I adore The Legend of Zelda. But, it goes without saying that the retroactive continuity Nintendo has tried to establish makes no sense. I mean — if the Rito evolved from the Zoras in The Wind Waker, then how can they both exist simultaneously in Breath of the Wild? That’s just one example of timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly nonsense that has been spoon-fed to us with each new release. And I love every single bit of it.
To be frank, while value exists in playing the games according to the timeline, most of said value is artificial. It’s easy, for example, to play A Link to the Past and think: ‘oh wow, this is the same Hyrule I traveled in Ocarina of Time!’ But — in reality, Ocarina of Time wasn’t even a blip on the radar when A Link to the Past released. It’s all retroactive continuity, which is fun in theory, but convoluted in practice.
So, then — if we’re disregarding the canon timeline, how should you play The Legend of Zelda? With Tears of the Kingdom on the horizon, countless gamers will be asking that same question in the coming months. I think the best answer I could give is … instead of playing them like they exist in the same timeline, play them in release order and assume it’s a multiverse. In each universe there’s a Link, there’s a Zelda, there’s a Ganon, and there’s a Hyrule. But in most instances, they’re very different in nature. And, before anyone gets on my case about how Ganondorf in The Wind Waker is technically the same version that’s in Ocarina … don’t poke holes in my philosophy. Let’s talk about Zelda’s release order.
Let’s Talk About Zelda’s Release Order
- The Legend of Zelda (1986)
- Originally Released On: FamiCom / Nintendo Entertainment System
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987)
- Originally Released On: FamiCom / Nintendo Entertainment System
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
- Originally Released On: Super FamiCom / Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993)
- Originally Released On: Game Boy
Link: The Faces of Evil (1993)(*quietly sings “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”*)- Originally Released On: Philips CD-i
Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993)(*WE DON’T TALK ABOUT BRUNOOOOOOO*)- Originally Released On: Philips CD-i
- Zelda’s Adventure (1994)
- Originally Released On: Philips CD-i
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo 64
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo 64
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages (2001)
- Originally Released On: Game Boy Color
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
- Originally Released On: GameCube
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004)
- Originally Released On: GameCube
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)
- Originally Released On: Game Boy Advance
- Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland (2006)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo DS (JP, EU exclusive)
- Tingle’s Balloon Fight (2007)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo DS (JP exclusive)
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
- Originally Released On: Wii / GameCube
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo DS
- Link’s Crossbow Training (2007)
- Originally Released On: Wii
- The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo DS
- Ripened Tingle’s Balloon Trip of Love (2009)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo DS (JP exclusive)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)
- Originally Released On: Wii
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo 3DS
- Hyrule Warriors (2014)
- Originally Released On: Wii-U
- The Legend of Zelda: Tri-Force Heroes (2015)
- Originally Released On: Nintendo 3DS
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
- Originally Released On: Wii-U / Switch
- Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer (2019)
- Originally Released On: Switch
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020)
- Originally Released On: Switch
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)
- Originally Released On: Switch
