Every 3D Zelda Game, Ranked

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3D installments of The Legend of Zelda series have consistently been key titles that help boost Nintendo’s sales on any new gaming platform they release since 1998.

Up to now, a total of ten games meet the complete 3D Zelda standard. These ten titles are not poor quality, and those ranked higher are true works of art within the gaming industry.

We’ll be examining and highlighting similarities and differences between these titles, ranging from “Ocarina of Time” in 1998 to “Tears of the Kingdom” in 2023, with the ultimate goal of determining which one stands out as the superior 3D Zelda game.

Let’s jump straight into exploring the journey of our caped character with the pointed green hat, to see how he has been faring during his many adventures over time.

10. Link’s Crossbow Training

An Adequate Pack-In Game

During the Nintendo Wii era, various tricks and accessories were introduced to maintain interest in the console throughout its life span. One such accessory was the Wii Zapper, a plastic gun that the Wiimote and Nunchuck could be inserted into, creating a more immersive experience for shooting games.

Link’s Crossbow Training was a bonus game that came with every Wii Zapper, serving as an engaging demonstration for users to try out their latest gadget.

Nonetheless, Link’s Crossbow Training pales in comparison to most games within the 3D Zelda series. Essentially, it’s an interactive shooting range with elements of on-rails and stationary gameplay, all presented in a visual style reminiscent of Twilight Princess.

The game is quite enjoyable, yet it only takes roughly an hour to finish, and unfortunately, it lacks fundamental elements such as a global online leaderboard for competing against other players’ top scores worldwide.

It was thoughtful of Link to lead this project as it boosted sales for the Wii Zapper, but each subsequent 3D appearance of his character has held far greater significance and importance.

9. Hyrule Warriors

Musou Mania

Initially surprising as one of several spin-offs created by the developers of the widely admired Dynasty Warriors series, Hyrule Warriors eventually proved its worth in the realm of grandiose, sword-wielding combat.

Calling Hyrule Warriors just a simple spin-off may be an understatement, as it put considerable effort into crafting a substantial narrative, even if it doesn’t align with Nintendo’s official Zelda timeline.

Additionally, this Zelda game was the initial one to incorporate a multiplayer feature among its 3D offerings, further distinguishing it for its innovative approach.

One captivating aspect of Hyrule Warriors and its successor is that they offer players a unique opportunity to command various cherished characters from the Zelda series for the very first time. Besides Link, you’re also given command over characters like Ganondorf, Zelda, Midna, Impa, and numerous other unexpected additions.

Hyrule Warriors is an enjoyable game overall, yet it doesn’t perfectly embody the classic image of 3D Zelda excellence in our minds.

8. Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity

Slightly Better Musou Mania

The latest installment in the Zelda Musou series, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, released in 2020, surpassed its predecessor, Hyrule Warriors, by making minor enhancements to the original gameplay.

Following the success of 2017’s Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch, Age of Calamity capitalized on this triumph by leveraging the incredible world, artwork, and characters from Breath of the Wild to take things a step further.

Beyond its connection to Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity doesn’t significantly deviate from the formula established in regular Hyrule Warriors. However, it does incorporate the Sheikah Slate and glider into the gameplay, offering a few fresh elements alongside familiar ones.

Once more, the title offers an extensive cast of playable characters for exploration, making Age of Calamity a delightful tribute to Zelda enthusiasts, especially in this regard.

Although it offers one of the finest Musou experiences in contemporary gaming, the Hyrule Warriors series faces a slight challenge in comparison to the grand adventure narratives found in almost every other game on this list.

7. Skyward Sword

A Flawed Origin Story

On the Nintendo Wii, Skyward Sword was the unique 3D Zelda game that utilized the Wii Motion Plus technology. This feature allowed the game to focus heavily on precise sword-fighting actions for the character Link, ensuring he could progress through the narrative effectively.

Regrettably, one of the main factors contributing to this game not holding up well in today’s times is its motion controls. At their best, they can be tricky, and at their worst, they become a minor irritant, more like a gimmick than a seamless part of the gaming experience.

