Zelda Games That Hook You FAST!

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Summary

  • Four Swords Adventures was a co-op action game that was worth the investment for a unique experience.
  • A Link Between Worlds introduced non-linear progression and unique abilities, making it easy to get into.
  • Hyrule Warriors offers fast-paced action with multiple characters to choose from, focusing less on story and puzzles.

The epic saga known as The Legend of Zelda made its debut in 1986 on the NES (Famicom in Japan). Despite being one of the console’s early releases, it was a groundbreaking game that broke new ground by erasing traditional boundaries. Its open-ended design foreshadowed the concept of an open world, and the creative innovations didn’t stop there.

After that point, the Zelda series has grown increasingly daring, but some of these games take a while to pick up pace initially. However, the subsequent Zelda games provide an enjoyable experience right from the start as they do not delay gameplay with a lengthy introduction and the storyline and positive atmosphere are engaging from the get-go. Here’s a look at the easiest Zelda games to jump into straight away.

6. The Legend Of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

Bring Back This GameCube Classic

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures was a follow-up to Nintendo’s innovative multiplayer game, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords, initially launched on the Game Boy Advance. This new installment hit the GameCube, and unlike most games, it necessitated GBAs and link cables for a fun, four-player adventure among friends. Although it was pricey due to these additional requirements, the exceptional cooperative gameplay it offered made it a worthwhile investment on the system.

In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, players only saw their colored Links on the television screen. However, stepping inside buildings like houses would cause the screen to shift to each player’s Game Boy Advance (GBA) screen individually. Rather than following a grand narrative and solving puzzles, this game was more of an action-packed title that mimicked the addictive arcade style by captivating players from the start and refusing to let go. Despite its brevity, it’s precisely this quickness that makes it hard to resist, although personal enjoyment largely depends on how many players choose to participate.

5. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

A Non-Linear Adventure

As a devoted admirer, let me share my take on the captivating tale: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds was a sequel in essence to the timeless SNES classic, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, as they both unfold within the same rendition of Hyrule. Instead of venturing into a dungeon, gathering an artifact, and employing it linearly throughout the journey, this ingenious 3DS title presented us with Ravio. Ravio ran a rent-a-gear shop, empowering players to advance at their leisure by borrowing equipment, which allowed us to access various zones at our own pace.

In simpler terms, “A Link Between Worlds” wasn’t a traditional open-world game, but it gave the impression of having choices, making it easier to jump into quickly. One standout feature is that Link could transform into a 2D painting and pass through cracks, offering fresh puzzle challenges for the series. Unfortunately, this game is only available on the Nintendo 3DS system.

4. Hyrule Warriors

A Musou Crossover

Hyrule Warriors is an exhilarating game, starting from its debut on Wii U, continuing with the 3DS adaptation, and culminating in its conclusion for the Nintendo Switch. This Musou game was masterfully crafted by Omega Force and Koei Tecmo. By the final release, players have a wide selection of characters to choose from, each one ready to fight their way through numerous levels and vanquish countless enemies with unbridled enthusiasm.

In various gaming adaptations of Zelda and its characters, you’ll encounter different versions of Zelda, Link (including Linkle, a female version), King Daphnes from “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,” who can transform into his boat form, and Ravio from “The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.” With numerous characters to select and the option for cooperative play, players will find ample activities without being hindered by complex puzzles or a narrative that might obstruct enjoyment.

3. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

An Open-World Revolution

The game “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” released over nine years ago, remains so popular that fans are still discovering its depths today. It’s likely they’ll revisit it once the Switch 2 comes out, as it promises faster load times and enhanced graphics, making it feel like a brand-new experience. Although the initial load times on the Switch were a bit of an issue at launch, in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t deter players from enjoying the game.

People found themselves deeply engrossed in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” due to its expansive open-world and flexible narrative structure for the storyline and dungeon arrangements. The dungeons were more bite-sized, encouraging players to tinker with physics and Link’s assortment of environmental manipulation skills. This game marked a significant milestone for Nintendo, and its numerous inventive mechanics, like the Paraglider and the stamina-based climbing feature that allows scaling most visible surfaces, have since altered the gaming world.

2. Cadence Of Hyrule: Crypt Of The NecroDancer Featuring The Legend Of Zelda

A Link To The Beat

It’s still hard to accept that “Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda” exists, even after all these years. Perhaps Nintendo could consider giving more independent studios a chance to develop games based on their franchises like “Zelda,” as this game exceeded expectations significantly. Similar to the original “Crypt of the NecroDancer”, this spin-off is a rhythm-based roguelike game, but with a Zelda twist.

In this game, whether you’re playing as Link, Zelda, or Cadence, you traverse Hyrule one step at a time, synchronized with revamped classic melodies. Although it followed roguelike patterns such as losing items upon death, it was more forgiving in its consequences. Moreover, the challenge level was well-balanced, making it enjoyable to quickly pick up and play a few levels while grooving to the fantastic soundtrack.

1. The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom

Zelda’s Big Breakout

Echoes of Wisdom” is a blend of traditional side-scrolling Zelda games with the expansive open-world aspects found in more recent titles such as “Breath of the Wild“. This game marks the debut of Zelda taking center stage in the main storyline, and she is equipped with a distinctive weapon called the Trirod. Using this item, players can generate replicas or “Echoes” of objects like beds, which they can place anywhere in the game world at their discretion.

In The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, players have the freedom to tackle puzzles using various methods. For instance, they might stack crates to climb onto a ledge, or conjure a bird to transport them up there. This flexibility in problem-solving is one of the key reasons why The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was so popular, along with its vast open world. Despite having a top-down view and a more cartoonish aesthetic, this game is also quite expansive. Players can easily find themselves engrossed in side activities or diverted for several moments while progressing through a main story quest.

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2025-04-22 17:50