Highlights
- Optional dungeons in Zelda games offer unique challenges, puzzles, and rewards for players seeking extra adventures.
- The Cave of Ordeals, Savage Labyrinth, and Gerudo Training Ground are just a few examples of engaging optional content in the series.
- Exploring optional dungeons like the Bottom of the Well and Color Dungeon can provide players with new experiences and key items.
Optional content in games is a great way to both extend the life of a title, but also to add some interesting flavor. A player might reach the end of the game, then realize they missed something and have a brand-new experience the next time around. And in the case of The Legend of Zelda franchise, it's a series that has had its fair share of optional content, including some pretty outstanding dungeons that are easily missed.
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Whether it's a small, tiny excursion or a more full-blown romp, the Zelda franchise has featured a host of optional dungeons over the course of its long history. Some of them have offered a deep level of challenge for those seeking a difficult adventure, while others have offered unique rewards and experiences to players brave enough to find them.
6 Cave Of Ordeals
Optional Gauntlet Is One Of Twilight Princess' Greatest Challenges
Situated in the Gerudo Mesa, the Cave of Ordeals is accessible after restoring the Bridge of Eldin and is one of the Zelda franchise's greatest challenges. Made up of fifty total floors, the Cave of Ordeals is an arduous trek through a dark underground as Link engages with the entire roster of enemies from the game. Everything from Keese to Bokoblins, all the way up to some nasty Darknuts.
The Cave of Ordeals is relatively simple in the first ten rooms, but the challenge begins to escalate even more as it requires some main item games to proceed to its most challenging floors. Items like the Spinner and Double Clawshot are a necessity to reach and fully clear the Cave of Ordeals, but gaining some Fairy Tears and conquering all fifty floors is a fantastic reward.
5 Savage Labyrinth
Survive 50 Floors Of This Entirely Optional Dungeon
The Savage Labyritnh is located on the very first location in the game, known as Outset Island, where Link starts his epic journey in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. However, the entrance to the Labyrinth is blocked by a boulder, which can only be lifted by the Power Bracelets obtained from Fire Mountain and is reached by the Deku Leaf. So it's safe to say that finding and entering this location requires the player to be a bit into the game.
Similar to the Cave of Ordeals, the Savage Labyrinth is a fifty-floor dungeon where the player battles against numerous enemies to reach the bottom. After finding a Triforce Chart on the thirty-first floor, the player can either leave or move on, but the Mirror Shield is required. Reaching the bottom forces the player to make use of recovery floors that appear every ten levels, where healing items appear. It is only for the truly battle-tested to conquer, as the Savage Labyrinth is still one of Zelda's greatest optional dungeons.
4 Palace Of The Four Sword
Hidden Dungeon Made Exclusively For The GBA Port Of A Link To The Past
As one of the most popular games in the franchise, it wasn't entirely surprising that Nintendo would want more versions of A Link to the Past out there, which is why they ported it to the Gameboy Advance in 2002. Bundled with it was Four Swords, a multiplayer game where four players could work together to conquer dungeons. The inclusion of these two games on one cart was crucial to an optional dungeon, one known as the Palace of the Four Sword.
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By defeating Ganon in A Link to the Past and Vaati in Four Swords on one save file, players can unlock the entirely optional Palace of the Four Sword. It is then located in the Pyramid of Power, where this boss-heavy dungeon pits Link up against some truly nasty challenges and puzzles. The final boss is one of the best in the series, as well, with four Dark Links that are quite difficult to overcome. It's just one element of what makes the GBA version of A Link to the Past the best way to play it today.
3 Bottom Of The Well
The Depths Of The Well Are An Optional Adventure With A Key Item
The Bottom of the Well is found in Kakariko Village, where Link can only enter it once the Song of Storms has been played as a child. It contains the Lens of Truth, which is an entirely optional item, but one that makes both exploring the rest of the Well possible, and making areas like the Shadow Temple and Spirit Temple much easier.
Deep inside the Bottom of the Well, players encounter ReDeads, Floormasters and other creepy enemies. It is a truly haunting location, as the vibe and energy are at odds with the rest of the game's high fantasy tone. While the Well and the Lens of Truth are optional, it's one of the key places to go for players looking for a challenge and some fun items.
2 Gerudo Training Ground
A Multi-Faceted Dungeon With A Fantastic Reward
The Gerudo Training Ground is found in the Gerudo Fortress, which Link visits as an adult in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. After paying ten Rupees and presenting the Gerudo Token, players can enter this optional adventure made up of eleven total rooms, which features an array of traps, enemies and puzzles.
Advancing through enemies and puzzles grants small keys, which can be used to open more doors and face tougher challenges. This escalating challenge is fantastic, and reaching the end of the Gerudo Training Grounds rewards the player with the Ice Arrows. It's a terrific little bit of optional content.
1 Color Dungeon
A Fabulous New Addition To The Gameboy Color Version Of Link's Awakening
After its initial 1993 release, Nintendo brought the delightful Link's Awakening to the Gameboy Color in 1998. Known as Link's Awakening DX, this updated version added a brand new, entirely optional area known as the Color Dungeon, which can be found in the Cemetery and is still the greatest piece of optional content that the series has.
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The Color Dungeon took full advantage of the Gameboy Color, as the puzzles were based around this theme. The puzzles range from slicing red and blue monsters, then throwing them into color-coded holes, all the way to hitting orbs into a matching color with Link's sword. It also features some fun bosses, ending with the Hardhit Beetle. The Color Dungeon was included in the spectacular Link's Awakening remake for Switch, proving the longevity of this lovely creation.
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