5) Phantom Hourglass
The 2007 DS release may not be objectively one of the best Zelda games but it was one of my favourite DS games growing up and probably one of the titles I put the most time into. This game does a great job of appealing to both the casual/new fan as well as the experienced Zelda player. Full of diverse Islands to explore this game is a great follow-up to the 2002 release The Wind Waker.
4) Majora's Mask
Being the darkest game in the series, 2000's Majora's Mask is a direct sequel to 1998's Ocarina of Time. Majora's Mask offers a darker game full of depressing references and a terrifying moon face. The game is only the second game in the series to not be set in Hyrule. It gives you a completely different feel to other games in the set and attracts a different style of gamer. The game was such a fan-favourite that the game was updated and released on the Gamecube I 2003 and the 3DS in 2015.
3) Breath of the Wild
Released in 2017 on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, Breath of the Wild was the first non-handheld Zelda for 6 years since the release of Skyward Sword in 2011. The game quickly became regarded as one of the best titles of any game of all time, rated at #5 in IGN's all-time top 100 list. The game is the first fully open-world title in the franchise and one of the few titles to not hold your hand and guide you through the story. I completed the title's main storyline in just a few days when I first got it on the Wii U. It's an addictive title that rewards testing all the different mechanics in the game.
2) Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time was the first in the series to follow the art-style and 3D semi-open world that it did. The game is considered one of the most important and influential video games of all time. The game forms the basis of the whole timeline of the series where the timeline is split in three, after which the majority of the games take place. The game eventually takes a dark turn and then continued this trend into its Majora's Mask sequel. Ocarina of Time is again considered by some as the greatest of any game of all time, but of course, this has since been taken over by some more recent releases.
1) The Wind Waker
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| Photo by Ryan Quintal on Unsplash |
My personal favourite, and my childhood game, The Wind Waker. I played this game a fair amount on my GameCube when I was younger, only being able to complete it when I was older. The game is the first feature of the new cell-shading style along with 'Toon Link'. This new art style was risky and was originally considered the downfall of the game. Eventually, fans came around to the idea of the new, beautiful style and supported further sequels involving this style. These include The Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. The Wind Waker received an HD remake for the Wii U in 2013 which only further improved the visual style of the game.
Do you agree? Tell me your top 5 in the comments.
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