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“Okay, so which Zelda am I actually supposed to play?” It’s been 40 years since the original launched in 1986. Breath of the Wild turned the series into a global phenomenon, and 2023’s Tears of the Kingdom took it right back to the summit. But the lineup is also stacked with timeless classics like Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past, so there’s no shortage of readers saying, “I can’t play them all, but I want to pick the right ones.”
The Zelda series has sold more than 200 million copies. Breath of the Wild alone has moved over 34 million units and rewrote what an open-world game could be. Its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, blew past 10 million copies in its first week, the fastest launch in series history. You simply can’t tell the story of video games without this franchise. That’s how big it is.
In this article, the SpotGeeks editorial team scores 10 major entries in the series across four categories (Accessibility, Graphics, Brutality, and Replay Value), each out of 100 points, and ranks them by total score in our Top 10 list. We’ve also included prices and supported platforms as of May 2026, so use this as a reference before you buy.
A lot of these titles are neck and neck in total score, so you’ll probably get the most out of this list by picking based on whichever category matters most to you (say, “Accessibility” or “Brutality”).
*Prices in this article are converted from Japanese yen at ¥153 = US$1 (September 2026 rate).
All 10 Legend of Zelda Games Compared: Accessibility, Graphics, Brutality, and Replay Value Scores
First, let’s look at the scores for all 10 titles at a glance. The ranking is ordered by the combined total across all four categories (out of 400). The higher the “Brutality” score, the harder and more demanding the game. If this is your first Zelda, you’re better off starting with one that scores lower there.
| Title | Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breath of the Wild (2017) | 95 | 92 | 72 | 95 | 354 |
| Tears of the Kingdom (2023) | 90 | 95 | 70 | 97 | 352 |
| Link’s Awakening Remake (2019) | 92 | 88 | 72 | 80 | 332 |
| A Link to the Past (1991) | 88 | 65 | 82 | 90 | 325 |
| Ocarina of Time (1998) | 85 | 72 | 78 | 88 | 323 |
| The Wind Waker HD (2002/2013) | 85 | 88 | 65 | 82 | 320 |
| Majora’s Mask (2000) | 72 | 68 | 85 | 92 | 317 |
| Skyward Sword HD (2011/2021) | 82 | 83 | 75 | 75 | 315 |
| Echoes of Wisdom (2024) | 90 | 82 | 65 | 75 | 312 |
| Twilight Princess HD (2006/2016) | 80 | 82 | 73 | 72 | 307 |
Breath of the Wild tops Accessibility (95), followed by the Link’s Awakening remake (92), TotK (90), and Echoes of Wisdom (90). For Brutality, meaning raw difficulty, Majora’s Mask (85) and A Link to the Past (82) lead the pack, so if you want a game that fights back, those two are hands-down the picks. And in Replay Value, TotK (97) sits at the very top of the entire lineup.
No. 1: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | The Historic Open-World Revolution That Changed the Series
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 92 | 72 | 95 | 354 |
Released in March 2017. With a Metacritic score of 97 and more than 34 million copies sold, this is a monster title for the history books. Launched alongside the Switch itself, it’s less a game that “revolutionized the Zelda series” and more one that “redefined the open-world genre, period.” Pretty much every open-world game that came after it has felt its influence.
Its defining feature is freedom: you can do almost anything. Climb any wall, chop down trees, hold a metal weapon during a thunderstorm and get struck by lightning. In a world built on intertwined physics and chemistry engines, every “what happens if I do this?” idea you have can actually be tested. From the opening moments you can head straight to the castle where the final boss waits; there isn’t a single place the game tells you you’re not allowed to go. Once you’ve tasted that sense of freedom, it’s hard to go back.
Its Accessibility score of 95 is the highest on this list, and the game is designed so even Zelda newcomers can pick it up intuitively. With over 120 shrines (mini-dungeons), 900 Koroks to collect, and four main dungeons, the sheer amount of content was unprecedented. That Replay Value score of 95 is well earned.
It’s available on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 (upgrade pack: $7). The Switch version starts at $41 (tax included), and used copies were going for around $23 as of May 2026.
