The Legend Of Zelda Games In Order [2021 Updated List]

Are you a fan or a player of The Legend of Zelda games? Then you must give it a try reading this post. Here, we have listed all the Zelda games in order of their release. Those who know about Nintendo games must have come across the Legend of Zelda game at least once.

The Legend of Zelda is a video game series franchise based in Japan, designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and developed and published by Nintendo. The Legend of Zelda games is exclusively designed and released for Nintendo platforms and handhelds.

zelda games in order

Some spin-off games were released on other non-Nintendo platforms later. Here, we have given all the released and upcoming Zelda games in order of their release dates.

Zelda Games In Order

The Legend of Zelda games is a video game with a mixed genre of action, puzzle-solving, adventure, and role-playing. The main protagonist is played by you with the character called Link. You will be given tasks and missions that are related to the titular character of the game Princess Zelda.

1. How Many Legend Of Zelda Games Are There

There are a total of 19 video games released till now and another game is yet to release and is under development. The first game was released in the year 1989 and the latest one was in 2017. All the Zelda games were extremely loved and played throughout the world. Read further to know all the Zelda games in order.

Legend Of Zelda Games In Order

Let’s start the games of Legend of Zelda release order. We have given all the Zelda games in order of release here from the first to the latest.

1. The Legend Of Zelda (1986) – Original

This was the first game in the Zelda games in order and was released on February 21, 1986, in Japan. Later, this game was released in Europe and North America in the next year i.e, 1987. This game was only supported on Nintendo video gaming devices.

The plot revolves around an elf-like boy called Link, who has to rescue Princess Zelda. For that, he has to collect the eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom from the villain Ganon, the Prince of Darkness.

2. Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link (1988)

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is the second major installment in the Legend of Zelda franchise. This game was released on January 14, 1987, in Japan and followed by North America and PAL regions in 1988.

This game is a direct sequel to the game “The Legend of Zelda”. Once again, the protagonist Link has to save Princess Zelda, who is now under a spell that makes her sleep.

The main improvements found in this game are the side-scrolling option and major role-playing elements that were not found in the first game.

3. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past (1992)

zelda release order

This game is the third installation in the Zelda games in order of release. This game was released on November 21, 1991, in Japan and later got released in North America and PAL region in 1992. The original game was released for Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

A Game Boy Advance version came in 2002. It takes you to two parallel worlds where Link has to travel in his past. One world is dark and the other world is light and in both worlds, the only task that Link has to complete is to defeat Ganon.

4. The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993)

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is the first-ever handheld game from the Legend of Zelda game franchise. This is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Nintendo on June 6, 1993, in Japan. In the late 1993’s, Europe and North America got their game releases.

The changes made in this game are the removal of some characters. You will be the same character Link, but there are no Triforce and Princess Zelda. You have to escape an island called Koholint. This game was originally released for Game Boy and later got a supported version for Game Boy Color in 1998.

5. The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time (1998)

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released in 1998 after 5 years of its preceding game. This game was the first 3-D video game in the Zelda games in order of release. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was originally released for Nintendo 64.

Later in 2002, Game Cube and Nintendo 3DS versions were released. Since 3-D games were underrated in those days, this game became the highlight in the world of video games.

6. The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)

all zelda games in order list

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask was released for Nintendo 64 in 2000. A Nintendo 3DS version was released later in 2015. This game can also be considered as one of the major games in the Zelda games in order of release.

This game is similar to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link in terms of concept, gameplay, and other things. The game visuals were similar to the previous game, Ocarina of Time.

Major changes were done to the gameplay and the whole game is set in an open world that is much larger than the previous games. Darker themes are the highlights of this game.

7. The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages (2001)

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages is the seventh installment in the Legend of Zelda games in order of release. It was originally released for Game Boy Color in the year 2001. Two games Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons were released at the same time in 2001.

Both the game plots are interconnected and are related to each other. Once you complete this game, you will get a password that leads you to the next game.

