Summary
- Link has appeared in various Zelda games, from rescuing Princess Zelda to battling enemies like Ganon and Vaati.
- Apart from mainline quests, Link has featured in spin-off games like Link’s Crossbow Training and Hyrule Warriors.
- Link has made guest appearances in non-Nintendo franchises, such as SoulCalibur 2 and Sonic Lost World, showcasing his iconic status.
Link, though not verbose, leaves an immense impact. Spanning almost four decades, this figure in green, known as the Hero of Hyrule, has transcended beyond his sword and shield role; he’s now a symbol deeply ingrained in gaming culture. Link’s journey isn’t confined to rescuing Princess Zelda or battling Ganon. In surprising settings, you might find him conquering dungeons with companions, racing karts, solving brain-teasers, and even squaring off against Mario and Pikachu.
Regardless if he’s a solitary swordsman or part of a group, whether he’s playable or cheering from the sidelines, Link consistently demonstrates his heroic presence, even appearing where players might not anticipate. For all those who have cherished playing this Quiet Champion, here is the comprehensive guide to every game in which Link has made an appearance.
Mainline Zelda Games
| Game | Release Date | Original Console | Story & Link’s Role |
| The Legend of Zelda | Feb 21, 1986 | NES | Hyrule is invaded by Ganon’s forces, and Link has to collect the 8 fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom to save the Kingdom and rescue Princess Zelda. |
| Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link | Jan 14, 1987 | NES | Link embarks on a journey to awaken Princess Zelda from a sleeping spell, restoring the Triforce of Courage and facing his shadow in the Great Palace. |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Nov 21, 1991 | SNES | Link travels between Light and Dark Worlds, claiming the Master Sword and rescuing Princess Zelda and the Seven Sages from Agahnim and Ganon. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Jun 6, 1993 | Game Boy | Shipwrecked on Koholint Island, Link collects magical instruments to awaken the Wind Fish and escape (Remade for Switch in 2019). |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX | Dec 12, 1998 | Game Boy Color | An enhanced re-release of Link’s Awakening, adding color graphics and a bonus dungeon, but keeping Link’s quest to awaken the Wind Fish intact. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Nov 21, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | Link becomes the Hero of Time, travels between childhood and adulthood, stops Ganondorf, and rescues Zelda using the Ocarina of Time (Remade as Ocarina of Time 3D in 2011). |
| The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask | Apr 27, 2000 | Nintendo 64 | Link has 72 hours to prevent the moon from crashing into Termina, using masks to transform and reset time (Remade as Majora’s Mask 3D in 2015). |
| The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages | Feb 27, 2001 | Game Boy Color | In the land of Labrynna, Link uses the Harp of Ages to travel through time and rescue Nayru from the sorceress Veran. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons | Feb 27, 2001 | Game Boy Color | Link restores the disrupted seasons in Holodrum and rescues Din from General Onox, using the Rod of Seasons to change the environment. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords | Dec 2, 2002 | Game Boy Advance | Link is split into four copies by the Four Sword, working together (through multiplayer) to rescue Zelda from Vaati. |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Dec 13, 2002 | GameCube | As the Hero of Winds, Link sails the Great Sea to rescue his sister, master the Wind Waker, and stop Ganondorf (Remastered as Wind Waker HD in 2013). |
| The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | Mar 18, 2004 | GameCube |
Link is split into four by the Four Sword, battling Shadow Link and Vaati in a cooperative quest to save Hyrule. |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | Nov 4, 2004 | Game Boy Advance | Link teams up with Ezlo, shrinks to Minish size, and forges the Picori Blade to stop Vaati and save Princess Zelda. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Nov 19, 2006 | GameCube, Wii | Link transforms into a wolf, partners with Midna, and battles Zant and Ganondorf to restore light to Hyrule (Remastered as Twilight Princess HD in 2016). |