- 95 in Accessibility and 95 in Replay Value: a perfect balance that pulls you right in, even if it’s your first Zelda
- Metacritic 97 and over 34 million sold. A masterpiece not just for the series, but for gaming history
- Over 120 shrines and 900 Koroks deliver an overwhelming amount of content that’ll keep you busy for dozens of hours
- With a Brutality score of 72, the overall difficulty is on the gentle side. If you want a real challenge, beelining straight to Ganon is one option
- Playing TotK first can take some of the magic out of BotW. We recommend BotW, then TotK
No. 2: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | The Pinnacle of “Building Stuff” That Surpassed BotW
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 95 | 70 | 97 | 352 |
Released in May 2023. It’s positioned as BotW’s sequel, but the content ballooned so much you could practically call it a different game. It topped 10 million copies worldwide in its first week and earned a perfect 40/40 in Famitsu’s Cross Review, making it an undisputed blockbuster. Its Replay Value score of 97 is the highest in this ranking. With over 100 hours of content from start to finish, there’s genuinely never a good time to put the controller down.
The new Ultrahand and Fuse systems are the heart of this game. Stick planks, logs, and rockets from the floating sky islands together to build an airship, or jam two swords into a barrel to make a souped-up weapon. Almost every “wouldn’t it be cool if I could build this?” idea you come up with can actually be pulled off. The meticulous design, where every challenge has hundreds of possible solutions, made me yell out loud more times than I can count.
Its Graphics score of 95 is the top mark on this list. BotW’s Hyrule gets pushed to the absolute limits of the Switch, and all three layers (the sky, the surface, and the Depths) are fully explorable. Sharing a map with BotW while still delivering a completely fresh experience is a development philosophy only Nintendo could pull off.
It’s available on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, starting at $41 (tax included) as of May 2026. We strongly recommend beating BotW before you dive in.
- 97 in Replay Value and 95 in Graphics: the most content of any title on this list
- A perfect 40 from Famitsu and 10 million copies worldwide in its first week: a massive hit
- Ultrahand lets you build your own vehicles and weapons, a one-of-a-kind creative experience
- If you haven’t played BotW, the story and world lose half their impact. Always play BotW first, then TotK
- There’s so much content that some players get stuck wondering where to even start
No. 3: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening Remake | A Handheld Classic Reborn with Gorgeous Diorama Visuals
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 88 | 72 | 80 | 332 |
Released in September 2019. This is a full Switch remake of the beloved 1993 Game Boy classic. Its Accessibility score of 92 is second only to BotW on this list, making it the easiest classic-style Zelda to pick up on current hardware (Switch). When a newcomer tells me, “I want to experience that classic Zelda vibe first,” this is the one and only game I recommend.
The diorama-style graphics are this game’s biggest calling card. The warm visuals, which look like someone is moving miniature models around, have a unique charm that still hasn’t faded even though the game came out in 2019. Quality-of-life upgrades like having your sword and shield equipped at all times and smoother dungeon navigation strip out every inconvenience from the Game Boy version while keeping all the emotional punch of the original.
The story follows Link as he struggles to wake from a dream on the mysterious Koholint Island, a road-movie-style tale whose bittersweet ending, unusual for the series, people have been talking about for more than 30 years. It wraps up in a compact 10 to 15 hours, so even busy grown-up players can actually see it through to the end.
It’s available on Nintendo Switch, starting at $36 (tax included) as of May 2026.
- 92 in Accessibility: the ideal entry point to the series among classic-style Zelda games on Switch
- One-of-a-kind diorama graphics with a distinctive visual style that still holds up today
- Compact enough to finish in 10 to 15 hours, so even busy adults can see it through
- With a Replay Value score of 80, it’s lighter on volume than BotW and TotK
- The puzzles have that classic 2D Zelda difficulty, so you may get stuck without hints
#4: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | The Perfected Form of 2D Zelda and a Timeless Classic
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | 65 | 82 | 90 | 325 |
Released on the Super Famicom in 1991.With a 95 on Metacritic, it’s the series’ finest 2D masterpiece, and right now you can play it at no extra cost through Nintendo Switch Online (family and premium memberships). It marks the first appearance of the Master Sword, and its dungeon design, which has you hopping between the Light World and the Dark World, has served as the “textbook” for the Zelda series for the three decades since.
