The Legend of Zelda franchise has been enthralling fans with its games for decades; whether you’re a fan of puzzles, plotlines, or pulverizing enemies, the Zelda franchise has something for everyone. With over 20 games under its belt, however, it’s easy to wonder just how different each game actually is from the other.
One of the main differentiating factors among Zelda games is the length. Some games take only an afternoon to beat, while others can take weeks. Whether you’re just morbidly curious or are planning a Zelda gaming marathon, here is a comprehensive list of all of the main Zelda games in order from shortest to longest!
All Zelda Games Ordered Shortest to Longest
These games will be ordered by how long it takes to complete the main story, from shortest to longest.
This list is meant to be taken with a grain of salt, as not everyone is a speedrunner who completes games with 100% efficiency. These games are ordered by the shortest length of time that the game can technically be completed in, according to HowLongToBeat.com.
So if you find you don’t agree with something, just remember that this list is relative! With that being said, these are all of the Zelda games ordered from shortest to longest:
Link’s Crossbow Training (2007)
Link’s Crossbow Training probably isn’t the first title to pop into your head when you think of Zelda games, but believe it or not, it’s still technically an official Zelda game! This game was made for the Nintendo Wii and takes less than 1 hour to complete, which makes sense since it doesn’t really have a story or plot.
Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993)
Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon is infamous for being one of the most unpopular Zelda games of all time. Interestingly enough, however, it’s also known as one of the shortest Zelda games of all time! This game can be completed in only 1.5 hours, which is honestly more of a blessing than a curse (if you’ve ever played it then you understand).
The Legend of Zelda (1986)
If you’re a fan of the Zelda franchise and haven’t played the first original Zelda game yet, then you’re definitely missing out. This revolutionary game is what launched the entire Zelda franchise into the spotlight to begin with, and it only takes around 8 hours to complete!
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link (1987)
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link is the direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda, the very first Legend of Zelda game ever created. It takes at least 11 hours to beat this game, which is an entire 3 hours more than the original! If you liked playing the first Legend of Zelda game, then you’ll definitely like playing its sequel.
Hyrule Warriors (2014)
Hyrule Warriors put a bit of a unique twist on the classic Legend of Zelda games, and focused more on the hack-and-slash elements of the franchise than anything else. If you’ve got 13 hours to waste and are a fan of beating down Hyrulian enemies, then check out Hyrule Warriors!
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (2015)
It’s hard to believe that this game came out nearly two decades ago, but it was one of the first Zelda games to offer online multiplayer! Tri Force Heroes honestly never get the popularity and notoriety that it deserved; if you’ve got at least 14.5 hours to spare, then play it for yourself and see how it holds up against its predecessors!
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993/2019)
Link’s Awakening originally came out on the Game Boy in 1993, but it was remade for the Nintendo Switch in 2019. Interestingly enough, the remake of Link’s Awakening takes one less hour to complete than the original. The original 1993 version of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening takes 15 hours to complete on average, but the remake only takes about 14 hours to beat.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
This game is arguably one of the most beloved Zelda games of all time, and it’s easy to understand why once you’ve played it; this game may have been made in 1991, but it was way ahead of its time. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past only takes about 15 hours to beat, so you should definitely consider playing it if you haven’t already!
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004)
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures was released two decades ago and was the first Zelda game to offer multiplayer! This game is only 15 hours long, but it’ll feel a lot longer if you’re playing with friends! It shouldn’t take more than a day or two to complete though, so it’s definitely a worthwhile investment if you want to relive your gaming glory days with your buddies.
The Legend of Zelda: The Oracle of Seasons (2001)
The Oracle of Seasons only takes a day or two to complete, about 15.5 hours in total. Oddly enough, it was also one of the first Legend of Zelda games to take place outside of Hyrule! Instead, this game begins in the world of Holodrum, far away from the familiar kingdom of Hyrule. If you want to play an original Zelda game that lets you explore foreign lands as the infamous Link, then The Oracle of Seasons should be at the top of your gaming wishlist!
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is so criminally underrated. This game is commonly referred to as “the forgotten Zelda game”, but don’t let that stop you from giving it a try! The Minish Cap is such a refreshing change from mainstream Legend of Zelda games, you’ll honestly have the hugest blast playing it! It’s only 15.5 hours long, so you’ve got no excuse not to check it out if you haven’t already!
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)
Just like the original Legend of Zelda and A Link to the Past, this game has gone down in history as one of the best Zelda games ever made. If you want to play one of the greater Legend of Zelda series games of all time, then be sure to reserve at least 16 hours of free time beforehand!
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)
This game goes down in Zelda’s history as having one of the coolest titles in the entire franchise. If you’ve got about 17 hours to spare and own a Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, or Wii U, then you should definitely consider giving this one a go.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009)
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is one of the more unorthodox Zelda games in the series, but that’s part of why it’s so much fun! Similar to The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Spirit Tracks offers an incredibly unique experience that’s separate from other mainstream Zelda games. If you’ve got a couple of days (at least 20 hours) on your hands, then you should definitely try this one out!
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2007)
Just like Phantom Hourglass, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask has one of the coolest titles in the entire franchise, and it’s well-earned! Majora’s Mask is, hands down, one of the greatest Zelda games of all time. It takes about 20.5 hours to get through, so you’ll need to take a couple of days off work if you want to try speedrunning it!
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020)
It feels good to once again be able to type an entry that doesn’t start with “The Legend of Zelda”. This title was released relatively recently in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch and is the direct sequel to Hyrule Warriors. It only takes about 24.5 hours to complete, so be sure to give it a download if you enjoyed its predecessor!
The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (1998)
The Ocarina of Time is an all-time fan-favorite, and it’s the first title that many people think of when they think of the Zelda franchise. This game marks the first entry on this list that takes over 24 hours to complete; you’ll need a minimum of 26.5 hours to complete Ocarina of Time, but it’ll be worth every second!
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
The Wind Waker takes about 29 hours to complete, which is right about in the middle of this list. If you’ve got a decent chunk of time to waste on playing video games but don’t feel like making a week-long commitment, then The Wind Waker is the Zelda game you’ve been waiting for!
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
Twilight Princess was released all the way back in 2006 and was one of the last Zelda games to be released on the Nintendo GameCube. This game takes a whopping 37.5 hours to complete at least, so make sure to cancel all of your weekend plans prior to picking this one up!
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)
Skyward Sword sold significantly more copies than many of its predecessors, and for good reason. This game incorporated many new features, items, enemies, and plotlines into the Zelda Franchise; it’s completely worth the 38 hours of playtime that it takes to beat it!
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
If you thought Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess were bad, then you’ll shit a brick once you realize that Breath of the Wild’s main story takes at least 50 hours to complete! Don’t get me wrong, this game is easily one of the best titles in the entire franchise, but Breath of the Wild is a week-long commitment at least.
Related: How to Play the Legend of Zelda Games in Release Order
With Breath of the Wild currently holding the record for the longest Zelda game ever made, it makes you wonder how long its successor will be! For all the latest news and updates regarding The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, be sure to keep up with Gamer Journalist!
