Legend Of Zelda Games With The Best Optional Content, Ranked

As a longtime fan of The Legend of Zelda series, I’ve had the pleasure of embarking on countless adventures through the magical worlds created by Nintendo. And let me tell you, some of my fondest memories come from the optional content found in these games.

In video games like The Legend of Zelda series developed by Nintendo, it’s intriguing how optional content exists. Developers create elements that a significant number of players might overlook or even remain oblivious to. These hidden gems in Zelda have left many players missing out on remarkable experiences. Whether players discover these secrets through others or consciously skip them, the optional content in Zelda offers unique and enjoyable moments worth exploring.

In The Legend of Zelda series, whether it’s unexplored dungeons or captivating side missions, there’s always plenty of additional content for players to discover. With numerous main games, spin-offs, and secondary titles, the Zelda franchise consistently offers intriguing optional quests and hidden locations that many players choose not to explore.

5 The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

24 Collectible Masks And Outstanding Optional Dungeons Feature In This N64 Classic

Legend Of Zelda Games With The Best Optional Content, Ranked

In about a year’s time, the team managed to create Majora’s Mask, utilizing existing assets from Ocarina of Time. Despite the quick production schedule, this N64 game boasts impressive additional content for players to discover. Known for its masks, Majora’s Mask is a renowned entry in the series with numerous hidden masks to find throughout the game and those used to conquer bosses.

Furthermore, Majora’s Mask offers an abundance of side quests in Clock Town and across Termina, along with captivating optional dungeons. This game is richly filled with significant and minor side quests, making it a massive adventure that continues to captivate players. Whether you prefer the 3DS version or the one on Nintendo Switch, Majora’s Mask is an excellent destination for Link and Zelda to discover engaging side content.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

Huge World Showcases Numerous Optional Quests And Dungeons

Legend Of Zelda Games With The Best Optional Content, Ranked

Back in 1998, the highly anticipated Nintendo 64 (N64) release of the Zelda franchise, specifically Ocarina of Time, was hyped up due to the prospect of transitioning from 2D to 3D. This game had massive shoes to fill, and it truly surpassed all expectations with its vast, intricately designed world. Players are treated to an abundance of additional weapons, collectibles, and side quests. The N64 served as the foundation for the next evolution of what this iconic series was capable of in the realm of 3D gaming.

Discovering and collecting one hundred Gold Skulltulas, obtaining Biggoron’s sword, and excelling at the mini-games are only the beginning of the adventure in this game. The Gerudo Training Ground is an exciting optional journey that bestows upon the player Ice Arrows as a reward. The Bottom of the Well presents a thrilling challenge with ReDeads and awards the Lens of Truth. This area is filled with engaging mini-games and side quests, showcasing the enduring appeal of this beloved classic title.

3 The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker

The Great Sea Features Optional Boss Battles And Dungeons

At Space World 2001, when Nintendo revealed the cel-shaded design of The Wind Waker, it faced some skepticism. But once released on GameCube in 2003, the game silenced its critics with its expansive, open-ended Great Sea. To this day, sailing through unexplored waters aboard the King of Red Lions remains an exciting adventure. The ocean in The Wind Waker is dotted with numerous intriguing side quests and hidden dungeons for players to discover.

The Savage Labyrinth is an exceptional feature with its 50-floor trials, where Link journeys into Hyrule’s deepest depths, discovering hidden treasures in the expansive Great Sea. Moreover, encountering and overcoming all six colossal Octos adds an enjoyable challenge, while partaking in Zunari’s Trading Quest enhances players’ connection with the Great Sea.

2 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Dramatic Reinvention Of The Zelda Franchise Maintains Spirit Of Discovery

In 2017, when The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild debuted as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch, it drastically altered the conventional elements of the Zelda series, returning to its NES origins by emphasizing exploration and discovery. Beyond the typical paths in this reimagined Hyrule, gamers could uncover an abundance of intriguing side stories and missions. The game revolutionized the franchise in numerous ways while preserving its core essence.

In this version, the vast map is filled with numerous side quests, which vary from easy fetch tasks to more complex tales. One noteworthy example is the quest related to Tarrey Town, a deserted landmass in the Akkala Highlands, where Link brings together diverse races, cultures, and species. The game excels by offering abundant optional content, but exploring every corner requires approximately 100 hours due to the intricately designed and densely populated world.

1 The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Color Dungeon And Iconic Trading Quest Showcase Depth Of This Classic Game

At first, Link’s Awakening started as an unofficial project created by Nintendo employees during their free time. Later on, it was officially published for the Game Boy in 1993, and then again for the Switch in 2019. The game is set on Koholint island, where Link, the Hero of Hyrule, embarks on a mission to awaken the Wind Fish and leave the dream. What sets this Zelda title apart are its excellent optional features. One such feature is the memorable trading sequence, which starts with an adorable Yoshi doll and concludes with Link obtaining the boomerang and magnifying glass.

In the game “Link’s Awakening,” there are several optional temples to explore, with the standout being the Color Dungeon. This temple can be entered using Pegasus Boots, and it presents one of the most difficult challenges in this engaging title. Notably, the optional content in “Link’s Awakening” is rich and substantial, offering experiences that go beyond mere side quests and instead deliver fully-realized adventures on their own.

2024-07-24 19:37