Its Brutality score of 82 is the second-highest in this ranking. The opening goes down smooth, but once you hit the Dark World in the back half, the puzzle difficulty spikes hard. If you beat it without a strategy guide, you’ve earned the right to say you “really solved it.” With a Replay Value score of 90, it’s built to be played again and again, and there’s nothing quite like the rush of a puzzle that stumped you the first time suddenly clicking on your second run.
The Graphics score of 65 reflects its SNES-era age, but the density of the pixel art and the quality of the soundtrack still give me goosebumps today. NSO subscribers can play it without paying a cent more, so it’s an easy first recommendation for anyone who says, “I want to experience classic Zelda first.”
Nintendo Switch Online (family and premium) subscribers can play it free with a membership that runs $9 a month (individual plan) (as of May 2026).
- Free to play for NSO subscribers. A classic masterpiece with unbeatable value
- Brutality score of 82 — experience the challenge and payoff of a 2D masterpiece today
- The Master Sword’s debut. Essential for anyone who wants to know the series’ roots
- Graphics score of 65 with SNES-era pixel art. Not for players chasing visual fidelity
- The difficulty skyrockets late game. If you’re aiming to clear it without hints, be ready to check a walkthrough anyway
#5: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | A 99 on Metacritic and the Greatest 3D Game Ever Made
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | 72 | 78 | 88 | 323 |
Released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998. Its Metacritic score of 99 still stands on the books as one of the highest ratings in history across every gaming platform — an all-time great, full stop. It wrote the playbook for action-adventure in 3D space, and it’s fair to say its Z-targeting (lock-on) system shaped the entire 3D action genre that followed.
Jumping between child and adult timelines, solving puzzles with an instrument (playing the ocarina), and dungeons with some of the series’ toughest design, epitomized by the Water Temple — anyone who played this back in the day must have been floored. Even now, you’ll find countless people all over the world who name Ocarina of Time when asked, “What’s the best gaming experience of your life?”
The Graphics score of 72 is about what you’d expect from the N64 era, but you can play it on current hardware with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (the N64 app). For anyone who wants to learn the history of the Zelda series or experience where 3D gaming began, this one is a must.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers (individual plan: $9 a month or $32 a year) can play the N64 version (as of May 2026).
- A 99 on Metacritic — a historic masterpiece tied for the highest-rated game ever
- The game that invented Z-targeting. Feel where 3D gaming began firsthand
- Easy to access through NSO. A rite of passage for any series fan
- Graphics score of 72 with N64-era polygons. The visuals absolutely show their age
- The Water Temple is still one of the hardest dungeons in gaming history. Tons of players get stuck
#6: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD | A Cel-Shaded Work of Art
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | 88 | 65 | 82 | 320 |
Released on the GameCube in 2002, then remastered in HD for the Wii U in 2013. With a 96 on Metacritic, it’s one of the series’ standout classics. Before launch, its cel-shaded, cartoon-style graphics split fans down the middle — but once people actually played it, everyone wondered, “Why did I ever hate this?” Its Graphics score of 88 is the highest of any classic Zelda in this ranking, and that cel-shaded beauty hasn’t faded one bit, even here in 2026.
Sailing a vast ocean and exploring its scattered islands gives the game a sense of grandeur all its own. Using the Wind Waker — a conductor’s baton — to shift the direction of the wind, or calling on its songs to change the weather, makes for an experience you won’t find anywhere else. It also earned a perfect 40 out of 40 in Famitsu’s Cross Review.
The sore spot is the Triforce Shard hunt in the back half, which turns into a chore, and reviews often point to that “late-game slump.” Even so, the overall polish is outstanding, and in terms of pure artistry, it has to be the finest entry in the Zelda series. For now it’s only available on Wii U, with no Switch release (as of May 2026).
