The Legend of Zelda series began in 1986 in Japan with the NES game of the same name. From there, the series has touched every Nintendo console and portable since. Most of the games were in 2D, set in a top-down world but that all changed in 1998. That’s the year The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released on the N64 which was the first full 3D game in the series.

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Most major entries after that would use 3D, but spinoffs would get the classic top-down treatment. So, at this point, there are almost as many top-down games in The Legend of Zelda series as there are 3D ones. Let’s rank out some of the best for fun.

7 Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda

A Groovy Roguelike With A Beat

• Metacritic Score: 85

Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda is quite the name for this spinoff. It is a sequel to Crypt of the NecroDancer which was a roguelike wherein players had to step and attack to the beat. That mechanic returns as Cadence, the main character from that adventure, gets warped into Hyrule thus kicking off the crossover.

With the help of Link and Zelda, both playable, the three must save Hyrule from the musical clutches of Octavo. The game makes great use of classic tracks from The Legend of Zelda series and turns them into dance remixes. There are also easier options to make the game less challenging as a roguelike.

6 The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

A Multiplayer Dungeon Crawler

• Metacritic Score: 86

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is kind of like a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It’s set roughly in the same world but there is less exploring and story overall. It is a multiplayer-focused game wherein up to four players can connect to their GameCube to GBAs via Link Cables.

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Players could command one of four colored Links including the classic green as well as Purple, Blue, and Red. The game was mission-based to get as many Rupees as possible for a high score. Items were disposable and would reset every mission.

5 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019)

This Remake Was No Dream

• Metacritic Score: 87

The original Game Boy version of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is great, but the remake made everything better. Mostly, it is a visually stunning game and nothing comes close to it on the Switch. It’s like players are controlling a bunch of toys in a diorama.

It would behoove Nintendo to allow Grezzo, the remake’s developer, to make more games in this style beyond The Legend of Zelda series. Remake visuals aside, this smaller adventure is great because it doesn’t adhere to many of the franchise’s norms like with all of the Nintendo cameos. There are Chain Chomps from the Mario series along with Wart specifically from Super Mario Bros. 2.

4 The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

How Link Got His Iconic Hat

• Metacritic Score: 89

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap was the big GBA entry on the handheld. At the time, it was the furthest game back in the timeline. It mostly explained where the iconic Master Sword came from, along with how Link got his iconic green tunic.

Well, specifically, it explained how he got his hat. Ezlo was a talking hat that allowed Link to shrink down in the game. This shrinking ability gave the developers new ways to think of puzzles and design dungeons since Link became almost microscopic. It was a good gimmick to base the game around and Ezlo was a fun albeit cranky sidekick.

3 The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Making Better Use Of Link’s Watery Age

• Metacritic Score: 90

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was like a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker as Hyrule was still underwater. Instead of a sailing vessel, Link commanded a steamboat with Captain Linebeck, who looked and behaved a lot like Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean film series.

Together they could sail around islands, hopping into mini-dungeons and looking for treasure. The main dungeon was one seamless puzzle that unlocked more as players went on which was an interesting new step for the series. Besides being a faster vessel, Link’s steamboat could also be upgraded with parts like a cannon for light combat.

2 The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

A Direct Sequel That Surprised All

• Metacritic Score: 91

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is more of a direct 1:1 sequel to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past as it uses the same world almost identical to the SNES game. Certain things are changed in homes and new dungeons are there, but ultimately this is the SNES version of Hyrule. Two big gimmicks make the game feel fresh and not redundant though.

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First, Link can transform into a 2D painting and hug walls to see a new dimension thus opening up the world more. Second, players can rent items to continue with their adventure, allowing them to explore in a non-linear fashion. There is another thing that helps it stand out as a bold choice, but that would involve a late-game spoiler.

1 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

An All-Time Classic That Shaped The Series

• Metacritic Score: 95

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was not the first game in the series but it started so many traditions that would follow. For example, the first quest involves finding Zelda and then gaining magic pendants to break the seal to set Hyrule Castle free. It seems like that is the big question but after completing it, Link is sent to the Dark World which is a completely mirrored version of Hyrule.

It was unheard of at the time and it would become a trend in other non-Zelda games too like the classic Metroidvania Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Overall, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was also better because it didn’t hold the hand of players. It wasn’t obscure with its objectives or secrets either unlike the NES games. It crafted a better balance to deliver a well-designed action-adventure masterpiece that some are still chasing to this day.

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