've found a special item while also imbuing it with character.}}</ref>
Navigating a dungeon is usually aided by locating a map, which reveals its layout, and a magic compass, which reveals the location of significant and smaller items such as keys and equipment.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=120; 122 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> In games released after the NES, dungeons include a special "big key" or "boss key" that unlocks the door to fight its boss.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=118 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> In place of a big key, ''Breath of the Wild'' has Link use his Sheikah Slate to activate all the control terminals inside the dungeon before its boss attacks him,<ref>{{cite web |last=Tach |first=Dave |date=July 8, 2021 |title=Vah Ruta and Waterblight Gannon – Zelda: Breath of the Wild Divine Beast guide |url=https://www.polygon.com/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-guide-walkthrough/22567514/divine-beast-vah-ruta-waterblight-gannon-map-terminal-zora-armor-lightscale-trident/ |website=Polygon |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> and ''Tears of the Kingdom'' has companions reach and interact with the locations of multiple locks in the relevant Temple to open the door to the boss.<ref name="wind temple locks" /><ref name="sage puzzle" /> The original ''Zelda'' on the NES had its dungeons known as "the underworld" in contrast to the overworld,<ref name="underworld overworld" /> but later games had broad sections located underground or behind rifts that were not dungeons in of themselves, but connected to the overworld or other dungeons, such as Subrosia in ''Oracle of Seasons'',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=251 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> the Depths in ''Tears of the Kingdom'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Julia |date=August 2, 2023 |title=Fire Temple walkthrough in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom |url=https://www.polygon.com/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-guide/23717297/fire-temple-walkthrough-dungeon-locks-locations-marbled-gohma-boss/ |website=Polygon |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> and the Still World in ''Echoes of Wisdom''.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=August 30, 2024 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — Into the Still World, a Journey Continued — Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUdJF8gyO4A |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 23, 2025 |time=0:35–2:49}}</ref> Some games, like ''Four Swords'', ''Four Swords Adventures'' and ''Tri Force Heroes'', have no broadly-connecting overworld, and use randomly picked levels,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=262–263 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> a linear progression of numbered levels,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=265–267 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> or a hub world like Hytopia Castle Town.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=43; 306 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref>
=== Sailing and gliding === While a raft first appeared in the first game, they had limited use and can only be boarded from a dock.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=21–22 |access-date=August 21, 2025}}</ref> Sailing is—by design—the only way to traverse the island-dotted overworlds of ''The Wind Waker'' in 2002 and ''Phantom Hourglass'' in 2007.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=260–261; 284 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> By ''Breath of the Wild'', rafts' sails could be propelled by wind using the chemistry engine, and logs could also be used as makeshift boats.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dohta |first=Takuhiro |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Breaking Conventions with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMsF31NdNc |via=YouTube |publisher=Game Developers Conference |access-date=August 18, 2025 |time=44:28–44:51}}</ref> The introduction of Ultrahand and Zonai machine parts in ''Tears of the Kingdom'' gave players the ability to build a raft or a flying machine out of parts.<ref name="gamespot totk"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |author-link=Eiji Aonuma |date=March 28, 2023 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Mr. Aonuma Gameplay Demonstration |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6qna-ZCbxA |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 23, 2025 |time=7:07–9:35}}</ref> While gliding had previously been used for puzzles and minigames with the guidance of chickens known as Cuccos,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=63 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> and an item to help scale cliff faces appeared in 2004's ''The Minish Cap'',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=126 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom'' use both elements more prominently. In the games' open world, climbing walls and gliding off them on a paraglider makes it possible for the player to plot out multiple routes; in contrast to the way some players had been "glitching" up mountains players while controlling Geralt in ''The Witcher'' series{{efn|Players controlled Geralt in the first three installments of the series and their downloadable content, released from 2007 to 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Demi |date=June 3, 2025 |title=Five things we learned from The Witcher 4's technical demo |url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/five-things-we-learned-from-the-witcher-4s-technical-demo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604123000/https://www.techradar.com/gaming/five-things-we-learned-from-the-witcher-4s-technical-demo |archive-date=4 June 2025 |access-date=August 21, 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref>}} and Dovahkiin in ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'' (2011), here it is not considered unintentional climbing. Instead of mountains being impassable walls they are fully climbable for the players by design.<ref>{{cite web |last=Castle |first=Matthew |date=March 2, 2017 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review: 'It's taken 18 years, but Nintendo has done it again: this is the adventure game to beat' |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-review/ |website=GamesRadar+ |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 18, 2025 |quote=In a delightful touch there are hundreds of Koroks - ''Wind Waker''{{'}}s forest people - hiding across the world, many on lonely peaks who exist just to let you know that yes, Nintendo knew you wouldn't be able to resist climbing up. Here's a reward. Nice view, isn't it? ... After years of glitching Geralt and Dovahkiin up mountains they were never meant to climb, Link's flexibility is a revelation.}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |subject-link=Eiji Aonuma |date=2018 |title=Revising Expectations in The Legend of Zelda |work=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=324–325}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |author-link=Eiji Aonuma |date=March 28, 2023 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Mr. Aonuma Gameplay Demonstration |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6qna-ZCbxA |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 23, 2025 |time=1:40–2:26}}</ref> ''Tears of the Kingdom'' also allows Link to be launched into the sky and travel further with either Zonai machines or gliding.<ref name="gamespot totk"/> The Reverse Bond ability in ''Echoes of Wisdom'' also has Zelda attach herself to a climbing spider or flying bird monster to progress through the game world.<ref name="reverse bond"/>
=== Health and fairies === In most ''Zelda'' games, the player's HP or life meter is represented by a line of hearts. The player usually starts with three hearts;<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=November 21, 1991 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAEE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=28 |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> their max health can be increased by finding heart-shaped crystals called heart containers. Full heart containers are usually received at the end of dungeons and dropped by dungeon bosses. Smaller "Pieces of Heart" are awarded for completing side quests or found hidden throughout the game world, and require a certain number (commonly four) to form a full heart container.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=127 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> Health can be replenished by picking up hearts left by defeated enemies or destroyed objects, consuming items such as potions or food, or going to a Great Fairy Fountain to have the Great Fairy heal Link completely.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |pages=22; 25; 31; 34 |access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=23 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom'' broke from this tradition, and had Link hunt and cook his food or find potion ingredients in cut grass rather than freely be given hearts to pick up.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fujibayashi |first=Hidemaro |author-link=Hidemaro Fujibayashi |date=March 14, 2017 |title=The Making of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Video – Open-Air Concept |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLMGrmf4xaY |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 17, 2025 |time=3:39–4:24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=May 11, 2023 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review - Hyrule reborn bigger and busier |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-review |website=Eurogamer |access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |subject-link=Eiji Aonuma |date=2018 |title=Revising Expectations in The Legend of Zelda |work=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=325}}</ref> Occasionally, the player will find fairies hidden in specific locations; they can either heal Link immediately<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=February 21, 1986 |title=The Legend of Zelda instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAANE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=22|access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref> or be kept in empty bottles, and will revive him the next time he dies.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development |date=November 21, 1991 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past instruction booklet |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAEE.pdf |via=Nintendo of Japan website |page=27 |access-date=August 17, 2025}}</ref>
== Conception and production == === Inspiration === [[File:Shigeru Miyamoto 20150610 (cropped 2).jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.5|Shigeru Miyamoto, the series creator, was inspired by his adventures in forests and caves as a child.]] ''The Legend of Zelda'' was principally inspired by Shigeru Miyamoto's "explorations" as a young boy in the hillsides and forests surrounding his childhood home in Sonobe, Japan. According to Miyamoto, one of his most memorable experiences was finding a cave entrance in the middle of the woods.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/06/19/415568892/q-a-shigeru-miyamoto-on-the-origins-of-nintendos-famous-characters |title=Q&A: Shigeru Miyamoto On The Origins Of Nintendo's Famous Characters |website= NPR: National Public Radio |date=June 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619152426/https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/06/19/415568892/q-a-shigeru-miyamoto-on-the-origins-of-nintendos-famous-characters |archive-date=June 19, 2015 |publisher=NPR |author=Andrew Vestal |access-date=May 18, 2019 |quote=And I drew on that inspiration when we were working on the ''Legend of Zelda'' game and we were creating this grand outdoor adventure where you go through these narrowed confined spaces and come upon this great lake.}}</ref> After some hesitation, he entered the cave and explored its depths with the aid of a lantern. Miyamoto has referred to the creation of the ''Zelda'' games as an attempt to bring to life a "miniature garden" for players to play with in each game of the series.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_zelda/index.html | title=The History of Zelda | date=September 14, 2000 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831131810/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_zelda/index.html | archive-date=August 31, 2011 | website= GameSpot | author=Andrew Vestal | access-date=September 25, 2006}}</ref>
The story and setting were developed by Takashi Tezuka. Seeking to create a fairytale adventure game, Tezuka drew inspirations from fantasy books such as J. R. R. Tolkien's ''The Lord of the Rings''.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Club Nintendo |volume=1996 |issue=2 |title=Classic: Zelda und Link |trans-title= Classic: Zelda and Link |language=de |date=April 1996 |page=72 |publisher=Nintendo of Europe |url=https://archive.org/details/ClubNintendo1996German |quote=[The two program designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka were responsible for the game, who set themselves the goal of developing a fairytale adventure game with action elements [...] Takashi Tezuka, a great lover of fantasy novels such as Tolkien's ''Lord of the Rings'', wrote the script for the first two games in the ''Zelda'' series].}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=March 2003 |title=Shigeru Miyamoto Interview |journal=Super PLAY |publisher=Medströms Dataförlag AB |language=sv |issue=4/03 |url=http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/interviews/230403.shtml |access-date=24 Sep 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907074051/http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/interviews/230403.shtml |archive-date=September 7, 2006 |quote=All ideas for ''The Legend of Zelda'' were mine and Takashi Tezukas... ...Books, movies and our own lives.}}</ref><ref name="adventuremario">{{Cite web |last=Stanton |first=Richard |date=2023-04-06 |title=How an 'Adventure Mario' project evolved to become The Legend Of Zelda |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/how-an-adventure-mario-project-evolved-to-become-the-legend-of-zelda/ |website=GamesRadar+ |access-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406170245/https://www.gamesradar.com/how-an-adventure-mario-project-evolved-to-become-the-legend-of-zelda/ |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Keiji Terui, who wrote the backstory in the first game's manual, the location named Death Mountain was initially a working title for the legend of the Triforce which was written with inspirations from the battles of medieval Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oni.skr.jp/terui.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040925210737/http://oni.skr.jp/terui.html|archive-date=September 25, 2004|title=照井啓司さんのコメントコーナー|trans-title=Keiji Terui's Comment Corner |language=ja|quote=[He wrote a story similar to the battle for hegemony in medieval Europe (which he called "Death Mountain" at the time) and created the legend of Triforce].|access-date=January 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mauritsz |first=Jolien |date=November 22, 2021 |title=The Way of: The Legend of Zelda - Deel 1 het begin |url=https://gameliner.nl/artikelen/the-way-of-the-legend-of-zelda-deel-1-het-begin-/40302 |website=GameLiner |language=nl |access-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207232444/https://gameliner.nl/artikelen/the-way-of-the-legend-of-zelda-deel-1-het-begin-/40302 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Master Sword was introduced as Excalibur in the French version of ''A Link to the Past'',<ref>{{cite video game | title = The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | developer = Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development | publisher = Nintendo | date = September 24, 1992 | platform = Super Nintendo Entertainment System | quote = Excalibur retrouvera, préservant la pureté de la lignée des Chevaliers.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Benoit-Gonin |first=Corentin |date=July 23, 2021 |title= "Zelda: A Link to the Past" a déjà 30 ans! Voici nos 5 moments marquants de ce jeu vidéo culte |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/gaming/zelda-a-link-to-the-past-a-deja-30-ans-voici-nos-5-moments-marquants-de-ce-jeu-video-culte-74414f44-4baf-11ec-8468-6593778b450f |website=Ouest-France |language=fr |access-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207232443/https://www.ouest-france.fr/gaming/zelda-a-link-to-the-past-a-deja-30-ans-voici-nos-5-moments-marquants-de-ce-jeu-video-culte-74414f44-4baf-11ec-8468-6593778b450f |url-status=live}}</ref> which is regarded as reminiscent to the legend of King Arthur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Littlechild |first=Chris |date=April 19, 2019 |title=Zelda: 10 Best Weapons That Aren't The Master Sword |url=https://www.thegamer.com/zelda-best-weapons-not-master-sword/ |website=TheGamer |access-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603110845/https://www.thegamer.com/zelda-best-weapons-not-master-sword/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="adventuremario"/> Link's steed, was named after Epona, Celtic goddess of fertility.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/Vol-2-Original-Development-Staff-Part-1/5-What-We-Couldn-t-Do-with-Ocarina-of-Time/5-What-We-Couldn-t-Do-with-Ocarina-of-Time-231818.html |title=Iwata Asks: What We Couldn't Do with Ocarina of Time |website=Nintendo.co.uk |publisher=Nintendo |last1=Iwata |first1=Satoru |last2=Koizumi |first2=Yoshiaki |date=2011 |quote=Epona is the goddess of horses and fertility in Celtic mythology, so I used that. |access-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201170317/https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/Vol-2-Original-Development-Staff-Part-1/5-What-We-Couldn-t-Do-with-Ocarina-of-Time/5-What-We-Couldn-t-Do-with-Ocarina-of-Time-231818.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonfiglio |first=Nahila |date=September 10, 2017 |title=10 facts about Epona from The Legend of Zelda, gaming's most famous horse |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/epona-legend-of-zelda/ |website=The Daily Dot}}</ref>
Princess Zelda was named after American novelist, socialite and painter Zelda Fitzgerald, as Miyamoto thought the name sounded "pleasant and significant".<ref>{{cite web |author=Mowatt |first=Todd |title=In the Game: Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto |url=https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/117177 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220062126/http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=117177 |archive-date=December 20, 2007 |access-date=September 25, 2006 |website=Amazon}}</ref> Tezuka modeled Link's appearance after the eponymous character of Walt Disney's ''Peter Pan'' (1953).<ref>{{cite web |last=Madden |first=Orla |date=November 5, 2012 |title=The Legend of Zelda's Link Was Inspired By Walt Disney's Peter Pan |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/11/the_legend_of_zeldas_link_was_inspired_by_walt_disneys_peter_pan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604132406/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/11/the_legend_of_zeldas_link_was_inspired_by_walt_disneys_peter_pan |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |website=Nintendo Life}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nintendoeverything.com/link-design-inspired-by-peter-pan-name-explained/|title=Link design inspired by Peter Pan, name explained|date=November 3, 2012|publisher=Nintendo Everything|access-date=June 13, 2016|archive-date=August 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806213350/http://nintendoeverything.com/link-design-inspired-by-peter-pan-name-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref> When the series made the transition to 3D, the combat system of ''Ocarina of Time'' was based on the chanbara (samurai) style of Japanese sword fighting.<ref name="Iwata Asks OoT 3D Miyamoto"/>
=== Audio === [[File:Koji kondo (cropped).jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.5|Koji Kondo, the series's original composer]] Games in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series frequently feature in-game musical instruments, particularly in musical puzzles, which are widespread.<ref name="Pichlmair">{{cite journal | last = Pichlmair | first = Martin | author2 = Kayali, Fares | title = Levels of Sound: On the Principles of Interactivity in Music Video Games | url = http://www.digra.org/dl/db/07311.14286.pdf | journal = Situated Play, Proceedings of DiGRA 2007 Conference | year = 2007 | access-date = March 11, 2008 | archive-date = July 25, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080725103955/http://www.digra.org/dl/db/07311.14286.pdf | url-status = live}}</ref> Often, instruments trigger game events: for example, the recorder in ''The Legend of Zelda'' can reveal secret areas, as well as warp Link to the dungeon entrances. This warping with music feature has also been used in ''A Link to the Past'' and ''Link's Awakening''. In ''Ocarina of Time'', playing instruments is a core part of the game, with the player needing to play the instrument through the use of the game controller to succeed.<ref name="Lane">{{cite news | last = Lane | first = Pete | title = Review: Legend of Zelda | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/278662.stm | work = BBC News | date = February 26, 1999 | access-date = April 6, 2008 | archive-date = September 21, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130921131829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/278662.stm | url-status = live}}</ref> ''Ocarina of Time'' is "[one of the] first contemporary non-dance title[s] to feature music-making as part of its gameplay",<ref name="McDonald">{{cite web | last = McDonald | first = Glenn | title = A Brief Timeline of Video Game Music | url = http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/vg_music/index.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071018061157/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/vg_music/index.html | archive-date = October 18, 2007 | work = GameSpot | date = February 26, 1999 | access-date = April 6, 2008}}</ref> using music as a heuristic device and requiring the player to utilise songs to progress in the game<ref name="Whalen">{{cite journal | last = Whalen | first = Zach | title = Play Along – An Approach to Videogame Music | url = http://www.gamestudies.org/0401/whalen/ | journal = Game Studies | year = 2007 | volume = 4 | issue = 1 | access-date = April 6, 2008 | archive-date = October 3, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061003122633/http://www.gamestudies.org/0401/whalen/ | url-status = live}}</ref> – a game mechanic that is also present in ''Majora's Mask''.<ref name="Mirabella">{{cite web | last = Mirabella | first = Fran | title = Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/26/legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask | work = IGN | date = October 26, 2000 | access-date = April 6, 2008 | archive-date = November 28, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121128052904/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/26/legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask | url-status = live}}</ref>
