As one of Nintendo’s flagship series, it’s not surprising that Nintendo Switch Online includes multiple installments ofThe Legend of Zelda. There are eight differentZeldagames across four different consoles availableon Nintendo Switch Online, going all the way back to the original NES. Though not comprehensive, this is a good sampling of earlyZeldagames for players to check out if they are only familiar with newer games. Older games likeLink’s Awakeningare also fun to compare side-by-sidewith their contemporary remakes.
RankingZeldagames can be a little difficult for a few reasons. Unlike some game series,even the lower-tierZeldagames are stellar, so it isn’t as easy to pick a winner. Which game players like most will likely come down to some combination of which ones they played first, what elements of the series they like best, and their personal stylistic preferences. Though some games have to be put near the bottom here, it’s best to remember that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth playing. This is a very close race.
8Zelda 2 Is The Black Sheep Of The Series
Zelda 2 Doesn’t Feel Like Zelda, But It’s Still Worth Playing
It’s pretty common for early games in a new series to not fully understand what made the first one so appealing. After the success ofThe Legend of Zelda,Zelda II: The Adventure of Linktried to expand on the first game by adding more RPG elements. Some of these elements were huge improvements to the series, like the addition of fleshed-out NPCs and important staples of the series like the Triforce of Courage. Other new elements weren’t as well-liked.
One strange element ofZelda IIis that the overworld functions more like one from a traditional RPG like the olderFinal Fantasygames. When Link encounters a monster or enters a dungeon, the game switchesto side-scrolling Metroidvania-esque gameplay. The idea of shifting from top-down to side-scrolling did return toZeldain games likeLink’s AwakeningandEchoes of Wisdom, but newer games knew to retain the classicZeldastyle of exploration established in the first game.
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ThoughZelda IIisn’t necessarily a bad game, it’s sort of like looking into an alternate dimension whereZeldabecame more of a traditional JRPG. Had the series continued to move in that direction, many of the most belovedZeldagames probably wouldn’t have existed. That makesZelda IIfeel sort of like a misstep before the series corrected course withA Link to the Past.Players looking for a classicZeldaexperience therefore won’t get as much out ofZelda IIas other games.
7The Legend of Zelda Started It All
The First Game In The Series Is Fun But Dated
The Legend of Zeldafor the NES kicked off theZeldaseries and introduced a lot of key elements that would define it. Different dungeons, each with a unique item, and a boss battle at the end. This game also introduced some of Link’s mainstay items like his boomerang, bow, and bombs. Without the success of this game, players wouldn’t have any others to compare it against, and it deserves a lot of credit for starting one of gaming’s most successful franchises. This game also plays more like what players would expect fromZeldathanZelda II.
The originalLegend of Zeldadoes feel somewhat antiquated now that it is nearly 40 years old.
With that being said,the originalLegend of Zeldadoes feel somewhat antiquated now that it is nearly 40 years old. There isn’t as much of a story as players would expect from newerZeldagames, and dying in the overworld can be frustrating since it sends players back to where the game began. It feels closer to an arcade game than the nearly full-fledged role-playing games that the latest entries in the series have become. However, the game is still a lot of fun and any fan of the series should at least try where it started.
6Link’s Awakening Is Quirky And Fun
Link’s Awakening Has One Of The Strangest Tones For A Zelda Game
Link’s Awakeningis one of the stranger entries in theZeldaseries. Similar toMajora’s Mask, it is one of the few installments to be set somewhere besides Hyrule, and it doesn’t include too many classic elements of the series, like Zelda or Ganon. However, unlikeZelda II, being different is a huge part of the appeal ofLink’s Awakening.
The tone of the game was inspired byTwin Peaks, which can beseen in the game’s surreal elements and off-beat NPCs. The game also includes some cameos by other Nintendo characters like Kirby and Yoshi, and some fourth wall breaks. These elements makeLink’s Awakeningan incredibly unique experience. One potential downside is that the version on Nintendo Switch Online is the recoloredLink’s Awakening DX. While some players prefer this version because it is easier to distinguish objects from one another, the old-school colors look a little funky on the Switch.
5Oracle of Ages And Seasons Are A Unique Duo Of Games
The Two Games Work Together As One
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of AgesandOracle of Seasonsare essentially two halves of one largeZeldagame. That isn’t to say they aren’t enjoyable on their own, but that the experience is enhanced if players play both. Finishing one game gives players a password to enter and begin a Linked playthrough in the other. Doing so adds some story changes to the second game played, making it essentially a sequel to the first and concluding both games’ narratives. Though these games can be played in either order, players recommend playingAgesfirst becauseSeasonscan be harder.