Indeed, Skyward Sword also boasts numerous impressive scenes. The narrative, in particular, is intriguing because it lays the groundwork for the entire series as an origin story. Some of the most thrilling battles in the series can be found here, with Koloktos in the Ancient Cistern and Demise standing out as particularly challenging opponents. In fact, Demise could arguably be Link’s most formidable foe yet.

Nevertheless, some game bosses, such as The Imprisoned, tend to be recurring and challenging, there are numerous locations where you can retrace your steps, the open world becomes repetitive, the stamina system is incompletely developed, and the dowsing mechanism is genuinely frustrating.

Skyward Sword took an unique approach and achieved it to some extent, yet future Zelda games promise a more comprehensive experience in total.

6. Tears Of The Kingdom

A Bit Too Much Of A Good Thing

Attempting to produce a follow-up to the 2017 blockbuster, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, was bound to be a challenging task, even for gaming giants like Nintendo. Opinions vary among fans as to whether Nintendo successfully executed this latest installment, with some still undecided on its quality.

In a league of its own, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offered the grandest, most comprehensive Zelda gaming experience the globe had known, and Tears of the Kingdom elevated it even further.

In simpler terms, the combination of existing weapon decay, cooking mechanisms, Sheikah Slate skills, numerous shrines and expansive environments from Breath of the Wild, along with the compulsory construction of Zonai vehicles in Tears of the Kingdom, plus even more features might be considered overwhelming.

The water and lightning temples within this game offer quite a contrast. Unfortunately, the water temple is among the most challenging and least enjoyable in the entire series. On the other hand, the lightning temple stands out as one of the best. This discrepancy slightly hinders the overall quality of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

If you enjoy exploring open-ended gameplay and testing your creativity by trying to manipulate games in various ways, this version of Zelda is perfect for you. However, it may not fully meet the expectations of traditional Zelda fans as it deviates somewhat from the familiar gameplay formula found in other titles, making it questionable whether it can be considered a timeless classic within the Zelda series.

5. The Wind Waker

A Cel-Shaded Smash

2003 marked the year I first sailed through the vibrant, cel-shaded world of The Wind Waker on my GameCube. A stark departure from the familiar landscapes of Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, it brought a breathtaking art style that remains just as captivating today.

Exploring the flooded landscape aboard your majestic ship, The King Of The Red Lions, offers a satisfying gaming experience as this installment in the series delves into a swashbuckling, pirate-inspired adventure within the realm of Zelda. If you enjoy top-tier sailing in video games, prepare for an enjoyable voyage!

While there are certainly positive aspects to this place, it’s important to note that not everything is perfect. The stealth requirement in the Forsaken Fortress can be quite challenging, and the storyline initially moves at a slower pace before reaching an epic climax.

Regardless, The Wind Waker stands out as a highly imaginative addition to this roster and offers more positives than negatives. It boasts impressive dungeons like Dragon Roost Cavern and one of the most impactful final battles against Ganondorf, featuring ingeniously crafted puppet depictions of Link’s recurring adversary.

Or:

Despite what others might say, The Wind Waker is a remarkably creative title on this list and generally does more right than wrong. It showcases fantastic dungeons such as Dragon Roost Cavern and one of the most memorable final battles against Ganondorf, which feature intricately designed puppet representations of Link’s longtime nemesis.

4. Majora’s Mask

The Real Moon Landing

In another installment of a cherished franchise, Majora’s Mask took on the challenging duty of surpassing the success of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time from 1998.

Overall, this title accomplished its mission.

In simpler terms, Majora’s Mask stands out as being quite peculiar compared to its original counterpart, which has resulted in an endearing quality that many fans adore.

The constant danger of a furious moon colliding with the earth looms, masks can metamorphose you into diverse creatures reminiscent of the Zelda universe, and Majora, in turn, could be one of the most imaginative and unsettling final battles in the entire series.

In simpler terms, Majora’s Mask stands out as a refreshing departure from the norm, even though it is one of the rare true sequels in the 3D Zelda universe. It offers a new take on the familiar formula.

In comparison to Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask has an equally expansive world and breadth, yet it seems to fall short in evoking the same grand, epic narrative ambiance and unforgettable character depth. Additionally, its dungeons may not leave the same lasting impression as those found in Ocarina of Time.

The Stone Tower Temple, however, is the clear standout and is one of the best Zelda dungeons ever.

