Series guide
All Zelda games in order
Twenty mainline games across four decades, and unlike Mario there is just the one line — release order below, console by console, with the two multiplayer side-entries marked and the remakes kept in their own list so the main series stays readable.
The short answer
The Legend of Zelda (1986) → Zelda II → A Link to the Past → Link's Awakening → Ocarina of Time → Majora's Mask → the Oracles → Four Swords → The Wind Waker → Four Swords Adventures → The Minish Cap → Twilight Princess → Phantom Hourglass → Spirit Tracks → Skyward Sword → A Link Between Worlds → Tri Force Heroes → Breath of the Wild → Tears of the Kingdom → Echoes of Wisdom (2024). You do not need to play them in order — nearly every entry stands alone.
The mainline series, in release order
Years are the first worldwide release; The Minish Cap is the one entry where Europe actually came first.
- The Legend of Zelda · 1986 · NES
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link · 1987 · NES
- A Link to the Past · 1991 · SNES
- Link's Awakening · 1993 · Game Boy
- Ocarina of Time · 1998 · Nintendo 64
- Majora's Mask · 2000 · Nintendo 64
- Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages · 2001 · Game Boy Color — two cartridges, released together
- Four Swords · 2002 · Game Boy Advance — multiplayer side-entry, on the A Link to the Past cartridge
- The Wind Waker · 2002 · GameCube — Europe: 2003
- Four Swords Adventures · 2004 · GameCube — multiplayer side-entry — Europe: 2005
- The Minish Cap · 2004 · Game Boy Advance — Europe first, November 2004
- Twilight Princess · 2006 · GameCube & Wii
- Phantom Hourglass · 2007 · Nintendo DS
- Spirit Tracks · 2009 · Nintendo DS
- Skyward Sword · 2011 · Wii
- A Link Between Worlds · 2013 · Nintendo 3DS
- Tri Force Heroes · 2015 · Nintendo 3DS — multiplayer side-entry
- Breath of the Wild · 2017 · Switch & Wii U
- Tears of the Kingdom · 2023 · Nintendo Switch
- Echoes of Wisdom · 2024 · Nintendo Switch
The remakes and HD versions
Six of the twenty have been remade or remastered — seven releases in total, since Link's Awakening got two. Useful to know before you pay collector money for an original you only wanted to play.
- Link's Awakening DX · 1998 · Game Boy Color — remake of Link's Awakening (1993)
- Ocarina of Time 3D · 2011 · Nintendo 3DS — remake of Ocarina of Time (1998)
- The Wind Waker HD · 2013 · Wii U — remake of The Wind Waker (2002)
- Majora's Mask 3D · 2015 · Nintendo 3DS — remake of Majora's Mask (2000)
- Twilight Princess HD · 2016 · Wii U — remake of Twilight Princess (2006)
- Link's Awakening · 2019 · Nintendo Switch — remake of Link's Awakening (1993)
- Skyward Sword HD · 2021 · Nintendo Switch — remake of Skyward Sword (2011)
Release order or the official timeline?
Nintendo's official chronology (published in Hyrule Historia) exists, and it splits into three branches after Ocarina of Time — which is exactly why nobody plays by it. It was drawn up years after most of the games shipped. Release order is the honest order: it is how the series actually evolved, and since nearly every game is self-contained, it is also the only order you need. The direct sequels are noted in the FAQ below.
Buying these second-hand
The handheld Zeldas save on a battery — the N64 ones do not
Link's Awakening, both Oracles and A Link to the Past keep your save alive with a battery inside the cartridge; when it runs flat the game still plays but forgets your progress, and the battery is replaceable. Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask store saves without one, so an N64 Zelda that boots almost always still saves. We test booting and saving on every copy before it goes up.
The Minish Cap and the Oracles are the ones to buy carefully
Sought-after handheld Zeldas are among the most counterfeited cartridges in retro gaming, and The Minish Cap is the classic example. We open every cartridge and check the board before listing it — if you buy elsewhere, insist on photos of the actual cartridge, not a stock image.
Twilight Princess: the GameCube version is the collector one
It launched on both consoles at once; the GameCube run was far smaller, so that version now costs more. The Wii version is the same adventure mirrored left-to-right so Link swings with the remote in his right hand. If you just want to play, the Wii disc is the sensible buy.
The Wii U library is the cheap way into two of the best
The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD exist only on Wii U, and because the console sold poorly the discs stayed affordable. If you already own a Wii U, those two remasters are the best value in the whole series.
Every copy tested before it is listed
Booting, saving, label, and — on cartridges — the board underneath. We have been doing this since 2019, with 1400+ verified reviews at 5.0★, and we ship tracked to all 27 EU countries. Originals only; if something ever turns out not to be genuine, you get your money back.
Browse tested Zelda gamesQuestions we get asked
How many Zelda games are there?
Twenty mainline releases, from The Legend of Zelda (1986) to Echoes of Wisdom (2024) — that count includes the two multiplayer side-entries, Four Swords and Tri Force Heroes. On top of that sit seven remakes and HD versions, and spin-offs such as Hyrule Warriors and Cadence of Hyrule.
Do I need to play the Zelda games in order?
No. Nearly every Zelda tells a self-contained story with its own Link. The only direct sequels are Majora's Mask (after Ocarina of Time), Spirit Tracks (after Phantom Hourglass), Tears of the Kingdom (after Breath of the Wild) — and Zelda II, back in 1987. Start anywhere else and you miss nothing.
Is there an official Zelda timeline?
Yes — Nintendo published one in Hyrule Historia (2011), and it famously splits into three branches after Ocarina of Time. It was constructed years after most of the games were made, so it is a curiosity for fans, not a playing order. Release order, as listed above, is the order that makes sense.
What was the first Zelda game?
The Legend of Zelda on the NES, released in 1986 on the gold cartridge. It was one of the first console games that let you save your progress instead of using passwords — which is exactly why that cartridge contains a battery.
Which Zelda game should I start with?
Breath of the Wild (Switch) if you want the modern open-air one — it assumes nothing and explains itself. For classic top-down Zelda, A Link to the Past (SNES) or A Link Between Worlds (3DS), which plays as its modern successor. All of them stand alone.
Do old Zelda cartridges still save?
It depends on the console. The Game Boy, Game Boy Color and SNES entries save on an internal battery that can run flat after decades — replaceable, and the game itself keeps working. The N64 entries save without a battery, and GameCube games save to the memory card. Every copy we sell is tested for booting and saving first.
Do you ship outside the Netherlands?
We ship to all 27 EU countries with track & trace. Parcels leave from the Netherlands, so delivery takes slightly longer than a domestic order, and there are no customs charges within the EU. Your country’s exact rate appears at checkout before you pay.
Years given are the first worldwide release; most European dates were weeks to months later. Deze gids in het Nederlands.
