Since the 1980s, Link has been on countless thrilling quests, often culminating in his rescue of Princess Zelda, saving the kingdom, or achieving both goals. These adventures are showcased in the The Legend of Zelda series. Over the years, this franchise has established itself as one of the most acclaimed and beloved video game series in history.
It’s not just a handful of remarkable titles that have highlighted the series’ brilliance. A plethora of Zelda games exists, and even die-hard fans may be surprised by the extensive list. However, all the details about these games can be conveniently found right here.
Updated October 15, 2024, by Ben Jessey: Recently, the series expanded with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. This new installment prompted us to refresh this article, updating the total game count and revising some content.
There Are 21 Main Zelda Games
The 21 primary installments in the Legend of Zelda series primarily feature action-adventure gameplay with certain RPG elements. The overarching narrative typically involves Link striving to thwart various dark forces threatening Zelda and the realm of Hyrule.
Despite a consistent objective throughout the games, the gameplay itself varies significantly. The earlier titles were relatively compact and heavily 2D-focused. As the series evolved, open-world environments became more pronounced, along with upgrades in graphics and overall game design.
| Game | Release Date | Systems |
|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda | 1986 (Japan), 1987 (North America) | Famicon Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment System, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Wii, 3DS, Wii U, Switch Online |
| Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | 1987 (Japan), 1988 (North America) | Famicon Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment System, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Wii, 3DS, Wii U, Switch Online |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | 1991 (Japan), 1992 (North America) | Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Satellaview, Game Boy Advance, Wii, 3DS, Wii U, Switch Online |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | 1993 | Game Boy, Game Boy Color, 3DS, Nintendo Switch |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | 1998 | Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, 3DS, Wii U, Switch Online |
| The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask | 2000 | Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, 3DS, Wii U |
| The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages | 2001 | Game Boy Color, 3DS |
| The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons | 2001 | Game Boy Color, 3DS |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords | 2002 | Game Boy Advance |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | 2002 (Japan), 2003 (North America) | GameCube, Wii U |
| The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | 2004 | GameCube |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | 2004 (Japan), 2005 (North America) | Game Boy Advance, 3DS, Wii U |
| The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | 2006 | GameCube, Wii, Wii U |
| The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass | 2007 | Nintendo DS, Wii U |
| The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks | 2009 | Nintendo DS, Wii U |
| The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | 2011 | Nintendo Wii, Wii U, Nintendo Switch |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | 2013 | Nintendo 3DS |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes | 2015 | Nintendo 3DS |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 2017 | Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | 2023 | Nintendo Switch |
| The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom | 2024 | Nintendo Switch |
There Are 17 Zelda Spin-Offs
The Legend of Zelda spin-offs often deviate from the main formula. Some feature different protagonists, while others explore diverse genres or even utilize unconventional platforms like wristwatches.
Historically, Nintendo’s main consoles saw few Zelda spin-offs until more recent years. Prior to that, the franchise spread across various handheld devices and lesser-known consoles. Additionally, some spin-off titles were exclusively released in Japan, which means they never made it to American audiences. In total, there are 17 spin-offs in the Zelda lineage.
| Game | Release Date | Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Zelda | 1989 | Game & Watch, Nintendo Mini Classic |
| The Legend of Zelda | 1989 | Nelsonic Game Watch |
| Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce | 1992 (Japan only) | Barcode Battler 2 |
| Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon | 1993 | CD-i |
| Link: The Faces of Evil | 1993 | CD-i |
| Zelda’s Adventure | 1994 | CD-i |
| BS Zelda no Densetsu | 1995 (Japan only) | Satellaview |
| BS Zelda no Densetsu Inishie no Sekiban | 1997 (Japan only) | Satellaview |
| Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland | 2006 (Japan) | Nintendo DS |
| Tingle’s Balloon Fight DS | 2007 (Japan only) | Nintendo DS |
| Link’s Crossbow Training | 2007 | Nintendo Wii |
| Dekisugi Tingle Pack | 2009 (Japan only) | DSiWare |
| Irozuki Tincle no Koi no Balloon Trip | 2009 (Japan only) | Nintendo DS |
| Hyrule Warriors | 2014 | Nintendo Wii U, 3DS, Switch |
| My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda | 2016 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Cadence of Hyrule | 2019 | Nintendo Switch |
| Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity | 2020 | Nintendo Switch |
There Are 9 Zelda Remakes and Re-Releases
Nintendo has a penchant for remaking and re-releasing titles from the Legend of Zelda series. Many beloved main games have resurfaced in some form, leading to a total of nine remakes and re-releases.
Typically, these games only receive graphical enhancements, though some undergo more significant transformations, including tweaks to controls. Overall, the changes have generally enhanced gameplay while preserving the original charm.
| Game | Release Date | Systems |
|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX | 1998 | Game Boy Color |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest | 2002 (Japan), 2003 (North America) | Nintendo 64, GameCube |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D | 2011 | Nintendo 3DS |
| The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition | 2011 | DSiWare |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD | 2013 | Nintendo Wii U |
| The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D | 2015 | Nintendo 3DS |
| The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD | 2016 | Nintendo Wii U |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | 2019 | Nintendo Switch |
| The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD | 2021 | Nintendo Switch |
There Are 46 Zelda Games in Total
Taking into account all the primary games, spin-offs, and remakes that have been released over the years, there have been a total of 46 Zelda games. From new entries with innovative mechanics to classic titles reimagined with updated graphics and experimental games, the Legend of Zelda franchise continues to thrive, with countless more adventures likely on the horizon.