"The Legend of Zelda Theme" is a recurring piece of music that was created for the first game. The composer and sound director of the series, Koji Kondo, initially planned to use Maurice Ravel's ''Boléro'' as the game's title theme, but was forced to change it after learning the orchestral piece had not yet entered the public domain late in production. As a result, Kondo wrote a new arrangement of the overworld theme within one day.<ref>{{cite web|first=Mark|last=MacDonald|title=Zelda Exposed from 1UP.com|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=7&cId=3140040|work=1UP.com|publisher=IGN|date=May 3, 2005|access-date=October 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016042303/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=7&cId=3140040|archive-date=October 16, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Up until ''Breath of the Wild'', the ''Legend of Zelda'' series avoided using voice acting in speaking roles, relying instead on written dialogue. Series producer Eiji Aonuma previously stated that having the other characters speak while Link remains silent "would be off-putting".<ref>{{cite web|title=Zelda producer says Link may never talk|date=August 14, 2010|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/zelda-producer-says-link-may-never-talk/|publisher=GamesRadar|access-date=July 22, 2011|archive-date=March 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312121448/http://www.gamesradar.com/zelda-producer-says-link-may-never-talk/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Plot == === Setting === {{Main|Universe of The Legend of Zelda|l1=Universe of ''The Legend of Zelda''}} {{Multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | header = Maps of Hyrule | image1 = Hyrule Ocarina of Time.svg | alt1 = | caption1 = Map of Hyrule, as seen in ''Ocarina of Time'' | image2 = BoTW HyruleMapaUbicaciones.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 = Map of Hyrule, as seen in ''Breath of the Wild'' {{Small|(legend in Spanish)}} }}
''The Legend of Zelda'' takes place predominantly in a medieval Western Europe-inspired fantasy world called Hyrule,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/Vol-5-Mr-Shigeru-Miyamoto/5-A-Sword-Sorcery-Tale-Admired-Worldwide/5-A-Sword-Sorcery-Tale-Admired-Worldwide-224778.html |access-date=May 18, 2019 |title=Iwata Asks: A Sword & Sorcery Tale Admired Worldwide |website=Nintendo.co.uk |publisher=Nintendo |last1=Iwata |first1=Satoru |last2=Miyamoto |first2=Shigeru |date=2011 |quote=And I was really happy that we here in Japan could make a medieval tale of sword and sorcery liked by the people of the world. |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201170356/https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/Vol-5-Mr-Shigeru-Miyamoto/5-A-Sword-Sorcery-Tale-Admired-Worldwide/5-A-Sword-Sorcery-Tale-Admired-Worldwide-224778.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Linden |first=Jacob |date=October 13, 2022 |title=Is Link wearing pajamas in A Link to the Past? An investigation |url=https://www.polygon.com/23392291/zelda-link-to-the-past-pajamas |website=Polygon |access-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207232443/https://www.polygon.com/23392291/zelda-link-to-the-past-pajamas |url-status=live}}</ref> which has developed a deep history and wide geography over the series's many releases. Hyrule's principal inhabitants are pointy-eared, elf-like humanoids called Hylians, which include the protagonists Link and Zelda.{{efn|Satoru Takizawa, the art director of ''Twilight Princess'', ''Breath of the Wild'', and ''Tears of the Kingdom'', described Zelda as the heroine.<ref>{{cite web |last=Takizawa |first=Satoru |date=March 14, 2017 |title=The Making of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Video – Story and Characters |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3CsGbtifZI |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 15, 2025 |time=8:43–8:49 |via=YouTube}}</ref>}}
The fictional universe established by the ''Zelda'' games sets the stage for each adventure. Some games take place in different lands with their own back-stories. Labrynna (from ''Oracle of Ages''), Holodrum (from ''Oracle of Seasons''), and Hytopia (from ''Tri Force Heroes'') are different countries separate from the Kingdom of Hyrule,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=34–35; 42 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> Termina (from ''Majora's Mask''), the World of the Ocean King (from ''Phantom Hourglass''), and Lorule (from ''A Link Between Worlds'') serve as parallel worlds,<ref name="MANUALmajoramask">{{Cite book | editor=Nintendo | title=The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask manual | year=2000 | publisher=Nintendo | page= 6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=32; 36; 39 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> and Koholint is an island far away from Hyrule that appears to be part of a dream.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.zelda.com/universe/pedia/k.jsp#KoholintIsland | title=The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia (K) | publisher=Nintendo | access-date=June 7, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326064241/http://zelda.com/universe/pedia/k.jsp#KoholintIsland | archive-date=March 26, 2009 | df=mdy-all}}</ref>
=== Story === {{refimprove|date=August 2025|reason=No sources for EoW/Null provided}} <!-- NOTE: Do not include timeline theories. Please only make changes when verified and cited by reliable sources (including interviews to the games' directors, writers and producers). Keep in mind that when citing the game itself, specific dialogue must be included. --> The world of Hyrule was created by three golden goddesses: Din, Farore, and Nayru.<ref name="QUOTEmyth">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 21, 1998|platform=Nintendo 64|quote='''Great Deku Tree''': Before time began, before spirits and life existed... Three golden goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Hyrule... Din, the Goddess of Power... Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom... Farore, the Goddess of Courage... Din... With her strong flaming arms, she cultivated the land and created the red earth. Nayru... Poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world. Farore... With her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law.}}</ref> They created the world to trap Null, which absorbed all life that appeared in an endless void created by it. Before departing, the three goddesses left the Triforce, a sacred artifact which could grant any wish to its user. It manifests as three golden triangles, each embodying one of the goddesses' virtues: Power, Courage, and Wisdom.<ref name="HyruleHistoria1">{{cite book |author=Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma |title=The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia |date=January 29, 2013 |publisher=Dark Horse |isbn=978-1-61655-041-7 |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |page=76}}</ref> However, as the Triforce has no will of its own and it can not judge between good and evil, it will grant any wish indiscriminately.<ref name="QUOTEwish">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 21, 1998|platform=Nintendo 64|quote='''Zelda''': If someone with a righteous heart makes a wish, it will lead Hyrule into a golden age of prosperity. If one with an evil mind has his wish granted, the world will be consumed by evil... That is what is foretold...}}</ref><ref name="HyruleHistoria2">{{cite book |author=Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma |title=The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia |date=January 29, 2013 |publisher=Dark Horse |isbn=978-1-61655-041-7 |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |page=70}}</ref> Because of this, it was placed within an alternate world called the "Sacred Realm" until one worthy of its power and has the balanced virtues of Power, Courage, and Wisdom in their heart could obtain it in its entirety. If a person does not possess balanced heart and tries to use the Triforce, it will split into three parts; the virtue that the user mostly believes in will stay with that person and the remainding two will seek out others. In order to master and control the triforce as a whole, the user must get the other parts found in other individuals and bring them together to reunite them. The Sacred Realm can itself be affected by the heart of those who enter it: a pure heart will make it a paradise while evil will transform it into a dark realm.<ref name="QUOTEsacred_realm">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 21, 1998|platform=Nintendo 64|quote='''Sheik''': The resting place of the sacred triangle, the Sacred Realm, is a mirror that reflects what is in the heart...the heart of one who enters it... If an evil heart, the Realm will become full of evil; if pure, the Realm will become a paradise.}}</ref> [[File:Trifuerza.svg|left|thumb|upright=0.7|The Triforce is represented as three conjoined golden triangles.]]
In ''Skyward Sword'', the Triforce was sought by the demon king Demise,<ref name="QUOTElust">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 18, 2011|platform=Wii|quote='''Zelda''': In his thirst to make the world his own, Demise readied a massive army of monsters for war. He sought to take the Triforce for himself by force.}}</ref> an eternal being that had conquered time itself.<ref name="QUOTEtime">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 18, 2011|platform=Wii|quote='''Fi''': This eternal being has conquered time itself. It is the source of all monsters.}}</ref> After a long battle against the goddess Hylia, guardian of the Triforce, Demise was sealed away within her temple.<ref name="HyruleHistoria1" /><ref name="QUOTEhylia">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 21, 1998|platform=Nintendo 64|quote='''Introduction''': Handed down by the gods of old, this power gave its holder the means to make any desire a reality. Such was the might of the ultimate power that the old ones placed it in the care of the goddess.}}</ref> Hylia, placing the world's inhabitants known as Hylians on a floating island in the sky called Skyloft to protect them, orchestrated a means to stop the demon from escaping: creating the Goddess Sword (later becoming the Master Sword) for her chosen hero<ref name="QUOTEsword">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 18, 2011|platform=Wii|quote='''Zelda''': She made the spirit that resides in your sword to serve a single purpose: to assist her chosen hero on his mission.}}</ref> and discarding her divinity to be reborn among the people of Skyloft.<ref name="QUOTEreincanration">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 18, 2011|platform=Wii|quote='''Zelda''': Knowing this power was her last and only hope, the goddess gave up her divine powers and her immortal form.}}</ref> In time, Zelda and Link (the reborn Hylia and her predestined warrior) enacted the goddess's plan and Demise was destroyed, but he vowed that his rage would be reborn and forever plague those descended from Link and Zelda.<ref name="QUOTEdemise">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|developer=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|date=November 18, 2011|platform=Wii|quote='''Demise''': I will rise again. Those like you... Those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero... They are eternally bound to this curse. An incarnation of my hatred shall ever follow your kind, dooming them to wander a blood-soaked sea of darkness for all time!}}</ref> Following the establishment of Hyrule Kingdom, Demise's prophecy came to fruition in ''Ocarina of Time'', when Ganondorf's attempt to get the Triforce scattered it with him gaining the Triforce of Power. The Triforce of Wisdom ended up with the Hylian princesses descended from Zelda, each named after her, while the Triforce of Courage is passed to a youth named Link across generations. While the Triforces of Power and Wisdom have been part of the series since the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', it was in ''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'' that the Triforce of Courage was introduced, being obtained by Link at the end of his quest. The Triforce, or even a piece of it, is not always distributed as a whole. Such as in ''The Wind Waker'', Link must find all the pieces (called Triforce Shards) of the Triforce of Courage before he can return to Hyrule. Even in the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', Zelda breaks her Triforce of Wisdom into eight pieces for Link to find, before she was captured by Ganon.
==== Fictional chronology ==== {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible floatright" |+ ''The Legend of Zelda'' story chronology<ref name="Timeline">{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.zelda.com/about|website=The official home for The Legend of Zelda|language=en-US|access-date=August 24, 2025|archive-date=July 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723224122/https://zelda.nintendo.com/about/|url-status=live|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref><ref name="TimelineUpdate">{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Alistair |date=August 5, 2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Has Been Added To The Series' Official Timeline |url=https://www.siliconera.com/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-has-been-added-to-the-series-official-timeline/ |access-date=August 20, 2025 |work=Siliconera |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208024711/https://www.siliconera.com/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-has-been-added-to-the-series-official-timeline/ |url-status=live}}</ref> | colspan="3" scope="rowgroup" | {{Unbulleted list center | ''Skyward Sword'' | ''The Minish Cap'' | ''Four Swords'' | ''Ocarina of Time'' }} |- ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | The Hero is Defeated ! colspan="2" scope="colgroup" | The Hero is Victorious |- ! scope="col" | Child Era ! scope="col" | Adult Era |- | style="vertical-align: top;" | {{Unbulleted list center | ''A Link to the Past'' | ''Link's Awakening'' | ''Oracle of Seasons'' & ''Ages'' | ''A Link Between Worlds'' | ''Tri Force Heroes'' | ''Echoes of Wisdom'' | ''The Legend of Zelda'' | ''The Adventure of Link'' }} | style="vertical-align: top;" | {{Unbulleted list center | ''Majora's Mask'' | ''Twilight Princess'' | ''Four Swords Adventures'' }} | style="vertical-align: top;" | {{Unbulleted list center | ''The Wind Waker'' | ''Phantom Hourglass'' | ''Spirit Tracks'' }} |- | colspan="3" scope="rowgroup" | {{Unbulleted list center | ''Breath of the Wild'' | ''Tears of the Kingdom'' }} |} {{nowrap|The chronology}} of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series was a subject of much debate among fans until an official timeline was released within the ''Hyrule Historia'' collector's book, first released in Japan in December 2011.<ref name="Official Legend of Zelda Timeline Revealed">{{cite web |date=December 22, 2011 |title=Official Legend of Zelda Timeline Revealed |url=http://gamecrunch.co/2011/12/22/official-legend-of-zelda-timeline-revealed/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426070944/http://gamecrunch.co/2011/12/22/official-legend-of-zelda-timeline-revealed/ |archive-date=April 26, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Fred Dutton |date=May 3, 2010 |title=Zelda Timeline Explained |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/16596/features/zelda-timeline-explained/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031155115/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/16596/features/zelda-timeline-explained/ |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=March 2, 2015 |work=Official Nintendo Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing Limited}}</ref> Prior to its release, in a 2003 interview, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed the existence of an internal document which connected all the games, with series producer Eiji Aonuma later revealing in 2010 the confidential nature of this document, which only Miyamoto himself and the director of each game had access to.<ref>{{cite journal |date=March 2003 |title=Shigeru Miyamoto Interview |url=http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/interviews/230403.shtml |url-status=dead |journal=Super PLAY |language=sv |publisher=Medströms Dataförlag AB |issue=4/03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208160357/http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/interviews/230403.shtml |archive-date=February 8, 2012 |access-date=September 24, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Long |first1=Neil |last2=Scullion |first2=Chris |title=Game On – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword |journal=Official Nintendo Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |issue=July 2010 |page=51}}</ref>
In-game content, marketing material, and developer statements once partially established a timeline of the released installments: the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' was followed by ''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'', which takes place several years later;<ref>{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda 2: Link no Bōken|developer=Nintendo EAD|publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd|date=January 14, 1987|platform=Famicom Disk System|quote=Several years after Gannon was destroyed, Link learns from Impa about another sleeping Princess Zelda.}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game|title=Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|developer=Nintendo EAD|publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc|date=December 1988|platform=Nintendo Entertainment System|quote=After Ganon was destroyed, Impa told Link a sleeping spell was cast on Princess Zelda.}}</ref> ''A Link to the Past'' is a prequel to the previous two games,<ref>{{cite web |date=November 21, 1991 |title=Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce – Back Cover |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,51140/ |access-date=June 10, 2010 |publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd. (via MobyGames) |language=ja |quote=今度の舞台はリンクが活躍した頃よりも遥か昔、ハイラルが、まだ一つの王国であった時代。/ This time, the stage is set a long time before Link's exploits, an era when Hyrule was still one kingdom. |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111044754/http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,51140/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 13, 1992 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – Back Cover |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,13522/ |access-date=June 10, 2010 |publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc. (via MobyGames) |quote=The predecessors of Link and Zelda face monsters on the march when a menacing magician takes over the kingdom. |archive-date=August 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813141938/http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,13522/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="miyamoto99timeline">{{cite journal |date=January 1999 |title=Dengeki Nintendo 64 |journal=Dengeki Nintendo 64 |publisher=MediaWorks, Inc. |quote='''Shigeru Miyamoto:''' (時オカ→神トラ)それから初代ときてリンクの冒険という順番になる。/ ''Ocarina of Time'', ''A Link to the Past'', then comes the original one and ''The Adventure of Link'' in turn.}}</ref> and is followed by ''Link's Awakening'';<ref>Nintendo, ed (1993). The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening instruction manual. Nintendo. pp. 3–4. "Though you fulfilled the Hyrulian prophecy of the Legendary Hero and destroyed the evil tyrant Ganon, the land of Hyrule enjoyed only a precarious peace. "Who knows what threats may arise from Ganon's ashes?" the restless people murmured as they knitted their brows and shook their heads. Ever vigilant, you decided to journey away from Hyrule on a quest for enlightenment, in search of wisdom that would make you better able to withstand the next threat to your homeland".</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zeldaの伝説 プロローグ |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/azlj/sutori.html |access-date=June 10, 2010 |publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511125122/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/azlj/sutori.html |url-status=live}}</ref> the events of ''Ocarina of Time'' occur many centuries before ''A Link to the Past'' (according to character designer Satoru Takizawa, it was meant to implicitly tell the story of the Imprisoning War),<ref>{{cite book |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Instruction Booklet |date=April 13, 1992 |publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc |pages=5–6 |quote=Many centuries have passed since the Imprisoning War.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=November 26, 1998 |title=「ゼルダの伝説時のオカリナ」の情報･産地直送! |trans-title=The story this time is not truly original, it is from the previous SNES version and tells of the "Seal War of the Seven Sages". |url=http://www.1101.com/nintendo/nin1/nin1-6.htm |access-date=June 9, 2010 |publisher=Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun |quote='''Satoru Takizawa:''' 今回のストーリーは本当のオリジナルではなくって、前作のスーパーファミコンに出てきた「七賢者の封印戦争」を扱っているんだ |archive-date=October 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029202714/http://www.1101.com/nintendo/nin1/nin1-6.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> and was followed by ''Majora's Mask'';<ref>{{Cite web |title=新しい「ゼルダ」の世界 |trans-title=The new world of Zelda |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nzsj/normal/newworld/index.html |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Nintendo |language=ja |quote="舞台は、前作『時のオカリナ』での活躍から数ヶ月後の世界。" ["The setting is a few months after his success in the previous work 'Ocarina of Time'."] |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116130420/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nzsj/normal/newworld/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Four Swords'' predates ''Ocarina of Time'';<ref name=":2">{{cite web |author=Billy Berghammer |date=May 17, 2004 |title=A Legend Of Zelda: The Eiji Aonuma Interview |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200405/N04.0517.1915.59084.