- Graphics score of 88 — the most artistic, cartoon-style visuals in the series
- A 96 on Metacritic and a perfect 40 from Famitsu. An undisputed classic
- Brutality score of 65, so the difficulty is on the gentler side. A great entry point to the series
- Currently Wii U only. No Switch version, so you’ll need older hardware to play
- Plenty of players say the late-game Triforce Shard hunt kills the pacing
#7: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask | The World Ends in Three Days — the Series’ Most Controversial Masterpiece
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 68 | 85 | 92 | 317 |
Released on the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Set in a cursed world where “the moon will fall in three days,” it has you rewinding time over and over to unravel the world’s mysteries — easily the strangest entry in the series. Its Brutality score of 85 is the highest in this ranking. The pressure of the time limit bears down on you constantly, and the nagging sense that “there isn’t enough time” for anything keeps feeding a steady stream of anxiety and dread.
Its Replay Value score of 92 is the third-highest among all 10 titles. Collecting the 24 masks, a mountain of side quests, and the detailed routines every character repeats within the three-day loop — try to keep track of all of it and you’ll blow past 100 hours without breaking a sweat. Its heavy, “decay and oblivion”-themed world has a darkness that’s rare for a Nintendo game, and playing it again as an adult hits in a whole different way.
With an Ease of Play score of 72 and the complexity of managing time, it has one of the higher barriers to entry in the series. Play it after finishing Ocarina of Time and you’ll get a much better feel for how the two worlds connect. The N64 version is playable through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (as of May 2026).
- Brutality score of 85 — the unique tension of time limits plus puzzles is the best in the series
- Replay Value score of 92. Collecting 24 masks can fuel 100+ hours of exploration
- One of Nintendo’s darkest stories, a tale of decay and oblivion
- Ease of Play score of 72 and complicated time management. Expect to be confused on your first run
- Hard to fully grasp the world if you haven’t played Ocarina of Time
#8: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD | The Origin of the Legend, Telling the Series’ “Beginning”
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 83 | 75 | 75 | 315 |
Released on the Wii in 2011, then remastered in HD for Switch in 2021. It sits at the very start of The Legend of Zelda timeline, depicting the first meeting of the original hero Link and Princess Zelda, the birth of the Master Sword, and even the origins of Ganondorf — a must-play for series fans. The Switch version was improved so you can swap between motion controls and traditional button controls.
Its compact, tightly packed world design is a highlight: areas change their gimmicks each time you revisit the same map, making for dense exploration. Since beating bosses depends on how you swing your sword (angle and trajectory), combat has a clever puzzle element, and the rush of taking down a boss ranks among the best in the series. At 20 to 30 hours to finish, the length feels just right.
The downside is how the world’s density and repetition feel. You make a lot of round trips to Skyloft (the hub in the sky), and there are stretches where the pacing drags. The Switch version starts at $38 (tax included) (as of May 2026).
- The starting point of the series timeline. A must for fans, depicting the birth of the Master Sword and Ganon
- Boss fights where your sword angle changes the strategy — the most cerebral combat in the series
- The Switch version supports button controls. Comfortable even if motion controls aren’t your thing
- Lots of back-and-forth to Skyloft slows the pacing at times
- Replay Value score of 75, so the volume is modest. If value for money matters most, prioritize other entries
#9: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom | A New 2D Chapter Starring Princess Zelda, Solving Puzzles with Echoes
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 82 | 65 | 75 | 312 |
Released in September 2024. It’s a new 2D Zelda and the first in the series to put Princess Zelda in the lead role on her own. After Link gets swallowed up by mysterious rifts and vanishes, Zelda sets out with the Tri Rod, a gift from the fairy Tri, using its power to summon objects and monsters as “echoes” to solve puzzles — a style of play that’s all its own.
Its Ease of Play score of 90 ties for third-highest in the ranking. The gorgeous diorama-style graphics and warm presentation will instantly remind you of the Link’s Awakening remake. The way different combinations of echoes open up multiple solutions to each puzzle makes it an ambitious game that captures the joy of “puzzles with no single right answer” in 2D. It’s also well regarded on Kakaku.com, with a satisfaction rating of 4.25 (from 26 reviewers).