| The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass | Jun 23, 2007 | Nintendo DS | Link sets sail with Captain Linebeck, using the Phantom Hourglass to rescue Tetra from the Ghost Ship and defeat Bellum. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks | Dec 7, 2009 | Nintendo DS | As a railroad engineer, Link teams up with Zelda’s spirit to defeat Malladus, drive magical trains, and restore the Spirit Tracks. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | Nov 18, 2011 | Wii | The origin story of the Master Sword; Link descends from Skyloft to rescue Zelda and forge the legendary blade (Remade as Skyward Sword HD in 2021). |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | Nov 22, 2013 | Nintendo 3DS | Link gains the power to merge with walls and travels between Hyrule and Lorule, rescuing Zelda and the Seven Sages from Yuga. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes | Oct 22, 2015 | Nintendo 3DS | Three Links join forces (solo or in multiplayer) to save Princess Styla in Hytopia, stacking up into totem formations and donning outfits with special powers. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Mar 3, 2017 | Wii U, Switch | After a 100-year slumber, Link awakens in a ruined Hyrule, regains his memories, frees the Divine Beasts, and defeats Calamity Ganon. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | May 12, 2023 | Switch | Link explores new Sky Islands and The Depths, gains Zonai arm powers, and battles the resurrected Demon King Ganondorf to save Zelda and Hyrule. |
Spin-Off Zelda Games
| Game | Release Date | Original Console | Story & Link’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zelda (Game & Watch) | Aug 26, 1989 | Game & Watch | Link dives into dungeons, defeats dragons, and rescues Zelda in this LCD handheld adventure. |
| Link: The Faces of Evil | Oct 10, 1993 | Philips CD-i | Link journeys to Koridai, defeating Ganon and his minions to rescue Zelda in an animated side-scrolling adventure. |
| Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon | Oct 10, 1993 | Philips CD-i | Link is a captive in Gamelon, and Zelda sets out to rescue him from Ganon. Link appears in cutscenes after being saved. |
| Zelda’s Adventure | Jun 5, 1994 | Philips CD-i | Link is again the captive, with Zelda as the protagonist who braves Tolemac to save him from Ganon. |
| Link’s Crossbow Training | Nov 19, 2007 | Wii | Link hones his marksmanship in a shooting gallery, fighting monsters and targets post-Twilight Princess. |
| Hyrule Warriors | Aug 14, 2014 | Wii U, | Link leads Hyrule’s forces in large-scale Musou battles, uniting warriors from across timelines to defeat Cia and Ganondorf. |
| My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Mar 31, 2016 | Nintendo 3DS | Link is the subject of Picross puzzles; players reveal Twilight Princess artwork by solving nonograms. |
| Cadence of Hyrule | Jun 13, 2019 | Switch | Link dances and battles to the beat, teaming up with Zelda and Cadence to defeat Octavo and Ganon in this rhythmic roguelike. |
| Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity | Nov 20, 2020 | Switch | Link is Zelda’s appointed knight, leading troops and battling Calamity Ganon’s forces in an alternate take on Hyrule’s Great Calamity. |
Nintendo Crossover Games
| Game | Release Date | Original Console | Story & Link’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. | Jan 21, 1999 | N64, GC, Wii, 3DS, Wii U, Switch | Link is a central playable fighter in every Smash Bros. game, wielding his sword, bombs, and boomerang against Nintendo’s best. Later entries add Young Link, Toon Link, and Breath of the Wild Link. |
| Mario Kart 8 | May 29, 2014 | Wii U, Switch | Link joins the kart-racing mayhem, riding the Master Cycle and racing on Hyrule-themed tracks alongside Mario and friends. |
| Super Mario Maker | Sep 10, 2015 | Wii U, Switch | Link makes his debut as a whimsical costume for Mario. When players collect the Mystery Mushroom in Super Mario Bros. 8-bit style levels, Mario transforms into Link. |
| Super Mario Maker 2 | Jun 28, 2019 | Wii U, Switch | Link appears as a fully playable 8-bit character (with sword, shield, and bombs) in Super Mario Maker 2. |
| Nintendo Land | Nov 18, 2012 | Wii U | In “Battle Quest,” players’ Miis dress as Link to fight enemies with swords and bows in a theme-park-style Zelda attraction. |
| Tetris DS | Apr 20, 2006 | Nintendo DS | Link appears in a special Zelda-themed Mission Mode, helping clear dungeons or celebrating on victory screens as an 8-bit cameo. |
| WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! | 2003–present | GBA, DS, Wii, 3DS, Switch | Link stars in microgames: walk into a cave, deflect rocks, or swing a sword. These cameos are scattered throughout the series. |
| Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest | Nov 21, 1995 | SNES | Link pops up on the “Video Game Heroes” podium in a fun cameo, showing Nintendo’s sense of humor. |
| Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars | May 13, 1996 | SNES | Link is found sleeping at an inn. An unmissable Easter Egg complete with the iconic Zelda jingle. |
Link As A Guest Character (Non-Nintendo Franchises)
| Game | Release Date | Original Console | Story & Link’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| SoulCalibur 2 | Aug 27, 2003 | GameCube | Link enters Namco’s fighting game, wielding the Master Sword and Hylian Shield with classic moves and alternate weapons. |
| Sonic Lost World – The Legend of Zelda Zone (DLC) | Mar 27, 2014 | Wii U | Sonic wears Link’s tunic and meets Link riding his Loftwing, with Zelda music and themed enemies. Link waves from above in a cameo. |
| Scribblenauts Unlimited | Nov 18, 2012 | Wii U | Players can summon Link as an object; he’ll use his sword and shield and fight enemies, appearing in full “Toon Link” style. |
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2025-08-03 00:11