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507222207/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200405/N04.0517.1915.59084.htm |archive-date=May 7, 2008 |access-date=November 11, 2009 |work=Game Informer Online |url-status=dead |publisher=Game Informer Magazine}}</ref> ''The Wind Waker'' takes place in one of the parallel timelines that emerged from ''Ocarina of Time'', more than a century later;<ref name="nindori">{{cite web |date=Feb 2007 |title=Long interview with Eiji Aonuma |url=http://www.nindori.com/interview/154zelda/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127032000/http://www.nindori.com/interview/154zelda/index.html |archive-date=January 27, 2007 |access-date=June 4, 2010 |work=nindori.com |publisher=Nintendo DREAM |quote=『時のオカリナ』から百数年後の世界です。 ... 『風のタクト』はパラレルなんですよ。『時のオカリナ』でリンクが7年後の世界に飛んで、ガノンを倒すと、子ども時代に戻るじゃないですか。『トワイライトプリンセス』は、平和になった子ども時代から百数年後の世界なんです。/ It is a world 100 and something years after ''Ocarina of Time''. ... ''The Wind Waker'' is parallel. In ''Ocarina of Time'', Link leaps to a world seven years later, defeats Ganon, and then returns to the child era, right? ''Twilight Princess'' is the world 100 and something years after peace is restored in the child era.}}</ref><ref name="gameproint">{{cite magazine |author=Fennec Fox |date=December 6, 2002 |title=Interview With Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/27362/interview-with-nintendos-shigeru-miyamoto-and-eiji-aonuma/ |magazine=GamePro |publisher=GamePro Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728123041/http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/27362/interview-with-nintendos-shigeru-miyamoto-and-eiji-aonuma/ |archive-date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=May 30, 2010}}</ref> ''Four Swords Adventures'', upon its release, was considered to be a direct sequel to ''Four Swords'', set sometime after its events;<ref name=":2" /> ''The Minish Cap'' is a prequel to ''Four Swords'', telling of the origins of the villain Vaati and the creation of the Four Sword;<ref>{{cite web |date=November 17, 2004 |title=Zelda: The interview! |url=http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/en/GB/editorial/article.do?elementId=tsSRlh1e8PvXMtWScR8tLxG9BXLNxXCM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012120133/http://www.landofthelegend.net/Hyrule/?grab=int-noa-eiji-tmc |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=May 30, 2010 |publisher=Nintendo of Europe GmbH |quote='''NoE:''' How does the ''Minish Cap'' fit into the Zelda chronology? Is it a prequel to the upcoming ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' on GameCube? '''Aonuma:''' Yes, this title takes place prior to ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'', and tells the secret of the birth of the Four Sword.}}</ref> ''Twilight Princess'' takes place after ''Majora's Mask'';<ref name="nindori" /><ref name="gameproint" /> ''Phantom Hourglass'' is a sequel to ''The Wind Waker'',<ref>{{cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass |url=http://zelda.com/universe/game/phantomhourglass/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430172315/http://zelda.com/universe/game/phantomhourglass/ |archive-date=April 30, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2010 |work=Zelda Universe |publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and is followed by ''Spirit Tracks'', which is set about a century later on a land far away from the setting of ''The Wind Waker'';<ref>{{cite web |last=Walton |first=Mark |date=November 20, 2009 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Eiji Aonuma Interview |url=http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks-eiji-aonuma-inte/2300-6240923/ |access-date=May 30, 2010 |work=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |quote='''Eiji Aonuma:''' Yes, it is actually a sequel and it is taking place about 100 years after the world of the game ''Phantom Hourglass''. |archive-date=July 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705170010/http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks-eiji-aonuma-inte/2300-6240923/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Skyward Sword'' precedes ''The Minish Cap'', telling the story of the creation of the Master Sword.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Neil Long, Chris Scullion |title=Game On – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword |journal=Official Nintendo Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |issue=July 2010 |page=51 |quote='''Eiji Aonuma:''' I have already talked to Mr. Miyamoto about this so I am comfortable in releasing this information – this title [''Skyward Sword''] takes place before ''Ocarina of Time''.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-23 |title=Aonuma Opens a Treasure Chest of Skyward Sword Details |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2011/07/aonuma_opens_a_treasure_chest_of_skyward_sword_details |last=Kaplan |first=Zach |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116130420/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2011/07/aonuma_opens_a_treasure_chest_of_skyward_sword_details |url-status=live}}</ref>
In the early 2000s, Nintendo of America released a timeline on the official website of the series as one of the possible interpretation of the events from all entries released up to that point, featuring a single protagonist named Link, the "Hero of Time" from its first adventure in ''Ocarina of Time''. It was followed by ''Majora's Mask'', ''A Link to the Past'', ''Oracle of Seasons'', ''Oracle of Ages'', the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'', and finally ''Link's Awakening''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Library: Hall of Time |url=http://www.zelda.com/lib_timeline.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021002111625/http://www.zelda.com/lib_timeline.html |archive-date=October 2, 2002 |publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc}}</ref> In 2011, series translator Daniel Owsen revealed that, at one point, his coworkers at Nintendo of America and him conceived another complete timeline and intended to make it available online, but the Japanese series developers rejected the idea so that the placement of each game would be kept open to the imagination of the players.<ref>{{cite web |author=East, Thomas |date=May 23, 2011 |title=Ocarina writer wanted to put Zelda timeline online |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/26468/ocarina-writer-wanted-to-put-zelda-timeline-online/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009165651/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/26468/ocarina-writer-wanted-to-put-zelda-timeline-online/ |archive-date=October 9, 2014 |access-date=March 2, 2015 |work=Official Nintendo Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing Limited}}</ref>
On December 21, 2011, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series, ''The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia'' art book was published by Shogakukan, which contained an official timeline of the fictional chronology of the series up to that point.<ref name="Official Legend of Zelda Timeline Revealed" /> This timeline subsequently posits that following ''Ocarina of Time'', it splits into three alternate routes: in one, Link is defeated by Ganon, leading into the Imprisoning War and ''A Link to the Past'', ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'', ''Link's Awakening'', ''The Legend of Zelda'' and ''The Adventure of Link''. The second and third, where Link successfully defeats Ganon, lead to a split timeline between his childhood (where Zelda sends him back in time so he can use the wisdom he has gained to warn young Zelda of the horrifying fate of Hyrule) and adulthood (where adult Zelda lives on to try and rebuild her kingdom). His childhood continues with ''Majora's Mask'', followed by ''Twilight Princess'' and ''Four Swords Adventures''. The timeline from his adult life continues into ''Wind Waker'', ''Phantom Hourglass'' and ''Spirit Tracks''.<ref name="Official Legend of Zelda Timeline Revealed" />
Released in 2013, ''A Link Between Worlds'' takes place six generations after ''A Link to the Past'', and features the Triforce being reunited, and Ganon being resurrected,<ref name="ALBWtimeline">{{cite web |author=Jose Otero |date=August 7, 2013 |title=New Details for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/08/07/nintendo-reveals-new-details-for-a-link-between-worlds |access-date=August 7, 2013 |website=IGN |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217153330/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/08/07/nintendo-reveals-new-details-for-a-link-between-worlds |url-status=live}}</ref> while 2015's ''Tri Force Heroes'' is a direct sequel to ''A Link Between Worlds'', which takes place several years later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Chris |date=2015-10-23 |title=Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is in the same timeline as A Link Between Worlds |url=https://www.destructoid.com/zelda-tri-force-heroes-is-in-the-same-timeline-as-a-link-between-worlds/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116130420/https://www.destructoid.com/zelda-tri-force-heroes-is-in-the-same-timeline-as-a-link-between-worlds/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Nintendo of America |date=2015-10-23 |title=Fans asked the developers of #Zelda: Tri Force Heroes: "Where does the game fall in the series timeline?" |user=nintendoamerica |number=657330612064399360 |access-date=2023-01-16 |language=en |quote=The game takes place several years after ''A Link Between Worlds'' and features the same hero. |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315115308/https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/657330612064399360 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2018, Nintendo revealed the placement of the timeline of the previous year's ''Breath of the Wild'' was after all previous games in the series, without specifying a connection to any of the three timeline branches. Aonuma and ''Breath of the Wild'' director Hidemaro Fujibayashi justified the vague placement with the previous idea of keeping it open to players' imaginations.<ref name="TimelineUpdate" /> Nintendo moved ''Link's Awakening'' to take place before ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages''.<ref name="TimelineUpdate" /> In 2020, Nintendo released ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity'', a follow-up to the 2014 spin-off game ''Hyrule Warriors'', set 100 years before ''Breath of the Wild'',<ref name=":1" /> but with the events of ''Age of Calamity'' diverging from the backstory established in ''Breath of the Wild'', ostensibly creating an alternate timeline separate from it. Events depicted within ''Age of Calamity'' unrelated to its use of time travel, however, differ from events established in ''Breath of the Wild'' and its supplementary art book, ''Creating a Champion'' - such as Link pulling the Master Sword during the events of ''Age of Calamity'', when he was previously established to have obtained it in his youth - rendering ''Age of Calamity'' wholly non-canonical.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-21 |title=Hyrule Warriors Has Split The Zelda Timeline (Again) |url=https://screenrant.com/zelda-age-calamity-breath-wild-timeline-split-ganon/ |access-date=2021-04-27 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425042456/https://screenrant.com/zelda-age-calamity-breath-wild-timeline-split-ganon/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023 ''Tears of the Kingdom'', a direct sequel to ''Breath of the Wild'', was released;<ref>{{cite interview |last=Aonuma |first=Eiji |subject-link=Eiji Aonuma |subject-link4=Satoru Takizawa |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Vol. 9, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—Part 1 |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-9-the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-part-1/ |work=Ask the Developer |interviewer-last= |interviewer-first= |interviewer-link= |location= |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=August 14, 2025 |quote=Yes, [''Tears of the Kingdom''] is set in Hyrule shortly after the end of the previous game [''Breath of the Wild''].}}</ref> it depicts the Imprisoning War as taking place shortly after Hyrule's founding by the Zonai king, Rauru.<ref>{{cite video game | title = The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | developer = Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development | publisher = Nintendo | date = May 12, 2023 | platform = Nintendo Switch | level = Beneath Hyrule Castle (prologue) | quote = '''Princess Zelda:''' Look at these murals... The written histories of the royal family... include stories of a great war fought long ago. It was a conflict fought between allied tribes and someone only ever referred to as the Demon King. Is it possible? Do these murals depict the same legend? This is similar to the statues we saw earlier—a Zonai. And these figures look like Hylians. This depiction certain suggests that the Zonai descended from the heavens. It is that that my ancestors—the first of Hyrule's royal family... were born from a union with gods who had descended from the heavens. These murals tell a similar story, and if they are accurate, then the gods mentioned were the Zonai... They must have forged a relationship with the Hylians of that time, working together to establish... the kingdom of Hyrule! This figure... He seems to be stealing something of incredible power from the young kingdom. This all aligns with what I've read during my studies. And then this... It shows the Demon King! And a fierce battle against him. If the creature depicted here really does represent the Demon King, then... Incredible! This mural must be the great war recorded in the royal histories! This must be the Imprisoning War, and all the events that let up to it!}}</ref> In 2025 ''Echoes of Wisdom'' was added to the timeline after ''Tri Force Heroes'' and before ''The Legend of Zelda''.<ref name="Timeline"/> ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment'' takes place during the events of ''Tears of the Kingdom'', where Zelda was sent back in time to when Hyrule was founded and fights in the Imprisoning War. To date, it is the only canonical ''Hyrule Warriors'' game.{{Original research inline|date=April 2026}}
=== Characters === {{Main|Universe of The Legend of Zelda#Characters|l1 = Universe of ''The Legend of Zelda'' § Characters}}
==== Link ==== {{Main|Link (The Legend of Zelda){{!}}Link (''The Legend of Zelda'')}} The central protagonist of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, and the primary player character of every individual game except for ''Echoes of Wisdom'', Link is the name of various Hylian young men or boys who characteristically wear a green tunic and a pointed cap, and are the bearers of the Triforce of Courage. In most games, the player can give Link a different name before the start of the adventure, and he will be referred by that given name throughout by the non-player characters (NPCs). Miyamoto said in a 2002 interview that he named the protagonist "Link" because the character is/was supposed to be the "link" between the player and the game world. The various Links each have a special title, such as "Hero of Time", "Hero of Winds" or "Hero of the Wild". Like many silent protagonists in video games, Link does not speak and only produces grunts, yells, and similar sounds, but he is not mute{{snd}}dialogue from him is referenced second-hand by in-game characters, despite not being seen or heard by the player. Link is depicted as a silent protagonist so that the audience is able to have their own thoughts as to how their Link would answer the characters instead of him having scripted responses.
==== Princess Zelda ==== {{Main|Princess Zelda}} Princess Zelda is the princess of Hyrule and the guardian of the Triforce of Wisdom. Her name is present in many of her ancestors and descendants. She sometimes plays a supporting role in battle, using magical powers and weapons such as Light Arrows to aid Link. She was not playable in the main series until ''Spirit Tracks'', where she becomes a spirit and can possess a Phantom Knight that can be controlled by the player, and becomes the primary playable character in ''Echoes of Wisdom'', in which Link is largely absent and Zelda does not speak. Zelda appears under various other aliases and alter egos, including Sheik (in ''Ocarina of Time'') and Tetra (in ''The Wind Waker'' and ''Phantom Hourglass''). In ''Skyward Sword'', it is revealed that the Zelda of that game is a reincarnation of the goddess Hylia, whose power flows through the royal bloodline. The name "Zelda" derives from the American novelist Zelda Fitzgerald.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mowatt|first1=Todd|title=In the Game: Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto|url=https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/117177/|website=Amazon.com|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705012811/https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/117177/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Ganon ==== {{Main|Ganon}} Ganon, also known as Ganondorf in his Gerudo form, is the main antagonist of the series and serves as the final boss for many of the games. In the series, Ganondorf is the leader of a race of desert brigands called the Gerudo, which consists entirely of women save for one man born every one hundred years. He is significantly taller than other human NPCs, but his looks vary between games, often taking the form of a monstrous anthropomorphic boar. His specific motives vary from game to game, but most often, he seeks the complete Triforce, a powerful magical relic, part of it often in the possession of Link and Zelda. He often possesses a portion of the Triforce called the Triforce of Power, which gives him great strength, but it is often not enough to accomplish his ends, leading him to hunt the remaining Triforce pieces. Unlike Link, Zelda, and most other recurring characters, he is actually the same person in every game, with the exception of ''Four Swords Adventures'', where he is a reincarnation of the original. In each game the battles with him are different and he fights using different styles. The game ''Skyward Sword'' indicates that Ganon is a reincarnation of a Demon King known as Demise.
==Main series== [[File:Legend of Zelda NES.PNG|thumb|upright=1|''The Legend of Zelda'', released in 1986 for the Famicom Disk System, was the first game in the series{{snd}}it featured an open world, and nonlinear gameplay.|alt=An overhead view of a young boy in a green tunic battling creatures.]] {{Timeline of release years | title = Main series release timeline{{efn|With the exception of ''Four Swords Anniversary Edition'', everything through ''Breath of the Wild'' for Wii U and Nintendo Switch is considered a main series title by ''The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia'', including the remakes.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=7; 322–327 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref>}} | subtitle = Original releases in '''bold''' | align = | compressempty = y | 1986 = '''''The Legend of Zelda''''' | 1987 = '''''The Adventure of Link''''' | 1991 = '''''A Link to the Past''''' | 1993 = '''''Link's Awakening''''' | 1998a = '''''Ocarina of Time''''' | 1998b = ''Link's Awakening DX'' | 2000 = '''''Majora's Mask''''' | 2001 = '''''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages''''' | 2002a = '''''Four Swords''''' | 2002b = '''''The Wind Waker''''' | 2004a = '''''Four Swords Adventures''''' | 2004b = '''''The Minish Cap''''' | 2006 = '''''Twilight Princess''''' | 2007 = '''''Phantom Hourglass''''' | 2009 = '''''Spirit Tracks''''' | 2011a = ''Ocarina of Time 3D'' | 2011b = ''Four Swords Anniversary Edition'' | 2011c = '''''Skyward Sword''''' | 2013a = ''The Wind Waker HD'' | 2013b = '''''A Link Between Worlds''''' | 2015a = ''Majora's Mask 3D'' | 2015b = '''''Tri Force Heroes''''' | 2016 = ''Twilight Princess HD'' | 2017 = '''''Breath of the Wild''''' | 2019 = ''Link's Awakening'' | 2021 = ''Skyward Sword HD'' | 2023 = '''''Tears of the Kingdom''''' | 2024 = '''''Echoes of Wisdom''''' | 2025a = ''Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition'' | 2025b = ''Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition'' }}
=== 1986–1997: 2D origins === <!-- The Legend of Zelda --> ''The Legend of Zelda'', the first game of the series, was first released in Japan in February 1986, on the Famicom Disk System.<ref name=Historia>{{cite book|title=Hyrule Historia|editor=Eiji Aonuma|publisher=Dark Horse Books}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2025}} A cartridge version for the Nintendo Entertainment System, using battery-backed memory, was released in 1987 in the United States on August 22, and in Europe on November 27. The game features a "Second Quest", accessible either upon completing the game, or by registering one's name as "ZELDA" when starting a new quest. The "Second Quest" features different dungeons and item placement, and more difficult enemies.<ref>{{Cite magazine | date=July–August 1988 | title=ZELDA: The Second Quest Begins | magazine=Nintendo Power | volume=1 | pages=27–28}}</ref>
<!-- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link --> The second game, ''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'', was released for the Famicom Disk System in Japan in January 1987,<ref name=Historia />{{page needed|date=August 2025}} and for the Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe in September 1988 and North America in December 1988. The game exchanged the top-down perspective for side-scrolling (though the top-down point of view was retained for overworld areas), and introduced RPG elements (such as experience points) not used previously or thereafter in the series.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Legend of Zelda|url=http://www.nindb.net/game/legend-of-zelda.html|access-date=February 20, 2008|work=NinDB|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619113453/http://nindb.net/game/legend-of-zelda.html|archive-date=June 19, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2025}}
<!-- A Link to the Past --> ''A Link to the Past'' returned to the top-down view and added the concept of an alternate dimension, the Dark World. The game was released for the Super NES in November 1991.<ref name=Historia />{{page needed|date=August 2025}} ''A Link to the Past'' was re-released for the Game Boy Advance in 2002. The SNES version was later re-released on the Wii Virtual Console in January 2007, on the Wii U Virtual Console, and on Nintendo Classics.