The drawback is that your echo list grows huge late in the game, and switching between them gets tedious. With a Replay Value score of 75, its overall volume doesn’t match the other big-budget entries, but the novelty of “playing as Princess Zelda” is something you can only experience here. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, starting at $34 (tax included) (as of May 2026).
- Ease of Play score of 90 — the series’ first Princess Zelda protagonist feels fresh and welcoming
- Endless echo combinations. An experience built on “puzzles with no single right answer”
- Brutality score of 65 with low difficulty. A new 2D entry that’s easy to jump into even if you’ve never played Zelda
- The echo list gets long late game, making switching a hassle. The pacing suffers
- Replay Value score of 75, so the volume is modest. Not enough for players who want a long haul
#10: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD | A Dark World and the Series’ Biggest-Scale Adventure
| Accessibility | Graphics | Challenge | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 82 | 73 | 72 | 307 |
Released on Wii and GameCube in 2006, then remastered in HD for the Wii U in 2016. Its dark, dreamlike setting, the Twilight Realm, is its calling card, and gameplay where Link transforms into a wolf and races through the shadowy Twilight gives it an identity unlike anything else in the series. The number and scale of its dungeons rank among the biggest in the franchise, and it’s packed so full that you’ll think, “With this much content, I’ve got zero complaints.”
With a Graphics score of 82, the HD remaster is a huge visual upgrade over the original Wii version. There’s a wide variety of weapons, from horseback combat to the bow to the ball and chain, and plenty of moments where the action is actually more fun than Ocarina of Time. Many fans say the final battle against Ganondorf has the best presentation in the entire series.
The reason it had to settle for 10th is its low Replay Value score of 72. There’s little motivation to replay after finishing the main story, and not much reason to revisit dungeons. It’s currently only on Wii U with no Switch version, so you’ll need older hardware or a used copy to play (as of May 2026). It’s best suited as the one series fans pick up to “fill in the gaps” in their Zelda history.
- A one-of-a-kind world with the Twilight Realm and wolf transformations you won’t find in other entries
- The final battle against Ganondorf has some of the best presentation in the series
- One of the biggest dungeon counts and scales in the series
- Currently Wii U only. No Switch version, so you’ll need older hardware to play
- Replay Value score of 72, with little reason to keep going after the credits. Best for completionists working through the series
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The Legend of Zelda Series Top 10 Ranking Recap | A Guide to Picking the Right Game for You
To recap this Top 10: Breath of the Wild (354 points) took the overall top spot, Tears of the Kingdom (352 points) came in second, and the Link’s Awakening remake (332 points) landed in third. The newest entries, with their high ease of play and visual quality, dominated the top of the list, while TotK (97 points) led every game in Replay Value and Majora’s Mask (85 points) stood out in Brutality.
If you’re choosing based on what you’re after, here’s a rough guide.
| If You… | Our Pick |
|---|---|
| Are new to the series / only want to play one | Breath of the Wild |
| Want to master building and go all-in on completion | Tears of the Kingdom |
| Want a quick taste of classic Zelda | Link’s Awakening (remake) |
| Want tough puzzles with real bite | A Link to the Past / Majora’s Mask |
| Want to learn the series’ history and roots | Ocarina of Time (NSO) |
| Want to play as Princess Zelda / enjoy a new 2D entry | Echoes of Wisdom |
“Which Zelda game should I play?” — the answer, without hesitation, is Breath of the Wild. With a 95 in Ease of Play and a 95 in Replay Value, it has no blind spots, and its freedom lets you dive right in even if you know nothing about the series’ 40-year history. It’s truly one of a kind. From there, the best path branches off: head to TotK if you “want to sink in even more,” or to A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time if you “love old-school dungeon puzzles.” Majora’s Mask is the hardest, strangest entry, one I’d only recommend to “Zelda veterans looking for depth” — which is exactly why it hits so deeply for the people it clicks with. The richness of a series still putting out new games after more than 40 years is honestly unmatched.
If you haven’t started yet, go download BotW right now. A life-changing experience is waiting for you.
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