The two games focus on two different quests in Hyrule’s sister countries,Agestakes place in Labrynna andSeasonsin Holodrum.Agesfocuses a bit more on puzzles and the story whereasSeasonshas a heavier focus on action. This is why some players prefer to playAgesfirst, so they have an extra heart and weapon going intoSeasons.Agesalso only asks players to jump between two time periods, whereasSeasonsrequires switching between four seasons.
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Both games feature classic 2DZeldagameplay, similar toA Link to the Pastand the originalLegend of Zelda. They benefit from being newer games in the series, which means theyhave more ofZelda’s signature personality and series stapleslike the friendly Zora or the Goron. They get a slight bump overLink’s Awakeningsince the stories of these games actually happened, and weren’t just a dream.
4The Minish Cap Is Small But Impressive
The Minish Cap Is A Shorter Experience But No Less Fun
The Legend of Zeldagames are great at taking game elements that might feel like a gimmick and using them so creatively and holistically that they create a wonderfully inventive gameplay experience.The Minish Capis a great example of this. The game gives Link the ability to shift his size, which allows him to navigate around certain obstacles. However, when small, the entire world changes to accommodate Link’s new size.This makes every area essentially two different maps, and experiencing them from both vantage points never gets old.
The Minish Capalso features a memorable multi-stage final boss fight against Vaati which serves as an epic capstone to the events of the game. If there is one downside toThe Minish Cap, it’s the game’s length. It feels very short compared to otherZeldagames, which can be disappointing given how fun it is. That said, it’s shorter length does make it an easy game to playthrough, and since players using Nintendo Switch Online aren’t paying for the game, it’s not as disappointing as it may have been originally.
3Majora’s Mask Is One Of Zelda’s Most Memorable Outings
Majora’s Mask Has A Unique Tone And Mechanics
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Maskhas no right to be as good as it is. The game was made in less than two years and reused a lot of assets fromOcarina of Time. However, the game does not feel like a rush job. In fact, its eerie atmosphere, intricate questlines, and time mechanics stand out assome of the series’ best work. This game doesn’t just rank among the bestZeldagames on Nintendo Switch Online but is one of the best of the entire series.
If there’s one thing keepingThe Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Maskfrom the top spot, it’s thegame’s 3DS remake. Frankly, it’s a little hard going back to the original after playing through the game with some major quality-of-life improvements and beautiful new graphics. If players want to experience the game on a larger screen and in its original form, it still plays great on the Switch, but they’ll still sorely miss the updating saving mechanics and Song of Double Time from the remake.
2A Link To The Past Defined The Series
A Link To The Past Introduced Many Classic Zelda Elements
Because the Switch has two modes, docked and handheld, it only makes sense that there should be a top choice for each style of play. When choosing aLegend of Zeldagame to play on the Switch in handheld form,A Link to the Pastis probably the best option.A Link to the Pastintroduced many classicZeldaelementsand provides a good mixture of fun and challenging gameplay. It’s also pretty long, making it a great choice to play on a long trip or in installments on a commute.
There are two ways to playA Link to the Paston Nintendo Switch Online, either the original SNES version or the Game Boy Advance version. Though they are largely similar, the GBA version can be a bit nicer to play since it made the infamous Ice Palace more manageable and allows players to begin the game in the exact place they saved it. That said, it’s nice that NSO offers both options, letting players experience the game in whichever way they prefer.
1Ocarina of Time Is One Of The Best In The Series
The First 3D Zelda Game Remains One Of The Best
LikeMajora’s Mask,The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeis one of the series’ highlights. UnlikeMajora’s Mask, playingOoTon the Switch doesn’t feel like as much of a drawback. While there was also anOcarina of Timeremake, the differences aren’t as noticeable (except for the Water Temple).Ocarina of Timeis also more forgiving thanMajora’s Masksince there isn’t a ticking-clock mechanic. This means fewer chances for frustration when the N64 controls don’t translate perfectly to the Switch because tasks aren’t all being timed.
Ocarina of Timealso has the distinction of being the first 3DZeldagame. Players who are new to the series would likely find it interesting to look at how this branch of the series started and see the influencesOcarina of Timestill has onThe Legend of Zeldaseries. The game also has some of the series’ most memorable dungeons, something newerZeldagames are seriously lacking.