<!-- Link's Awakening --> The next game, ''Link's Awakening'', for Nintendo's Game Boy, is the first ''Zelda'' for a handheld, and the first set outside Hyrule and to exclude Princess Zelda. ''Link's Awakening'' was re-released, in full color, as a launch game for the Game Boy Color in 1998 as ''Link's Awakening DX''. This remaster features additions such as an extra color-based dungeon and a photo shop that allows interaction with the Game Boy Printer. ''Link's Awakening DX'' was released on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in June 2011. An HD remake of ''Link's Awakening'' was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dornbush |first1=Jonathon |title=The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Remake for Nintendo Switch Announced |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/02/14/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-remake-for-nintendo-switch-announced |website=IGN |date=February 14, 2019 |access-date=22 April 2019 |archive-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217203113/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/02/14/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-remake-for-nintendo-switch-announced |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/09/16/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-release-date-and-why-you-should-care/|title='The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening' Release Date And Why You Should Care|last=Thier|first=Dave|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-11-05|archive-date=November 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105194106/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/09/16/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-release-date-and-why-you-should-care/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== 1998–2001: Transition to 3D === <!-- Ocarina of Time --> The series made the transition to 3D with ''Ocarina of Time'' for the Nintendo 64, which was released in November 1998. This game, initially known as ''Zelda 64'' and in development for the Japanese-only 64DD before converting to cartridge format when the hardware was delayed,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/21/gaiden-and-ura-zelda-split|title=Gaiden and Ura Zelda Split|website=IGN|date=August 20, 1999|access-date=April 10, 2007|archive-date=February 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220231500/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/21/gaiden-and-ura-zelda-split|url-status=live}}</ref> retains the core gameplay of the previous 2D games. A new gameplay mechanic, lock-on targeting, enables more precise sword fighting in a 3D space by focusing the camera on a nearby target and alters the player's actions relative to that target.<ref>* {{Cite book |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time instruction booklet |publisher=Nintendo |year=1998 |pages=11–12 |id=U/NUS-NZLE-USA}}</ref> The game heavily uses context-sensitive button play, having the player control various actions, each handled slightly differently, using only one button on the controller (e.g. standing next to a block and pressing A would make Link grab it, enabling him to push orpull it, but moving forwards into a block and tapping A has Link climb the block). The game debuted Link's horse, Epona, allowing Link to travel quickly across land and fire arrows from horseback. Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest video games ever made, ''Ocarina of Time'' achieved massive commercial success and universal critical praise, earning numerous perfect scores and consistent top rankings on definitive "best of all time" lists from publications such as ''IGN'' and ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=filibustercartoons.com|year=2006|url=http://www.filibustercartoons.com/games.htm|title=The Best Video Games in the History of Humanity|access-date=November 16, 2009|archive-date=September 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921125121/http://www.filibustercartoons.com/games.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In February 2006, it was ranked by ''Nintendo Power'' as the best game released for a Nintendo console.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=NP Top 200|magazine=Nintendo Power|page=66|date=February 2006|volume=200}}</ref> The cancelled 64DD expansion for ''Ocarina of Time'', known as ''Ura Zelda'' during development, was re-released on the GameCube in 2002 as a pre-order incentive for ''The Wind Waker'' in the U.S., Canada and Japan.<ref name="Zelda Bonus Disc">{{cite web|title=Zelda Bonus Disc Coming to US|website=IGN|date=December 4, 2002|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/04/zelda-bonus-disc-coming-to-us|access-date=January 22, 2006|archive-date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025074420/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/04/zelda-bonus-disc-coming-to-us|url-status=live}}</ref> Named ''Ocarina of Time Master Quest'', the game was given reorganized dungeon layouts for greater difficulty.<ref name="Zelda Bonus Disc" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ronaghan|first1=Neal|title=This Week in the Nintendo Downloads|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/02/this-week-in-the-nintendo-downloads|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=July 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703040944/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/02/this-week-in-the-nintendo-downloads|archive-date=July 3, 2015|url-status=live|date=July 2, 2015}}</ref> Europe would receive this "Two-Game Bonus Disc" free in every copy of ''The Wind Waker'', except for the discounted Player's Choice version. ''Ocarina of Time'' was available through the Wii<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/23/vc-getting-arguably-greatest-game-ever|title=VC Getting (Arguably) Greatest Game Ever|website=IGN|last=Hatfield|first=Daemon|date=February 23, 2007|access-date=September 24, 2007|archive-date=November 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104070357/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/23/vc-getting-arguably-greatest-game-ever|url-status=live}}</ref> and Wii U's respective Virtual Console services and ''Ocarina of Time'' has been made available through Nintendo Classics in HD resolution on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. ''Ocarina of Time 3D'' for the Nintendo 3DS, featuring remade graphics and stereoscopic 3D, was released in June 2011. [[File:ZELDA OCARINA OF TIME 2.jpg|thumb|upright=1|''Ocarina of Time'', released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, was the first 3D game in the series.|alt=The child version of the game's protagonist, Link, stands in Hyrule field wearing his distinctive green tunic and pointed cap. In each corner of the screen are icons that display information to the player. In the upper left-hand corner, there are hearts, which represent Link's health, in the lower left-hand corner is a counter that displays the number of Rupees (the in-game currency) possessed by the player. There is a mini-map in the lower right-hand corner, and five icons in the upper right-hand corner, one green, one red, and three yellow, which represent the actions available to the player on the corresponding buttons of the N64 controller.]]
<!-- Majora's Mask --> ''Ocarina of Time''{{'}}s follow-up, ''Majora's Mask'', was released in April 2000. It uses the same 3D game engine as the previous game,<ref name="IGN MM review">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/26/legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask|title=Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|last=Mirabella III|first=Fran|website=IGN|date=October 25, 2000|access-date=December 3, 2005|archive-date=November 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128052904/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/26/legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask|url-status=live}}</ref> and added a time-based concept, in which Link relives the events of three days as many times as needed to complete the game's objectives. It was originally called ''Zelda Gaiden'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/06/17/zelda-sequel-invades-spaceworld|title=Zelda Sequel Invades Spaceworld|date=June 16, 1999|website=IGN|access-date=January 10, 2006|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921083717/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/06/17/zelda-sequel-invades-spaceworld|url-status=live}}</ref> a Japanese title that translates as ''Zelda Side story''. Gameplay changed significantly; in addition to the time-limit, Link can use masks to transform into creatures with unique abilities. While ''Majora's Mask'' retains the graphical style of ''Ocarina of Time'', it is also a departure, particularly in its atmosphere. It features motion-blur, unlike its predecessor. The game is darker in tone,<ref name="IGN MM review" /> dealing with death and tragedy in a manner not previously seen in the series, and has a sense of impending doom, as a large moon slowly descends upon the land of Termina to destroy all life. ''Majora's Mask'' was available on the Wii and Wii U Virtual Console catalogues. ''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D'' was released for 3DS in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia in February 2015. The Nintendo 64 version was added to Nintendo Classics in February 2022.
<!-- Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages --> ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'' were released simultaneously for the Game Boy Color in 2001, and interact using passwords<ref name="Pelland 124">{{Cite book |title=The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages Player's Guide |publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc |year=2001 |isbn=1-930206-10-0 |editor-last=Pelland |editor-first=Scott |location=Redmond, Washington |page=124}}</ref> or a Game Link Cable.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages Player's Guide |publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc |year=2001 |isbn=1-930206-10-0 |editor-last=Pelland |editor-first=Scott |location=Redmond, Washington |page=120}}</ref> After one game has been completed, the player is given a password that allows the other game to be played as a sequel.<ref name="Pelland 124" /> They were developed by Flagship in conjunction with Nintendo, with supervision from Miyamoto. After the team experimented with porting the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' to the Game Boy Color, they decided to make an original trilogy<ref>{{cite web |date=August 23, 1999 |title=Miyamoto Speaks on Zelda GBC |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/24/miyamoto-speaks-on-zelda-gbc |access-date=March 30, 2007 |website=IGN |archive-date=February 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206125650/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/069/069793p1.html |url-status=live}}</ref> to be called the "Triforce Series".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: The Third Oracle profile |url=http://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-the-third-oracle-unofficial-title/gbc-873036 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008224208/http://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-the-third-oracle-unofficial-title/gbc-873036 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |access-date=March 30, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> When the password system linking the three games proved too troublesome, the concept was reduced to two games at Miyamoto's suggestion.<ref>{{cite web |year=2001 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons Interview |url=https://www.nintendo.com/gamedev?gameid=m-Game-0000-314 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930025401/http://www.nintendo.com/gamedev?gameid=m-Game-0000-314 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=March 30, 2007 |publisher=Nintendo}}</ref> These two games became ''Oracle of Ages'', which is more puzzle-based, and ''Oracle of Seasons'', which is more action-oriented.<ref>{{cite web |author=Brad Shoemaker |year=2004 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages for Game Boy Color Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/the-legend-of-zelda-oracle-of-ages/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-oracle-of-ages-review-2768469/ |access-date=September 25, 2006 |website=GameSpot |archive-date=February 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202031911/http://www.gamespot.com/the-legend-of-zelda-oracle-of-ages/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-oracle-of-ages-review-2768469/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Both titles were later released on the 3DS Virtual Console and Nintendo Classics.
=== 2002–2005: Introduction of Toon Link and multiplayer === <!-- Four Swords --> [[File:The Legend of Zelda Four Swords screenshot.png|left|thumb|upright=1|''Four Swords'', released in 2002 for the Game Boy Advance, was the first multiplayer game in the series, and introduced a new cartoon art style.]]
The Game Boy Advance release of ''A Link to the Past'' in 2002 featured a new game, ''Four Swords'',<ref name="Historia" />{{page needed|date=August 2025}} the first multiplayer ''Zelda''. This game introduced Toon Link, a name first used in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' to refer to cartoon-based visual designs of Link. ''Four Swords Anniversary Edition''<ref name="IwataAsksZelda25">{{cite web |title=Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: One Year Steeped in The Legend of Zelda |url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/5 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |publisher=Nintendo |page=6 |quote='''Miyamoto:''' [...] and ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords'', scheduled for free download as the Nintendo DSiWare software starting in September. |archive-date=July 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725233103/http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/5 |url-status=live}}</ref> was released in September 2011, as free DSiWare available until February 20, 2012.
<!-- The Wind Waker --> [[File:The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker screenshot.jpg|thumb|upright=1|''The Wind Waker'', released in 2002 for the GameCube, was the first game in the series featuring cel shading.|left]]
''The Wind Waker'', a 3D cel-shaded game also featuring Toon Link, was released in Japan in December 2002, and the US and Europe in 2003. The gameplay centers on controlling wind with a baton called the Wind Waker and sailing a small boat around an island-filled ocean, retaining similar gameplay mechanics as the previous 3D games in the series. ''The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition'', released for the GameCube in 2003,<ref name="bare_url">{{cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-collectors-edition/gcn-608263 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929062330/http://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-collectors-edition/gcn-608263 | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 29, 2012 | title=The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition | website=IGN | access-date=March 19, 2007}}</ref> included the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''Zelda II'', ''Ocarina of Time'', ''Majora's Mask'', and a demo of ''The Wind Waker''. ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD'' was released for Wii U in 2013.
<!-- Four Swords Adventures --> ''Four Swords Adventures'' was released for the GameCube in early 2004 in Japan and America, and January 2005 in Europe. Based on the handheld ''Four Swords'', ''Four Swords Adventures'' was another deviation from previous ''Zelda'' gameplay, focusing on level-based and multiplayer gameplay. The game contains 24 levels and a map screen; there is no connecting overworld. For multiplayer features, each player must use a Game Boy Advance system linked to the GameCube via a Nintendo GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable. The game features a single-player campaign, in which using a Game Boy Advance is optional. ''Four Swords Adventures'' includes two gameplay modes: "Hyrulean Adventure", with a plot and gameplay similar to other ''Zelda'' games, and "Shadow Battle", in which multiple Links, played by multiple players, battle each other. The Japanese and Korean versions include an exclusive third segment, "Navi Trackers", which contains spoken dialogue for most of the characters.
<!-- The Minish Cap --> In November 2004 in Japan and Europe, and January 2005 in America, Nintendo released ''The Minish Cap'' for the Game Boy Advance. In ''The Minish Cap'' Link can shrink in size using a mystical, sentient hat named Ezlo. While shrunk, he can see previously explored parts of a dungeon from a different perspective, and enter areas through otherwise-impassable openings. It was later released on the Wii U Virtual Console and Nintendo Classics.
=== 2006–2011: Motion and touch-based swordplay === <!-- Twilight Princess --> [[File:Zelda - Twilight Princess - stab.jpg|thumb|upright=1|''Twilight Princess'' was the first game in the series with motion controls, in which the player controls Link's sword using the Wii Remote (GameCube version pictured).|alt=A boy in a green tunic holds a shield while swinging his sword towards an enemy.|left]]
In November 2006, ''Twilight Princess'' was released as the first ''Zelda'' game on the Wii. It was later released in December as the last Nintendo-published game for the GameCube, the console for which it was originally developed. The Wii version features motion controls and a reversed world where everything that is in the west on the GameCube is in the east on the Wii. The display is mirrored in order to make Link right-handed to make use of the Wii Remote feel more natural for the majority of players. The game chronicles the struggle of a young adult Link to confront the troubles of the "Twilight Realm", a mysterious force that appears around and interacts with Hyrule. When he enters this realm, he is transformed into a wolf, and loses the ability to use his sword, shield or other items, but gains other abilities such as sharpened senses from his new form. ''Twilight Princess'' includes an incarnation of Link's horse, Epona, for fast transportation, and features mounted battle scenarios including boss battles that were not seen in previous games. ''Twilight Princess'' diverted from the cel-shading of ''Wind Waker'', integrating graphics featuring more detailed textures, giving the game a darker atmosphere. ''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD'' was released for Wii U in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McWhertor|first1=Michael|title=The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD coming to Wii U in 2016|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/11/12/9725636/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-hd-coming-to-wii-u-in-2016|website=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=November 12, 2015|date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112221215/http://www.polygon.com/2015/11/12/9725636/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-hd-coming-to-wii-u-in-2016|archive-date=November 12, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- Phantom Hourglass --> ''Phantom Hourglass'' was released in June 2007 in Japan and October in North America and Europe for the Nintendo DS. It had a cel-shaded 3D graphical design with top-down gameplay and gameplay optimised for the DS' touch screen. It was later released on the Wii U Virtual Console.
<!-- Spirit Tracks --> The next ''Legend of Zelda'' game for the DS, ''Spirit Tracks'', was released in December 2009. In this game, the "spirit tracks", railroads which chain an ancient evil, are disappearing from Hyrule. Zelda and Link go to the Spirit Tower (the ethereal point of convergence for the tracks) to find out why, but villains Cole and Byrne{{efn|Staven in European English-language releases.}} steal Zelda's body for the resurrection of the Demon King. Rendered disembodied, Zelda is left a spirit, and only Link (and a certain few sages) can see her. Together they go on a quest to restore the spirit tracks, defeat the Demon King, and return Zelda to her body. Developed using a modified version of the ''Phantom Hourglass'' engine, the game's most significant new mechanic allows Zelda to possess and periodically control Phantom Guardians—a recurring enemy type from the previous title. It was later released on the Wii U Virtual Console.
<!-- Skyward Sword --> ''Skyward Sword'' for the Wii was in development since the end of 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/16/e3-2008-miyamoto-says-new-zelda-for-wii-progressing |title=E3 2008: Miyamoto Says New Zelda for Wii Progressing |access-date=July 16, 2008 |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Casamassina |date=July 15, 2008 |work=IGN Wii |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222085538/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/16/e3-2008-miyamoto-says-new-zelda-for-wii-progressing |url-status=live}}</ref> The game, the earliest in the ''Legend of Zelda'' timeline, reveals the origins of Hyrule, Ganon (here known as Demise), and many elements featured in previous games; it uses Wii's MotionPlus feature as well. It was released in November 2011. An HD remaster, with optional button-only controls, was released for Nintendo Switch in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|date=2021-02-17|title=The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword coming to Nintendo Switch|url=https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/17/21371925/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-nintendo-switch-release-date|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217234002/https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/17/21371925/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-nintendo-switch-release-date|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== 2013–present: Open-world emphasis === <!-- A Link Between Worlds --> In 2013, Nintendo released ''A Link Between Worlds'' for the Nintendo 3DS, a sequel to ''A Link to the Past''.<ref>{{cite interview | url=http://ez.mygames.pt/wii/accao/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/especial/entrevista-com-eiji-aonuma-e-koji-kondo-682/ | subject-link1=Eiji Aonuma | first1=Eiji | last1=Aonuma | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106043407/http://ez.mygames.pt/wii/accao/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/especial/entrevista-com-eiji-aonuma-e-koji-kondo-682/ | archive-date=November 6, 2011 | title=Interview with Eiji Aonuma and Koji Kondo | date=November 4, 2011 | interviewer=Daniel Silvestre | language=pt | work=MyGames | access-date=March 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/nintendo-is-making-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-p-474844199|title=The Next 3DS Zelda Is Set In The World Of Link To The Past|last=Ashcraft|first=Brian|publisher=Kotaku|date=April 17, 2013|access-date=April 17, 2013|archive-date=April 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420011808/http://kotaku.com/nintendo-is-making-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-p-474844199|url-status=live}}</ref> Progression is more open-ended than previous titles, with the possibility of completing many of the game's dungeons in any order. Certain dungeon obstacles require the use of rented or purchased items.<ref name="asks lbw"/>
<!-- Tri Force Heroes --> ''Tri Force Heroes'', a cooperative multiplayer game, was released for the 3DS in October 2015.<ref name="IGN reveal">{{cite web|first=Jose|last=Otero|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/16/e3-2015-the-legend-of-zelda-triforce-heroes-revealed-for-3ds|title=E3 2015: The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes Revealed for 3DS|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616230446/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/16/e3-2015-the-legend-of-zelda-triforce-heroes-revealed-for-3ds|archive-date=June 16, 2015|url-status=live|date=June 16, 2015|access-date=June 16, 2015}}</ref>
<!-- Breath of the Wild --> ''Breath of the Wild'' was released in March 2017, as the last Nintendo-published game for the Wii U and a launch title for the Nintendo Switch.<ref name="ZeldaNX">{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/04/the_legend_of_zelda_wii_u_has_been_pushed_back_to_2017_will_release_on_nx_as_well|title=The Legend of Zelda Wii U Has Been Pushed Back to 2017, Will Release on NX As Well|last=Vogel|first=Mitch|date=April 27, 2016|publisher=Gamer Network|work=Nintendo Life|access-date=April 27, 2016|archive-date=April 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427195214/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/04/the_legend_of_zelda_wii_u_has_been_pushed_back_to_2017_will_release_on_nx_as_well|url-status=live}}</ref> Similar to the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', players are given little instruction and can explore the world freely. The world is designed to encourage exploration and experimentation and the main story quest can be completed in a nonlinear fashion.<ref name="rethink conventions"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Aonuma |first1=Eiji |author-link1=Eiji Aonuma |last2=Fujibayashi |first2=Hidemaro |author-link2=Hidemaro Fujibayashi |date=March 14, 2017 |title=The Making of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Video – Open-Air Concept |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLMGrmf4xaY |via=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 30, 2025 |time=1:03–2:33}}</ref> An enhanced port was released as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 worldwide in June 2025.