3. Twilight Princess

Wolf It Down

2006’s Twilight Princess appears to be a game that aimed to amplify the edgy and trendy vibe of the Zelda franchise significantly. It stands out as one of the gloomiest, darkest, most introspective games in the series so far, and it’s truly impressive.

Indeed, some players might find the initial phase of this video game to be among the most challenging openings in gaming history. Yet, if you persist through the initial hours filled with tutorials and cinematics that may seem monotonous, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess could well prove to be one of the most captivating installments within the series.

In Twilight Princess, you predominantly traverse through various regions of Hyrule that are tainted by twilight, often taking on the form of a wolf as Link does so. Throughout this adventure, the exceptional character Midna serves as your guide.

In a more relaxed and understandable manner, the plot of Twilight Princess can sometimes seem bizarrely futuristic and spooky. This eerie ambiance contributes to some of its creature designs and scenes, making Twilight Princess stand out as one of the scariest games in the Zelda series.

In this game, dungeons are fantastic, boasting engaging themes, and skillfully utilizing the latest tools that Link possesses. Among them, Snowpeak Ruins truly shines, showcasing exceptional ice dynamics and brain-teasing puzzles that rival any in the gaming world.

The climax features an awe-inspiring confrontation against Ganondorf, arguably the toughest boss battle ever encountered in the 3D Zelda series.

Or:

The highlight is an amazing showdown against Ganondorf, which could be the hardest boss fight in the history of 3D Zelda games.

Both sentences convey the same meaning while maintaining a natural and easy-to-read style.

2. Breath Of The Wild

Climbing Simulator 2017

Initially, the games available when the Nintendo Switch was launched in 2017 appeared quite underwhelming, with the exception of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Fortunately, it turned out that this game was more than enough to make up for the rest of the lineup.

Nintendo’s initial foray into an honest open-world Zelda game was met with tremendous acclaim, leaving the gaming community awestruck as it swept up numerous Game of the Year accolades.

In a straightforward and engaging manner: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild empowers players by allowing them to ascend any structure, traverse the map at their discretion, decide the sequence for conquering the Divine Beasts (which serve as dungeons), and shattered expectations in innovative ways that continue to inspire game developers today.

Instead of saying that the Divine Beasts lack the fun and creativity found in traditional Zelda dungeons, or that the 120 shrines offer limited experiences, it might be more natural to express this as: While the Divine Beasts and the 120 shrines don’t provide the same level of fun and creativity as traditional Zelda dungeons, or offer expansive experiences like those, the freedom and creativity in Breath Of The Wild remains unparalleled.

The map offers an authentic delight as you delve into its mysteries. Its design exudes tranquility and elegance, setting it apart from previous titles, and even surpassing its follow-up in terms of uniqueness.

1. Ocarina Of Time

Truly Timeless

One day, I might find myself immersed in a new Zelda game from Nintendo that could potentially overthrow Ocarina of Time as the greatest video game ever made and the pinnacle of the Zelda franchise.

Today is not that day.

In a groundbreaking move for the Zelda series, Nintendo spared no effort in crafting the first 3D Zelda game, ensuring that Link adapted seamlessly to the Nintendo 64. As a result, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time stood out as an exceptional game, setting a new standard for releases on this console.

As a dedicated fan, I wholeheartedly believe that among all entries in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time stands out for its exceptional storyline, captivating characters, enchanting music, and ingenious dungeon design. Despite the occasional misstep, such as the Water Temple not living up to expectations, the sheer brilliance of this game more than compensates for any shortcomings.

Experiencing the transformation from Kid Link to Adult Link and witnessing the evolution of Hyrule over time is a cherished gaming memory for millions worldwide. The melodies you master on the ocarina remain etched in our memories forever. This game truly embodies the enchantment of video games.

It’s important to clarify that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time doesn’t hold the top spot merely due to nostalgia. In fact, no other Zelda game has managed to convey the poignant melancholy and grandiose narrative quite as beautifully as Ocarina of Time does.

As I journeyed through Kokiri Forest and ultimately defeated Ganon, nothing beats the flawless video game design of Ocarina of Time, making it a clear number one choice for me on any gaming list!

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2025-02-24 17:12