8. The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons (2001)

This is the other game that was released along with Oracle of Ages. This is the eighth main series game of the Legend of Zelda games in order. You can’t unlock this game without completing its first part.

This game was released for Game Boy Color and can only be unlocked with the password that you get by completing the Oracle of Ages.

9. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past/Four Swords (2002)

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords is the ninth main installment in the Zelda release order. This game was released in 2002 for Nintendo Game Boy Advance.

This game also introduced an original multi-player game called Four Swords. The Four Swords game was the first-ever game of multi-player format in the Zelda games.

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10. The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was the first game to be released on GameCube. This game was released in 2002 and got mixed reactions from the fans. A Wii U version was released in 2013.

Link, the main protagonist uses a magical tool in this game, known as the Wind Waker, to manipulate the directions of the sailing ship.

11. The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)

tlz the minish cap

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap was originally released in November 2004 in Japan and Europe. Later in 2005, it was released in America.

In this game, Link can shrink down and make himself in a smaller size with the help of a hat that is called Ezlo. In his different version, Link is able to discover a tiny world in Hyrule that everyone is unaware of.

12. The Legend Of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004)

This game is related to the 2002 released game Four Swords. Since in 2002, only a Nintendo version was available, they released a GameCube supported version of this game in 2004.

The characters and gameplay were almost similar to the original game. However, it enhanced the visuals and effects of the game. Also, in this version, Link gets to know his evil version, Shadow Link.

13. The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is the first game in the Legend of Zelda games in order that was originally released on Wii U. Originally in 2006, this game was exclusively released for Nintendo Wii U. But, later in December 2006, a GameCube version was released.

This game added a more realistic look to the game and also another important change that was added, you can change into a wolf form in the game.

14. The Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)

This game is the direct sequel to the Wind Waker. This game brought back the cartoonish and watery atmosphere of the Wind Waker and was released for Nintendo DS in 2007. Both local and online modes are supported for this game for single and multiplayer formats.

15. The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009)

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks changed the track of the game. This game was similar to its preceding game, Phantom Hourglass in many aspects. The only change here is Link travels by train instead of boat this time.

Link, along with Zelda, sets on a journey to defeat the Demon King so that they can restore the Spirit Tracks which got disappeared. This game was released in December 2009.

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16. The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)

This game is the sixteenth major installment of the Legend of Zelda games in order of release. This game was released on Wii MotionPlus in 2011 and received an almost poor response from its fans. Due to poor graphics and other flaws in the MotionPlus platform, it got so much criticism. Despite all the complaints, it managed to earn success.

17. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds was the seventeenth major installment of the Legend of Zelda games in order. This game was released for Nintendo 3DS in 2013.

This game takes you to the plot of A Link to the Past but hundreds of years into the future.  In this game, Link is able to transform into a picture and can slide through walls and other objects.

18. The Legend Of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (2015)

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is the 18th installment of the Zelda games in order. It brings back the game mechanism of the Four Swords Advance and was released for Nintendo 3DS in 2015.

The players have to connect online and solve riddles and puzzles to keep on going through dungeons and caves. Only three players can join one team.

19. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (2017)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the latest release of the Zelda games in order. This game was released for Nintendo Switch and Wii U in 2017. This game was released along with the Nintendo Switch and outsold the console also.

20. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Sequel (Yet To Release)

This game is the sequel to the Breath of the Wild game released in 2017. The latest game that we have in the Zelda games in order is this game that was announced in 2019.

But, the release date is not yet given. So, players can only wait for the game to be released. Until then, there are many more games that we can enjoy.

Conclusion

We hope you liked this article about all the Legend of Zelda games in order of their release dates. The Legend of Zelda is a massive collection of video games and all Zelda games are extremely popular and loved. If you haven’t tried any game of this series, then you must give it a try. For more related articles, visit our website TechRulz. Hope you liked this article.

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