<!-- Tears of the Kingdom --> A ''Breath of the Wild'' sequel, ''Tears of the Kingdom'', was released on the Switch in May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Breath Of The Wild Sequel Delayed To 2023, Nintendo Apologizes |url=https://kotaku.com/botw-2-breath-of-the-wild-sequel-delay-nintendo-switch-1848719035 |last=Notis |first=Ari |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Kotaku |date=March 29, 2022 |language=en-us |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410111018/https://kotaku.com/botw-2-breath-of-the-wild-sequel-delay-nintendo-switch-1848719035 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-botws-sequel-is-officially-releasing-in-may-2023-as-tears-of-the-kingdom/ |title=Zelda: BoTW's sequel is officially releasing in May 2023 as 'Tears of the Kingdom' |last=Robinson |first=Andy |work=Video Games Chronicle |date=September 13, 2022 |accessdate=September 14, 2022 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913162244/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-botws-sequel-is-officially-releasing-in-may-2023-as-tears-of-the-kingdom/ |url-status=live}}</ref> New to ''Tears of the Kingdom'' are the battery-powered Zonai devices, which the player can use for combat, propulsion, and exploration. The game also features the new abilities to fuse materials together, ascend through ceilings, reverse objects' movement through time, and autobuild structures.<ref name="gamespot totk"/> An enhanced port was released as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 worldwide in June 2025.
<!-- Echoes of Wisdom --> ''Echoes of Wisdom'', which features Zelda as the main protagonist, was released in September 2024 for the Switch.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Ryan |date=2024-06-18 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Announced for Nintendo Switch With Zelda as Protagonist |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-announced-for-nintendo-switch-with-zelda-as-protagonist |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=June 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618143419/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-announced-for-nintendo-switch-with-zelda-as-protagonist |url-status=live}}</ref>
== Spin-off games == As the franchise has grown in popularity, several games have been released that are set within or star a minor character from the universe of ''The Legend of Zelda'' but are not directly connected to the main ''The Legend of Zelda'' series or its core timeline.<ref name="Timeline"/><ref name="encyclo spinoffs">{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=7; 10–11; 308–312 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref>
<!-- LCD games --> Three ''Zelda''-themed LCD games were created between 1989 and 1992.{{efn|One of these three, 1989's ''Zelda'', is specifically listed as a spin-off title in ''The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia''. None of them are listed on core timelines.<ref name="Timeline"/><ref name="encyclo spinoffs"/>}} The Game & Watch game ''Zelda'' was released first in August 1989 as a dual-screen handheld electronic game. It was re-released in 1998 as a Toymax, Inc. Mini Classic and was later included as an unlockable extra in ''Game & Watch Gallery 4'', a 2002 compilation for the Game Boy Advance. While the Game & Watch ''Zelda'' was developed in-house by Nintendo, the subsequent two LCD games were developed by third parties under license by Nintendo. In October 1989, ''The Legend of Zelda'' was developed by Nelsonic as part of its Game Watch line. This game was an actual digital watch with primitive gameplay based on the original ''Legend of Zelda''. In 1992, Epoch Co. developed ''Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce'' for its Barcode Battler II console. The game employed card-scanning technology similar to the later-released Nintendo e-Reader.
<!-- CD-i games --> Three video games were developed and released on CD-i in the early 1990s as a product of a compromise between Philips and Nintendo, after the companies failed to develop a CD-ROM peripheral for the Super NES. Created independently with no observation by or influence from Nintendo, the games are ''Link: The Faces of Evil'', ''Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon'', and later, ''Zelda's Adventure''. Nintendo never acknowledged them in the ''Zelda'' timeline,{{efn|Self evidenced from their absence from timelines in ''The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia'' and the official ''Zelda'' website.<ref name="Timeline"/><ref name="encyclo spinoffs"/>}} and they are considered to be in a separate, self-contained canon. These games are widely acknowledged to be the worst installments in the series, though have since gained a cult following in the form of internet memes.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 6 Worst Games Ever Farted Out by Beloved Franchises |url=http://www.cracked.com/article/18352_the-6-worst-games-ever-farted-out-by-beloved-franchises_p2/ |work=Cracked.com |access-date=October 22, 2015 |archive-date=October 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031110959/http://www.cracked.com/article/18352_the-6-worst-games-ever-farted-out-by-beloved-franchises_p2/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
The Satellaview games from ''The Legend of Zelda'' series (1995–1997) are spin-offs, not listed on core timelines of the franchise.<ref name="Timeline"/><ref name="encyclo spinoffs"/>
Other spin-off games include RPG ''Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland'', its sequel ''Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love'', and ''Balloon Fight'' rerelease ''Tingle's Balloon Fight'' for the Nintendo DS. All of these star Tingle.<ref name="tingle and warriors">{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=312 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref>
Though also stated to be in the world of ''Twilight Princess'', ''The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia'' considers the rail shooter game ''Link's Crossbow Training'' for the Wii to be a spin-off.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |page=309 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref>
''Hyrule Warriors'' is a spin-off<ref name="tingle and warriors"/> and a crossover game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja which combined the setting of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the gameplay of Koei Tecmo's ''Dynasty Warriors'' series. It was released in North America in September 2014 for Wii U. ''Hyrule Warriors Legends'', a version for the Nintendo 3DS containing more content and gameplay modifications, was released in March 2016. The Nintendo Switch game ''Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition'' was released on the Nintendo Switch in 2018 and contained content from both the Wii U and 3DS versions.
To commemorate the launch of the My Nintendo loyalty program in March 2016, Nintendo released ''My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'', a nonogram puzzle game in the ''Picross'' series developed by Jupiter for download to the Nintendo 3DS.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Makuch|first1=Eddie|title=Legend of Zelda Picross Revealed As "My Nintendo" Bonus - Report|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-picross-revealed-as-my-nintendo-bo/1100-6435416/|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404231453/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-picross-revealed-as-my-nintendo-bo/1100-6435416/|archive-date=April 4, 2016|url-status=live|date=March 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|url=https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/e0bd3a7355ae978b|website=My Nintendo|access-date=April 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416143433/https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/e0bd3a7355ae978b|archive-date=April 16, 2016|url-status=live|date=2016}}</ref>
''Cadence of Hyrule'', developed by Brace Yourself Games and released in June 2019 for the Nintendo Switch, is an officially licensed crossover of ''Zelda'' with ''Crypt of the NecroDancer''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/20/18273199/cadence-of-hyrule-zelda-spinoff-nintendo-switch |title=Cadence of Hyrule is an indie-developed Zelda spinoff for the Switch |work=The Verge |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=March 20, 2019 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321133858/https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/20/18273199/cadence-of-hyrule-zelda-spinoff-nintendo-switch |url-status=live}}</ref>
''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity'', developed by Omega Force, shares the hack-and-slash style of the spin-off game ''Hyrule Warriors''.{{efn|Released in English in 2018, ''The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia'' does not provide a statement on whether later ''Hyrule Warriors'' games from 2020 and 2025 are mainline ''Zelda'' games. It does consider the Wii U and 3DS games to be spin-offs.<ref name="tingle and warriors"/>}}<ref name="HWAonuma">{{cite magazine|last=Hilliard|first=Kyle|date=June 11, 2014|title=Eiji Aonuma Addresses Hyrule Warriors' Place In The Zelda Timeline|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/06/11/eiji-aonuma-addresses-hyrule-warriors-place-in-the-zelda-timeline.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012145314/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/06/11/eiji-aonuma-addresses-hyrule-warriors-place-in-the-zelda-timeline.aspx|archive-date=October 12, 2014|access-date=November 17, 2014|magazine=Game Informer|url-status=live|quote=The universe of ''Hyrule Warriors'' really is sort of a different universe and it is connected to the timeline of the ''Zelda'' series, but it is connected to several different games throughout the series.}}</ref> ''Age of Calamity'' was released in November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=2020-09-08|title=Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a new Zelda action game for the Switch|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/8/21427031/hyrule-warrriors-age-of-calamity-nintendo-switch-zelda|access-date=2020-09-08|website=The Verge|language=en|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018113130/https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/8/21427031/hyrule-warrriors-age-of-calamity-nintendo-switch-zelda|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Shred monsters as Zelda and others in 'Breath of the Wild' prequel 'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity'|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/08/shred-monsters-as-zelda-and-others-in-breath-of-the-wild-prequel-hyrule-warriors-age-of-calamity/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=TechCrunch|date=September 8, 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=February 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225163426/https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/08/shred-monsters-as-zelda-and-others-in-breath-of-the-wild-prequel-hyrule-warriors-age-of-calamity/|url-status=live}}</ref>
A ''Zelda''-themed variant of ''Vermin'' was included on the limited edition ''Game & Watch'': ''The Legend of Zelda'' unit, released in 2021. This special edition of the Game & Watch also included ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''The Adventure of Link'', and ''Link's Awakening''.
A third ''Hyrule Warriors'' game, ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment'' takes place during the events of ''Tears of the Kingdom'', where Zelda was sent back in time to when Hyrule was founded and fights in the Imprisoning War. ''Age of Imprisonment'' was released in November 2025.
== Cancelled games == In 2001, Nintendo partnered with Capcom subsidiary Flagship to concurrently release ''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons'' and ''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages'' for the Game Boy Color. The original plan, however, was to release three titles concurrently, but one title, ''The Legend of Zelda: Mystical Seed of Courage'', had to be cancelled due to technical issues arising from complications related to the interconnected nature of the titles.<ref name="Miyamoto Speaks">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/24/miyamoto-speaks-on-zelda-gbc|title=Miyamoto Speaks on Zelda GBC|website=IGN|date=August 23, 1999|access-date=January 2, 2008|archive-date=February 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206125650/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/069/069793p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IGN Third profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-the-third-oracle-unofficial-title/gbc-873036|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008224208/http://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-the-third-oracle-unofficial-title/gbc-873036|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 8, 2012|title=The Legend of Zelda: The Third Oracle profile|website=IGN|access-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/17/okamoto-on-zelda|title=Okamoto on Zelda|website=IGN|date=November 16, 1999|access-date=January 2, 2008|archive-date=October 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015200854/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/17/okamoto-on-zelda|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/14/official-us-names-for-tri-force-series|title=Official US Names for Tri-Force series|website=IGN|date=May 13, 2000|access-date=January 2, 2008|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012043341/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/14/official-us-names-for-tri-force-series|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/25/zeldas-tri-force-down-to-two|title=Zelda's Tri-Force Down To Two|website=IGN|date=July 24, 2000|access-date=January 2, 2008|archive-date=June 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614233422/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/25/zeldas-tri-force-down-to-two|url-status=live}}</ref>
Close Nintendo collaborator Retro Studios did preliminary work on two separate ''Zelda'' pitches. ''Heroes of Hyrule'' would have been a Nintendo DS game that would have combined the traditional gameplay of the series with that of tactical role-playing games like ''Final Fantasy Tactics''. They additionally proposed an action game for the Wii starring Sheik that would have explored the origins of the Master Sword. Both were cancelled after being rejected by Nintendo.<ref name="eurogamer1">{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Tom |title=Artwork reveals Retro Studios' cancelled The Legend of Zelda project |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/artwork-reveals-cancelled-the-legend-of-zelda-project-starring-sheik |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=6 May 2020 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161521/https://www.eurogamer.net/artwork-reveals-cancelled-the-legend-of-zelda-project-starring-sheik |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="eurogamer2">{{cite web |last1=Nightingale |first1=Ed |title=Retro Studios' unreleased Zelda project was "an experiment gone wrong" |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/retro-studios-unreleased-zelda-project-was-an-experiment-gone-wrong |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=5 September 2022 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161537/https://www.eurogamer.net/retro-studios-unreleased-zelda-project-was-an-experiment-gone-wrong |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nintendolife1">{{cite web |last1=Doolan |first1=Liam |title=Metroid Prime Dev Retro Studios Pitched A Zelda Game Called 'Heroes Of Hyrule' |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/09/metroid-prime-dev-retro-studios-pitched-a-zelda-game-called-heroes-of-hyrule |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=4 September 2022 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161520/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/09/metroid-prime-dev-retro-studios-pitched-a-zelda-game-called-heroes-of-hyrule |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Expand section|date=January 2023}} {{Video game series reviews | updated = 31 March 2025 | sales_title = Units sold<br />{{small|(in millions)}} | mc_title = Metacritic<br />{{small|(out of 100)}} | game1 = The Legend of Zelda | year1 = 1986 | sales1 = 6.51<ref name="zelda-sales">{{cite news |title=Breath of the Wild now the second highest-selling Zelda game |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/breath-of-the-wild-now-the-second-highest-selling-zelda-game/ |access-date=1 August 2018 |work=Nintendo Everything |date=31 January 2018 |archive-date=August 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802011543/https://nintendoeverything.com/breath-of-the-wild-now-the-second-highest-selling-zelda-game/ |url-status=live}}</ref> | gr1 = {{Unbulleted list center | '''NES:''' 84%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/nes/563433-the-legend-of-zelda/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103100327/http://www.gamerankings.com/nes/563433-the-legend-of-zelda/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | '''GBA:''' 79%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/919777-classic-nes-series-the-legend-of-zelda/index.html |title=''Classic NES Series: The Legend of Zelda'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=January 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129024608/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/919777-classic-nes-series-the-legend-of-zelda/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> }} | mc1 = {{Unbulleted list center | '''NES:''' — | '''GBA:''' 84<ref name="Classic NES Series: The Legend of Zelda - Metacritic" /> }} | game2 = The Adventure of Link | year2 = 1987 | sales2 = 4.38<ref name="zelda-sales"/> | gr2 = {{Unbulleted list center | '''NES:''' 78%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/nes/563487-zelda-ii-the-adventure-of-link/index.html |title=''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=October 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025103803/http://www.gamerankings.com/nes/563487-zelda-ii-the-adventure-of-link/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | '''GBA:''' 69%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/921925-/index.html |title=''Classic NES Series: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605182020/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/921925-/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> }} | mc2 = {{Unbulleted list center | '''NES:''' — | '''GBA:''' 73<ref name="Classic NES Series: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Metacritic" /> }} | game3 = A Link to the Past | year3 = 1991 | sales3 = 7.43{{#tag:ref|''A Link to the Past'' sales breakdown: * Super Nintendo Entertainment System version: 4.61 million<ref name="zelda-sales"/> * Game Boy Advance version: 2.82 million<ref name="2021 CESA Games White Paper" /> |group=lower-alpha|name=ALTTPSales}} | gr3 = {{Unbulleted list center | '''SNES:''' 93%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588436-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230163506/http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588436-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | '''GBA:''' 92%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561559-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=April 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413171537/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561559-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> }} | mc3 = {{Unbulleted list center | '''SNES:''' — | '''GBA:''' 95<ref name="The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Metacritic" /> }} | game4 = Link's Awakening | year4 = 1993 | sales4 = 10.29 {{#tag:ref|''Link's Awakening'' sales breakdown: * Game Boy/Game Boy Color version: 3.83 million<ref name="zelda-sales"/> * Nintendo Switch version: 6.46 million<ref name="CESA2023">{{Cite book |title=2023CESAゲーム白書 (2023 CESA Games White Papers) |publisher=Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association |year=2023 |isbn=978-4-902346-47-3 |page=196}}</ref> |group=lower-alpha|name=LASales}} | gr4 = {{Unbulleted list center | '''GB:''' 90%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gameboy/563277-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=May 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526041529/http://www.gamerankings.com/gameboy/563277-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | '''GBC:''' 91%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/197769-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-dx/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=May 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526024526/http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/197769-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-dx/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | '''NS:''' 87%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/switch/258622-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' Reviews |work=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=September 21, 2019 |archive-date=September 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921074602/https://www.gamerankings.com/switch/258622-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> }} | mc4 = {{Unbulleted list center | '''GB:''' — | '''GBC:''' — | '''NS:''' 87<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=September 21, 2019 |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215053712/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening |url-status=live}}</ref> }} | game5 = Ocarina of Time | year5 = 1998 | sales5 = 14.04 {{#tag:ref|''Ocarina of Time'' sales breakdown: * Nintendo 64 version: 7.6 million<ref name="zelda-sales"/> * Nintendo 3DS version: 6.44 million<ref name="CESA2023"/> |group=lower-alpha|name=OcarinaSales}} | gr5 = '''N64:''' 98%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197771-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=March 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306073307/http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197771-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''GC:''' 90%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/564226-/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time / Master Quest'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=March 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309095105/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/564226-/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''3DS:''' 94%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/997842-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=January 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129092124/http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/997842-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc5 = '''N64:''' 99<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64 |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=November 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121132259/http://www.metacritic.com/game/nintendo-64/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''GC:''' 91<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-master-quest-2002/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time / Master Quest'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=December 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219052732/http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-master-quest |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''3DS:''' 94<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204092536/http://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d |url-status=live}}</ref> | game6 = Majora's Mask | year6 = 2000 | sales6 = 6.80{{#tag:ref|''Majora's Mask'' sales breakdown: * Nintendo 64 version: 3.36 million<ref name="zelda-sales"/> * Nintendo 3DS version: 3.44 million<ref name="CESA2023"/> |group=lower-alpha|name=MajoraSales}} | gr6 = '''N64:''' 92%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197770-the-legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=May 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508011721/http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197770-the-legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''3DS:''' 90%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/877120-the-legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask-3d/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=March 12, 2015 |archive-date=March 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315012959/http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/877120-the-legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask-3d/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc6 = '''N64:''' 95<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64 |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=May 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509213517/http://www.metacritic.com/game/nintendo-64/the-legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''3DS:''' 89<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask-3d/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=March 12, 2015 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111190412/https://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/the-legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask-3d |url-status=live}}</ref> | game7 = Oracle of Seasons and Ages | year7 = 2001 | sales7 = 3.96<ref name="zelda-sales"/> | gr7 = '''GBC:''' (''Seasons'') 91%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/198972-the-legend-of-zelda-oracle-of-seasons/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919192035/http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/198972-the-legend-of-zelda-oracle-of-seasons/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''GBC:''' (''Ages'') 92%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/472313-the-legend-of-zelda-oracle-of-ages/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=March 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308055105/http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/472313-the-legend-of-zelda-oracle-of-ages/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc7 = – | game8 = Four Swords | year8 = 2002 | sales8 = 2.82<ref name="2021 CESA Games White Paper" /> | gr8 = '''GBA:''' 92%<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561559-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html | title = The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords Reviews | publisher = GameRankings | access-date = December 21, 2010 | archive-date = April 13, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100413171537/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561559-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html | url-status = live}}</ref><br />'''DS:''' 85%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/632929-the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-anniversary-edition/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103093242/http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/632929-the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-anniversary-edition/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc8 = '''GBA:''' 95<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/legendofzeldaalinktothepast |title=Legend Of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The (gba: 2002): Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=January 20, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080604051634/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/legendofzeldaalinktothepast |archive-date= June 4, 2008}}</ref><br />'''DS:''' 85<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-anniversary-editi/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418213602/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-anniversary-edition |url-status=live}}</ref> | game9 = The Wind Waker | year9 = 2002 | sales9 = 6.80{{#tag:ref|''The Wind Waker'' sales breakdown: * GameCube version: 4.43 million<ref name="CESA2020">{{cite book |title=2020CESAゲーム白書 (2020 CESA Games White Papers)|publisher=Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association|year=2020|isbn=978-4-902346-42-8}}</ref> * Wii U version: 2.37 million<ref name="wiiu-sales">{{cite web |title=Top Selling Title Sales Unit (Wii U) |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/wiiu.html |website=Nintendo |publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd. |access-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509075744/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/wiiu.html |url-status=live}}</ref> |group=lower-alpha|name=WindWakerSales}} | gr9 = '''GC:''' 94%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/469050-the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=January 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129091127/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/469050-the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''Wii U:''' 91%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/701110-the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker-hd/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=January 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129094309/http://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/701110-the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker-hd/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc9 = '''GC:''' 96<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811205841/http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''Wii U:''' 90<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker-hd/critic-reviews/?platform=wii-u |title=''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 5, 2013 |archive-date=August 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812133549/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii-u/the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker-hd |url-status=live}}</ref> | game10 = Four Swords Adventures | year10 = 2004 | sales10 = – | gr10 = '''GC:''' 85%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/914976-the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-adventures/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606053422/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/914976-the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-adventures/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc10 = '''GC:''' 86<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-adventures/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=April 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401101034/http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-adventures |url-status=live}}</ref> | game11 = The Minish Cap | year11 = 2004 | sales11 = 1.76<ref name="2021 CESA Games White Paper" /> | gr11 = '''GBA:''' 90%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/920670-the-legend-of-zelda-the-minish-cap/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606020102/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/920670-the-legend-of-zelda-the-minish-cap/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc11 = '''GBA:''' 89<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-the-minish-cap/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |title=''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=June 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626140802/http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/the-legend-of-zelda-the-minish-cap |url-status=live}}</ref> | game12 = Twilight Princess | year12 = 2006 | sales12 = 10{{#tag:ref|''Twilight Princess'' sales breakdown: * GameCube version: 1.43 million<ref name="CESA2020"/> * Wii version: 7.50 million<!