Zelda Games With The Most Ridiculous Stories

I’ve always loved *The Legend of Zelda* games! They’re pretty classic fantasy adventures, where you usually play as Link, a young hero. He’s tasked with saving Princess Zelda and defeating the big bad guy, Ganon, using a really cool sword and shield. It’s a familiar setup, but it’s always done so well!

As games got more advanced, developers started trying to really stand out with wilder stories, and honestly, it was a smart move for Nintendo. Now, the *Legend of Zelda* series is famous for its crazy, over-the-top storylines – they’re totally captivating, even if they’re a bit ridiculous! Some of the stories have become legendary within the fanbase, and I’m about to dive into what I think are the most memorable ones so far.

Warning! Spoilers Ahead!

Link’s Awakening

It Was A Giant Fish’s Dream All Along!

Early *Legend of Zelda* games had pretty straightforward stories, but *The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening* was the first to really try something different and unusual. The game starts with Link shipwrecked on Koholint Island, and to escape, he needs to find eight magical instruments and awaken the Wind Fish.

As you explore Koholint Island and meet its people in *Link’s Awakening*, you quickly realize it’s a very strange and dreamlike place, full of bizarre locations and quirky characters – even some familiar faces from other Nintendo games. The game eventually reveals that the entire island and everyone on it are actually part of the Wind Fish’s dream. When Link awakens the Wind Fish at the end, the island vanishes. The story is wonderfully odd, and the ending is both satisfying and a little sad.

Majora’s Mask

A Time-Traveling Quest To Prevent The End Of The World

As a gamer, I remember when 3D Zelda games first hit the scene – it totally breathed new life into the series! *Ocarina of Time* in ’98 was instantly hailed as one of the greatest games ever, and for good reason. The story was great, but pretty much what you’d expect from Zelda. So, the next game had to be something *completely* different. That’s why *Majora’s Mask* stands out – it’s easily one of the most unique and, honestly, darkest games in the whole series.

As a huge Zelda fan, I always thought the story of *Majora’s Mask* was a little wild! It’s just so much darker and more depressing than other games in the series, with this really creepy world called Termina. And the whole plot? Link has to prevent the moon from literally crashing down and destroying everything! To do that, you’re stuck repeating the same three days over and over, trying to wake up these giant creatures who are the only ones who can help. It’s a crazy premise, but that’s what I love about it!

Twilight Princess

Link Turns Into A Wolf And Saves Hyrule From Creepy Shadow Beasts

Back in 1992, *A Link to the Past* surprised players with a strange twist: Link could randomly transform into a rabbit in a dark, alternate world. This unusual idea showed up in later Zelda games, and *The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess* really expanded on it. The game begins with a spreading darkness called Twilight engulfing Hyrule, and terrifying creatures called Shadow Beasts emerging from it.

Link unexpectedly transforms into a wolf and teams up with Midna, a mischievous imp-like creature. Together, they must restore the Light Spirits and defeat Zant, who has illegally taken control of the Twili Realm. Like *Majora’s Mask*, *Twilight Princess* features a surprisingly complex story for a *Legend of Zelda* game, and includes fantastical elements like alternate dimensions, a race of shadowy creatures, and Link’s strange ability to turn into a wolf.

Spirit Tracks

Princess Zelda Gets Turned Into A Ghost In This Whacky, Train-Centric Adventure

Phantom Hourglass was the first Zelda game on the Nintendo DS, but its story felt too similar to the boat-focused adventure of *The Wind Waker*. As a result, *The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks* moved the action forward a hundred years and introduced a new way to travel: trains.

Okay, so in *Spirit Tracks*, the whole world is connected by train tracks, and I actually *drive* a train to get around! It’s seriously different. And the enemies? Totally wild – there’s even a giant Demon Train! But the story gets even crazier: at the start, Princess Zelda has her spirit pulled out of her by this bad guy, Cole. So, she spends the whole game as a ghost, tagging along with me and even possessing enemies! It sounds weird, I know, but most fans love it because Zelda actually *does* stuff throughout the entire game, which isn’t always the case in other Zelda titles.

A Link Between Worlds

It’s Even More Over-The-Top Than A Link To The Past

While *A Link to the Past* had a pretty unusual story, *A Link Between Worlds* really took things to the next level. It built on everything that made the original SNES game so beloved and created an even bolder and more over-the-top narrative. Like the first game, this one also revolves around a Dark World, and Link must journey to this alternate dimension to save both it and Hyrule.

Despite being similar to *A Link to the Past*, *A Link Between Worlds* introduces several unique and surprising features. These include a flamboyant villain named Yuga, Link’s power to transform into a 2D painting to fit through tight spaces, and the unexpected arrival of Ravio – a bunny-suited merchant who is eventually revealed to be Link’s counterpart from the Dark World.

Hyrule Warriors

A Celebration Of The Entire Franchise, With Cameos Of Many Classic Characters

Because Hyrule Warriors wasn’t a core Legend of Zelda game, it allowed the developers, Team Ninja, to create a unique story explaining how characters from different points in the series’ timeline ended up together. The story is rather outlandish: it begins with a sorceress named Cia opening portals to various eras simply because she’s in love with Link.

Hyrule Warriors quickly brings together a huge cast of familiar faces – both heroes and villains – from past Zelda games, including Sheik, Impa, Darunia, Midna, Fi, Ghirahim, and Zant. The story isn’t complex, but that’s perfectly fine! It doesn’t need to be, as the game’s wild, over-the-top action suits its fast-paced gameplay. Ultimately, it’s a fun celebration of the entire Legend of Zelda series that longtime fans will really appreciate.

Tears Of The Kingdom

Zelda Travels Back In Time And Turns Into A Dragon To Fight Ganondorf

While *Breath of the Wild* was a huge success, some players felt its story was too simple. So, Nintendo aimed much higher with *Tears of the Kingdom*, creating a uniquely strange, ambitious, and captivating plot. When the seal on the Demon King Ganondorf is broken, unleashing darkness across Hyrule, Link must defeat him and also uncover the mystery surrounding Princess Zelda’s disappearance.

Throughout the game, players gradually discover that Zelda, as the Sage of Time, journeyed far back in Hyrule’s history to when the kingdom was first founded by King Rauru and Queen Sonia. This explains the significant role time travel plays in Tears of the Kingdom and deeply impacts Link’s present-day quest. A surprising revelation is that the Light Dragon seen throughout the game is actually Princess Zelda, who transformed into a dragon to protect Hyrule. The climactic battle between Zelda, in dragon form, and Ganondorf is a truly spectacular highlight of the entire series.

Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland / Ripened Tingle’s Balloon Trip Of Love

Two Equally Strange Adventures, Starring The One And Only Tingle

Many fans of *The Legend of Zelda* seem to have forgotten – or intentionally ignore – the fact that there are two Nintendo DS games exclusive to Japan starring Tingle, a character who was already quite strange and divisive. One of these games, *Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland*, has players controlling a middle-aged man tasked with collecting a huge number of rupees to build a tower reaching for the sky.

Meanwhile, *Ripened Tingle’s Balloon Trip of Love* is a surprisingly odd parody of *The Wizard of Oz*. It follows a middle-aged man on a quest for love within a fantastical storybook world. Like the other games mentioned, it doesn’t take itself seriously and feels like a playful send-up of the *Legend of Zelda* series, with the same over-the-top, surreal humor that Japanese players enjoy. While many games on this list have unusual stories, the plots of these two Tingle spin-offs are deliberately silly and nonsensical.

2025-10-06 09:35