Zelda Tier List 2026: All 20 Games Ranked, Honestly
Ocarina of Time is back on Switch 2, but is it still the best Zelda? I ranked all 20 games from S to D with honest reasons, plus a template to make your own.
Tier Maker Pro 6.5 min read
Be honest: when you hear "Zelda is 40 years old," do you feel excited, or a little overwhelmed by how many games there are?
I felt both. The Ocarina of Time remake just hit Switch 2 on November 5, the live-action movie is set for April 30, 2027, and my group chat keeps asking the same thing: "Okay, but which Zelda is actually the best?"
So I sat down and ranked all 20 games. I built a tier list template while writing this. If you disagree with my picks (and you probably will), grab the template, drop in your own rankings, and share them. I'd love to see where we differ.
The Quick Version
- S Tier: Tears of the Kingdom, Breath of the Wild, Ocarina of Time |
- A Tier: Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword |
- B Tier: A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds, Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda, Echoes of Wisdom |
- C Tier: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, The Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks |
- D Tier: Oracle of Seasons / Ages, Four Swords Adventures, A Link to the Past & Four Swords, Tri Force Heroes
How I Ranked Them
I didn't just go by nostalgia. Every game got judged on four things:
- Popularity: how much people still search for and talk about it today
- Reputation: how critics and players rate it
- Impact: how much it changed Zelda, or games in general
- Playability today: whether a new player can enjoy it without a manual and a lot of patience
Search popularity here is my own estimate, not exact Google Trends data. Check Trends yourself before you argue with me in the comments.
S Tier: The Ones I'd Tell Everyone to Play
Tears of the Kingdom You can build cars, flying machines, and absurd contraptions with Ultrahand and Fuse. The creativity feels almost limitless, and people are still posting new inventions. The only real complaint is that the map feels familiar if you played the previous game.
Breath of the Wild This is the game that broke the old "dungeon, item, boss" formula. Its physics and chemistry systems let you solve one problem in many ways, and plenty of open-world games have copied it since. If a friend asks where to begin, this is my answer.
Ocarina of Time In 1998 it set the standard for 3D action-adventure, and its lock-on targeting is everywhere today. It's trending again because of the remake. I put it third because the original's controls and pacing feel dated, and I want more time with the remake before I say more.
A Tier: Brilliant, Just Not for Everyone
Majora's Mask The three-day loop and the masks turn one small world into dozens of stories. It's the emotional peak of the series for me. The ticking clock stresses some players out, which is why it isn't S.
The Wind Waker The cel-shaded art still looks fresh, and sailing gives you a real sense of discovery. The late-game collecting quest is the weak spot.
Twilight Princess It has the darkest, most mature tone in the series, and the wolf form is memorable. The opening is slow, though, and the dungeons are solid rather than surprising.
Skyward Sword This is the origin story of the Master Sword and the Link and Zelda bond, so story fans should care. The original motion controls divided players, but the HD version helps a lot.
B Tier: Classics That Show Their Age
A Link to the Past The Light World and Dark World design became the template for 2D Zelda. It's historic, but new players need patience.
A Link Between Worlds It's a smart sequel that lets you rent items and tackle dungeons in almost any order. Fewer people talk about it than they should.
Link's Awakening The dreamlike island is charming, and the remake brought it back into the spotlight. It's short, and the combat and puzzles stay fairly light.
The Legend of Zelda Where everything started. It matters historically, but it gives you almost no guidance, so playing it today takes commitment.
Echoes of Wisdom Playing as Zelda and summoning "echoes" feels fresh and clever. It's gentle for veterans, though, and fans don't discuss it as much.
C Tier: Interesting Ideas, Smaller Audiences
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Side-scrolling action with RPG elements makes it unique, but it's brutally hard.
The Minish Cap Shrinking down is a fun idea, but the game has stayed under the radar.
Phantom Hourglass Touch-screen controls were the big hook. With the DS era over, it's hard to play conveniently now.
Spirit Tracks Riding a train across the world is charming, but it has the same platform problem as the last one.
D Tier: Niche or Built for Co-op
Oracle of Seasons / Ages Two linked games is an ambitious idea. They're handheld-era titles that few people discuss anymore.
Four Swords Adventures, A Link to the Past & Four Swords, Tri Force Heroes These are all built around playing with others. Solo play is limited, and gathering the right group today takes effort, so interest and discussion are low.
Two Questions I Keep Getting
"Which Zelda should I start with?"
It depends on what you want:
- Modern open world: start with Breath of the Wild, then play Tears of the Kingdom.
- Classic Zelda: try the Ocarina of Time remake.
- Story and mood: pick Majora's Mask or Twilight Princess.
- Handheld: go with Link's Awakening.
You don't need to play in release order. Most games stand on their own.
"Is the Ocarina of Time remake worth it, or should I just play the original?"
If you want the smoothest way into 3D Zelda and you own a Switch 2, I'd say the remake is worth it. It reportedly adds manual jumping, dashing, quick item switching, and gyro aiming, and the creators describe it as a faithful retelling with modern technology. It launched at $59.99 for the digital version in the US. It's also Switch 2 exclusive, and GTA 6 arrives two weeks later, so think about what you'll play this month.
If you love the original's exact feel, the old version still holds up as a piece of history.
FAQ
Which Zelda game is the best? Most players point to Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Ocarina of Time. Your answer will depend on whether you prefer open-world freedom, story, or classic dungeons.
Do I have to play Zelda games in order? No. Most games have their own story, so you can start anywhere.
When does the Zelda live-action movie come out? It's planned for April 30, 2027, and there's been no announcement of a delay or cancellation.
Is the Ocarina of Time remake on other consoles? No. It's a Switch 2 exclusive.
What's the easiest Zelda game for beginners? Breath of the Wild is the easiest to start with. It has the best tutorial and almost no required background.
Why is Ocarina of Time only third? Because it's the one most affected by age and hype. The remake could change that. I'll update the ranking once I've spent more time with it.
Your Turn
That's my list, and I know someone is already mad that Link's Awakening isn't higher. Use the tier list template, make your own version, and tell me which game you'd move. What's your S Tier?