--8.93 (GC + Wii) - 1.43 (GC)--><ref>{{cite web |title=Six Months Financial Results Briefing/ Corporate Management Policy Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending March 2024 (Online) - Presentation Material |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2023/231108e.pdf |website=Nintendo |access-date=26 February 2026}}</ref> * Wii U version: 1.15 million<ref name="2021 CESA Games White Paper" /> |group=lower-alpha|name=TwilightPrincessSales}} | gr12 = '''GC:''' 95%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/920769-the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414171322/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/920769-the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''Wii:''' 95%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/928519-the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=April 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414070829/http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/928519-the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''Wii U:''' 86%<ref>{{cite web|title=The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Reviews|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/183128-the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-hd/index.html|website=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=April 6, 2016|archive-date=April 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408023118/http://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/183128-the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-hd/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | mc12 = '''GC:''' 96<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123210643/http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''Wii:''' 95<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=March 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320124400/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess |url-status=live}}</ref><br />'''Wii U:''' 86<ref>{{cite web|title=The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for Wii U Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-hd/critic-reviews/?platform=wii-u|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=April 29, 2016|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929122034/https://www.metacritic.com/game/wii-u/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-hd|url-status=live}}</ref> | game13 = Phantom Hourglass | year13 = 2007 | sales13 = 4.76<ref name="CESA2020"/> | gr13 = '''DS:''' 89%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/932377-the-legend-of-zelda-phantom-hourglass/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514152242/http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/932377-the-legend-of-zelda-phantom-hourglass/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc13 = '''DS:''' 90<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-phantom-hourglass/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510152811/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/the-legend-of-zelda-phantom-hourglass |url-status=live}}</ref> | game14 = Spirit Tracks | year14 = 2009 | sales14 = 2.96<ref name="CESA2020"/> | gr14 = '''DS:''' 87%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/959019-the-legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718221156/http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/959019-the-legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc14 = '''DS:''' 87<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040135/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/the-legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks |url-status=live}}</ref> | game15 = Skyward Sword | year15 = 2011 | sales15 = 7.82{{#tag:ref|''Skyward Sword'' sales breakdown: * Wii version: 3.67 million<ref name="CESA2022">{{cite book |title=2022CESAゲーム白書 (2022 CESA Games White Papers)|publisher=Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association|year=2022|isbn=978-4-902346-45-9}}</ref> * Nintendo Switch version: 4.15 million<ref name="CESA2023"/> |group=lower-alpha|name=SkywardSwordSales}} | gr15 = '''Wii:''' 93%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/960633-the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=August 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806060845/http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/960633-the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc15 = '''Wii:''' 93<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404210706/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword |url-status=live}}</ref><br/>'''NS:''' 81<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch|title=''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword'' Reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=November 4, 2021|archive-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104114658/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd|url-status=live}}</ref> | game16 = A Link Between Worlds | year16 = 2013 | sales16 = 4.26<ref name="CESA2023"/> | gr16 = '''3DS:''' 91%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/711412-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-between-worlds/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' Reviews |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-date=January 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113130636/http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/711412-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-between-worlds/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc16 = '''3DS:''' 91<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-between-worlds/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds |title=''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226213652/http://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-between-worlds |url-status=live}}</ref> | game17 = Tri Force Heroes | year17 = 2015 | sales17 = 1.36<ref name="2021 CESA Games White Paper" /> | gr17 = '''3DS:''' 72%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/168672-the-legend-of-zelda-triforce-heroes/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes'' Reviews |work=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 28, 2015 |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101181715/http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/168672-the-legend-of-zelda-triforce-heroes/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | mc17 = '''3DS:''' 73<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-triforce-heroes/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes'' Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 28, 2015 |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026070735/http://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/the-legend-of-zelda-triforce-heroes |url-status=live}}</ref> | game18 = Breath of the Wild | year18 = 2017 | sales18 = 34.51{{#tag:ref|''Breath of the Wild'' sales breakdown: * Wii U version: 1.7 million<ref name="2021 CESA Games White Paper" /> * Nintendo Switch version: 32.81 million<ref name="switch-sales">{{cite web |title=Top Selling Title Sales Unit (Nintendo Switch) |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/index.html |website=Nintendo |publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd. |access-date=June 3, 2025 |archive-date=August 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803093441/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> |group=lower-alpha|name=BOTWSales}} | gr18 = {{Unbulleted list center | style = text-align: center; | item_style = text-align: center; | '''Wii U:''' 97%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/632936-the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' Reviews |work=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209144552/https://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/632936-the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | '''NS:''' 97%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/switch/189707-the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/index.html |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' Reviews |work=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303045712/http://www.gamerankings.com/switch/189707-the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> }} | mc18 = {{Unbulleted list center | style = text-align: center; | item_style = text-align: center; | '''Wii U:''' 96<ref name="The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U) - Metacritic" /> | '''NS:''' 97<ref name="The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch) - Metacritic" /> | '''NS2:''' 95<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-nintendo/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch-2 |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Reviews |url-status=live |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=June 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250619135825/https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-nintendo/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch-2 |archive-date=June 19, 2025}}</ref><br /> }} | game19 = Tears of the Kingdom | year19 = 2023 | sales19 = 22.15<ref name="switch-sales"/> | gr19 = {{Unbulleted list center | style = text-align: center; | item_style = text-align: center; | - }} | mc19 = {{Unbulleted list center | style = text-align: center; | item_style = text-align: center; | '''NS:''' 96<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511230606/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom |url-status=live}}</ref> | '''NS2:''' 95<ref>{{Cite web |title=''The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom'' - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-nintendo/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250619134718/https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-nintendo/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch-2 |archive-date=June 19, 2025 |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Metacritic}}</ref> }} | game20 = Echoes of Wisdom | year20 = 2024 | sales20 = 4.09<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2025 |title=Financial Results Explanatory Material |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2025/250508_5e.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250508181328/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2025/250508_5e.pdf |archive-date=May 8, 2025 |access-date=June 3, 2025 |website=Nintendo}}</ref> | gr20 = {{Unbulleted list center | style = text-align: center; | item_style = text-align: center; | - }} | mc20 = {{Unbulleted list center | style = text-align: center; | item_style = text-align: center; | '''NS:''' 85<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom/ |title=The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=September 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925145153/https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom/ |archive-date=September 25, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> }} }}
''The Legend of Zelda'' series has received outstanding levels of acclaim from critics and the public. ''Ocarina of Time'', ''Skyward Sword'', ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom'' have each received a perfect 10/10 score by ''Edge'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zelda: TotK is only the 6th game in 30 years to get both a 'Famitsu 40' and 'Edge 10' |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-totk-is-only-the-6th-game-in-30-years-to-get-both-a-famitsu-40-and-edge-10/ |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=VGC |date=17 May 2023 |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524120351/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-totk-is-only-the-6th-game-in-30-years-to-get-both-a-famitsu-40-and-edge-10/ |url-status=live}}</ref> All four plus ''Wind Waker'' also received a 40/40 score (10/10 by four reviewers) by ''Famitsu'' magazine,<ref>{{cite web|title=Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (n64: 1998): Reviews|website=Metacritic|date=November 25, 1998|url=http://www.metacritic.com/redirectcritic?p=n64&g=legendofzeldaocarina|access-date=May 5, 2007|archive-date=January 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115070704/http://www.metacritic.com/redirectcritic?p=n64&g=legendofzeldaocarina|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Zelda Scores Big|website=IGN|date=December 11, 2002|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/11/zelda-scores-big|access-date=January 24, 2006|archive-date=June 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630114851/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/11/zelda-scores-big|url-status=live}}</ref> making ''Zelda'' one of the few series with multiple perfect scores. ''Ocarina of Time'' was listed by ''Guinness World Records'' as the highest-rated video game in history, citing its Metacritic score of 99 out of 100.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 28, 2025 |title=Most critically acclaimed videogame ever |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/358876-most-critically-acclaimed-videogame |website=Guinness World Records |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250901093303/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/358876-most-critically-acclaimed-videogame |archive-date=September 1, 2025 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref> Individual games in the ''Zelda'' series were also recognized as the most critically acclaimed games on the Nintendo 64,<ref>{{cite web |date=July 8, 2014 |title=Most critically acclaimed N64 videogame |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/108290-most-critically-acclaimed-n64-videogame |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref> Game Boy Advance,<ref>{{cite web |date=March 19, 2013 |title=Most critically acclaimed Game Boy Advance videogame |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/108302-most-critically-acclaimed-game-boy-advance-videogame |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref> and 3DS,<ref>{{cite web |date=July 8, 2014 |title=Most critically acclaimed Nintendo 3DS videogame |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/108310-most-critically-acclaimed-nintendo-3ds-videogame |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref> and in the open-world genre.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 8, 2017 |title=Most critically acclaimed open-world videogame |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/105366-most-critically-acclaimed-open-world-videogame |website=Guinness World Records |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250901092105/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/105366-most-critically-acclaimed-open-world-videogame |archive-date=September 1, 2025 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref> With Link appearing in nine of the 100 highest-rated games on Metacritic {{as of|2025|6|lc=y}} (all of them in the ''Zelda'' series), he is listed by ''Guinness World Records'' as the "most critically acclaimed videogame playable character".<ref>{{cite web |date=June 3, 2025 |title=Most critically acclaimed videogame playable character |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/545881-most-critically-acclaimed-videogame-playable-character |website=Guinness World Records |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250901092522/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/545881-most-critically-acclaimed-videogame-playable-character |archive-date=September 1, 2025 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref> ''Computer and Video Games'' awarded ''The Wind Waker'' and ''Twilight Princess'' a score of 10/10.<ref>{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102062547/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/91219/reviews/zelda-the-wind-waker-review/|archive-date=November 2, 2012|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/91219/reviews/zelda-the-wind-waker-review/|title=Zelda The Wind Waker|magazine=CVG|access-date=October 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528024247/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/149383/reviews/legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-review/?skip=yes|archive-date=May 28, 2013|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/149383/reviews/legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-review/?skip=yes|title=Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|magazine=CVG|access-date=October 2, 2008}}</ref> ''A Link to the Past'' has won Gold Award from ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''. In ''Nintendo Power''{{'}}s Top 200 countdown in 2004, ''Ocarina of Time'' took first place, and seven other ''Zelda'' games placed in the top 40.<ref>{{Cite magazine | magazine=Nintendo Power | volume=200 | title=NP Top 200 | pages=58–66}}</ref> ''Twilight Princess'' was named Game of the Year by ''X-Play'', ''GameTrailers'', ''1UP'', ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', ''Spacey Awards'', ''Game Informer'', ''GameSpy'', ''Nintendo Power'', ''IGN'', and many other websites. The editors of review aggregator website GameRankings gave ''Ocarina of Time'' its highest aggregate score.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/simpleratings.asp?rankings=y|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529180324/http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/simpleratings.asp?rankings=y|archive-date=May 29, 2007|access-date=May 18, 2008|title=Game Rankings – Rankings}}</ref> ''Game Informer'' has awarded ''The Wind Waker'', ''Twilight Princess'', ''Skyward Sword'', ''A Link Between Worlds'' and ''Breath of the Wild'' with scores of 10/10. ''Phantom Hourglass'' was named DS Game of the Year by ''IGN'' and ''GameSpy''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2007/ds/25.html|title=IGN Best of 2007: Best Nintendo DS Game|access-date=October 2, 2008|website=IGN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425165642/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2007/ds/25.html|archive-date=April 25, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/ds/12.html|title=GameSpy's Game of the Year 2007: DS Top 10|access-date=January 1, 2008|publisher=GameSpy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129184014/http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/ds/12.html|archive-date=January 29, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Airing in December 2011, Spike TV's annual Video Game Awards gave the series the first ever "Hall of Fame Award", which Miyamoto accepted in person.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spike.com/video-clips/rx16lg/video-game-awards-mr-miyamoto-accepts-the-legend-of-zeldas-hall-of-fame-award|title=Video Game Awards: Mr. Miyamoto Accepts The Legend Of Zelda's Hall Of Fame Award|access-date=November 15, 2011|publisher=Spike TV|archive-date=January 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108042317/http://www.spike.com/video-clips/rx16lg/video-game-awards-mr-miyamoto-accepts-the-legend-of-zeldas-hall-of-fame-award|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Ocarina of Time'' and its use of melodic themes to identify different game regions has been called a reverse of Richard Wagner's use of leitmotifs to identify characters and themes.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zach Whalen|title=Play Along – An Approach to Videogame Music|publisher=Game Studies|date=November 1, 2004|url=http://www.gamestudies.org/0401/whalen/#_ednref13|access-date=March 29, 2008|archive-date=October 3, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003122633/http://www.gamestudies.org/0401/whalen/#_ednref13|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Ocarina of Time'' was so well received that sales increased for real ocarinas.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sharon R. King|title=Compressed Data; Can You Play 'Feelings' On the Ocarina?|website=1UP.com|date=February 15, 1999|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E0DE133AF936A25751C0A96F958260|access-date=March 28, 2008|archive-date=April 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418021144/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E0DE133AF936A25751C0A96F958260|url-status=live}}</ref> ''IGN'' praised the music of ''Majora's Mask'' for its brilliance despite its heavy use of MIDI.<ref>{{cite web|author=Fran Mirabella III|title=Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|website=IGN|date=October 25, 2000|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/26/legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask|access-date=March 29, 2008|archive-date=November 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128052904/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/26/legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask|url-status=live}}</ref> It has been ranked the seventh-greatest game by ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', whereas ''Ocarina of Time'' was ranked eighth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 games of all time|url=http://www.gamers.com/feature/egmtop100/index.jsp|website=Gamers.com|publisher=GX Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619211353/http://www.gamers.com/feature/egmtop100/index.jsp|archive-date=June 19, 2004}}</ref> The series won ''GameFAQs Best Series Ever'' competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/bse|title=Summer 2006: Best. Series. Ever.|website=GameFAQs|access-date=September 23, 2007|archive-date=June 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606181323/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/bse|url-status=live}}</ref>
As of March 2025, ''The Legend of Zelda'' franchise has sold {{#expr:6.51+4.38+7.43+10.29+14.04+6.80+3.96+2.82+6.80+1.76+10+4.76+2.96+7.82+4.26+1.36+34.51+21.73+4.09}} million copies, with the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' being the fourth best-selling NES game of all time.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher=PR Newswire | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/like-sands-through-the-hourglass-zeldas-debut-on-nintendo-ds-approaches-52695757.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140554/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/like-sands-through-the-hourglass-zeldas-debut-on-nintendo-ds-approaches-52695757.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 2, 2015 | title=Like Sands Through the Hourglass, Zelda's Debut on Nintendo DS Approaches | date=July 2, 2007 | location=Redmond, WA | author=Nintendo of America | access-date=March 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Old Nintendo Games|url=http://www.oldnintendogames.info/top-selling-old-nintendo-games/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703050223/http://www.oldnintendogames.info/top-selling-old-nintendo-games/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2010|title=Top Selling Old Nintendo Games|access-date=October 6, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The series was ranked as the 64th top game (collectively) by ''Next Generation'' in 1996.<ref name="NG1996">{{cite book |title=Next Generation|issue=21 |page=48 |publisher=Imagine Media |location=United States |date=September 1996}}</ref> In 1999, ''Next Generation'' listed the ''Zelda'' series as number 1 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that ''Zelda'' series had always more gameplay and innovations than most other titles in their series.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 50 Games of All Time|magazine=Next Generation|issue=50|publisher=Imagine Media|date=February 1999|page=81}}</ref> According to ''Empire'' magazine, with "the most vividly-realised world and the most varied game-play of any game on any console, ''Zelda'' is a solid bet for the best game series ever".<ref>Kennedy, Colin, [http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?GID=74 "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Review"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921193358/http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?GID=74|date=September 21, 2013}}, ''Empire''.</ref>
''The Legend of Zelda'' franchise has garnered the most Game of the Year nominations in the history of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' D.I.C.E. Awards with eight (''Ocarina of Time'',<ref name="interactive.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/awards/IAA-2/winners.asp |title=2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=April 9, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020409010504/http://www.interactive.org/awards/IAA-2/winners.asp |url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> ''Majora's Mask'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/awards/IAA-4/winners.asp |title=4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=April 9, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020409003037/http://www.interactive.org/awards/IAA-4/winners.asp |url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> ''The Wind Waker'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/awards/IAA-7/winners.asp |title=7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=7 July 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603030536/http://www.interactive.org/awards/IAA-7/winners.asp |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Twilight Princess'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2007&idGameAwardType=109 |title=2007 Awards Category Details Overall Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412135541/https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2007&idGameAwardType=109 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Skyward Sword'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2012&idGameAwardType=65 |title=2012 Awards Category Details Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413141048/https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2012&idGameAwardType=65 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''A Link Between Worlds'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2014&idGameAwardType=65 |title=2014 Awards Category Details Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531160505/https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2014&idGameAwardType=65 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Breath of the Wild'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2018&idGameAwardType=65 |title=2018 Awards Category Details Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531163522/https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2018&idGameAwardType=65 |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Tears of the Kingdom''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/27th_dice_awards_finalists.asp |title=27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists Revealed |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=2 February 2024 |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110225404/https://www.interactive.org/awards/27th_dice_awards_finalists.asp |url-status=live}}</ref>); two of them, ''Ocarina of Time''<ref name="interactive.org"/> and ''Breath of the Wild'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2018&idGameAwardType=65 |title=2018 Awards Category Details Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531163522/https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2018&idGameAwardType=65 |url-status=live}}</ref> would go on to win the top honor during their respective awards ceremonies.
== Legacy == Multiple members of the game industry have expressed how Zelda games have impacted them, including Rockstar Games founder and ''Grand Theft Auto'' director, Dan Houser, who said that ''Zelda'' and ''Mario'' games on Nintendo 64 greatly influenced them in developing ''Grand Theft Auto'' series, as well in other 3D games in general.<ref name="Americana">{{cite interview | title=Americana at Its Most Felonious: Q. and A.: Rockstar's Dan Houser on Grand Theft Auto V | interviewer=Chris Suellentrop | first=Dan | last=Houser | subject-link=Dan Houser | date=November 9, 2012 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html | work=The New York Times | access-date=July 30, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110091527/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html | archive-date=November 10, 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> Rockstar founder and ''Grand Theft Auto'' director Sam Houser also cited the influence of ''Zelda'', describing ''Grand Theft Auto III'' as "Zelda meets Goodfellas".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ign.com/articles/2001/09/10/rockstars-sam-houser-mouths-off|title=Rockstar's Sam Houser Mouths Off|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=September 10, 2001|access-date=February 3, 2017|archive-date=November 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108073851/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/09/10/rockstars-sam-houser-mouths-off|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Ōkami'' director and PlatinumGames founder Hideki Kamiya said that he has been influenced by ''The Legend of Zelda'' series in developing the game, citing ''A Link to the Past'' as his favorite game of all time.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jonti Davies |title=Okami creator 'disappointed' by Twilight Princess |publisher=joystiq.com |date=March 2007 |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/06/okami-creator-disappointed-by-twilight-princess/ |access-date=July 2, 2013 |archive-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115124223/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/06/okami-creator-disappointed-by-twilight-princess/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Soul Reaver'' and ''Uncharted'' director, Amy Hennig (formerly of Crystal Dynamics and Naughty Dog), cited ''Zelda'' as inspiration for the ''Legacy of Kain'' series, noting ''A Link to the Past''{{'}}s influence on ''Blood Omen'' and ''Ocarina of Time''{{'}}s influence on ''Soul Reaver''.<ref name="IASIG">{{cite web |first=Alexander |last=Brandon |url=http://www.iasig.org/pubs/interviews/eidosjh.shtml |publisher=IASIG |title=Interactive Composition Column 1.2 |access-date=October 31, 2012 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214185917/http://www.iasig.org/pubs/interviews/eidosjh.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Soul Reaver'' and ''Uncharted'' creator, Richard Lemarchand, also cited ''A Link to the Past''{{'}}s approach to combining gameplay with storytelling as inspiration for ''Soul Reaver''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tH3TCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA203|title=Atari to Zelda: Japan's Videogames in Global Contexts|first=Mia|last=Consalvo|date=April 8, 2016|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-03439-5|access-date=April 7, 2020|via=Google Books|archive-date=August 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817175917/https://books.google.com/books?id=tH3TCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA203#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Wing Commander'' and ''Star Citizen'' director, Chris Roberts (Origin Systems and Cloud Imperium Games), cited ''Zelda'' as an influence on his action role-playing game, ''Times of Lore''.<ref>{{Cite book|first=Matt|last=Barton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qPPRBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA182 |title=Dungeons & Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games |publisher=A K Peters, Ltd. |year=2008 |access-date=September 8, 2010 |isbn = 978-1-56881-411-7 |pages=181–182, 212}}</ref>
''Dark Souls'' series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki named ''A Link To The Past'' as one of his favorite role-playing video games.<ref name="edge"/> ''Ico'' director Fumito Ueda cited ''Zelda'' as an influence on ''Shadow of the Colossus''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shadow of the Colossus|author=Tim Rogers|website=Insert Credit|url=http://archives.insertcredit.com/reviews/wanda/|date=October 25, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221110345/http://archives.insertcredit.com/reviews/wanda/|archive-date=2017-02-21|access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref> Miyazaki also described ''The Legend of Zelda'' as a sort of textbook for 3D action games.<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite magazine|last1=Mielke|first1=James|title='Dark Souls' Creator Miyazaki on 'Zelda', Sequels and Starting Out|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/dark-souls-creator-miyazaki-on-zelda-sequels-w443435|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005123700/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/dark-souls-creator-miyazaki-on-zelda-sequels-w443435|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 6, 2016}}</ref> Lionhead Studios founder Peter Molyneux stated that the ''Twilight Princess'' is one of his favorite games and an influence for the ''Fable'' series.<ref>{{cite news |author=Hugh Langley |url=http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/peter-molyneux-s-top-five-games-of-all-time-1176618 |title=Peter Molyneux's top five games of all time |work=TechRadar |access-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031141228/http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/peter-molyneux-s-top-five-games-of-all-time-1176618 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Darksiders'' director David Adams (Vigil Games) cited ''Zelda'' as an influence on his work.<ref name="gamespot-legacy">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-legacy-of-zelda/1100-6434921/|title=The Legacy of Zelda|first=Mike|last=Mahardy|date=February 19, 2016|access-date=February 3, 2017|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024135923/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-legacy-of-zelda/1100-6434921/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Prince of Persia'' and ''Assassin's Creed'' director Raphael Lacoste cited ''The Wind Waker'' as an influence on ''Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/yes-the-new-assassins-creed-is-like-that-lovely-zelda-5988343|title=Yes, The New Assassin's Creed Is Like That Lovely Zelda Game|first=Stephen|last=Totilo|date=March 4, 2013|access-date=February 14, 2017|website=Kotaku|archive-date=February 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214182657/http://kotaku.com/5988343/yes-the-new-assassins-creed-is-like-that-lovely-zelda-game|url-status=live}}</ref> CD Projekt Red cited the ''Zelda'' series as an influence on ''The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt''.<ref>[http://www.gamertagradio.com/2015/04/episode-478-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-with-cd-projekt-red/ Episode #478 – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Interview with CD Projekt Red] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20170611125104/http://www.gamertagradio.com/2015/04/episode-478-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-with-cd-projekt-red/ |date=June 11, 2017}} (48:45)</ref> ''Majora's Mask'' served as the primary influence on Alex Hall's web series ''Ben Drowned''.<ref name="Kotaku Defined">{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/the-zelda-ghost-story-that-helped-define-creepypasta-1819883645|title=The ''Zelda'' Ghost Story That Helped Define Creepypasta|first=Eric|last=Van Allen|publisher=Kotaku|date=October 26, 2017|access-date=May 1, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809065454/https://kotaku.com/the-zelda-ghost-story-that-helped-define-creepypasta-1819883645|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy'' and ''The 3rd Birthday'' director Hajime Tabata cited ''Ocarina of Time'' as inspiration for the open world of ''Final Fantasy XV''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.psu.com/news/final-fantasy-xv-inspired-by-zelda-ocarina-of-time/|title=Final Fantasy XV inspired by Zelda: Ocarina of Time|website=PlayStation Universe|date=April 2016 |access-date=May 9, 2021|archive-date=August 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815165735/https://www.psu.com/news/final-fantasy-xv-inspired-by-zelda-ocarina-of-time/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Crossovers == ''The Legend of Zelda'' series has crossed over into other Nintendo and third-party video games, most prominently in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series of fighting games published by Nintendo. Link appears as a fighter in ''Super Smash Bros.'' for the Nintendo 64, the first entry in the series, and is part of the roster in all subsequent releases in the series as well. Zelda (who can transform into Sheik), Ganondorf, and Young Link (the child version of Link from ''Ocarina of Time'') were added to the player roster for ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', and appeared in all subsequent releases except for "Young Link" (who is later replaced by "Toon Link" from ''The Wind Waker'', in subsequent releases ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' and ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U''). Sheik becomes a separate playable character from ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'' onwards.<ref>{{cite web |author=Sato |date=October 1, 2014 |title=Why Zelda and Sheik Are Different Characters In Super Smash Bros. For 3DS |url=https://www.siliconera.com/zelda-sheik-different-characters-super-smash-bros-3ds/ |website=Silconera |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 24, 2025}}</ref><ref name="smash ency">{{cite book |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |last2=Tatsumi |first2=Ginko |last3=Mikame |first3=Chisato |last4=Gelinas |first4=Ben (writers) |date=2018 |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |location=Milwaukie, Oregon |publisher=Dark Horse Books |pages=84–93; 96–97 |isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2}}</ref> Both Young Link and Toon Link appear in the fifth installment, ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. Other elements from the series, such as locations and items, are also included throughout the ''Smash Bros.'' series, including Assist Trophies, where computer-controlled versions of characters in the ''Zelda'' series including Tingle, Skull Kid, Midna, and ''Skyward Sword'' antagonist Ghirahim can fight as an ally.<ref name="smash ency"/> Outside of the series, Nintendo allowed for the use of Link as a playable character exclusively in the GameCube release of Namco's fighting game ''Soulcalibur II''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Matthew |title=So Maybe We'll Get Link In 'SoulCalibur 2 HD Online' After All |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2468217/so-maybe-well-get-link-in-soulcalibur-2-hd-online-after-all/ |website=MTV News |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223042944/http://www.mtv.com/news/2468217/so-maybe-well-get-link-in-soulcalibur-2-hd-online-after-all/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Link, using a design based on ''Skyward Sword'', appears as a playable character in ''Mario Kart 8'' via downloadable content (DLC), along with a Hyrule Circuit racetrack themed on ''The Legend of Zelda'' series.<ref name="Franchises coming to MK8">{{cite web |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |date=August 26, 2014 |title=Zelda, Animal Crossing Coming to Mario Kart 8 |url=https://kotaku.com/zelda-f-zero-coming-to-mario-kart-8-1627150730 |access-date=August 26, 2014 |publisher=Kotaku |archive-date=August 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827110659/http://kotaku.com/zelda-f-zero-coming-to-mario-kart-8-1627150730 |url-status=live}}</ref> The first pack is named after the series. In a post-launch update for ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'', Link and his vehicle received alternate styles based on ''Breath of the Wild''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2018-07-19 |title=Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update adds Link from Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/19/17593958/mario-kart-8-deluxe-update-link-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-nintendo-switch |access-date=2020-12-29 |website=Polygon |language=en |archive-date=October 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020094545/https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/19/17593958/mario-kart-8-deluxe-update-link-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-nintendo-switch |url-status=live}}</ref>
In the Wii U version of ''Sonic Lost World'', a DLC stage based on ''The Legend of Zelda'' series was released in March 2014, named "The Legend of Zelda Zone". It was built around the core gameplay mechanics of ''Sonic Lost World'', with some elements from the ''Zelda'' series, including a heart-based vitality meter, rupee collection, and a miniature dungeon to explore.<ref>{{cite web |last=Otero |first=Jose |date=March 26, 2014 |title=Sonic Lost World's Zelda Crossover |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/26/sonic-lost-worldas-zelda-crossover |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326172633/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/26/sonic-lost-worldas-zelda-crossover |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |access-date=March 26, 2013 |website=IGN}}</ref>
== In other media == {{Main|List of The Legend of Zelda media{{!}}List of ''The Legend of Zelda'' media}}
=== TV series === {{See also|The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!#Format|l1=''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'' § Format}} A 13-episode American animated TV series, adapted by DiC and distributed by Viacom Enterprises, aired in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-legend-of-zeldas-only-cartoon-aspired-to-competence-in-a-landscape-of-trash|title=The Legend of Zelda's Only Cartoon Aspired to Competence in a Landscape of Trash|last=Mackey|first=Bob|date=June 20, 2016|website=USGamer|access-date=December 16, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003174306/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-legend-of-zeldas-only-cartoon-aspired-to-competence-in-a-landscape-of-trash|archive-date=October 3, 2020}}</ref> The animated ''Zelda'' shorts were broadcast each Friday, instead of the usual ''Super Mario Bros.'' cartoon which was aired during the rest of the week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-legend-of-zelda-cartoon-link-best-link/|title=The Legend of Zelda Cartoon's Link Is the BEST Link|last=Burge|first=Braeden|date=July 23, 2020|website=CBR|access-date=December 16, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201113918/https://www.cbr.com/the-legend-of-zelda-cartoon-link-best-link/|archive-date=December 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2020/07/geeks-guide-new-zelda-cartoon/|title=We Need a New 'Legend of Zelda' Cartoon|date=July 3, 2020|magazine=Wired|access-date=December 16, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115235139/https://www.wired.com/2020/07/geeks-guide-new-zelda-cartoon/|archive-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref> The series loosely follows the two NES ''Zelda'' games (the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' and ''The Adventure of Link''), mixing settings and characters from those games with original creations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/remembering-possibly-the-worst-thing-zelda-ever-did-5766645|title=Remembering Possibly The Worst Thing Zelda Ever Did|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|date=February 22, 2011|website=Kotaku|access-date=December 16, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927101428/https://kotaku.com/remembering-possibly-the-worst-thing-zelda-ever-did-5766645|archive-date=September 27, 2020}}</ref> The show's older incarnations of both Link and Zelda appeared in various episodes of ''Captain N: The Game Master'' during its second season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/09/feature_10_strangest_moments_in_captain_n_the_game_master|title=Feature: 10 Strangest Moments In Captain N: The Game Master|last=Scullion|first=Chris|date=September 21, 2019|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=December 16, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108170220/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/09/feature_10_strangest_moments_in_captain_n_the_game_master|archive-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref>
A live-action television series had been in development around 2015, as reported from an anonymous Netflix employee to ''The Wall Street Journal''. The program was a joint effort between Netflix and Nintendo, and was said to be aimed as a family-friendly version of ''Game of Thrones''.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-86552 | title = Netflix Is Developing a Live-Action 'Legend of Zelda' Series | first = Ben | last = Fritz | newspaper = The Wall Street Journal | date = February 6, 2015 | accessdate = February 2, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150208115920/https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-86552 | archive-date = February 8, 2015}}</ref> Further details of this series went sparse until 2021 when Adam Conover gave an interview regarding his ''College Humor'' period. There, the ''College Humor'' team had been planning a skit that would have combined ''Star Fox'' with ''Fantastic Mr. Fox'' and had even talked to Miyamoto on the project. Conover said that they were told about a month into the project that Nintendo had requested they stop all work on the project as a result of the leak related to the live-action ''Zelda'' show; Nintendo, already protective of its IP, had pulled many external projects including the live-action show.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.engadget.com/zelda-netflix-live-action-show-leak-rumor-184755257.html | title = A Netflix employee accidentally killed Nintendo's live-action Zelda series | first = Jessica | last = Conditt | date = February 2, 2021 | accessdate = February 2, 2021 | work = Engadget | archive-date = February 2, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210202185108/https://www.engadget.com/zelda-netflix-live-action-show-leak-rumor-184755257.html | url-status = live}}</ref>
=== Print media === {{See also|List of The Legend of Zelda manga|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (manga)|Nintendo gamebooks|The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia|The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts|l1=List of ''The Legend of Zelda'' manga|l2=''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' (manga)|l4=''The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia''|l5=''The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts''}} Valiant Comics released a short series of comics featuring characters and settings from the ''Zelda'' cartoon as part of their ''Nintendo Comics System'' line. Manga adaptations of many entries in the series, including {{as of|2022|2|lc=y}} ''A Link to the Past'', ''Ocarina of Time'', ''Majora's Mask'', ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'', ''Four Swords Adventures'', ''The Minish Cap'', ''Phantom Hourglass'', and ''Twilight Princess'' have been produced under license from Nintendo, primarily written and drawn by Japanese artist duo Akira Himekawa. These adaptations do not strictly follow the plot of the games from which they are based and may contain additional story elements.
A number of official books, novels, and gamebooks have been released based on the series as well. The earliest was ''Moblin's Magic Spear'', published in 1989 by Western Publishing under their Golden Books Family Entertainment division and written by Jack C. Harris. It took place sometime during the first game. Two gamebooks were published as part of the ''Nintendo Adventure Books'' series by Archway, both of which were written by Matt Wayne. The first was ''The Crystal Trap'' (which focuses more on Zelda) and the second was ''The Shadow Prince''. Both were released in 1992. A novel based on ''Ocarina of Time'' was released in 1999, written by Jason R. Rich and published by Sybex Inc. under their ''Pathways to Adventure'' series. Another two gamebooks were released as part of the ''You Decide on the Adventure'' series published by Scholastic. The first book was based on ''Oracle of Seasons'' and was released in 2001. The second, based on ''Oracle of Ages'', was released in 2002. Both were written by Craig Wessel. In 2006, Scholastic released a novel as part of their ''Nintendo Heroes'' series, ''Link and the Portal of Doom''. It was written by Tracey West and was set shortly after the events of ''Ocarina of Time''.
In 2011, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the series, an art book, ''Hyrule Historia'', was published in Japan by Shogakukan. It was followed by an international release by Dark Horse Books in 2013. It contains concept art from the series's conception to the release of ''Skyward Sword'' in 2011 and multiple essays about the production of the games, as well as an overarching timeline of the series. It also includes a prequel manga to ''Skyward Sword'' by Akira Himekawa.<ref>{{cite web|last=Max|first=Josh|title=Dark Horse Comics Localizing Hyrule Historia|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31361|publisher=Nintendo World Report|access-date=August 19, 2012|archive-date=August 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818010613/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31361|url-status=live}}</ref> The English-language release took the number one spot on Amazon's sales chart, taking the spot away from E. L. James's ''50 Shades of Grey'' trilogy.<ref>{{cite web|last=McMillan|first=Graeme|title=Amazon suffers 'Hyrule Historia' hysteria|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/amazon-suffers-hyrule-historia-hysteria/|publisher=Digital Trends|access-date=August 19, 2012|archive-date=August 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818191613/http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/amazon-suffers-hyrule-historia-hysteria/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dark Horse released ''The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts'', a follow-up art book to ''Hyrule Historia'' containing additional artwork and interviews,<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/8/22/12586322/dark-horse-the-legend-of-zelda-art-artifacts-book|title=Dark Horse publishing new The Legend of Zelda art book in 2017|work=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|date=August 22, 2016|access-date=August 22, 2016|archive-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822191520/http://www.polygon.com/2016/8/22/12586322/dark-horse-the-legend-of-zelda-art-artifacts-book|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Casey|title=The Legend of Zelda's Hyrule Encyclopedia Revealed For The Series' 30th Anniversary|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/12/18/legend-zeldas-hyrule-encyclopedia-revealed-series-30th-anniversary/|website=Siliconera|date=December 18, 2016|access-date=December 18, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220025122/http://www.siliconera.com/2016/12/18/legend-zeldas-hyrule-encyclopedia-revealed-series-30th-anniversary/|url-status=live}}</ref> in North America and Europe in February 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Legend of Zelda: Art and Artifacts Art Book Is Getting A Limited Edition|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/01/10/legend-zelda-art-artifacts-art-book-getting-limited-edition/|website=Siliconera|date=January 10, 2017|access-date=January 10, 2017|archive-date=January 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111153856/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/01/10/legend-zelda-art-artifacts-art-book-getting-limited-edition/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Music === Taking place in Cologne, Germany, on September 23, 2010, the video game music concert ''Symphonic Legends'' focused on music from Nintendo and, among others, featured games such as ''The Legend of Zelda''. Following an intermission, the second half of the concert was entirely dedicated to an expansive symphonic poem dedicated to the series. The 35-minute epic tells the story of Link's evolution from child to hero.<ref>{{cite web | title=Interview with WDR Radio Orchestra Manager Winfried Fechner Part 1 | url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/winfriedfechner.shtml | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627070438/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/winfriedfechner.shtml | archive-date=June 27, 2013 | date=March 2010 | publisher=Square Enix Music Online | access-date=March 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Symphonic Legends Program Announcement |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/musicnews2.php?subaction=showfull&id=1284310491&archive=&start_from=&ucat=8&|date=September 2010 |publisher=Square Enix Music Online|access-date=September 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727233113/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/musicnews2.php?subaction=showfull&id=1284310491&archive=&start_from=&ucat=8&|archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref>
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series in 2011, Nintendo commissioned an original symphony, ''The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses''. The show was originally performed in the fall of 2011 in Los Angeles and consists of live performances of much of the music from the series.<ref name="USAToday-symphony">{{cite news | url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2012/01/more-dates-revealed-for-legend-of-zelda-symphony-tour/1#.T473hdUkEik | work=USA Today | date=January 5, 2012 | title=More dates revealed for 'Legend of Zelda' symphony tour | access-date=April 18, 2012 | archive-date=March 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303153040/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2012/01/more-dates-revealed-for-legend-of-zelda-symphony-tour/1#.T473hdUkEik | url-status=live}}</ref> It has since been scheduled for 18 shows so far throughout the United States and Canada.<ref name="USAToday-symphony" /><ref name="symphony-website">{{cite web|url=http://zelda-symphony.com/schedule|title=Zelda Symphony|work=zelda-symphony.com|access-date=April 18, 2012|archive-date=April 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419030305/http://www.zelda-symphony.com/schedule|url-status=live}}</ref> Nintendo released a CD, ''The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD''. Featuring eight tracks from live performances of the symphony, the CD is included alongside the special edition of ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword'' for the Wii. Nintendo later celebrated ''The Legend of Zelda''{{'}}s 30th anniversary with an album which was released in Japan in February 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dennison|first1=Kara|title=Legend of Zelda" 30th Anniversary Concert Coming to DVD and CD|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2016/12/16/legend-of-zelda-30th-anniversary-concert-coming-to-dvd-and-cd|website=Crunchyroll|date=December 16, 2016|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217113349/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2016/12/16/legend-of-zelda-30th-anniversary-concert-coming-to-dvd-and-cd|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Nintendo Music streaming service included soundtracks from eight ''Zelda'' games {{as of|2025|6|lc=y}} for subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online to stream and listen to, including ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''A Link to the Past'', ''Ocarina of Time'', ''The Wind Waker'', ''Ocarina of Time 3D'', ''Skyward Sword'', ''Breath of the Wild'', and ''Tears of the Kingdom''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Doolan |first=Liam |date=June 3, 2025 |title=Nintendo Music Update Adds Over 340 Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Tracks |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/nintendo-music-update-adds-over-340-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-tracks |website=Nintendo Life |location= |publisher= |access-date=August 24, 2025}}</ref>
=== Merchandise === ''The Legend of Zelda''-themed ''Monopoly'' board game was released in the United States in September 2014.<ref name="monopoly1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/08/the_legend_of_zelda_monopoly_dated_for_15th_september_in_us|title=The Legend of Zelda Monopoly Dated for 15th September in US|last=Whitehead|first=Thomas|date=August 3, 2014|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=August 4, 2014|archive-date=August 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806014802/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/08/the_legend_of_zelda_monopoly_dated_for_15th_september_in_us|url-status=live}}</ref> A ''Clue'' board game in the style of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series was released in June 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dualshockers.com/2017/04/28/the-legend-of-zelda-clue-board-game-pre-order/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430025223/http://www.dualshockers.com/2017/04/28/the-legend-of-zelda-clue-board-game-pre-order/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 30, 2017|title=The Legend of Zelda Clue Board Game Is Now Available for Pre-Order|publisher=Dual Shockers|access-date=April 28, 2017}}</ref> A ''UNO''-styled ''The Legend of Zelda'' game was released in February 2018, exclusively at GameStop in North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/02/an_official_legend_of_zelda_uno_set_is_coming_to_north_america_this_week|title=An Official Legend of Zelda Uno Set Is Coming To North America This Week|last=Craddock|first=Ryan|website=Nintendo Life|date=February 12, 2018|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212131614/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/02/an_official_legend_of_zelda_uno_set_is_coming_to_north_america_this_week|url-status=live}}</ref> A limited edition ''Zelda'' 25th anniversary 3DS was released in December 2011, in Australia.<ref>{{cite web | title=Limited Edition The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary 3DS | url=http://ebgames.com.au/3ds-154303-Limited-Edition-The-Legend-of-Zelda-25th-Anniversary-3DS-Nintendo-3DS | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109075543/http://ebgames.com.au/3ds-154303-Limited-Edition-The-Legend-of-Zelda-25th-Anniversary-3DS-Nintendo-3DS | archive-date=January 9, 2012 | access-date=March 2, 2015}}</ref>
=== Film === {{main|The Legend of Zelda (film)|l1 = ''The Legend of Zelda'' (film)}} In 2007, Imagi Animation Studios, which had provided the animation for ''TMNT'' and ''Astro Boy'', created a pitch reel for a computer-animated ''The Legend of Zelda'' film. Nintendo did not accept the studio's offer due to the memory of the failure of the 1993 live-action film adaptation of ''Super Mario Bros.''<ref name="ZeldaMovieReel">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/05/footage-from-the-unproduced-legend-of-zelda-cg-animated-movie|title=Footage From the Unproduced Legend of Zelda CG-Animated Movie|first=Jim|last=Vejvoda|website=IGN|date=August 4, 2013|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806212239/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/05/footage-from-the-unproduced-legend-of-zelda-cg-animated-movie|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, Aonuma said that, if the development of a film began, the company would want to use the opportunity to embrace audience interaction in some capacity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/if-nintendo-made-a-legend-of-zelda-film-itd-change-w-1445606313 |title=You Might Need Your 3DS If There's Ever A Legend of Zelda Movie |last=Narcisse |first=Evan |date=October 15, 2013 |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-date=November 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108153945/http://kotaku.com/if-nintendo-made-a-legend-of-zelda-film-itd-change-w-1445606313 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-10-16-nintendo-wants-an-interactive-zelda-film|title=Nintendo wants to "change movies" with an interactive Zelda film|date=October 16, 2013|publisher=GamesIndustry|access-date=November 1, 2013|archive-date=November 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102092928/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-10-16-nintendo-wants-an-interactive-zelda-film|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2023, it was said that Nintendo was close to closing a deal with Illumination and Universal Pictures to produce a film adaptation of the franchise following the success of their film, ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonomolo |first=Cameron |date=8 June 2023 |title=Legend of Zelda Movie: Universal Reportedly Nearing Deal for Next Nintendo Project |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/legend-of-zelda-movie-nintendo-universal-illumination-development/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=ComicBook |language=en |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614180904/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/legend-of-zelda-movie-nintendo-universal-illumination-development/ |url-status=live}}</ref> but Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri denied these reports later that month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mario Movie Producer Denies Legend Of Zelda Film Rumours |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/06/mario-movie-producer-denies-legend-of-zelda-film-rumours |last=Hagues |first=Alana |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=15 June 2023 |date=15 June 2023 |archive-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108032316/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/06/mario-movie-producer-denies-legend-of-zelda-film-rumours |url-status=live}}</ref>
By November 2023, Nintendo was developing a live-action ''Legend of Zelda'' film with Sony Pictures, which will co-finance and distribute it worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=November 7, 2023 |title='Legend Of Zelda' Live-Action Pic In Works At Sony With Wes Ball Directing, Nintendo Co-Financing |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/legend-of-zelda-movie-wes-ball-1235596216/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107222516/https://deadline.com/2023/11/legend-of-zelda-movie-wes-ball-1235596216/ |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |access-date=November 7, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> Wes Ball has been attached to direct, with Derek Connolly writing the script, and Miyamoto and Avi Arad will be producing alongside Ball and his producing partner Joe Hartwick Jr. through their Oddball Entertainment company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=2023-11-07 |title='Legend of Zelda' Live-Action Film in Development From Nintendo and 'Maze Runner' Director Wes Ball |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/zelda-movie-nintendo-wes-ball-1235783308/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107221827/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/zelda-movie-nintendo-wes-ball-1235783308/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2025, Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth had been cast as Zelda and Link respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2025-07-16 |title=Nintendo Confirms Actors Set to Play Link and Zelda in Live-Action The Legend of Zelda Film |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-confirms-actors-set-to-play-link-and-zelda-in-live-action-the-legend-of-zelda-film |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250716112449/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-confirms-actors-set-to-play-link-and-zelda-in-live-action-the-legend-of-zelda-film |archive-date=2025-07-16 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was scheduled for worldwide release on March 26, 2027,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2025-03-28 |title=Nintendo Uses Its New App to Announce the Release Date of the Live-Action the Legend of Zelda Movie |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-uses-its-new-app-to-announce-the-release-date-of-the-live-action-the-legend-of-zelda-movie |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328135659/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-uses-its-new-app-to-announce-the-release-date-of-the-live-action-the-legend-of-zelda-movie |archive-date=2025-03-28 |url-status=live}}</ref> which was later changed to May 7.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2025-06-09 |title='Legend Of Zelda' Live-Action Pic From Nintendo, Wes Ball & Sony Now Kicking Off Summer 2027 – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2025/06/legend-of-zelda-movie-wes-ball-1235596216/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Filming began in New Zealand in November 2025 and ended in April 2026.<ref>{{cite web |last=Norman |first=Jim |date=2025-11-06 |title=The Legend of Zelda Movie Is Now "In Production" In New Zealand |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/11/the-legend-of-zelda-movie-is-now-in-production-in-new-zealand |website=Nintendo Life |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251107104512/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/11/the-legend-of-zelda-movie-is-now-in-production-in-new-zealand |archive-date=2025-11-07 |access-date=2025-11-07}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist|refs=
<!-- Reception --> <ref name="2021 CESA Games White Paper">{{Cite book |title=2021 CESAゲーム白書 (2021 CESA Games White Paper) |publisher=Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association |year=2022 |isbn=978-4-902346-43-5 |location=Japan |language=ja}}</ref> <ref name="Classic NES Series: The Legend of Zelda - Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=Classic NES Series: The Legend of Zelda |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130151554/https://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/classic-nes-series-the-legend-of-zelda |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Classic NES Series: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=Classic NES Series: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/zelda-ii-the-adventure-of-link/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130151552/https://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/classic-nes-series-zelda-ii-the-adventure-of-link |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-four-swords/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130151550/https://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U) - Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/critic-reviews/?platform=wii-u |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130151550/https://www.metacritic.com/game/wii-u/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch) - Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130151552/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild |url-status=live}}</ref> }}
== External links == {{Commons category|The Legend of Zelda}} * {{Official website|http://www.zelda.com/}}
{{The Legend of Zelda}} {{Main franchises by Nintendo}} {{Portal bar|Video games|Japan|Fantasy}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend of Zelda, The}} Category:The Legend of Zelda Category:Action-adventure games Category:Video games about magic (supernatural) Category:Nintendo franchises Category:Video games adapted into comics Category:Video games adapted into films Category:Video game franchises Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1986